I am always on the lookout for new places to take my bike, eat new foods, and try new things. It's the adventurer in me. And what I love about living in the valley is I don't have to travel very far to find these new adventures!
My most recent find is the Alameda South Shore Center. Last month I had the wonderful privilege of taking a Girls Day Out with fellow Macaroni Kid Publishers from the surrounding area. Our outing was sponsored by Visit Alameda and we had the chance to sample some of Alameda's wonderful activities and culinary culture!
Alameda is an island on the south shore of the Bay area, just over an hours drive from Stockton. The South Shore Center is a shopping center that sits right across from the waterfront. There is beautiful and well-kept bike trail along the waterfront with a view of San Francisco across the bay. This location, along with its many shops and restaurants, make the Alameda South Shore Center an ideal day trip for a girls day out or a fun day out with your partner.
As for our group of Mac Mamas, we spent a few hours at Pinot's Palette trying to get those creative juices flowing at this wonderful paint studio. Here you will find friendly hosts and very patient and helpful staff, along with a bar stocked with great local beers and wines! I am definitely going back in March since they have such a great calendar of events (If you are a Beauty and Beast fan you will love their Inner Beauty event), which you can find here. The studio allows you to take snacks (no outside beverages) if you would like, which I did to hold us over until dinner.
And dinner was well worth the wait! We walked on over to Trabocco's and had a chance to meet chef Giuseppe Naccarelli. Trabocco is an Italian restaurant where you will find fresh ingredients and adventurous twists to classical dishes on the menu. We sampled through the many appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Every single item we tried was close-your-eyes and sigh yum-worthy! The Mac Mama favorite? Try the Agnolotti di Zucca- a butternut squash filled pasta in a light tomato sauce. The textures and flavors were amazing. Check out their menu here and I defy you to not drool! Beyond the food, Trabocco and it's amazing staff also create an atmosphere that inspires guests to relax in the soft lighting and focus on the people you are breaking bread with. It is the perfect setting for a romantic meal or a gossip fest with the gals.
What about the kids? You can absolutely take them.The South Shore Center recently added a beautiful Adventure Court Play area for the kiddos. So as the days get sunnier and you begin to plan out your family fun for the season, I recommend that you consider Alameda and the South Shore Center for your next out of town plans. You won't regret it!
For more info check out:
http://www.alamedasouthshorecenter.com/
https://alamedaca.gov/sites/default/files/document-files/department-files/Community-Development/visitors_guide_leaflet.pdf
