BudgetTravel

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Virginia Beach, VA: Sharron, My girlfriend and I can't hardly wait to arrive on Saturday. We will be staying a week. The only reservations we have are the rental car and the first two nights we will be at the Hyatt. Our plan is to leave to head North on Monday after rush hour. Two days in Napa and then we will be heading down to the Monterey/Carmel area. We are the type that like to be flexible, stopping along the way to explore. My question is this: Will I be able to find accommodations without a reservation in both Napa and in Monterey and/or Carmel? I would rather not stay in a chain hotel. I am not cheap but not trying to break the bank. Any ideas? Thank you for your consideration. Also is Muir Woods worth the trip?

Sharron Wood: It's not hard to find a place to stay without a reservation this time of year in Napa; it's the off season, and things are pretty slow (in a nice way) up there now. There are lots of options up there that aren't chains; some of the better bargains are in the towns that are on the far end of the valley, further away from San Francisco, like Calistoga. Brannan Cottage Inn is one reasonably priced Victorian-style spot in Calistoga. Muir Woods is very pretty, but the paved paths and crowds mean that it's not exactly a dramatic nature experience. If you're an outdoorsy sort and like hiking (as opposed to strolling through the trees), I'd suggest going for a hike on adjacent Mt. Tamalpais instead.

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San Antonio, TX: There are so many Italian restaurants in and around the North Beach area and I know several of them serve really good food, but how can one find the best bang for the buck?

Sharron Wood: I think the best deal in North Beach is the teeny little Osteria del Forno, where they serve simply prepared but delicious Italian food like pizzas and radicchio salad. It's not fancy, but it has a friendly neighborhood feel and extremely reasonable prices. It's on Columbus Avenue, the main drag through North Beach. They don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait or go for an early dinner (before 6 or 6.30).

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Los Angeles, CA: Hi Sharron, I love Italian food. Please tell me where I can enjoy the best risotto and tiramisu the next time I am in town. Thank you!

Sharron Wood: There's so much good Italian food, it's hard to know where to start. For reasonable prices and a friendly, boisterous neighborhood vibe, I like Jackson Fillmore, in Pacific Heights. But my all-time favorite Italian restaurant in the city is Delfina, in the Mission District. Call *well* in advance for a reservation; it's a very hot restaurant. In North Beach, San Francisco's Little Italy, a lot of the Italian restaurants are mediocre, but Rose Pistola is good. And if you just want to grab some tiramisu for dessert without eating Italian for dinner, stop by Caffe Greco, one of the city's oldest and most atmospheric Italian cafes in North Beach; tiramisu is a specialty there.

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Lima, OH: I will be traveling to San Francisco in July. I hear alot about the different attractions in San Francisco, but one thing I hear very little about is beaches. Are there any many beaches in the area and how far are they away from the city?

Sharron Wood: The reason you don't hear about our beaches is that they are coooooooold. There are beaches within the city limits  Baker Beach and Ocean Beach are the biggest and most visited  but they're mostly good for strolling, flying kites, and enjoying the views. If you're very lucky you'll be able to sunbathe, but the water is both too cold and, in most cases, too dangerous for swimming. For slightly warmer weather and water, head south about an hour and half to the beach town of Santa Cruz, but you'll still be disappointed if you're expecting southern California conditions.