Even if the food wasn't exceptional - and it is - I would want to come to Basil Canteen. The restaurant in San Francisco's SOMA area is gorgeous. The benefit from being located in the historical Jackson Brewery building and have kept the architectural details of the building on the inside. They have beautiful communal tables (as well as individual ones too) in deep woods, there is lots of light coming in from the huge windows. They serve Thai dishes from Bangkok and have a nicely stocked bar as well. Make sure to get the crab fried rice.

Skool restaurant in San Francisco is a double entendre. It serves mainly fish (which swim in schools) and there is a classroom theme to their menus and other touches. Located in the furniture district and owned by two married couples, one French and one Japanese, this spots combines the best of both cultures. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful and they have a lovely terrace to soak up the sun. The menu is unique and seasonal along with the drinks they offer in the bar as well. There are a couple of items that you can find there year round including eringy mushroom fries that taste like fried chicken (to me).

Babaloo is a cuban food truck in San Francisco that's menu items read like an "I Love Lucy" rerun. And the food lives up to the punch line. They offer great cuban sandwiches with a variety of meats which are fantastic, but I love the Babaloo combo with pork and sweet plantains served with a veggie salad. I am sure that Ricky would approve of washing that down with a cold beer too! Babaloo spends most of their time in the Monterey area so when you catch them in the city, eat there!

Right in the thick of studio row in Burbank is Gindi Thai which serves really great Thai food and inventive sushi. It is bright and cheery with lots of light, which is perfect for watching studio executives make or break people's careers as they eat! Parking is tough so they have a valet service which is totally worth it! Try their iced green tea too, it is really good.

This San Francisco food truck is known for its street tacos, fried chicken, and SPAM musubis which you can have all together in one of their combo plates! The recipes come from the owners grandparents who opened a deli in the Richmond district and while they served many dishes but they were most known for their fried chicken. When the grandparents retired they took the recipe on the road and into a food truck which you can find all over the Bay Area and at the SoMa StrEat Food Park.

After a three year hiatus, Sketch Ice Cream is back on Fourth street in Berkeley. This small batch artisanal shoppe makes amazing ice cream with toppings like my favorite - olive oil and sea salt - along with to-die-for cookies, cakes and, believe it or not....empanadas! It is run by a husband and wife team who have made this shop a destination in the Fourth Street shops area. They make one-cup-at-a-time drip coffees and offer sunny terrace seating to enjoy your treat.

They had me at duck confit tacos, the francophile in me couldn't resist! This great local eatery located in La Jolla's Bird Rock Community has something for everyone. There is a nice outdoor area to eat in, as well as a cute bar and the staff is very friendly. They have live music Thursday through Sunday which combined with a menu that stays varied, will have you rockin'!

This San Francisco food truck specializes in sliders, making miniature pieces of heaven! You can buy them individually or in combos which gives you a chance to pick from five and try them all! There is beek, 2 pork varieties, fried chicken and a black bean version for vegetarians. Topped with various sauces and salads, this is a truck not to miss. You can find them out and about at Off the Grid, the Treasure Island flea market and other spots in the city, a fun thing to do while visiting the city.

Started by an ex-private equity corporate maven, this San Francisco food truck certainly allowed Shellie Kitchen to take a left turn! The menu is full or rock star attitude and they back up their bravado with good food! They've got things on their menu like the Frying Maiden, fried chicken sandwich, but I am a big fan of The Police, a shrimp po'boy with crab smear and remoulade! Can't beat the sweet potato tator tots either!

ArKi, short for The Architect’s Kitchen as the owner, Tim Setiawan, used to be just that serves divine beignet-style donuts fried to order and are served piping hot and delicious. The truck offers several combo meals tat include fried chicken and the donuts together and it is one step up from the fried-chicken-and-waffle tradition. They can be found at Off the Grid events, SoMa StrEat Food Park and in the Financial District throughout the week and provide an excellent reason to visit San Francisco!

The large concentration of Latin American immigrants makes for stiff competition in San Francisco when it comes to tamales. There are tamale ladies with Twitter handles that deliver by bicycle, there are many restaurants in the Mission District that offer many tasty varieties as well. But when it comes to food trucks, I think the best is Alicia's. She can be spotted traveling the normal truck routes including SoMa StrEat Food Park. The offerings include pork, chicken and veggie and aqua fresca as well.

This is a very special place in Berkeley for several reasons. First the cheese and the pizza - which draws huge lines - are amazing! But its location in Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto directly across the street from Chez Panisse is cemented in history since it opened its doors in 1967. In 1971 the owners sold the store to its employees and it continues to be a 100% employee-owned and wildly successful business today! Stop by any day and you will see a huge line and people eating the pizza of the day wherever they can including on the median in the middle of Shattuck under signs that say not to do it....but then again, it wouldn't be Berkeley if people obeyed signs!

Wander around the Boothill Graveyard and you will see famous Westerners wherever you turn. The tombstones are really interesting to read, some of the nicknames will have you rolling! It will also illustrate just how dangerous the wild, wild west was as there are over 250 graves in this little spot. There is a small organization that has done a great job restoring and detailing the history of the "residents" in this spot and I highly recommend a visit if you are into Old West history.

On top of the Del Mar cliffs sits L'Auberge Del Mar, a boutique hotel that, with its gorgeous pool, bars and amazing restaurant puts you in the lap of luxury. The sunset from your hotel room terrace is the perfect setting for a pre-dinner drink before heading out into La Jolla, no car needed as you are right in the middle of "downtown" Del Mar.

Although the Big Sur Inn is a fantastic place on its own, the claptrap dining bus at the gas station has some pretty great food. There are fantastically fresh sandwiches and pastries and they do a mean espresso. And eating them in a fun and funky bus...well that's just a bonus!

This lovely little hotel has gorgeous rooms in a garden setting sprinkled with art installations. MacArthur Place is walking distance from the Sonoma town square and it is a great place to stay to while visiting wineries in the area.

What the wonderful aspects of visiting Rome are the many, many fountains that you can find throughout the city. Take time to just wander about, buy picnic supplies at a deli or market and just plant yourself in front of one and just enjoy!

This little bright and sunny restaurant in Potrero Hill serves seasonal and local food with an Italian influence. There is a little terrace outside that will give you a wonderful view of the city. Great wine list and daily specials, it's perfect for lunch or a romantic dinner.

This resort will make you forget you are in the Los Angeles area. You will feel like you are on an island, removed from the rest of the world. There are schools of dolphins in the early morning and at sunset and you will lose yourself in the luxury. There are several restaurants in property and a deli/bakery if you want to eat in your room while you are enjoying the magnificent coastal view. It is decadent and relaxing and only 45 minutes away from LAX - hard to believe!

If you are visiting Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands, the Pelindaba Lavender Farm is a really fun place to visit. You can learn about lavender and then go out and pick some of your own. If you aren't into DIY you can buy already picked lavender or purchase other lavender enhanced products. It is great for families too!

A lot of people are aware of Hog Island in Tomales Bay, but just a few minutes down the road is Drake's Bay which also offers fresh oysters on the cheap. It may not have as many tables and areas to eat, but it also doesn't have the crowds and you can eat them on premises or haul them home. They shuck them for you or you can do it yourself. Bring the makings for a picnic or just some beers, either way you can't go wrong!

There is no shortage of bars in Las Vegas, but if I am going to relax from all the craziness that is Vegas and have a drink, my preference is to do it in a beautiful location like the Parasol Up at the Winn. There is a beautiful view of the Lake of Dreams that will definitely have you daydreaming as you sip on any number of creative libations that they serve there.