Weekend Beach Trips

Image courtesy Pixabay

Does the thought of having a long weekend for July 4 have you itching to take a little getaway? Make any weekend feel like a holiday by heading to the coast for a weekend trip! Even if you are unable to spend the entire weekend away, many of these attractions are also achievable day trips. Many of California's most beautiful beaches are within driving distance of your apartment home at Montecito at Dos Lagos, so fill up the tank, pack some snacks and head for the coast!

Corona del Mar State Beach
Literally translated, Corona del Mar means "Crown of the Sea," a title which once you see in-person, you will agree to! The state beach offers half a mile of coast to sunbathe on or walk along, and is popular among swimmers, surfers, divers and volleyball players. For an added touch to your trip, pack a picnic or stay to watch the sun set. One large draw is the beach's annual sandcastle contest, held in October. The drive to Corona del Mar State Beach is 50 minutes.

Huntingdon City Beach
Huntingdon City Beach is home to the famous Huntingdon Beach Pier, which attracts many to this particular location. This beach is ideal for walking, biking and fishing. The pier is separate from the beach itself, but is free and open for the public to attend daily from 5 AM to midnight. Ruby's Diner is a nearby spot to both grab a bite to eat and to take in the picturesque views. Surfing fanatics may recognize Huntingdon City Beach as the home of the US Open of Surfing. The trip from home in Corona to this beach is also 50 minutes.

Victoria Beach, Laguna Beach
One beautiful point of attraction at Victoria Beach is Victorian Tower, which was built in the 1920s. The area is also surrounded by Laguna Beach mansions, whose homeowners share private beach areas, so be careful not to cross over onto their beach. Visitors can participate in scuba diving, sunbathing, volleyball, skim boarding and body surfing. The drive time to Victoria Beach? You guessed it - 50 minutes.

There are many more beaches in Newport Beach, Huntingdon Beach and Laguna Beach! So if you are in search of a day or a weekend away from Corona, you can be at any of these beaches in under one hour!

Additional sources consulted:
OrangeCounty.net

Father's Day in Corona

Image courtesy Pixabay

Happy Father's Day to all of the dads at Montecito at Dos Lagos! If you are still in search of the perfect way to celebrate Dad on Sunday (yes, Father's Day is this weekend), we have a few solutions in mind. So don't head to the mall to buy Dad a tie, but make plans for one of these events and attractions instead:

Brunch at Taps
Taps Fish House and Brewery is taking Father's Day very seriously and has a special brunch event planned. Treat Dad to champagne, mimosas or beer in addition to some special entrees, which include Seafood, Prime Rib, Honey Baked Ham, Omelettes, and Taps other signature dishes! If all of that isn't enough, there will be a chocolate fountain, too! Please be advised, reservations for Taps' Father's Day Brunch are limited, so be sure to call them to book yours before it is too late!

Shops at Dos Lagos
If you're in the mood to celebrate Father's Day a day early, on Saturday, June 20, The Shops at Dos Lagos is holding a special event from 11 AM through 1 PM in the children's play area. Local radio station KOLA 99.9 FM will be on-hand to give away prizes, including LA Dodgers tickets! There will also be children's crafts, prize wheel, face painting and balloon art. If you're feeling lucky, see if you can win something extra special for your dad or husband! If your luck strikes out, don't worry. There are plenty of restaurants at The Shops where you are guaranteed to walk away happy!

Riverside Restaurant Week
The neighboring town of Riverside is celebrating its restaurant week from June 19 through June 28! See if any of Dad's favorite restaurants are offering discounted lunch and/or dinner specials! For more information about the week's events, click here.

Something intangible you can provide on Father's Day is the gift of quality time. Spend the afternoon lounging by the Montecito at Dos Lagos pool and have a cookout for dinner! Time together as a family is not only precious, but priceless.

What specials plans do you have for Father's Day? What was the best Father's Day gift you have ever given? Share yours with us on the Montecito at Dos Lagos Facebook and Twitter pages!

Make a Date at Dos Lagos

One of our favorite aspects of Montecito at Dos Lagos' location is its close proximity to one of the area's premiere shopping and dining destinations at The Shops at Dos Lagos! Practically everything you need is in one central location, which just so happens to be right across the street from your apartment home at Montecito!

Shop
The Shops at Dos Lagos have a wide variety or stores to browse, ranging from upscale to services. Stock your kitchen with supplies from Trader Joe's, and stock your bathroom with soaps from Bath & Body Works. Prepare for a night out on the town with a new dress from bebe and treat yourself to a manicure at Lee Spa Nails! No matter what the occasion may be, chances are good that you'll find what you need all in one quick trip.

Dine
If you have kids or a busy job, you know how difficult it can be to sneak away for a nice meal out. It's much easier to enjoy a dinner out when you know you are only a few minutes away from home, should you be needed. Luckily, the dining options at The Shops at Dos Lagos are not only close to home, but delicious too. Spend a "Wine Down Wednesday" at Vino-Veritas and visit Creme de la Creme Bakery for dessert! If you're craving sushi, RA Sushi is the place to be. Other restaurants range from Thai to Mexican, burgers to barbecue!

Play
The Shops at Dos Lagos regularly host events that appeal to both families and couples. Upcoming events include one for all of the dads out there! Visit The Shops on Saturday, June 20 with the kids so they can decorate a special Father's Day gift and enter raffles to win prizes. The kids will be joined by face painters and balloon artists!

During the same weekend, The Riverside Arts Council is producing an Arts Walk, which will display local arts, crafts, jewelry and more!

Not feeling very social! Head over to Dos Lagos Stadium 15 and catch the latest motion pictures.

What are some of your favorite shops and restaurants at The Shops at Dos Lagos? Share yours on the Montecito at Dos Lagos Facebook and Twitter pages!

Celebrate National Donut Day

Whether you spell it "doughnut" or "donut," the important takeaway from this post is that today is National Donut Day! Sure, any day of the year has the potential to become a donut day, but on this day, and this day alone, you could eat donuts for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it would be socially acceptable.

Believe it or not, National Donut Day actually began at The Salvation Army during World War I when female volunteers (which came to be referred to as 'donut lassies') baked donuts to both send overseas to lift soldiers' spirits, and to create a greater awareness and support for troops throughout the Chicago area. This went on to create a nationwide trend that was resurrected during World War II.

If you plan to indulge in these sweet, doughy pastries today, here are a couple of suggestions on where to go:

Baker's Dozen Donuts
Take a drive along downtown Corona's Main Street and you will come across Baker's Dozen Donuts! Baker's Dozen prides itself on being both affordable and spacious, in addition to being delicious. Baked fresh daily, their donuts are made with high-quality ingredients. Baker's Dozen also offers a variety of other baked goods, including bagels, muffins, churros, sundaes and more! Baker's Dozen is approximately 15 minutes away from your apartment home at Montecito at Dos Lagos!

Yum Yum Donuts
With locations "sprinkled" throughout the Inland Empire, Yum Yum Donuts has quite a wide variety of fresh donuts ready to go! Are you picky about what form of donut it is? Choose from donut holes, cake donuts, fritters, raised ring and more. To see just how many types of donuts they serve, click the link above.

You might even prefer to undertake the task of making your own donuts! If that's the case, try these recipes from The Kitchn! Recipes include vegan donuts, sweet potato donuts and more!

Where are some of your favorite bakeries in the Corona/Riverside area? Share your thoughts on Montecito at Dos Lagos' Facebook and Twitter pages!

Additional sources consulted:
TIME

Antiques and Collectibles Faire

Are you searching for some new items to decorate your apartment home? Whether you are in the process of redecorating or if you love to watch episodes of "Antiques Road Show," you will undoubtedly love this upcoming Corona event - The Fourteenth Annual Corona Antiques and Collectibles Faire! This event unites antiques vendors and collectors under one roof, in addition to offering a glimpse into the past. The motto of this event is "If it isn't old, it won't be sold!" but please note, the faire is not a flea market. Although you cannot sell your personal artifacts, there will be plenty of licensed vendors to purchase rare items from.

The first antiques and collectibles faire took place in 2002 with approximately 30 dealers and 3,000 guests, and has grown to become one of the Corona Heritage Park and Museum's most successful events, with vendor spaces regularly selling out.

The 2015 event takes place this Saturday, June 6 at the Heritage Park and Museum, with doors opening promptly at 8 AM. According to Inner Circle Corona, visitors can expect to see a range of items, including "vintage decor, folk art, depression glass, silver, china, tin plates, dolls, furniture and collectible do-dads" from dealers from all over the Inland Empire. Aside from the art, antiques and collectibles, visitors will also find a variety of tasty food, including barbecue, kettle corn and fresh-squeezed lemonade. The Corona Heritage Park and Museum will be open during the faire, too. Once the faire ends at 3 PM, explore some of the exhibits that the museum currently houses. Admission to the antiques and collectibles fair is free!

If you have never visited the Heritage Park and Museum, it is located at 510 West Foothill Parkway in Corona. From your apartment home at Montecito at Dos Lagos, the museum is less than a 15-minute drive away!

Have you visited this event during any of the previous 13 years? What types of artifacts did you score? Are you attending this year's event? Share your faire finds on the Montecito at Dos Lagos Facebook and Twitter pages!

Additional sources consulted:
Event Crazy