| Man is whole when he is in tune with the winds, the stars, and the hills...Being in tune with the universe is the entire secret.
William O. Douglas |
A tale of two choices: which road, which dumpling restaurant?
Bailey Canyon Wilderness Park
In a lovely local park at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, two roads meet in a yellow wood (ok, they're trails and the wood is only yellow in the fall) whichever you choose you're in for a pleasant afternoon among the California Live Oaks.
From the parking lot follow the signs to the trails. You'll go through a rotating gate, which puts you not into a subway terminal, but onto an unused road. Turn right on the road and follow it to the head of the trail where you will be confronted with your low stress choice.
Choose the path to the right over the little wooden bridge, and you will head up into the mountains. Think of it as the hike to base camp on Everest--except it's not Everest and you won't lose your toes. Instead you'll be hiking up to the start of the Mount Wilson trail (for the hardcore, we encourage you to continue on up and tell us all about it when you get back). However far you choose to travel, you'll find an extraordinary view of LA along the way.
Choose the path that leads straight ahead for gentler terrain crossing a creek bed and leading to a waterfall--only active in the rainy season. Watch out for Poison Oak and while your eyes are peeled, you might discover the foundation of an old settler's cabin--you might even make up a spooky story to go along with it. We would.
| Cost | Free |
| Location | 451 W. Carter Ave., Sierra Madre, CA 91204 view map |
| Hours | Seven days a week, dawn to dusk. |
| Website | http://www.cityofsierramadre.com/index.php?mod=bailey_canyon |
Din Tai Fung
The proprietors of Din Tai Fung have elevated the creation of their soup filled steamed dumplings to an art form.
The mere mention of these dumplings causes our mouths to water and the mad search for the car keys to begin. The good news is, you don't have to travel to Tokyo or Kyoto, their other locations, because Din Tai Fung exists in Arcadia. Actually there are two Din Tai Fungs right next to each other--the second opened to accommodate the constant overflow from the first.
Choose the new restaurant for a sleek modern vibe, or the older first restaurant for a more relaxed family feel. Either way you'll wait about 40 minutes for a table and the delicious dumplings will make the wait worthwhile.
Attention soup dumpling virgins, here's the lowdown on soup dumpling etiquette: dip your dumpling in the soy sauce and fresh ginger dish, then place it in your soup spoon, take a tiny nibble out of the corner to let the steam out, then suck the soup out and bite in. Yum.
Tip: Put your name on the list at either restaurant and enjoy the imported curiosities at the Starlight Plaza next door while you wait for your table. Hello Kitty everything, books, CD's, candies, magazines, Lazy Susans, tea sets, car fresheners and fuzzy steering wheel covers are only some of the goods on offer. Just don't be surprised if you walk out with a souvenir...or two.
| Price range | $$ |
| Location | 1108 South Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91007 view map |
| Hours | Mon-Fri: Lunch 11:00-2:30, Dinner 5:00-9:30
Sat: Lunch 10:30-2:30, Dinner 5:00-9:30 Sun: Lunch 10:30-2:30, Dinner 5:00-9:00 |
| Website | http://Dintaifungusa.com/ |
| Telephone | (626) 574-7068 |
| Takes Reservations | No |
| Parking | Free in the lot |
| Type of Cuisine | Taiwanese |
| Payment | Visa or Mastercard |
| Dress code | Casual |
$ Thrifty, under $10
$$ Middle of the Road, $11 - $30
$$$ Gettin' up there, $31 - $60
$$$$ Go baby go, $61-100
$$$$$ Big spender, over $100.