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Relaxation in Morro Bay
Topics: Travel, Morro Bay
Anonymous user Thu Sep 21, 2006 14:06:30 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments Not directly off the 101 Highway, Morro Bay could quite easily be the Central Coast’s best-kept secret. Two things generally come to mind when you mention Morro Bay.  First, the towering rock, iconic of the quaint town and second, the three smoke stacks that can be seen from miles away. However, very seldom do you hear about the untouched beauty of the bay and the adventures that can be found.
  From full day deep sea fishing trips, to a stroll down The Embarcadero, where you’ll find an eclectic array of shops and an aquarium filled with barking seals waiting for you to toss them small pieces of fish, Morro Bay is the quintessential depiction of relaxation.
  If that’s the type of getaway you have in mind, then why not take your vacation a step further and find yourself blissfully enjoying “me time” inside Morro Bay’s national state park, where a great round of golf or the majestic Inn at Morro Bay can deliver you from the mundane.

One Onboard Nautical Events
  Chef Leonard Gentieu isn’t sitting around a table talking about his dreams or future possibilities; he’s living them now. After creating a successful career as a well-established chef, Gentieu retired as many hard workers eventually do. However, as he sat in retirement he decided it was time to jump ship and embark on an adventure that had been nestled deep within his soul since his childhood.
  Before we explore Chef Gentieu’s most recent nautical adventures, let’s show you where he came from. While some people have a knack for building, painting or even writing, Gentieu has a way with food.  A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York, Gentieu currently resides in Cambria, California. Gentieu spent a good portion of his career in Kern County where he worked for the Bakersfield Country Club, the Petroleum Club and the former Maison Jaussaud. He even owned restaurants in the Taft and Maricopa areas. But that’s not where his passion lay, he longed to be on the sea – and the sea is where he was destined to be.
  “It’s funny really,” he says. “When I was younger all of my friends would be reading comic books and I would be sitting down with them reading magazines on yachts and different boats. I knew back then I wanted one of my own. Now, it’s a dream come true.”
  Owner of the Papagallo II, and One Onboard Nautical Events, Gentieu has taken his extravagant culinary talents out onto the waters of Morro Bay by creating an on-the-water experience so magnificent words cannot describe it.
  Gentieu knew taking his retirement and investing it into something could be risky, but not if the risk was something he and his loving wife, Midge, could both agree on. After looking at over 4,000 boats on the Internet and traveling to eight different cities, the pair found the lovely Papagallo II, afloat in San Francisco.
  “This is a great story,” Gentieu says with a boastful laugh, “We had a very, very smart broker. As we were sailing on the Papagallo he opened up a bottle of champagne. The sun was out and we were gliding beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. This was the perfect moment. Then Midge looked over at me and said I think this is something we should do.”
  That was October of 2005 and by the next month the Papagallo II was resting in her new home inside Morro Bay’s harbor just waiting to set sail for any event deemed special enough to celebrate as Gentieu says.
  “If you have an event that is positively, absolutely special then it should happen right here on this boat,” he says.
  From weddings, to corporate parties to memorial services Papagallo has had close to 2,000 people on board for over 75 different occasions. The magic of this yacht is miraculous.  As the business begins to blossom even more, the opportunities to experience that magic are expanding. Whether you want to book the yacht for a private function, jump on board for an open-to-the-public event, or have the boat exclusively to yourself for a chartered trip to The Channel Islands or even Catalina Island and an overnight-onboard stay, the Papagallo II is your best bet for high quality and sophistication.
  Gentieu says he is making the best food he has ever made throughout his entire career because he is where he is supposed to be.
  Dishes such as the fabulous main course favorite: Petite Filet Mignon with a Port Wine reduction and bleu cheese served with a large stuffed prawn with Alaskan Leg Crab Meat cooked in a light lemon butter  is just the tip of what can be experienced onboard.
  “Sure I have a Culinary degree, but I learned so much during my time in Bakersfield and Taft,” he says. “Those places and experiences have made me who I am today. When you get to a certain age, after a while, people start to play it safe. They only dream of what they ‘could have done’ or ‘should have done.’ Not me, I’m doing it and I hope I’m making people happy along the way. I hope people walk off the yacht and just can’t stop smiling. I know this yacht is my personal escape.” 


The Inn at Morro Bay
  Whether you have a view of the tranquil bay or not, there is no “bad” view at The Inn at Morro Bay. Situated at the edge of Morro Bay State Park, The Inn is a luxurious 98-roomed, full-service property that will take your breath away.
Perhaps that is why it’s referred to as Nature’s Coastal Hideaway.
From the balcony of your comfortable, seaside cottage inspired room, Morro Bay’s beauty is almost hard to believe. As you sit in your soft-tub hot tub, perhaps enjoying a glass of wine, you can’t help but take a deep breath in and out  – rest and relaxation never felt this good. A premier destination for a romantic getaway, the Inn at Morro Bay is sure to light any romantic fire. However, its magic doesn’t have to end at romance; The Inn is also a great place for families too. Its quiet nature allows for real bonding time between relatives and nature.
  Next door to The Inn, visitors can wander by the Morro Bay Estuary Natural Preserve on their way to the Museum of Natural History. On the other hand, if a round of golf is what you had in mind, then all you’ll have to do is look across the street from The Inn. The 18-hole course has a great view of the state park’s ongoing activities and the bay. It was designed in 1928 and was included as part of the state park in 1934, a gem not to be overlooked when visiting.
  As the sun sets, the bay glistens like a thousand stars dancing on a blue blanket. Enjoying a delectable meal from The Inn at Morro Bay’s Orchid restaurant is the perfect way to soak in this gorgeous sight.  Made to order, the restaurant’s cuisine showcases the natural gems of the sea as well as some land delicacies.  The restaurant also has an extensive wine list of imported and local beauties. Whether you want to enjoy a full bottle, half bottle or single glass, no choice from the list would be a bad one. Although guests may want to wander over to the restaurant as hunger creeps upon them, it is best to make reservations, as the hotel’s restaurant is open to anyone. Highly recommended is the Nut Crusted Seared Ahi Tuna. It simply sends your taste buds to another planet. And what’s a divine meal without a little dessert – the signature Orchid Seed Crème Brulee  is the perfect creamy treat to end a fantastic dining experience.
Highlights/Adventures
  You never really get a good sense of a place until you find yourself immersed smack in the middle of where you are. Many visitors may find themselves walking up and down the Embarcadero shopping for souvenirs, eating at some excellent restaurants or browsing through gorgeous art galleries, but if you truly want to see the essence of Morro Bay, get out onto the water. While boats are fun and fascinating, kayaking is perhaps the best way to be one with your surroundings. These vessels allow you to not only glide across the dynamic Bay waters, but they are also the only way from within the Bay you can travel to the sand bank, a divide between the harbor’s calm waters and the open sea. The sand bank is not only a piece of untouched beauty, it is also a roped-off preserve for one of nature’s sweetest and nearly extinct birds, the Snowy Plover.
  When traveling across the Bay, you want to go with a company that is going to be able to tell you the ins and outs of the area, the types of animals and birds that inhabit the area and knows how to read the tides – you want to go out with Kayak Horizons. But if kayaking isn’t your thing, stop by the business anyway – their friendly and knowledgeable staff is willing to tell you everything you’ll ever want to know about Morro Bay’s history on and off the water.
  As you glide across the top of the water, remember to look around. Absorb the Bay’s beauty. And although there may be no place like home – there’s no place like the ocean.

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