Chocolate makers of California …

Chocolate venues to drool for…   northern California, the Bay area has more than 11 chocolateers… plus shops… factory tours… and other venues… that rate five on the chocometer… (1-5)…

check out some of these…

and there are chocolate festivals, fairs, and wine and chocolate tastings, beer and chocolate tastings, salt and chocolate tastings, and a whole assortment of hidden and not so hidden fun chocolate sites along the chocolate trail… (more info is covered in my chocolate travel guide, contact me for more info)… I also have mentioned venues in other travel posts… such as Donnelly’s in Santa Cruz…

http://chocolocate.com/state.php/California/

http://www.debritochocolate.com/ 

http://www.beachcalifornia.com/jelly_belly.html  

http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stories/articles/chocolate03.asp 

Anette’s Chocolate Factory

http://www.anettes.com

Faerie Queene Chocolates

http://www.faeriequeene.com/

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company

http://www.ghirardelli.com/

Guittard Chocolate Company

http://www.guittard.com/

Hershey’s

http://www.hersheys.com/

Joseph Schmidt Confections

http://www.jschmidtconfections.com/

Monterey Bay Chocolates

http://www.montereybaychocolates.com/

Oak Knoll Inn

http://www.oakknollinn.com/

Peter Rabbit’s Chocolate Factory in Santa Rosa

Recchiuti Confections

http://www.recchiuticonfections.com/

Scharffen Berger

http://www.scharffenberger.com/

See’s Candies

http://www.sees.com/home.cfm

XOX Truffles Inc.

http://www.xoxtruffles.com/

Give the Gift of Travel this Holiday season…

… with a Green Goddesses  Gift Certificate!

 

What better way to celebrate the Girlfriends in your life than with the Gift of Travel?

 

Your 2007 Holiday Trip of a Lifetime / Girlfriends Getaway… and 2008 Freedom Escapades include: 

 

Northern California and southern Oregon Chocolates, Whales, Farms and Redwood Forests… Taste the Sun and the Chocolates! 

 

Luxury Tour of Hawaii 

 

Cruise to New Zealand and Australia

 

Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon 

 

Travel in Comfort and Style with your Favorite GirlFriends!

 

Discounts available for groups of four or more…  

 

 

Check out the website:

 

 

http://greengoddessesguide.googlepages.com/travel

 

 

 

 

 More about the trip:

 

Northern California and southern Oregon Chocolates, Whales, Farms and Redwood Forests

  10 day Eco-Safari…   4-day weekend retreats are also available… 

Satisfy your Sweet Tooth and Taste the Sun…

 

Travel in Comfort and Style with your Favorite GirlFriends!

 

 

Day 1: Monterey... Individual flights and arrival in Monterey. We meet at 12:30 PM. Getting to Know You Lunch.  Then we spend a leisurely afternoon taking the famous 17 mile scenic drive to Carmel, where we will shop, spa, sample chocolates at the local Sweet Shoppe and enjoy the art galleries in this lovely location.  A delectable dining experience. Imagine stargazing by the ocean waves, and leisurely strolls along the  sand.

 

Day 2: Sea Otters and Whales and Sharks, oh my... Enjoy a morning visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Watch sea otters at play, learn about the Mysteries of the Deep, kelp and jellyfish. Afternoon, whale watching excursion to commune with oceanlife up close and personal. Can’t you just smell and feel the salty breezes? After wine tasting, we spend the evening in a beautiful inn in Pacific Grove.

 

Day 3: Santa Cruz…  Heading north, we explore the magnificent coastline and indulge in sampling Donnelly’s Chocolates. Yum yum. Cruising along, we end up at an Eco-Retreat and sleep in yurts, cabins, and/or tents under the stars. Informal dinner and s’mores around the campfire. Anyone got any ghost stories?

 

Day 4: Half Moon Bay…  We literally stop and smell the roses  and sample organic edible delights such as farm fresh goat cheese, pick your own berries, and other locally grown produce, plants and flowers (seasonal). Majestic peacocks strut their stuff, horses, cows, sheep and llamas greet us while  we learn organic farming techniques. Lunch at a local favorite Thai restaurant and dinner a delicious treat  (the best chocolate dessert on the planet). Overnight stay at a Farm Retreat. Are we having fun yet? 

 

Day 5: San Francisco Chocolate factories and shopping galore by the Bay. Cable cars, Ghiardelli Square, and much more.

 

Day 6: Marin County and Bodega Bay: Driving north up the coast, from Bolinas to Bodega. The movie The Birds was filmed at this sleepy beach community. Salt water taffy, kites and nearby The Armstrong Woods, an awesome redwood forest experience.

 

Day 7: Ukiah:  The Real Goods Solar Living Center, learn how Solar Energy works, practical, fun exhibits and a unique gift shop. 

 

Day 8: Avenue of Giants:  We drive and walk amongst the hushed silence of these ancient magnificent trees… An incredible 31-mile scenic drive… a Gingerbread Mansion… and so much more. 

 

Day 9: Mt. Shasta & Ashland: You Silly Rabbit, Harry & David, Dagoba’s, Cary’s and more… Shakespeare, anyone?

 

Day 10:  A Tasty Time was had by all … A hearty breakfast, followed by a charming walk through the downtown area. Time to bid each other adieu as we go to the Airport for our flights home.