Aptos Trip - Stairway to Tree Top Haven

This is where we stayed. Painted stairs, and idyllic little cabin, complete with patio and grill. 

We didn’t use any of it…except the hot tub…

Daily. I used the the hot tub daily. For the first time in years, I allowed myself to fully relax…and marathon season 2 of Bridgerton on Netflix while soaking and taking in this view of the redwoods.

And I even got a cat companion. 

Some vacations are relaxing and others are a whirlwind. This one had a bit of both, but it helped us balance our often conflicting check-all-boxes vs anything-goes approach and mostly restored my soul. Though the cabin is a little small, Stairway has been one of the better Airbnb’s I’ve tried. 

Aptos Trip Day 7 - Doppio Zero & Verde Tea Cafe - Mountain View, CA

I really didn't love Mountain View. The vibe was always off, and the food, advertised as among the best, was truly mediocre. Various websites say you must dive into Doppio for the ultimate Italian experience, but I just can't agree with any. The dishes we ordered were the most highly recommended, the most popular of the house, and I was far from impressed.

The Calamari, for starters, was wildly undercooked. The breading barely hung onto these dingy hair-elastics, and there was a prominently unpleasant texture with no detectable taste. 

The Marechiaro was made with squid ink tagliolini, more for aesthetics than taste, as the pasta was a bit too al dente. The tomato water they called a "light" sauce did it no justice, and the scallops were fishy, not too fresh. 

Fettuccine Wild Boar is more likeable, warm shredded meat in a slightly less watery tomato sauce. The meat is good, and the pasta is great, but I don't think this would make any Italians particularly proud. 

The one thing they did correctly was this kiddie Cheese Pizza with Mickey ears and chewy crust. Toddler test and approved, and by far the best thing we ate.

What the actual heck? This is supposed to be one of Mountain View's most popular places, and it's just not good. Terrible at times, especially for the price and the hype. I will not be coming back here - I just don't respect an Italian restaurant that can't cook fried calamari. 

A caffeinated nightcap from Verde Tea Cafe felt like a continuation of a disappointing dinner. The original Pearl Milk Tea is good, but nothing I would come back for, and they got the crystal boba right, but the overall impression is just alright. It's plenty of milk and sugar, but not much real taste to the tea.

Aptos Trip Day 7 - Pretty Good Advice - Soquel, CA

I was given pretty good advice to check out this beautiful breakfast joint.

Mike's Good Morning Deluxe is a definite, immediate WOW. Chewy ciabatta carries a patty of crispy potato, a hearty fried egg, and creamy avocado encased in aioli, a breakfast sandwich of absolute perfection. 

Their limited-edition Lemon Artichoke Soup sounds irresistible, and it is as sour as it is refreshing. Plenty of acid from the artichoke, enhanced with lots of lemon. It's alright overall, but it was awfully watery, like a hot lemonade. The sandwich is just so much richer. 

 

The Fries are soggy. Sigh.

Wash it all down with a Coconut Caramel Iced Coffee, their special for the day. It's amazing, creamy with just enough sweetness. A well-balanced drink that you can't stop sipping. 

Another place with great potential. Amazing sandwich - I almost ordered another, and a great drink to make your morning right. I wasn't a huge fan of the other items, unfortunately, so I'll have to hit up this place again to see how often they hit...or miss. 

Capitola, CA

A beautiful beach, a view like an Italian village. 

 

Breathtaking and idyllic, it's perfect for avid surfers...and avid relaxers. I believe the little houses of Capitola Village are all for staying and shopping so we didn't end up walking over, but it's a pretty place for a half day or two.

Aptos Trip Day 6 - True Burger - Oakland, CA

Lunch is a big, true burger, and these big beef patties remind me of Shake Shack when they were selling out…before they actually sold out. 

The Trueburger is exactly what you ask for, a patty with whatever. An all-American burger, but not the juiciest patty. 

The True Deluxe, a patty with whatever cheese, topped with a fried portobello. Flawless fry on a fabulous mushroom cap, but together it's a bit too much. The portabello itself would make a better burger, and it wouldn't kill them to season both. 

Great Fries, actually worth mentioning. Freshly fried and crispy, to be consumed by the fistful.

A Chocolate Milkshake, with caramel drizzled in. They have plenty of mixers to choose from, with chocolate or vanilla as the base. All enjoyment, no complaints.

Likable place overall, though the patties could be better. That seems to be the theme at most burger places I've been. 

Lake Merritt - Oakland, CA

After lunch, it's over to Lake Merritt to keep the kids outside. 

And it's gorgeous. The water is the very picture of tranquility, home to so many ducks and seagulls. 

 

Peaceful by the waterside, bustling with hustling vendors and street artists on the other. 

Anything goes on the shores of Lake Merritt, all come and go as they please. If you're looking for a place to just enjoy that you exist, this park would be paradise. 

Aptos Trip Day 6 - Alameda, CA

A sweet stroll through the Grand Alameda Harbor to start the day, catching up with some friends.

Lovely view of the boats and the harbor and the less architectural yacht club, but Izzy saw nothing but Allan…Allan the world’s most patient dog.

Mosley’s Bakery has our coffee and with the we have a sampling of Scones. Cranberry is lovely and crumbly, Lavender is the breeze of a sun-kissed field. Orange is a zesty peel, a fresh ring rather than the juice. 

Scrumptious scones in a pleasing park, now that’s a perfect morning. 

Aptos Trip Day 3 - Happy Hollow Park & Zoo - San Jose, CA

We commence with cappuccino and continue with a day trip to San Jose. It’s just a quick visit to the Happy Hollow Park & Zoo in the Kelley Park complex that covers all the bases. 

Izzy thought everything was a cat or a dog, and I can’t really fault her. The petting zoo has the tamest dog-goats I’ve ever seen, and they’re just amazing for a toddler that tends to be overly eager. 

Lunch is a quick bite at the cafeteria-style Picnic Basket. It’s just a basic burger and chicken tenders with fries, but the food is good quality and the prices won’t totally gut you. 

Izzy’s first carousel ride is something to remember and so is this carousel, for that matter. Rides are short but included in the price of admission and unlimited to boot. Every animal is different, and they move up and down as the carousel spins at a slightly dizzying speed. 

So the big animals are not here. They don’t have have a whole lot when it comes to animals, but they do offer a lot of activities for younger kids. Rides and attractions and plenty of playgrounds with all sorts of unique equipment can compensate your kids still have a limited attention span, and Kelley Park itself has so much more to explore. I’m sorely disappointed that we didn’t have time for more, but hey, just another excuse to revisit San Jose.