The Curated Travel Collection: California
Solage in Calistoga, California
Author’s note: Here we are at the tail end of May, following 2 1/2 months of quarantine, and life is starting to feel a bit more normal this week. We are not ready to travel just yet but we are beginning to think of summer road trips to safe destinations and the exciting possibility of fall travel. In that light, here is a collection of blog posts on destinations in California.
Enjoy this glimpse of the Golden State-inspired by travels in my home state over the years.
Waters Edge in Tiburon, California
“I suddenly realized I was in California. Warm, palmy air – air you can kiss – and palms.
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Blog Posts on Life in California
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
Here we are at the tail end of May, following 2 1/2 months of quarantine, and life is starting to feel a bit more normal this week. We are not ready to travel just yet but we are beginning to think of summer road trips to safe destinations and the exciting possibility of fall travel. In that light, here is a collection of blog posts on destinations in California.
If you zip around the corner too fast on the Sonoma Highway you may miss it, but if you slow down you will see a charming glimpse of the Mediterranean in Kenwood that may make you blink twice. I typically travel to Italy a couple of times a year and this place has a similar feel without risking those uncertain international flights right now. Vine-covered Mediterranean style architecture, wrought iron embellishments, gurgling fountains, pergolas wrapped with fragrant blossoms, and terracotta pots filled with citrus have that quintessential Med feel. On Valentine’s Day weekend, not long before the two months quarantine began, my husband gifted me with a 3-day stay at the old-world style Kenwood Inn & Spa in Sonoma Valley, California.
It’s day 53 of our sheltering in place chapter and I finally polished my toenails. Is this a positive sign? I hope so! At least my toes are looking more cheerful. Overall, we are feeling more positive with May on the horizon. For now, we continue to stay home and stay safe.
Hello Friends,
Who could’ve known, just a few short months ago, what our current ‘normal’ would look like? Though our world feels like it’s turned upside right now I do hope you are finding moments of comfort, connection and even humor as our lives have slowed down.
On a picture-perfect day earlier this month, I hit the road for a solo trip to the San Francisco Bay area, a short three-hour drive from my home in Chico. While I thoroughly enjoy traveling with Mr. CT, my husband, there is something slightly decadent about a solo trip every now and then. I was headed to the Preferred Hotels event at Cavallo Point Lodge for the evening but my first stop was the charming Waters Edge Hotel, my hotel for the night, with an expansive view of the San Francisco skyline.
With the cold, damp, often drab days of February upon us, I thought it would be fun to share a little Valentine’s Day themed eye-candy to warm us up.
We were initially on the fence as to whether we should book a weekend getaway to celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary. With our Mediterranean Cruise on the horizon we thought it might be a bit decadent, or at the very least, travel overkill.
I recently shared a blog post about our festive evening with the KNOT Pro in San Francisco last month. What a fun surprise to see a video from the event pop up on the KNOT Pro blog. They do such a fantastic job with both media and style. I am honored to have my Curated Travel voted best of the KNOT for 2018.
The KNOT premiere wedding website threw a festive event in San Francisco for members of the KNOT Pro. It was a celebratory evening since I had recently been notified that my Curated Travel won ‘Best of the KNOT’ for romance travel for 2018. Why not attend a stylish, chic, hosted event on Treasure Island, San Francisco? Scott and I packed up and made the quick trip to San Francisco in early December.
Napa isn't just known for the winery selection within the valley, but it's definitely one of the drawing points. This area is referenced as one of the top spots to vacation in the country. The weather is generally gorgeous, the small businesses are booming, and the people are friendly! Maybe it's the wine talking, but there's no better place to be a lover of all things vino. It can be a challenge to narrow down the wine community into a manageable list of wineries to visit in one go. We're here with some hidden gems and other popular options for a memorable winery trip in Napa Valley.
Early last week Scott and I retreated to wine country in Sonoma to celebrate his birthday. It was just a quick two-day getaway and a much-needed change of pace. Wine country is beautiful in the fall, with autumnal colors, and a crisp, woodsy chill in the air. We seem to make it to wine country for a fall visit every year. Last year we stayed at Sonoma Mission Inn for a surprise birthday getaway.
I'm nearly at a loss for words watching the devastating fires in our beautiful wine country. We are hearing reports of family and friends who have lost their homes. This image from iconic Signorello Estate a couple of years back that burned to the ground last night. Thoughts and prayers for everyone impacted by the firestorms.
Update: It's been nearly a week since the catastrophic firestorms exploded in wine country and it still feels surreal. This is a place where I have both lived and visited regularly for most of my life and it always feels like home. Praying that winds calm for brave firefighters and predicted rains help put an end to the destruction. Sending love and prayers to family & friends who have lost homes and livelihoods.
The setting was picture perfect. The rustic table, embellished with nosegays of white roses tucked into vintage urns, laced with delicate greens, and crowned with intertwining wreaths of greens and tulips from above. The vibe was definitely roses and rosé with chilled bottles of Gerard Bertrand Côte des Roses Rosé adding a blush of color to the table. This was a labor of love and creativity as Dorie created the one of a kind tablescape and arrangements through her popular design business, Broadway Botanicals.
Yosemite is one of California’s greatest natural treasures and a national icon. The majesty of the mountains, the proud sequoia, and the vibrant blue of the glacial lakes can also be enjoyed from the neighboring June Lake. I have a lot of experience with the area, so I wanted to share my tips for the best possible visit.
The most popular area of Yosemite is the highly photographed Yosemite Valley. Anyone who sees it can’t deny its beauty, but in the summer months, it becomes very crowded. The same remarkable landscape can be seen in its northern counterpart, Hetch Hetchy Valley, but with a more exclusive feel. Tuolumne Meadows can also be a more secluded area to visit, and the colorful wildflowers and vibrant, clean water of the Tuolumne River are a balm for the soul.
The HOT List: City Guides will feature an ‘in the know’ local sharing hot tips on her hometown. Our first HOT List features a longtime Chico resident, and one of my favorite people, Melanie Drakulic.
Wydown Hotel has a well-appointed suite including luxury linens, super plush robes, slippers, gourmet coffees and fun touches like free bottles of Izze sparkling clementine. After settling into our rustic luxe suite we opened a bottle of wine and relaxed in the cozy leather chair for two. I spotted a hefty stack of stylish coffee table books on wine country life and knew this would be a cozy way to relax after the rainy drive.
We seem to have a number of family birthdays mixed in among the holidays. Though Scott’s birthday was a couple of days after Thanksgiving he suggested we celebrate on the holiday since we had a family dinner planned. While that was a great idea, I wanted to surprise him with a little something extra this year. On Thanksgiving I had him open a box with his upcoming surprise that read, “Pack a Bag, Birthday Boy!”.
We had a day to clean up from Thanksgiving and pack for our weekend getaway so it was a leisurely schedule. I was tempted to spill the beans on our destination, but I kept it a secret. Seeing his excitement for this adventure reminded me of the power of a surprise.
As I was going through the mail following our summer travel, I discovered an invitation to an event for a brand of which I am a longtime fan. The event was to celebrate the collaboration between the french skin care line, Caudalie by Mathilde Thomas, and fashion designer, Jason Wu. My first thought was, "I can't fly to Venice Beach, I just got home from 3 weeks in Europe". Then I realized that Scott was already planning to be in LA for a class reunion that very weekend and had already reserved a hotel. The timing could not have been more perfect! We decided to drive the 8+ hours to Los Angeles and it was so convenient to have a car for all the stops we planned to make. We downloaded the intriguing podcast 'Serial' which made the drive absolutely fly by.
I was recently invited to attend Brian Culbertson’s Jazz Getaway in Napa Valley so naturally Scott and I decided to make a quick weekend out of it. Wine country is beautiful every season, yet this weekend was simply spectacular. The temperature was in the high 70’s with a fresh coastal breeze. Here I am, thoroughly enjoying the pre-show with a glass of Napa Valley vino.
I'm often asked about my list of favorite things to do in Napa Valley. Along with incredible scenery, world-class wines and dining, there are a few things that always land on my itinerary. These are my 5 favorite things to do in Napa Valley this time of year.
This is more of an afternoon date than date night, but I’ll have to make an exception this time. Scott and I headed up to Table Mountain in Oroville last weekend to view the wildflowers.
Scott and I tried something new for the updated version of our winter holiday. Though we were unable to fly to Riviera Maya due to his back issues, we decided a short road trip would be just the right idea. Wine country is our favorite Northern California getaway and we thought it would be fun to stay in a vacation rental rather than a hotel this trip. With above average temps and sunny skies we knew we were in for a sunny escape to wine country. The vibrant yellow mustard, brilliant blue skies and puffy white clouds were dazzling.
The last thing I wanted to do that breezy fall day, back in 1997, was attend an early mental health conference in South San Francisco. I was going through a difficult time in life, a drawn out divorce, and I barely had the energy to make it to work as a school psychologist, much less pull off the professional thing at a conference an hour away. I remember getting stuck in traffic and feeling like a hot mess when I finally arrived at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront in South San Francisco. I thought I could finally relax, then I learned a colleague was intent on introducing me to the chairman of the conference before the session began. UGH!!!! I protested and started to walk away, until he caught my eye. His smile, and that twinkle in his eyes, were electric. I must have lit up, too, though it had been awhile since I had felt lit up in any way.
Contact us to make your travel dreams to California come true. We create seamless travel itineraries for the modern traveler at Curated Travel.
Heather Lindstrom
Luxury Travel Advisor & Founder of Curated Travel
I’m Heather Lindstrom, founder and owner of Curated Travel, where I design seamless, story‑driven travel experiences for the modern traveler who values beauty, intention, and ease.
I craft bespoke itineraries for clients with a passion for wanderlust‑worthy destinations—whether it’s the charming streets of Italy, the romantic allure of France, the vibrant culture of Spain, the ancient history of Greece, the scenic landscapes of the UK, or the breathtaking coastlines of Croatia. I also curate elevated all‑inclusive escapes and luxury cruises throughout the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Mexico, French Polynesia, and beyond.
My love for travel, design, art, wine, and cuisine—paired with trusted relationships across the world’s leading luxury travel brands—allows me to secure exclusive amenities, thoughtful perks, and meaningful upgrades for my clients. In today’s travel landscape, expert and seamless planning isn’t just a luxury; it’s essential. My role is to ensure your journey unfolds effortlessly, beautifully, and far beyond what you imagined.
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.