California Archives - Page 11 of 24

California Wine Country: A Weekend in Sonoma

January 30, 2013 by The Mom Jen 7 Comments

I feel so lucky to live just a few hours from Sonoma in gorgeous wine country. A few weekends ago my girlfriend and I took a drive over to experience a few days of rest and relaxation that included delicious dining and spectacular wine. Whether you want a girl’s weekend away or a romantic trip with your love, there is lots to do and see in two days!

Where to Stay
On two occasions, I’ve enjoyed the accommodations at El Pueblo Inn. It’s just a short drive to Sonoma Plaza, near grocery stores and shopping, the hotel is comfortable and practical. The heated pool is open year-round, breakfast is complimentary, and the lobby boasts a lovely fireplace and sitting area to enjoy your wine, coffee or tea in the evenings. If you enjoy a little pampering, Sonoma Massage can be enjoyed in room or within walking distance from the hotel. Great for families or girlfriends!

The Lodge at Sonoma is also a beautiful spot to stay with in-house wine tasting offered and the yummy Carneros Bistro and Wine Bar on property. This is a romantic spot and the in-room fireplaces just make it more cozy, check it out. It’s also just down the road from Sonoma Plaza.

Where to Visit
So Sonoma Plaza is the place to start, so park your car and spend a few hours strolling through the shops, visit the wine tasting rooms, and finding a place to eat is easy on each block. Also if you’re a Bachelor fan, Ben Flajnik filmed a few episodes in his home town, you may notice some familiar areas as you look around.

What to Do
You must visit Jack London State Historic Park if you’re in the area. Head up early in the morning and hike around this amazing piece of land in the Valley of the Moon and absorb it’s rich history. Better yet, take a docent let tour and learn about London’s adventurous yet brief life!

If you want a little adventure, different from traditional wine tasting, try a Sip and Cycle tour where you jump on a bike and ride to wineries with lovely catered lunch in between. Look up Getaway Adventures and let Gary know I sent ya!

Where to Eat
Mary’s Pizza Shack is delicious and great for friends, couples, and families to boot.

For some Mexican flair, Maya Restaurant is delicious has amazing salsa and my friend boasts about it’s unique chile rellenos! The chicken tacos were to die for!

Also, a short drive away to Glen Ellen, the Fig Cafe has amazing Margherita pizzas that they can make with goat cheese instead of mozzarella!

Where to Wine

Benziger Family Winery is just down the hill from Jack London park. A beautiful winery with a great tour I hear has very charming wine pourers and fabulous owners. A few joined our hike at the park and we chatted again in their tasting room!

The Benziger winery recommended Imagery Estate Winery not too far away on Hwy 12 and they have the coolest wine labels, and Molly was a fabulous, smart, informative pourer! Check out their port sippers too, very neat!

Envolve Winery has a tasting room in Sonoma Plaza that is owned by Ben Flajnik from ABC’s The Bachelor! The guys in there are so kind, you can sit and they’ll come pour at your table. The best thing, I got to enjoy an all white wine flight while my girlfriend had an all red. We were so happy at this option, I’ve never experienced it!

Gundlach Bundschu was a winery we visited on our bike tour, they gave us a neat tour and a peek into their working caves which was awesome.

Bartholomew Park Winery has an amazing knoll to have a picnic after tasting with great views!

We bottled our own wine at Ravenswood Winery, ask them about their wine blending seminar!

Just writing this makes me yearn to go back to some old favorites and find some more great spots to share! Have you been to wine country?

Sonoma Valley, CA: Jack London State Historic Park

January 29, 2013 by The Mom Jen 7 Comments

The Sonoma Valley is often referred to as The Valley of the Moon, named by Chocuyen Indians who settled there back in the early 1800’s, and is home to Jack London State Historical Park. With over 1400 acres of hiking trails and located among fabulous wineries (next door to Benziger Family Winery), it’s a visit you must take when headed to the area!

Jack London, the prolific novelist behind The Call of the Wild, wrote with a passion and shared his stories from life adventures and experiences. He had rugged good looks and had a strong work ethic that proved him to be most popular in his day. The “Beauty Ranch” (what London called it) honors his spirit and character and you can understand why when you walk about.

I suggest taking a very informative docent led tour, I learned about the determination and vision of a man whose life ended too early.
Structures still on the property include the Sherry Barn (originally built by Chinese laborers with the flat exterior walls typical of Chinese stonework) for the Kohler and Frohling winery in 1884 where London converted it to a stable for his English Shire mares. The Stallion Barn housed six highly prized Shire stallions and the Manure Pit was an innovation designed by Jack in 1914 to collect and store manure for later distribution in the fields.

London and second wife Charmian lived in the cottage on site, purchased in 1911 along with the Kohler and Frohling winery buildings.

It was enlarged after 1911 until it included some 3,000 square feet of living space. Many of his later stories and novels were written on this location on the Beauty Ranch.Once the Kohler and Frohling winery before 1906’s bay area earthquake, London salvaged the space as a carriage house and sleeping quarters for his farm workers.Jack London stumbled upon sustainable farming and didn’t even know it, his Pig Palace is proof positive. The piggery was designed for efficiency to care for prized breeding pigs in a sanitary environment.Jack London died of uremia at the age of 40 in 1916. His wife lived on the property until her death in 1955, their ashes are buried under a rock on the property.

There is so much to see and do at the park, I need to return with my husband! Every month there are ongoing special events at Jack London Park-concerts, themed hikes, and a lecture series as well as daytime family events. Event calendar is always updated on the website. Admission to all events at Jack London Park benefits the park and helps keep it open.

To purchase tickets for ALL these events: reservations are recommended in advance-online www.jacklondonpark.com or tickets purchased at the Museum store. Tickets can be purchased on the day of an event as long as space is available. (for most hikes and outdoor events space is not an issue). Visiting the park also requires a $10 parking fee.

Tour and accompanying wine event was hosted, all photos and opinions my own.

Photography: Benziger Winery Corks

January 23, 2013 by The Mom Jen 3 Comments

Tasted and true.

Hotel Overview: Portola Hotel and Spa, Monterey

January 14, 2013 by The Mom Jen 10 Comments

Living on the central coast is amazing and heading into the Monterey Bay area to dine, explore, and shop is a family tradition that I’ve kept going since I was a kid. My father is a fisherman and always has loved his seafood so the Fisherman’s Wharf is a favorite place to stroll on the weekends.

At one end of the wharf you’ll find the Portola Hotel & Spa where you’d enjoy a wonderful stay in a room with some amazing coastal and mountain views that will leave you, like me, with amazing memories of this gem in central California. When you arrive you are amazed by the lobby atrium that gives the feel of outside but in, when I visited the Christmas tree was displayed in an utterly gorgeous fashion.

With your room keys, a fresh homemade cookie is given to you and you feel completely welcome, and also want 3 more!

Accommodations are furnished in a nautical and coastal theme that seems to marry the nearby harbor and bring it into each room. Sometimes the little things make a stay away from home special, like the ability for young kids to enjoy a stuffed sea otter to play with and sleep with! The otter stays when you check out, but if a connection was made with your child, they are available for sale.View from different areas of the hotel are lovely even on a rainy afternoon!

If you are looking for a kid-friendly hotel, the Portola Pirates Kids Program is a fun way to get your whole family to the beautiful area and not have anyone saying, “I’m bored!” Kids get their bag of loot at check-in that includes a treasure map for a scavenger hunt, a menu of kid favorites at the hotel’s two affiliated eateries, and a treasure chest full of toys to select from at the end!

Peter B’s Brewpub and Jacks Restaurant are on site to treat you to some delicious local fare and amazing beers! Peter B’s is Monterey’s only microbrewery where you can indulge in a signature drink, play pool, and watch the game if you choose while dining on burgers and fish and chips! Jacks casual elegance offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner and I can tell you their tortilla soup is to die for!

Spa on the Plaza is available to guests just steps from your room. With 60 treatments, lounge and steam rooms, mani/pedi services, and hair/makeup artists available, take a break from it all and relax, you deserve it! A state-of-the-art fitness center is available along with a gorgeous pool area (heated in the winter) to use and enjoy with your whole family.

With the Wharf and historic downtown within walking distance and a short drive to Cannery Row, The Monterey Bay Aquarium, Pebble Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and wonderful wineries surrounding you, Portola Hotel and Spa is definitely a million dollar location with a more affordable price! For more information on making your next family trip to the Monterey area, visit http://www.portolahotel.com/. Can’t wait to book my next “Staycation” at the Portola!

Personal tour, lunch, and gift bag were given, all opinions my own.

Photography: Monterey Bay from the Air

January 12, 2013 by The Mom Jen 8 Comments

Last week we flew out of the Monterey airport for the very first time. The rates were INCREDIBLE to Vegas so we couldn’t pass it up. Aside from having a killer bar and restaurant on site, the lines were nearly non-existent talk about boarding relaxed. Oh and the view is spectacular of Monterey Bay from above!