Sedona, AZ - Talaquepaque

On a picture-perfect day, we enjoyed another spectacular view of the Sedona Red Rock scenery during the approach and landing to the KSEZ airport. Located atop a windy plateau, the approach is tricky - especially with the VASI/PAPI lights out of service. Friends (left) met us there for lunch.

The destination was the shops and restaurants at the Telaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village (te-la-keh-pa-keh). Located next to Oak Creek which runs through the heart of Sedona, the Village includes 4 restaurants and a candy shop along with dozens of stores with jewelry, rugs, southwestern collectibles, clothing, galleries and gifts.

Outdoor sculptures surround the gardens and patio dining areas. Behind the Village is The Inn at Los Abrigados. While we didn't stay there, friends who have enjoyed it very much. Naturally they have a full-service Spa and plenty of dining and nightlife alternatives. The accomodations range from cottages that start at $110 per night to the Morris House master bedroom at $775 per night.

Personally, after lunch on the patio at the Oak Creek Brewery & Grill, I enjoyed the candy shop called "How Sweet it is." I cleaned them out of red vines and even brought home a Harry Potter Chocolate Frog as a gift.

Airport services from Red Rock Aviation (fuel $4.34) and Sedona Car Rental were efficient as usual. The Sedona Car Rental has a $10 per hour pilot special that worked out very well for us. They are also the folks who will rent you an off-road jeep for 4 wheeling. We very much enjoyed that last time.

Wynn Las Vegas

Just some quick comments on my first visit to the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas. A relatively new hotel with a smaller footprint than many other Las Vegas mega-hotels, the design and layout are pretty much as you would expect. On our trip we didn't see anything that would distinguish this hotel as anything but an above-average place to visit and gamble. Lunch at the casual cafe Terrace Pointe overlooking the pool was also above average, although as with many Las Vegas hotels, the service was on the "relaxed" side.

On the day we visited, early October, the weather for outside dining was perfect and there was a good crowd by the pool. Later we moved to the Cabana Lounge which surrounds the "European style bathing" pool at the Wynn. While we didn't witness any of the aforementioned bathing going on, the pool bar is nicely situated and even has outdoor craps, blackjack and other table games right next to the pool bar. Losing money en plein air might make it more palatable; who knows. One drawback of the European pool, however, is that being surrounded by the towers, the sun disappears by about 2:30 to 3pm, as do the pool guests. So get your tan-line-less sunbathing in before curfew!

Another tip for the time challenged is to arrive and depart at the "south tower" entrance. You'll avoid the taxi lines and there is a town car typically standing by that will take 1 to 6 passengers back to the airport, Signature Flight Support in our case, for only $60. By the way, while the ramp fee at Signature is a hefty $150 even for a smaller plane, they will waive it for a minimum 50 gallon purchase of $6.50/gallon avgas. Even though both FBO's are expensive, you can't beat the service at Las Vegas-McCarran airport.

Napa Classic

Its a 2 hour flight to Napa from our home airport, but always a treat to visit. Arriving at Bridgeford flying services, our car met us at the plane to begin our tour.

First stop was Domaine Carneros, which is home not only to some extraordinary Pinot Noir, but also the Tattinger Sparkling wine (methode champagnoise). The best of each tasting flight, in my humble opinion, was the "Famous Gate" Pinot and the "La Reve" Champagne. (The purists will forgive the unauthorized appellation). A stunning 1990's reproduction of a French Chateau houses the main tasting rooms for Domaine Carneros.

Next was the inimitable Opus Winery. More like a bunker than a winery (see the website), it is built into a mound rising to a trellised roof terrace where you can enjoy the selection(s) at $30 for a 4 oz taste, and no, you can't keep the glass.

Literally across the street is the Mondavi Winery. You may know that Opus is a collaboration of the Robert Mondavi and Baron Phillipe de Rothschild, so the location is not surprising. The tours at Mondavi are very informative but it is a large-scale tourist operation and not as clubby as, say, the Girgich winery. Nevertheless, Mondavi is well worth the visit for those on their first tour.

The final stop was lunch at Tra Vigne, probably one of the most famous Italian restaurants in the Napa Valley, and deservedly so. The tree-shaded courtyard was a pleasant setting for lunch.

Potted Pomegranate and Fig trees formed the perimeter of the courtyard, which was centered on a most unusual fountain. At first blush, it looked like any other dining table for two, but curiously with a puddle underneath continuously filled with dripping water from the table above. In reality it was a sculpture fountain which blended in perfectly until your eye settled on something-non-quite-right; the reward for which is pictured here.

The best recommendation, however was for the driver and the company that hires him. Beau Wine tours, and driver John Knapp, responded on short notice (i.e. no notice- we called them an hour before arrival) and were waiting for us at the airport. John made the day just right by knowing where to go and how to get there effortlessly.

Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo

A quick flight north brought us to San Luis Obispo (KSBP), which is a short drive from famous Moro Bay. The "big rock" that makes the Bay famous and a long standing mariner's landmark is actually a volcanic plug that remained once the surrounding softer earth eroded. To my surprise, there are actually a series of 9 of these volcanic sentinels, starting with the one pictured , that lead in a straight line to the city of San Luis Obispo.

I highly recommend the San Luis Jet Center. The rental car was driven right up to the wing and our fuel order was processed quickly. The facility is very comfortable, including a crew room and showers.

Also nearby is Pismo Beach and the Oceano Dunes. The sand rails and 4x4's run wild along miles of huge dunes along the state park. These aren't just your generic beach dunes; you have to watch out for the hidden drops. There are tons of places to rent sand vehicles. Our favorite is here. The dunes are also open to motor homes and other vehicles, but beware of high tide.

Flight Training - Long Island

Just in case you thought I did all my flying in the Southwest, here's a plug for one of the best flight training centers I have seen - in Long Island, no less. The Academy of Aviation at Farmingdale's Republic airport (KFRG) has a wonderful fleet of Garmin 1000 glass cockpit cessnas. After a very pleasant check out with Mike Trzaska, I was off on a picturesque 30 minute flight over Long Island Sound towards Connecticut.

Flying the Glass Cockpit for the first time in my checkout was a concern, but Mike quickly put me at ease by pointing out that the Garmin protocols were very similar to the 530 and 430 with which I was familiar. It was fairly easy to transition, but I found my head inside the cockpit more than out, which is not good. The only saving grace for that was the on-board TIS that pointed out all the traffic I couldn't see in the haze anyway.

Shortly after take off on Runway 19, a downwind departure brought the Northport Stacks into view (the white speck on the north shore of Long Island Sound in the photo). After a short 10 minutes over the water we were "feet dry" on the Connecticut side. The destination airport, Waterbury Oxford (KOXC) is just another 10 minutes north.

Our destination that day was a beautiful spot in Northwestern CT called Bantam Lake. Pictured here is one of the isolated coves. The entire flight was about 28 minutes long, but to drive there from Long Island, over the Whitestone Bridge and up the Hutchinson Parkway (named for Ann Hutchinson b. 1591) would have easily taken two and a half hours. In fact, at around $150 per hour wet, the round trip was less expensive than one night in the hotel in Long Island.

Waterbury Oxford airport is a favored RON for many Part 135 corporate jets and has an ample runway. It is a little prone to morning fog so your take-off might be delayed unless you go in for the zero-zero departure. While I don't fly in CT that much anymore, it was where I learned to "fly floats." I'm not sure its still in operation, but the training base at 42B was exciting. We spent 2 days flying up and down the Connecticut River and adjacent small lakes, never getting more than 500 feet high!

If you get a chance, New England flying is some of the most beautiful in the country.

Lake Tahoe Boating

There are very few day-trips as spectacular as Lake Tahoe - summer or winter. Beginning with the first glimpse of the dark blue lake as you crest the peaks forming the rim of the valley, the scenery is spectacular. It is also a little tricky with the winds and turbulence caused by the same rugged peaks. That is probably why they don't fly any more commercial flights to speak of into the South Lake Tahoe Airport.

There is no operating control tower at the airport, but there is also very little traffic at this uncontrolled field. The folks at Trajen FBO network take good care of your plane, but it helps to remind them of any fuel or other services you need just to make sure. Of course, the density altitude is an issue at 6,264 feet MSL, but the 8,544 foot runway helps. Still, we appreciated the 10 knot headwind on takeoff on this 9,000' density altitude day.

Lunch was at the Hard Rock Cafe at Harvey's Resort on the Nevada side, then off to the Lakeside Marina (a 10 minute walk) for the boating. The Marina rents by the hour starting at $160 for boats and $100 for Jet Skis, or by the day and half-day. They seem to provide good service and the boats are "as expected" for a rental operation. There are no VHF radios provided, so bring your cell phone in case you get into trouble. We had a fairly calm mid-day, but the wind picked up in the late afternoon, and the 20' Reinell Open Bow boat slammed pretty hard through the white caps. A stop at Camp Richardson for drinks and a little outdoor live music was followed by a short boat trip to Emerald Bay just north and east of Camp Richardson.
Trajen has a crew car, if it's not already spoken for; otherwise, call "Ozzy" in cab # 40 (530-318-0462) for a quick ride into town.

Carmel Valley Tranquility

A little south and east of the Monterey/Carmel peninsula is home to a number of wineries and beautiful boutique hotels. The Bernardus Lodge actually combines both, with a smallish (read exclusive) number of rooms and a two fabulous restaurants - Marinus and Wickets. This trip began with a fly-in to the Monterey Peninsula Airport's 7,600' runway featuring probably one of the prettiest approaches in the country. It's as breath-taking as playing a spectacular hole along the ocean in the middle of your round of 18. The FBO (MillionAir) has always been very helpful. A call ahead on Arinc 131.50 will have your rental car under the wing before the engines spool down (or, in our case, before the props stop turning).

It was a mid-July get away and, as is common, there was considerable fog at the airport until noontime; however after the burn off, it was a very comfortable 75 degrees for the balance of the day. At the Bernardus Lodge, we were welcomed with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc - a Bernardus label of course - and the welcoming, personal attention that is customary for this five star property. The ubiquitous lavender was in full bloom. We learned that the next week it would be harvested and the chef will be preparing several lavender-based dishes to celebrate.

Since we were early, we dropped off our bags and headed up the street about a mile to Cafe Rustica; an excellent recommendation from the concierge. The food at Cafe Rustica is traditional California, but with a french flair - and a french waiter in our case. Not to diminish the excellent food in general, the thin crust, wood-fired pizza was underdone to my taste. Also located in Del Fino Place, next to the Cafe are two interesting antique and collectible shops. I am not an antiquer, but my wife is, so we visited both. The Avant Garden was filled with a eclectic variety of knick knacks especially suitable for the shabby-chic decorator types. The Kim3 International Furnishings next door featured home, garden and gift selections from "13 countries and 5 centuries" including a couple of the large and rustic farm tables we have been looking for. http://www.kim3.com. Another good choice for local dining is Will's Fargo Dining House and Saloon. As it happens, this is also owned by the Bernardus and a more casual, but very tasty alternative that tends towards big prime steak dinners.

Bernardus guests are treated to complimentary tastings at the Tasting Room about 2 miles east of the Lodge. There were eight wines in the flight ranging from the Sauvignon Blanc we drank upon arrival to two Chardonnays, a Cabernet, a Pinot and two of the flagship Marinus blends. Not too far away is the Talbot Winery tasting rooms, a friendly favorite. Named after the Talbot children, the tasting list featured a Kali and Logan Chardonnay and Pinot as well as the Sleepy Hollow version of Chardonnay and Pinot. We bought the Kali Chardonnay and the Logan Pinot.

Lastly (especially for my tastes) we must mention the spa at the Bernardus. A perennial favorite of my wife, I suppose it has everything an aspiring spa-goer needs. Please explain then why I am still putting aloe vera lotion on her back a week after one of the "hot rock" treatments was evidently over-temperature? Ah well - at least it was expensive...

Wine Tasting - Tuscan Villa - in Paso Robles, Ca

Not the first, and sometimes not the second stop on your train of thought when it comes to "wine country," Paso Robles was a delightful and different overnight wine and Bed and Breakfast experience. The first thing you notice when flying in to Paso Robles Airport is that the valley is literally covered in vinyards. The second thing you notice, especially on this July day, was that it was hot; ninety five degrees, on its way up to 109 (not a typo).

Home base for this trip was Villa Toscana bed and breakfast. A production of the Martin and Weyrich winery and vinyard, it is a beautiful reproduction of a Tuscan villa nestled in the midst of the vines. If you know where their tasting room is located on route 46 at Buena Vista Drive, the Villa Toscana is not far away down the same street. Better photos than I could take are located at http://www.myvillatoscana.com/com . The winemaker's suite is the hot ticket if you have the need for luxury (but I am not sure how much it costs). A jacuzzi sits on the balcony outside this suite overlooking the vinyard. Regular rooms start at $350 plus. The breakfast was tasty and very comprehensive. In addition to a large cold buffet, the chef will make eggs and waffles to order in the spacious dining room. While there is no on-site spa, the Pacere Spa in Paso Robles will provide in-room Facials, Massage and Reflexology. Other Bed and Breakfast recommendations in the area can be found at www.thecanyonvilla.com and www.ledomainebb.com .

Seems like good food always goes with good wine and Paso is no exception. Lunch consisted of a sampling of appetizers at the comfortable Villa Creek on Pine Street downtown. Dinner was the real highlight, however, at Artisan Restaurant on Park Street. Owner/Manager Mike Kobayashi led us to our table in the main room of this contemporary style restaurant. It features American cuisine, meaning a wide range of regional dishes, most based upon traditional French techniques, but sometimes with a hint of the unusual: peppadew butter sauce, sides of grits, fried green tomatoes, and house-made ketchup to name few. You'll like the extensive wines by the glass as well as the traditional list and dessert is not to be missed. Try the assortment of artisan cheeses.

While there are many, many wineries of note in this valley (go to the Wine Attic on Park Street and ask Robert Sanda for advice of which to see and what to buy), an interesting, but small winery is Four Vines; www.fourvines.com. Wine maker Christian Tietje has a passion about making different wines. From his "Naked chardonnay" (no oak), to Zins including "Biker," "Sophisticate," and "Maverick." If you'd like to taste some big wines try a Tempranillo called
"de Toro Loco" or a Sirah called "the Heretic." Christian started out life as a chef in Boston before moving to California to nurture his passion for wine. If you visit their tasting room at 3750 Hwy 46, a little-known fact is that they have temporary tattoos for some of the labels and a few "editorial" tatoos as well. Get a set and be the hit of your next wine tasting party.

The Paso Robles airport is fairly easy to find but there is only one FBO (Paso Robles Jet Center) which has friendly service and the basic functionality you need. The best kept secret for this airport is Matthews Restaurant, located right on the field. www.matthewsattheairport.com . It is, without question, the best fly-in restaurant in the western states. You won't believe me until you try it for yourself.

Flying in to Big Bear Lake, California

One of my favorite fly-in destinations is the Big Bear City Airport next to the lake of the same name. The elevation is 6,750 MSL which makes for an interesting take-off on a hot, high density altitude day. In fact they have an electronic sign board at the departure end of runway 26 that continuously displays the correct density altitude.

One of the nicest things about the airport, besides it proximity to several ski slopes and a snow-play area, is that fuel is historically very inexpensive compared to the surrounding airports. For instance, last weekend when the price of 100LL was $5.40 at John Wayne Airport, the self-serve fuel at Big Bear was "only" $3.94. The other nice thing about the airport is the Barnstormer Cafe in the terminal building. The food is decent enough to support a regular crowd of local clientele.

Besides refreshing your mountain flying skills, you should know that inbound traffic is expected to arrive south of the lake, over the Snow Summit and Bear Mountain ski slopes at or above 9,500 MSL. The pattern altitude is about 7,500 and there is right traffic for runway 08, which means that all traffic patterns are flown south of the field. The airport is in a narrow valley between two 8,000+ ft. walls, which for me at least, creates an optical illusion that makes me fly my pattern a little too close in each time. The out bound traffic flys over the lake (for runway 26) at or below 8,500 MSL. Departures on runway 08 climb over (dry) lake Baldwin which is a 10 degree left turn after departure.

Before you go, familiarize yourself with the terrain and call the Big Bear AWOS at 909-585-4033. It is interesting to note that the temperature/dew point information on the recording is often given in Fahrenheit rather than Centigrade. More info at www.bigbearcityairport.com . Lodging information can be found at www.bigbear.com .

Mountain flying is an acquired skill and includes navigating strong up and down drafts - sometimes associated with mountain wave conditions, identifying and avoiding turbulence (often accompanied by lenticular clouds), and being especially alert for rapidly changing weather like afternoon buildups or fast moving cloud bases.

Plenty to do and good food to boot makes Big Bear a favorite destination. Where else can you take off from your home airport, climb to 7,500 feet and land?

Litchfield Hills Road Race

Running enthusiasts gather each June in Litchfield, Connecticut, an idyllic and archetypal New England town, to run a 7 plus mile course with a "killer hill" in the last mile. This year the winning time was 33:30 for the men and 39:33 for the women. It all takes place in and around the "green" in the center of town, bordered on one side by quaint shops and restaurants and on the other by a traditional, white steepled church. See more about the event at http://www.lhrr.com/ .

While in Litchfield, check out the Village Restaurant, the unofficial race headquarters since its inception in 1978. While parking on race day can be problematic, a short and pleasant walk through this town, which was founded before the U. S. was a country, will solve the problem. The entire green in the center of town turns into a picnic and bazaar. Speaking of bizzare, in addition to serious, elite runners, the race attracts the "less elite."

Another gem we found was the Bantam Bread Company. Who knew you could find artisan bread in a basement bakery in this bucolic burg? Its actually a little difficult to find, and they have no web site, but if you google it you will get the idea. Its become a tradition to stock up whenever we come into town.

You can read a New York Times article on Litchfield here (sorry for the long url):

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9405EEDE103CF93BA25750C0A9639C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1

Sedona - Off Road in a 4x4

Sedona, Az is a magical place - literally. New Age visitors reportedly benefit from "swirling centers of subtle energy coming out of the earth" otherwise know as a Vortex. Personally, I prefer off-roading in a rented 4x4 jeep on one of the many trails deep into the Red Rock territory. One such place that treated us very well was at the Sedona Airport (SEZ), which is a paved plateau overlooking the city. If you fly there, be prepared for an exciting and visually stimulating approach and landing.

The Sedona Car Rental company, 800-879-5337, took care of everything even without a reservation. Having never off-roaded, we were apprehensive, but Dave provided us with a 3-ring binder with very detailed instructions on where to go, complete with tips for not getting stuck.

The tours are arranged by the approximate time it takes (at about 2 mph average!) so you can fit it into your schedule. I don't have a photo of the 45 degree, boulder strewn pass we climbed, but it was exciting for a novice!

After off-roading, visit the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village. Besides plenty of shops where you can find everything you can't live without, there are five or six restaurants all shaded by large trees and located on the bank of Oak Creek. I have also eaten a few times at the Oaxaca Restaurant, which has great views and very good food.

Grand Canyon Visit

Arriving by air at Grand Canyon Airport (GCN) is highly recommended. For pilots, there are permitted lower level corridors over the canyon that allow flights below the 14,500 msl restrictions, although its a little harrowing in a single engine plane. Taxi to the Park is $5 per person. Expect at least a 30 minute wait, and longer during the season. Add to that a $6 National Park entrance fee if you don't have a pass.

The El Tovar restaurant and lodge is a classic turn of the century (the last one, not this one) structure perched directly on the South Rim. While the menu is fairly limited, the food was good and not over-priced. The Arizona Room is a dining facility about 100 yards from the El Tovar. It is "less classic" but with an acceptable menu. Within a short walk from both restaurants there are many craft and souvenir shops with an attractive array of authentic, but not bargain priced, goods. California condors, a nesting pair, were visible on the day we visited. While they're not pretty birds, they are massive and majestic while soaring on the updrafts near the canyon walls; effortlessly circling and swooping up and down without seeming to move their wings at all.

Things to note: Aviation Fuel is $5.50 per gallon (6/2007). There are several nice looking hotels and restaurants in Tusayan, AZ (right outside the Park entrance). While there is also Visitor's Center outside the entrance in Tusayan where you can buy Park passes, it does not seem to get you through the Park entrance any quicker. The line of cars waiting at the gate can be very long.