ML Interest Tag: chestnut

Road Trip: A Parent’s Guide to Chattanooga

by Phebe Wahl

Something about crisp, fall air just makes you want to pack up the kids and hit the road. If you are looking for an easy trip to enjoy the season, try trucking over to Chattanooga. It’s a mere 100 miles from Atlanta—meaning you can probably make it to the outskirts of the Scenic City before you even have to put on another movie in the DVD player or any massive meltdowns ensue. The area has lots to offer: beautiful scenery, yummy eats, and attractions to intrigue all ages. Check out our hot spots for a cool, fall weekend in Chattanooga.

Breakfast at Tasty Daylight Donuts

Get your day off to a sweet start with a stop at Tasty Daylight Donuts - the downtown location is less than a mile to the aquarium and the Creative Discovery Museum. Options range from the classic (think French crullers, buttermilk cake donuts, and long johns) to the fanciful (Cherry Bomb, Red Velvet, Blueberry Cream Cheese, Banana Cream), all made in-house. Tip: the downtown location is closed on Sundays and Mondays, but you can still head for the East Brainerd location (1414 Jenkins Rd., 423-531-3444), which is open seven days a week.
841 Chestnut St.
Chattanooga, TN
423-531-0930
Online: www.tastydaylightdonuts.com

Have you taken your family to Chattanooga? Tell us about it below!

—Jessica Harlan

Photos courtesy of Tasty Daylight Donuts via Facebook, Tennessee Aquarium via Facebook, Creative Discovery Museum via Facebook, The Blue Plate via Facebook, Good Dog via Facebook, Raccoon Mountain Caverns via Facebook, the Chattanooga Choo Choo via Facebook and Creative Commons via Flickr

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What to See, Do and Eat at the Palace of Fine Arts With Kids

by laure latham

Back when international exhibitions meant building a town within a town, the Palace of Fine Arts became one of 10 palaces at the 1915 Panama-Pacific World Exposition on the northern side of San Francisco. Built by the famous Californian architect Bernard Maybeck following ancient Greek and Roman designs, the palace offers a romantic outdoors promenade flanked by tall ionic columns of another time and a serene rotunda overlooking a lagoon that swans and ducks call home. Add to that a theater, and manicured paths, and you’ll understand why the Palace of Fine Arts is a beloved city escape for parents.

When to go: The Palace of Fine Arts is a fantastic place to hang out for an hour or more throughout the year, from sunrise to sunset.

How to get there: The Palace of Fine Arts Theater is located at3301 Lyon Street in San Francisco. For directions from different parts of the Bay Area, click here.

Where to park: Free parking is available along Palace Drive, Yacht Drive, and on Bay and Lyon streets but expect weekends to be crowded.

Public transportation: The Palace of Fine Arts is easily accessible by San Francisco Muni buses #30, #43, #28, and #29. Muni bus lines #22, #41, and #45 also stop in the vicinity. From Fisherman’s Wharf take the #30 Stockton bus. For more information, call Muni at 415-673-6864 or check the SFMTA trip planner.

What to bring and wear: A picnic is a nice addition to this artsy day. Pack up some food and drink and enjoy a day in the park with the kids. Because you’ll be going inside and out, you’ll want to bring layers to be prepared for all weather conditions. Snacks and a camera are also recommended.

What to do:

Run around: with its renovated paved paths and landscaped gardens, the Palace of Fine Arts offers an incredible setting for kids to shake their sillies out away from car and bike traffic. Expect would-be climbers to take the Greek revival columns for jungle gyms – though really, their beauty should inspire poetry more than physical prowess.

Picnic: the grassy lawns surrounding the lagoon are perfect picnic spots with a blow-your-mind view – and tumbling heaven.

Family photos: with its ancient ruin picturesque décor that still screams “only in San Francisco,” the Palace of Fine Arts is often chosen for formal or important photo shoots. Head there for your holiday cards this year. Your relatives across the country won’t believe it.

Theater: home to many ethnic dance festivals, the Palace of Fine Arts Theater showcases several child-friendly programs such as the Nutcracker ballet. Check their upcoming events for more details.

Lunch spots: restaurants are in short supply directly around the Palace of Fine Arts but there’s plenty to eat if you’re willing to walk a few blocks down. If the kids are dying for a treat (or say, you need some quiet time), head to Chestnut Street for smacking ice cream sandwich from Over the Moon.

Cost: Cost is completely dependent on the activities you do and day you wish to come. For a more economical day, stick to picnics, parks, and free-entry days.

Little Known Fact: as the rest of the Panama Pacific Exposition, the Palace of Fine Arts was built on 635 acres reclaimed from the San Francisco Bay. Yes you are walking on water and it doesn’t even show.

Whether for an hour or for a day, you’ll be surprised at how peaceful the Palace of Fine Arts can be despite its proximity from the bustling Marina and Crissy Field scene. Enjoy!

— Laure Latham

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Date Night: The Best Glazed Donut in San Francisco

by Erin Lem

The donut as a comfort food has enjoyed a return to popularity so successful, one might hardly recognize the original fried, circular treat. Donuts nowadays are a trend, adorned with meat or breakfast cereal and infused every imaginable sweet and savory flavor from Dr. Pepper, melon and mojito, to garlic, seaweed and pistachio. In a world where variety is usually the spice of life, we may find ourselves gazing nostalgically into that vast, complicated pastry case, looking for a familiar face: the original glazed donut. This date night, take back the joy of hot, sugary simplicity with the top five picks in the city.

1. Happy Donuts, 3801 24th St. (Noe Valley)
Appearance: Big and puffy, with a crackly glaze.
Sweetness level: Pretty darn sweet, but not achingly so.
Melt-in-mouth factor: Excellent. It’s light, airy, and super fresh.

2. All Star Donuts, 2095 Chestnut St. (Marina)
Appearance: Medium-puffy with a nice sheen.
Sweetness level: Off the charts.
Melt-in-mouth factor: Fair. This one was a bit cakey.

Still hungry? Read the full article here.

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at 7×7, a site that keeps you up on the best of SF. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a fantastic Date Night idea each week. Be sure to check out their blog for hourly doses of the best of SF.

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Where to Stay with Kids While Visiting San Francisco

by writerredtri

Guest Post: Amie O’Shaughnessy is the Editor of CiaoBambino.com, an award-winning family travel guide covering kid-friendly activities and best family hotel reviews.  She lives in Oakland, CA with her husband and 7-year-old son.


Where you stay in the San Francisco Bay Area is important.  In addition to the usual kid-friendly accommodation needs around convenience, amenities, and atmosphere, the location of your hotel will significantly impact your vacation experience given the amazing array of very distinct neighborhoods in and around San Francisco.

Highlights from our Bay Area kid-friendly hotel portfolio

In-town options

Hotel del Sol

Hotel del Sol provides a fun and funky California hotel experience.  You may not fall in love with the architecture of this 50’s-style motor lodge, but it is amazingly kid-friendly with treats on arrival and weekend BBQs by the pool.  Luxury seekers should look elsewhere, but if value, space, and location are top-of-mind, Hotel del Sol is an exceptional option.  The swimming pool is small and shady, but will do the trick if you simply need a place for a quick dip between sightseeing stops (noting that summer in San Francisco can be cold and foggy).  What I love most about Hotel del Sol is the location in the Marina District where you can walk to the beach, a long list of casual restaurants, and local-flavor shopping on Union and Chestnut Streets.

St. Regis San Francisco

The St. Regis San Francisco is a top choice for in-town luxury.  The modern atmosphere is warm and comfortable, and rooms have fantastic skyline views.  The location is also excellent and families can walk to Union Square, the Yerba Buena Center, and the Ferry Building Marketplace.

Although we don’t have any San Francisco options in our portfolio yet, we like Kimpton Hotels for families (see top family-friendly hotel chains for reference).  Here’s a link to Kimpton’s San Francisco Hotel List.

Out-of-town Options

Cavallo Point Lodge

Cavallo Point Lodge in Sausalito is a very special space.  Turn-of-the-century buildings in a stunning natural setting with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco skyline provide an utterly unique Bay Area hotel experience.  The Bayside buildings are my favorite option for families where multi-room guest units make you feel like you’re staying in a San Francisco apartment.  A massive grass area provides loads of space for kids to run—plus, the hotel is literally next door to the Discovery Museum.

The Lodge at Tiburon

The Lodge at Tiburon is another great Marin County option on the water. A three-minute walk from the ferry, you can stay here and still get into San Francisco for urban activities without having to risk sitting in traffic over the Golden Gate Bridge or dealing with the hassle or expense of parking.

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