garlic, gilroy, and -- artichokes?

[Guest guest]

I don't know what state you're in, however, if you're planning a visit to Gilroy

-- um -- well

-- guess I'd just say I think that the garlic cookoff would definitely be the

highlight of your

stay in that particular area. . . . Unless you really dig little nondescript

semi-farm, semi-

suburban, semi-truckstop communities in transition from desperate to whatever.

However, San Francisco is about 110 minutes north of there, so after your

festival then

you could treat yourself to some of the finer cultural, scenic, architectural,

and

gastronomical endeavors. . . and then there are the exquisite Marin County and

northern

sea coast areas, and the wine country -- oh, don't get me started.. As I said,

if we're

talking Gilroy, here, though, you would have to be going prettymuch for the

garlic . . . .

prettymuch, prettymuch... Of course, if it turns out that the Gilroy zone

matches your

proclivities, you could also, in a slightly trendier vein, take in the scene at

Salinas, Morro

Bay, and either Modesto or Fresno... Morro Bay has a really cool rock that juts

out of the

sea and excellent crab. Salinas (and nearby Monterrey) have Steinbeck's famous

canneries

(though Cannery Row has been turned into mall shopping and restaurants), and

Modesto

and Fresno? Well -- their Chambers of Commerce probably sponsor cookoffs, too

--

though I'm not sure what crops they'd be featuring these days. ( Probably soy

beans and

almonds, or possibly pistachios and kiwi -- not bad for Beachcombers.) West of

there,

along the shore, is artichoke country, but I think the harvest times are at

opposing times

during the calendar year. (The artichoke plant does produce a beautiful purple

flower,

though) You mentioned kids. I doubt there'd be much to entertain them in these

areas --

though the Monterrey/Carmel area does, of course, have spectacular scenery. . .

and sea

otters.

>

> Gilroy is the HOME of garlic. They have a big garlic cook-off/festival

> each year out that way that I'd LOVE to attend. Food Network aired a

> special recently about it and some of the dishes.... (Mouth waterin' just

> thinkin' 'bout it!)

>

>

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