From the moment I walked into O Chame for a recent lunch stop, I felt relaxed. The warm terra cotta walls and dimly lit dining room has a peaceful vibe to it. There’s a large communal table at the entrance, as well as booths and several smaller tables; in total, about 40 seats.

While there are quite a few good starters to choose from (I love the tuna sashimi), you may want to save your appetite for the udon — which is really the main attraction here. I can’t resist the version with smoked trout, mustard greens and enoki mushrooms. The pork tenderloin is also fantastic. (You can replace the silky udon noodles with soba, but I wouldn’t.)

Service is friendly and efficient — which was perfect for my visit, as I had to get back on Interstate 80 and continue my drive home. But my meal at O Chame proved good for my belly as well as my soul.

O Chame
1830 Fourth Street
Berkeley, CA
(510) 841-8783

Tucked away in Carmel Valley is Bernadus Lodge, which is its own little oasis in this already heavenly region of Northern California. The Lodge features just under 60 rooms, a small spa, a heated outdoor pool, and two restaurants. The Bernadus Winery is just a few miles up the road, and a stay at the Lodge includes complimentary wine-tasting.

The rooms feature fireplaces, soaking tubs and patios. The decor is simple and comfortable. Service is stellar here — and I like that there’s a flat-rate service charge included in the room rate, so I don’t have to worry about scrounging for dollars to tip the bellhop or valet.

Perhaps one of the best reasons to visit Bernardus is the on-site dining. A small group of us recently gathered at Marinus Restaurant for an amazing dining experience at the Chef’s Table. The booth in the kitchen offered such insight into the behind-the-scenes restaurant action. The chef was a pleasure — friendly and always taking the time to answer our questions or just explain random things to us.

As long as you’re not opposed to relaxing and maybe being pampered just a bit, there’s something for everyone here. Even a croquet lawn.

Bernardus Lodge
415 Carmel Valley Road,
Carmel Valley, CA 93924
(831) 658-3400

The crafts here run the gamut: candlemaking, tilemaking, stained glass, jewelry, enameling, metalwork, papermaking, cardmaking, bookbinding, knitting, crochet, loom-weaving, sewing, patternmaking, quilting, embroidery … How will you ever decide!? Many of the classes are available for various levels, so it doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or have some experience under your belt already.

Craft Gym
1452 Bush Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 441-6223

Daily tours are available (except on Wednesdays, when the entire museum is closed), and they are free with museum admission. Those on a tight budget will be especially pleased that admission is free on the first Tuesday of every month. And on Thursdays, the museum is open until 8:45pm instead of 5:45pm — with admission half-price after 6pm.

Please check the museum’s web site for current and future exhibitions.

SFMOMA
151 Third Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 357-4000

Here’s a little background info: In 1948, Edith Heath — an industrial designer and potter — founded her own ceramics studio. She specialized in tableware and tiles, eventually making her way into museums and stores across the country. Even after half a century in business, all of the pottery is still made by skilled artisans in Sausalito, using the methods that Edith herself developed (she passed away in December 2005).

About three years ago, Robin Petravic and Catherine Bailey purchased the company. The husband-and-wife team brought some of Edith’s old designs out of retirement and have managed to maintain her high level of quality as well as her wonderfully simple aesthetic.

The factory tour takes about 30-45 minutes and covers the entire building. You can get up close and personal here; there are no red lines that you aren’t allowed to cross.

Any pieces that aren’t quite up to snuff are considered “seconds,” and you can purchase them at the factory. The tour ends in the overstock tile room — which is filled with firsts and seconds. The factory store also offers plenty of tableware, as well as books and textiles (like Lotta Jansdotter aprons).

Since the tours take place at 11am, you may arrive in Sausalito a little hungry. No problem. The staff puts out some tea and light snacks. Go ahead and test out that tea cup before you decide to purchase it!

Heath Factory
400 Gate Five Road
Sausalito, CA 94965
(415) 332-3732

Open daily, 10am-5pm
Tours, Sat-Sun, 11am
(Call ahead for tour reservations)

Manka’s offers several types of accommodation (including rooms above their main lodge, as well as cabins) and a much-touted restaurant. We stayed in Cabin 125, which is on a piece of property about 1/2-mile from the lodge, next to another cabin (The Perch). Our cabin featured a king-size bed, a wood-burning fireplace flanked by two reading nooks, and a private deck with a soaking tub. Sound relaxing? Definitely.

As great as the cabin itself was, the restaurant is reason enough to come here. The prefixed menu changes daily, based on what’s available locally. Breakfast is only available to Manka’s guests, while dinner is open to everyone. There is only one seating for each meal (between 8-9am for breakfast, and 7-8pm for dinner).

Breakfast one morning included fresh Gravenstein apple juice; wheatberry porridge; scrambled eggs with a goat cheese souffle; and a waffle topped with honey syrup and candied walnuts. And our first dinner at Manka’s was divine: biscuits served with spiced butter; warm beet puree over garlic panna cotta; salted cod cake; lamb shank to share; a cheese course with figs poached in port; and upside-down plum cake with freshly whipped cream.

The staff was cordial enough — we didn’t experience any bad service, but it wasn’t outstanding either. With the nightly rates running about $250-700, some people might have a problem with the level of service, but we were happy to be left alone and weren’t looking to be pampered.

Given the beautiful surroundings and exquisite cuisine, it’s no wonder that just a few hours into our visit, we were already plotting our return to Manka’s.

UPDATE: In late December 2006, Manka’s suffered a fire that ruined the entire restaurant, and damaged many of the rooms adjacent to it. Some accommodations are still available, however, and the owners have promised to rebuild.

Manka’s
30 Callendar Way
Inverness, CA 94937
(415) 669-1034

Yarns are organized by heft — so you can go straight to the lightweight skeins or the bulky ones, depending on your preference. On a recent afternoon, I was in search of a thick, non-wool yarn (I’m allergic to wool), and the helpful staff immediately steered me in the right direction. By pointing out which yarns would work for me, they saved me a lot of time.

Like many yarn stores these days, Noe Knit does offer classes — from the basics to advanced techniques. And they have a blog! (Click on the “updates” link on their web site.) You can easily stay up-to-date on their latest inventory and calendar. The blog is also chock-full of great projects, in case you need a little inspiration and already have plenty of knitted socks in your drawer.

Noe Knit
3957 24th Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 970-9750

The rebuilt de Young totals 293,000 square feet. The emphasis here is on American art from the 17th through the 20th centuries, as well as art of the native Americas, Africa and the Pacific.

In addition to art galleries, the museum includes an educational area, a store, a cafe, an auditorium and — possibly my favorite part of the place — an observation floor. Outdoors, you’ll find a sculpture garden and children’s garden.

TIP: Who said you can’t get anything for free? Admission to the tower observation floor is free. Nine stories up, it offers spectacular panoramic views of the city. The outdoor spaces are also free. And the entire museum is free on the first Tuesday of every month.

de Young
Golden Gate Park
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 863-3330

True! Just a short drive down the Peninsula will take you to the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts — which offers 24 galleries, a sculpture garden and even an excellent museum cafe.

The Auguste Rodin collection, housed indoors and out, offers a glimpse of the French sculptor’s work throughout his life. All of the biggies are here: The Thinker, The Gates of Hell, The Three Shades, The Kiss and about 180 other pieces.

After the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the musem — formerly known as the Stanford Museum — closed for an extensive renovation. Ten years later, it re-emerged as the Cantor Center. Now totaling about 120,000 square feet, even if you’re not a Rodin fan, there’s still plenty to see.

The Cantor Center is one of the most comprehensive and diverse art collections in the Bay Area. In one gallery you’ll find treasures from the Ming Dynasty. In the next, African masks and carved figurines. Keep wandering and you’ll stumble upon paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe as well as sculptures by Willem de Kooning.

When you’re ready for a break, stop in at the Cool Cafe — where most of the ingredients are organic. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, plus there are a couple of picnic tables on the lawn.

Oh, and did I mention that the museum is free? And there’s plenty of parking on the weekends? Suddenly, a trip to the suburbs sounds downright appealing.

Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts
328 Lomita Drive and Museum Way (off Palm Drive)
Stanford, CA 94305-5060
(650) 723-4177

The Red Vic is employee-owned and -operated, which means you can expect everyone working at the theater to be friendly and — of course — a big movie buff. Independent releases and contemporary cult hits, as well as second-run and classic films, are featured here.

A trip to the snack bar is a must: There’s a good selection of organic and sweet treats. In addition to salt and parmesan, brewer’s yeast is available as a popcorn topping. The popcorn is served in a wooden bowl — no paper buckets here — while the beverages come in plastic tumblers. It almost feels like you’re watching the movie in the comfort of your own living room … Except there are a few more people in the audience (the theater seats 150), and you don’t have to clean up afterwards.

TIP: Tickets go on sale 20 minutes prior to a show. But, if it’s a popular film, you can expect long lines; it might be a good idea to get to the theater a little early.

Red Vic Movie House
1727 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 668-3994