Exciting Merger News!

We have some exciting news to announce. Where You Want To Be Tours has joined forces with one of the premier team building companies in San Diego - Out of the Ordinary Group
and Team Adventures!

This experience has been an awesome journey and has been a constant reminder that when you stay open to what life offers, wonderful unexplainable things often happen! So what does this merger mean?    It means we now will be able to offer all sorts of unique & one-of-a-kind team building activities and tours.  

Pictured -  Carrie Ellwood and Marc & Darlynne Menkin celebrating the good news!

               
Over the years, both companies have successfully created their own unique brand and together, we'll be able to offer everything from Urban Challenge Scavenger Hunts in 16 locations, Survivor Team Challenge, Minute to Win It Team Challenge, Leisure Olympics, Sailing Regattas, Bike Tours to hidden spots, Food Tours, Interactive Theatre Experiences and so much more!


Pictured - OOO's staff having fun at the beach after one of our Boat Build events

We truly feel blessed to be given this opportunity.  Carrie Ellwood and her team have created something that's very special and we're honored to be a part of the OOO family. We want to say a special thank you to all our friends, family and clients for all your support & guidance.  We couldn't do this without you.


Pictured - After a long day of moving, there's always time to have fun with the staff!

Wow, OOO and Where You Want To Be Tours sure have a lot of cool props!

Looking forward to seeing you on our next fun adventure!

 

Happy Travels,

Marc & Darlynne Menkin

 

Where You Want To Be Tours, Inc.

www.wheretours.com

 

Out of the Ordinary, Inc.

www.groupadventures.com

 

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor."

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Exploring San Diego's Hidden Canyons

Whenever we hear locals say "life is too crazy, we need to get away,"  we can't help but think why?  Living in San Diego is truly paradise. There's so much to see and do. On the other hand, if you want to get away from it all and relax, we have that too. There are so many places that are peaceful and tranquil. And the best part?  You don't have to travel far.

For example, many people don't realize San Diego has colorful canyons just minutes from Downtown. Exploring the canyons can be so relaxing - it really is a great place to quiet your mind and get lost in your thoughts!  This time of the year is especially nice because the weather is warm and the flowers are blooming.  One of our favorite walking tours is our Neighborhoods of Balboa Park - it's a wonderful, leisurely tour that features beautiful canyons filled with wildflowers, cactus, palms and bamboo forests.

We also walk across two spectacular footbridges which is amazing! While many locals may have heard about the footbridges, we find that many have never walked across them so it's always fun to see their faces light up when they discover these hidden treasures.   The neighborhood is also filled with lots of gorgeous, historical homes. We enjoy walking through this neighborhood because all the homes are different and the gardens are beautiful. On a recent tour, one woman summed it up perfectly - "this is a great tour to get out and enjoy nature AND get some home decorating tips!"

We offer this walking tour to both private groups and the public and it's always so much fun!  The next public tour is scheduled for Monday, May 19th from 4:30pm to 6:45pm and we are offering a limited number of complimentary tickets to active military.  For more information, email us at tours@wheretours.com   We are expecting this tour to fill up quickly.

Note -  Kids must be at least 7-years-old, and be able to walk for a couple of hours.  

We hope you can join us!

Happy Travels,
Darlynne & Marc Menkin
Where You Want To Be Tours, Inc.
www.wheretours.com

Honoring our Military

Growing up in a military family, definitely has its advantages.  As a child, I got to travel the world.  I was exposed to different cultures, different foods, different languages - all at a very young age. By the time I was seven, I had been to Austria, France, England and I lived all over the U.S.  I even lived in Germany for a couple of years, which I loved. Compared to some of my civilian friends, I was a world class traveler!

As an adult, I see how these childhood experiences helped shape me to be the person I am today.  For example, I love to travel and see new places. Whether it's right here in my own backyard or we're headed to a faraway destination, I enjoy exploring uncharted territory.  Living in San Diego is a perfect place for curious people like me.  That's because there are so many hidden treasures waiting to be discovered!

Since April is Month of the Military Child, we wanted to do something special to honor our military families. We hope you will join us!

On Monday, April 28th our company Where You Want To Be Tours will offer another complimentary secret beach hike to military families. The tour will run from 2:30 pm to approximately 4:45 pm and will cover a secluded area of Ocean Beach & Point Loma.  April 28th is a low tide so it'll be a great day to take a stroll on this hidden beach. We offered this tour a couple of months ago to military families and the views were fantastic. Be sure to bring your camera and we'll bring along the snacks!

We are limiting this tour to 15 people and we're expecting to fill up quickly so RSVP soon.  Children must be at least 8-years-old. There is one slight hill so all participants should be comfortable with walking up & down a hill.

Please RSVP to tours@wheretours.com      Once you've signed up, we'll send you the meeting location and address.

To all our military men, women and families - thank you for serving our country!

Happy Travels!
Marc & Darlynne Menkin
Where You Want To Be Tours, Inc.
www.wheretours.com

In the mood for some good Asian Pacific Islander Food?

Whenever someone asks us what we love the most about living in San Diego, we always have to pause and think about it.  And no, it's not because we can't think of anything positive.  It's actually the opposite - there are so many things we love about America's Finest City!   From our weather to gorgeous beaches and year-round outdoor activities, it's hard to beat.

But one thing we absolutely do appreciate is the wide variety of ethnic food San Diego offers - especially when it comes to Asian and Pacific Islander dishes.  As an API, I'm always up for checking out the latest Japanese restaurant or Hawaiian Plate lunch cafe. Both my parents are from Hawaii so yes, I grew up eating "sticky white rice" with practically every meal.  As an adult, I've continued that tradition and I'm proud to say that even my husband has picked up the habit. That boy sure does love his rice with soy sauce.

I recently had the pleasure of emceeing the Asian Pacific American Coalition's Gala Awards Dinner and it was such an honor to be surrounded by fellow API business entrepreneurs. Not only did they have great business advice, they also shared some of their favorite Asian & Pacific Islander restaurants. So what are some of my favorite hangouts?  Well, for starters... you can't go wrong if you head to Kearny Mesa. Just on Convoy Street alone, there's more than a dozen simple but tasty and affordable Asian restaurants. Back in my TV News reporting days, I would always look for opportunities to sneak away for dinner to one of these "no frills" spots. Over the years, I worked at three TV stations in Kearny Mesa (Channel 8, 5 & 6) and they were all within striking distance of some fantastic Asian & Pacific Islander restaurants!  Pho Convoy Noodle House was a popular place as well as Tajima Ramen House and Jasmine Seafood Restaurant.

If I'm craving a Hawaiian Plate lunch, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue on Sports Arena Boulevard is the closest restaurant to our beach house. It's not a fancy place but the food is flavorful and it's not expensive.  We love the BBQ Chicken and Spam Musubi. Yum.

Of course, my favorite spot is the 99 Ranch Market on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.  That place has everything - from killer lunch time specials to unique jewelry, knick knacks and beautiful Asian Kitchen ware.  Whatever you want, they have it.   Wow, all this talk of food has made us hungry.  Bon Appetit!  

Happy Travels everyone!
Marc & Darlynne Menkin
Where You Want To Be Tours, Inc.
www.wheretours.com


*Want more?  Check out this fun travel & lifestyle video featuring Jeff Roberto's Sushi on   
  a Roll!     Click here to watch the video.

Giving Thanks by Giving Back

It's hard to believe but January is almost over. Wow, where does time go?  If this first month is any indication on how the next 11 months will progress, 2014 could be one fast year.  As our good friend Scott Milnes once told us, "Get ready for the ride of your life!"

Hmm. Scott may be onto something. Looking back on the past year, we have been on a wild and wonderful ride. Sometimes, it's hard to believe. Like many of our friends, we have so much to be grateful for. We live in beautiful San Diego, we run a cool tour company that we love and we're doing it together. We definitely are blessed and we don't take it for granted which is why we're big believers of "giving back."   To whom much is given, much will be required.

This year, we'll be giving back in a number of ways. For starters, we'll be offering complimentary walking tours of "hidden spots" to our military throughout 2014.  The first one will be a beach hike in the Ocean Beach/Point Loma area on Wednesday, February 26th from 12:15pm to 2:30pm. If you're into exploring cool, secret beaches... this is a great area. The ocean views are fantastic and it's a wonderful way to kick off the week and cure the Monday blues. We'll cover a lot of ground but not to worry, we go at a casual, comfortable pace. We selected this specific date because it'll be a low tide - a perfect day to take a walk on the beach!

Space is limited to just 15 guests so sign up now at tours@wheretours.com before it fills up. We'll email you the meeting location and directions after you RSVP.  As for what to bring? Your spirit of adventure, great attitude, a camera, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and a good pair of sneakers is all you'll need!  If you wish, feel free to pack a snack and bottled water and we'll bring along our fun trivia questions with cool prize giveaways.

We hope you can join us.  To all our military men, women and families - thank you for serving our country!

Happy Travels!
Marc & Darlynne Menkin
Where You Want To Be Tours, Inc.
www.wheretours.com

Trolley Dances & the New Downtown Library kick off the weekend!

If you're looking for something fun to do, head Downtown. The weather will be nice and there's plenty of fun stuff happening!  

This weekend, two great events kick off - the New Library Opens in The East Village and our favorite Jean Isaacs' Trolley Dances Event will also make the scene. The super creative outdoor Trolley Dances takes place the next 2 weekends -  Sept 28th & 29th and Oct 5th and 6th.

Trolley Dances is one of those events we look forward to. Every year, it's held in a different location but when it's in OR near downtown, we really enjoy it, as we love the whole urban scene. Each year, Jean Isaacs and the Metropolitan Transit System choose a different stretch of the trolley line. Isaacs and guest choreographers create six brief dances to take place at OR near stops along that line. 

Our tip? Show up at the starting point for a tour. You buy your ticket and receive a badge that gives you a day pass on the trolley.  A tour guide leads your group to each performance site, taking you on and off the trolley for the trips in between. When your group arrives at a performance site, the dance begins. The performances make good use of the existing environment. Sometimes, the dancers will perform near unique public artworks or unusual buildings. One time, the performers danced in a swimming pool. (and they were fully clothed - it was awesome!)  The entire tour, including travel time, seeing the performances and returning to Downtown takes about two to 

two-and-a-half hours. 

This year's stops will include the new San Diego Central Library and the newly opened Monarch School for students impacted by homelessness. 

The adventure starts at the Northgate Market Plaza on 1950 Main Street, San Diego, Ca. 92113.  For more information, visit www.sandiegodancetheater.org  

You won't be disappointed!

Happy travels everyone,

Marc & Darlynne Menkin

Where You Want To Be Tours, Inc.

619.917.6037

www.wheretours.com

Fogo de Chão - A dining experience that's out of this world!

It's no secret that being a travel writer has many perks. Every week, there's always something going on whether it's attending a swanky new hotel opening, checking out an amusement park or riding the waves on the latest speed boat thrill ride.Yes, it's a tough job but someone's got to do it.

Just a few days ago, we got to check out a new Brazilian restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Fogo de Chão on 6th Avenue was so much more than we expected.  As a matter of fact, we never experienced anything like it.  One word of warning: Arrive hungry.  If you're not a big eater, Fogo de Chão probably isn't for you.

Our journey started the moment we set foot inside the restaurant. The last time we were inside this building, it was Borders Bookstore - a place we visited often since we like to read. As we stepped inside, friendly looking waiters greeted us with champagne.  After we checked in, we were escorted to the bar where we quickly found ourselves sipping on their signature Brazilian caipirinha... a cool, refreshing drink perfect for a warm summer evening. It was the Grand Opening night so the place was crowded but the mood was happy and festive. Our waiter Reza Toliati asked if we had ever been to their restaurant and when we said no, he took us under his wing.  He explained how Fogo de Chão features continuous tableside service of fifteen signature cuts of beef, pork, lamb and chicken.  He also encouraged us to visit their gourmet salad and sides bar which had everything from rare and exotic vegetables to imported cheeses and fresh fruit.  Sidebar - if you're not a meat eater, you can easily fill up on their salad bar. It's quite extensive and it's good.

He then explained the importance of a small green and red-sided chip that was sitting on our table.  Reza said the chip was crucial because that's how guests control their service. He said if the green side was facing up, the Gaucho chefs would keep coming to your table with their skewers of sizzling meats.  If the red side was facing up, they knew to stop serving.  If at any point, you decided to resume service, all you had to do was flip the chip back to green.  It all sounded pretty simple but when the service actually began, it was a whole other game.  First of all, we were amazed how quickly the Gaucho chefs reacted.  The moment you flipped your chip to the green side, they were all over your table. At one point, we had two chefs circling our table, with their delicious looking skewers of meat. Talk about getting the full on royal service. 

As we sampled each meat, we couldn't decide which one was our favorite. From the tender filets to the pork loin and robust pork sausages, they were all outstanding.  The meals were complemented by traditional Brazilian side dishes like garlic mashed potatoes, caramelized bananas and their specialty cheese bread.  Tip: You'll be tempted to fill up on the bread - yes, it's THAT good but don't overdo it.

Fogo de Chão is also known for its killer desserts. Some of the dessert choices include South American Flan, Turtle Cheesecake and Molten Chocolate Cake.  We absolutely LOVE dessert but believe it or not, we didn't try any. Not that we didn't want to... we were too full from the delicious dinner.  But our friends gave the dessert menu a big thumbs up so we'll be back.  You can count on it.

Happy Travels everyone,

Marc & Darlynne Menkin

Where You Want To Be Tours, Inc.

www.wheretours.com