I always loved the idea of visiting wine country, and this was a trip I surprised the husband with. (As it turns out, it wasn’t much of a surprise; I think he guessed long before we made it to the airport.)
Our trip to California was short, just a long weekend, and the weather was pretty dreary for most of our stay. Fortunately for the area, it was raining after a long drought, so we weren’t too bothered by the drizzle and cold weather, since it’s what the counties needed. Regardless, we enjoyed the trip.
We stayed at the Tanglewood House B&B, which appears to now be closed. I can’t say enough about this wonderful little B&B, and I do mean little, as it’s the only rented room on the property. It’s nestled back from the road near Glen Ellen, and the owners are wonderful. Delicious breakfast was served every morning, and they were always willing to offer suggestions for outings, restaurants and local wineries.
Things to Do & See
Wineries
After arriving, we discovered that one of my favorite wineries is located not far from where we were staying. St. Francis Winery is beautiful, and definitely worth a visit. If you can, call ahead or visit their website to make a reservation for one of their wine experiences, which range from simple wine flights to a more formal wine and food pairing engagement. You can also walk the grounds on a self-guided tour, and it is gorgeous.
Obviously, if you’re going to Napa and Sonoma, you’re probably planning to visit wineries. There are more than 400 wineries in Napa alone, and if you include Sonoma, wineries number more than 600.
The Mayo Family winery is also good. A surprising gem in Glen Ellen, they have a very relaxed, family feel.
Side Trip to San Fran
We did visit San Francisco (why would you not??) Again, it was foggy and overcast, but the city is fun either way. We ate lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf and caught glimpses of Alcatraz Island through the fog. We didn’t book a tour, but the weather didn’t exactly make a boat ride look too appealing so I consider that a win. We also stopped for food in Chinatown on our way back to the airport and spent a couple hours wandering. It’s a very cool area, food is amazing and authentic pretty much everywhere you turn. I would highly recommend it.
