Postcard from a Southern California Road Trip
A postcard from the road typically means I'm typing out a quick post on my phone as I'm doing just now with a glorious sunrise view from our balcony at the Ojai Valley Inn. Though California is having an early season heatwave we’ve been staying cool poolside.
Until Further Notice, Celebrate Everything!
I don’t know where I first heard this quote but it definitely resonates with me, perhaps now more than ever. After spending over a year mostly at home, socially distanced, and missing family and friends, every step back towards normalcy feels like a celebration. Now that Scott and I are fully vaccinated our world is opening up again and it is exciting!
A Springtime Getaway to Sonoma Valley Wine Country and the Idyllic Montage Healdsburg
Earlier this spring Scott and I had the pleasure of returning to Healdsburg, in Sonoma County, the site of our first romantic getaway 22 years ago. We always enjoy a walk down ‘memory lane’ in this classic wine country town and this trip we stayed at a sparkling new destination, the idyllic Montage Healdsburg. The spacious resort, with 130 bungalow-style suites sprinkled throughout, is eco-friendly with a contemporary design style enhanced by native oak trees and vineyards. We thoroughly enjoyed the fire table on our balcony during chilly evenings, golf cart rides around the grounds, tasty cuisine at some old and new Healdsburg favorites, sampled delicious wines and enjoyed springtime drives through the vineyards. Just a friendly reminder that springtime in wine country is not to be missed!
Our Stay at Classic Timber Cove Resort on the Northern California Coast + Notes on Travel During Covid-19
There was a birthday on the horizon and I wanted to surprise my husband with a destination that would suit our quarantine-induced need for sea air, ocean views, beach walks, foodie cuisine, and most importantly, Covid hygiene protocols. On this trip, no fancy clothes or heels were required but hiking boots, a picnic basket, and his guitar were on the packing list. You get the ultra-relaxed vibe I was looking for with this getaway for my premiere travel client.
Inspiration for Celebrating Date Night at Home for Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine’s weekend, friends! With days passing slowly, it’s hard to believe it’s already mid-February, isn’t it?
This time last year my husband booked a romantic getaway to the Kenwood Inn & Spa in the Sonoma Valley. We had been keeping an eye on the news and understood it might be our last getaway for awhile with the pandemic on the horizon. In some ways that made the trip all the more special and we savored the little details even more than usual. Little did we know how much ‘home time’ we would all have in the coming year.
A ‘Suite’ Stay at Auberge du Soleil In Napa Valley for our 20th Anniversary
Though our trip to Bora Bora was postponed due to COVID, Scott and I were excited about our reimagined plans to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary in the Napa Valley. This was our first trip in seven months, and from the moment we arrived at Auberge du Soleil we knew we had found the perfect place to celebrate.
Scott and I used to whisper it to each other over the years: “We aren’t really cruisers.” We happily schlepped our way through cobblestoned Italian hill towns, wandered along Mediterranean seafronts, and checked into luxurious beachfront resorts, proudly proclaiming ourselves land‑lovers through and through. But after one too many grueling European trips spent hauling luggage from place to place every few days, we realized that small‑ship cruising deserved a place in our travel repertoire.