2012 holidays Del Mar. The turf meets the surf during the Thoroughbred racing season at the Del Mar Race Track. Po

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Torrey Pines Golf Course (La Jolla): Two 18-hole championship courses overlook the ocean and provide players with plenty of challenge. In February the Buick Invitational Tournament is held here. The rest of the year, these popular municipal courses are open to everybody. See Outdoor Pursuits in chapter 16. 4 The Best Californian Travel Experiences Hot-Air Ballooning 2012 holidays over Napa Valley: Sure, you have to rise at dawn, but there s no better way to view Napa Valley than drifting over the vineyards in a balloon. Flights are offered in the morning on clear days, when the air is calm and cool. You can book a trip through your hotel or with Bonaventura Balloon Company (& 800/FLY-NAPA) or Adventures Aloft (& 800/944-4408). See Hot-Air Ballooning over the Valley in chapter 6.

In Carmel I discovered two quality 2012 holidays lodgings 2012 holidays charging moderate rates: the Pine Inn Hotel, Ocean Avenue (& 800/228-3851), with its turn-ofthe- 20th-century-bordello-meets-theFar- East decor, and the Vagabond House, Fourth Street (& 800/2621262), a warm, homey English Tudor inn. As for new restaurants in Carmel, I discovered two gems: Club Jalape o, San Carlos Avenue (& 831/6261997), the best, hippest, and most authentic Mexican restaurant in town; and Tommy s Wok, Mission Street (& 831/624-8518), a little Chinese restaurant with a make-it-all-fromscratch philosophy and a Mongolian lamb dish that ll blow your taste buds. I ve also included a trio of longtime favorites: The Hog s Breath Inn, San Carlos Street (& 831/625-1044), Clint s Eastwood old hangout; Little

Del Mar. The turf meets the surf during the Thoroughbred racing season at the Del Mar Race Track. Post time is 2pm most days; the track is dark on Tuesdays. Keep your eyes out for the occasional celeb. For this year s schedule, call & 858/792-4242 or 858/7551141. Mid-July to mid-September.