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Climbing Ramona’s Potato Chip Rock

Did you know that Ramona is home to a famous snack-shaped rock? In this episode of Ramona Revealed, I’m going to you on a hike up to Potato Chip Rock. We’ll climb almost 4 miles to enjoy amazing views and burn tons of calories as we reach the summit.

Starting The Trek

Every year people make New Year’s resolutions. Today, we’re showing up and sticking to ours by taking a famous hike in the area. Starting at the base of Mount Woodson, we followed the trail that culminates at Potato Chip Rock.

The start of the trail is a little on the remote side of Highway 67. The trail is rated moderate, but if you’ve done it before, you know that’s not true. It’s big and it’s hard, but it will be worth it.

Ramona Valley Views

It took us 26 minutes to complete the first mile of the hike, burning 195 calories. At this point, the views are incredible. You can see snow on the mountain, and you’ll also be able to rest at turnouts that offer a view of the entire Ramona valley.

The homestretch is one last hill before approaching Potato Chip Rock. It took us 52 minutes to travel 1.89 miles, burning 372 calories. I hike this trail a lot and I haven’t seen any mountain lions, though we know they are native to and live in the area.

Completing The Hike

We made it up and down the mountain in one hour and 42 minutes. In total, the climb took us 3.95 miles. With incredible views and plenty of calories burned, it was definitely worth it.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out with any questions about the area, hiking, or real estate. For information on Ramona, make sure to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of Ramona Revealed. Stay tuned to see what I feature next!

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Get A Unique Christmas Gift At Ramona’s Uptown Boutique

Are you looking for a cute trendy outfit or a special Christmas gift? In this episode of Ramona Revealed, I’m going to take you to Uptown Boutique, a great shop full of amazing items. We’ll chat with owner Andrea to get an idea of everything that Uptown Boutique has to offer.

A Unique Boutique

Uptown Boutique is located in the heart of Ramona on Main Street. Owner Andrea stocks her store with unique items that are a little out of the realm of Ramona. They don’t have many Western items; rather, they’ve brought in a little bit of regular fashion. Think Ann Taylor Loft mixed with Western.

The clothes are trendy but not cheap, as Andrea offers quality pieces. Some of the best-selling clothing items include Z Supply pajamas and loungewear, a huge obsession that customers love. They also have everyday clothes like graphic tees and jeans, with Judy Blue brand jeans as another top seller.

Everyone calls Judy Blue the “magic jeans.” They’re super stretchy, so they’ll lie to you and tell you that you’re smaller. Andrea is personally obsessed with them as well.

Outfit Check

When it comes to helping customers with their fashion choices, Andrea says that shopping needs vary. Sometimes people come in with things that they already have at home to match something they find in the store. Other times, they’ll take a bunch of pictures and we help them work with what they have.

Andrea says she never wants to tell people they look amazing just to push sales, especially because she used to work at Nordstrom and do exactly that. Normally, she lets everyone just look around and, if they need help, she’s always more than happy to work with them.

One thing she often suggests is staple pieces to go with a customer’s wardrobe at home. This includes things like a black dress and a jean jacket. You can then easily accessorize those pieces to create different looks.

Shopping Spree

Of course, I couldn’t leave Uptown Boutique without doing some shopping of my own. I was looking for some festive stuff like jumpers, jackets, and sweaters, and Andrea helped me out. I tried on the Z Supply Maya Quilted Jacket styled with the Myra Bag—which can be used as a crossbody or a wristlet.

The Maya Jacket can easily be dressed up or down and is perfect to wear in Southern California year-round. It also has pockets and snaps. Another great option that I tried on is the Barefoot Dreams Aztec Dupe Cardigan, which feels like you’re wearing a soft blanket. It’s perfect for cozying up on the couch or going out with your girlfriends.

Andrea had me pair this with the Ivory Double Belt Fedora, which helps brighten the look up and is super pretty. These are just a few of the great pieces you can find here at Uptown Boutique.

Get Your Christmas Gifts

Uptown Boutique is a great place to get unique, quality Christmas gifts. They have a 12 Days of Christmas sale, where they every a different sale on each day. After that, they also hold a big blowout sale of everything.

There are lots of different items to choose from, including the perfect stocking stuffers for people of all ages. So if you want to check some people off your Christmas list, be sure to head to Uptown Boutique. They’re located at 642 Main Street here in Ramona, or you can shop online.

I hope you enjoyed checking out one of Ramona’s many local businesses. If you have any questions about Ramona, what it’s like to live here, or even real estate questions, feel free to reach out to me and I’ll be happy to connect with you. Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of Ramona Revealed, and stay tuned to see what I feature next!

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Grow Your Business With Ramona’s BNI Chapter

Are you looking to grow your business?  Did you know there’s a networking and referral organization that can help you? On this episode of Ramona Revealed, we’re going to introduce you to Lyle Sprung, the upcoming director of Ramona’s first BNI chapter.  I’ll explain how this great group of people can help you be successful in all of your business endeavors.

BNI (Business Network International) helps business owners to support other professionals in the community, grow their business, and make more money.  This referral networking group is the largest of its type in the world, with over 270,000 members worldwide.  Meeting with other business owners allows you to quickly generate referrals and market your business, helping your fellow chapter members do the same.

Lyle Sprung has been in BNI for nearly 7 years, with both he and his wife involved in their own chapters.  In support of one of his employees, Lyle is helping to grow a Ramona BNI chapter that will serve businesses in the community.  Members include young and old entrepreneurs and established companies, both big and small.  Any business owner has much to gain from joining their local chapter.

Built on a culture of reciprocal business relationships, you’ll not only get something out of BNI, but you’ll also be giving to your fellow members.  Part of the purpose is to develop business relationships with likeminded people, where you’ll be able to improve your communication skills with trusted advisors.  You’ll represent their interests, and they, in turn, will represent yours.  It’s an awesome give and take that can help take your business to the next level.

Lyle currently has a good core group of individuals as the Ramona chapter is forming, though more professionals are still needed.  Business people that stand by the quality of their work are invited to see what BNI is all about.  The Ramona chapter still needs a handyman, electrician, plumber, and financial advisor to fill key positions in the group.  There are many other categories available, and BNI welcomes professionals to join.

If you’d like to hear more about what BNI is all about and how it can help you, you can visit the meeting on Tuesday morning from 8:30am-10:00am.  Located at Anytime Fitness on Main Street in Ramona, our group of business people is waiting to connect with you!  Make sure you stay tuned for the next episode of Ramona revealed to see what we feature next.

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Happy Hens

If you’re looking for fresh and locally grown eggs without the sacrifice of taste, then look no further! Eben-Haezer Poultry Ranch is committed to providing their customers with the best of the best. Actually there are the best pasture raised eggs in all of Southern California, and they are right here in Ramona!

 

First of all, why buy local? Well aside from the fact that almost all locally bought foods are better in regards to taste, they are also over all better for the environment. By buying locally grown eggs you are supporting the local economy and reducing the amount of energy used in transportation. In addition, some of  Eben-Haezer Poultry Ranch’s producers are organically certified and utilize the latest green technology to ensure the smallest carbon footprint possible. So, it is a win for the environment, a win for your community, and a win for your taste buds!

 

This family owned and operated farm have been providing quality eggs since 1957. You can find their products in local restaurants and vendors and you can also find them used by business people and residents. Basically, they provide local fresh eggs to all of San Diego County. 

 

When opening up shop, they knew not to put all their eggs in one basket. Aside from serving the freshest eggs they also have year round tasty treats made from age old Dutch recipes.  You can enjoy some of their famous Dutch Butter or Spice cookies. They also have all natural fruits and vegetables that change from week-to-week and season-to-season so you can be assured you’re getting the freshest produce out there. 

 

After being raised on the ranch, Luie, one of the children of the owners came to the conclusion he wanted to continue in the industry and build up the family company. That is when the idea of Happy-Hens can along. In the beginning of 2012 Happy-Hens was birthed out of his desire to produce the healthiest and most delicious eggs on the market while simultaneously leaving behind the lightest footprint on the environment possible using all recycled materials for his hens. They are ranked number two in the entire nation, so you could say he is good at what he does. 

If you’d like to stop by and get a tour of the Happy Hens or shop around, their hours are Mon-Sat 8:30am to 5pm. For organic eggs you can also visit their website www.happy-hens.com.

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Cedar Creek Falls: The Challenging Waterfall Hike

On this episode of Ramona Revealed we will be touring another beautiful hike!

Cedar Creek Falls, known by locals as Devil’s Punch Bowl is a 6 mile round trip hike that leads to a waterfall. The views along the way are stunning. At a good pace, you can get down to the waterfall in an hour.

As you hike, you are led through the backcountry hills of eastern San Diego lined with black oak, cedar, and cottonwood trees. The trees make a great habitat for all types of birds so keep an eye out!

To enjoy the beautiful views, you do have to have a hiking permit and they are pretty strict about monitoring the path. To obtain a permit, you simply visit the recreation.gov site and select the date you would like to hike. You do have to create an account but all days in August currently have availability so you shouldn’t have a problem accessing the trail. You can visit the Cedar Creek Falls website for more information about permitting.

I definitely recommend getting an early start, before six o’clock if possible! It can get very hot at midday and remains that way in the afternoon. I also recommend bringing lots of water and some sunscreen.

If you are a beginner, you may want to build up to this hike or wait to try it until the fall. The trail back is fairly steep and can get very hot in the summer months. If you do wait to visit Cedar Creek Falls until the cooler months, you may be rewarded with a more powerful waterfall as rainfall accumulates.

While this hike is definitely tough, you will get to enjoy some of the best nature has to offer right here in Ramona.

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The Best Auto Repair Shop in San Diego: Action Auto Care Center Ramona

Who do you trust to take care of your car? I will tell you who I trust!

On this episode of Ramona Revealed, I am going to show you guys around my automotive repair shop. I have been coming to Action Auto for years because they do good work and take care of their customers.

David used to be the manager at Action Auto but was asked by the owners if he was interested in co-owning. David jumped at the opportunity and he and his wife Susan eventually bought the previous owners out. Susan runs the Human Resources department and keeps the business operational while David handles the repair side of things.

David has immense drive, ambition and work ethic. Everyone on staff loves helping all the visitors that come in. David especially has a lot of passion for automotive care. He is caring and helpful inside and outside of the shop. His integrity also guides the repair service. He has the customer’s best interest at heart. He wants to keep his customer’s safe, but he won’t sell you apart if you don’t need it.

I love that Action Auto offers a special rewards program similar to point programs at restaurants. Every time you visit, you earn points that you can use as dollars off your next visit. They also have a warranty program. They offer a 36 month/36,000-mile warranty which covers your car if the part has a warranty on it.

The Action Auto team works hard to keep your car running smoothly. Whether you just need an oil change or maintenance repairs, they have you covered.

I highly recommend the Action Auto team. You can trust them with your car, just like I do!

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San Diego Food Bank Partner in North County: Giving Back to the Local Community

We are back with another episode of Ramona Revealed!

I want to show you a place important to our office. The Ramona Food & Clothes Closet does so much for the local community. Every holiday season we host a canned food and toy drive for their Christmas Program. Let’s take a tour and learn what exactly it is that they do!

Vesna Curry, the manager of stores and products at Ramona Food & Clothes Closet, is going to show us around! Vesna loves helping the company give back to the community. Their motto is “Because you gave, we can give.”

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The Best Boutique Restaurant in Ramona: Marinade on Main

On today’s episode of Ramona Revealed, we are popping just across the street from my office to Marinade on Main. This restaurant is truly one of my favorite spots, and not just for the convenience! I love all the fresh flavors and local produce.

They make basically everything from scratch! From their marmalade to all the breakfast baked goods, it’s all made in house. They locally source produce, meats, and eggs from nearby farms.

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The Best BBQ In Ramona: Pete’s BBQ & Burgers

In this episode on Ramona Revealed, we are talking with James Murray, the chef at Pete’s BBQ. As you drive into town on the 78, the delicious smell of barbeque will get your stomach rumbling.

Pete’s BBQ is a real hidden gem in Ramona. You will find it at the back of Ramona Liquor. James partnered with a community entrepreneur to combine his culinary talent with business savvy. The two took the idea of putting a food stop in a liquor store from Texas where it is more common.

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The Best Natural Healing Boutique in San Diego: Unique Boutique

Welcome to a special Friends of the Neighborhood edition of Ramona Revealed.

Today, I am showing you around Sara Rise’s boutique which recently relocated to Poway. I love picking up my custom-made essential oils distilled with quality ingredients just for me. Let’s check out their new place!

Unique Boutique lives up to its name! It is truly one of a kind. Plus, Sara and Deb had the idea of Unique Boutique through Divine Intervention. The idea to open the shop came over Thanksgiving.

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