Booked it

tonyb

Airfair, hotels....vacation time. I've been on vacation for a long time now,but the wife has been working her arse off. Time for some R&R. Napa is our choice to relax, chill,enjoy the wine,food, scenery. I beleive we will stay at the Rancho Caymus inn in Napa. We get a good price since being members at Flora Springs. So far the stops have to include our favs, to stock up on vino to send home. Silver Oak, Duckhorn,Frank Family,Jarvis, Ledson, and Flora Springs. I'm sure we can fit a few more in there. We try and scout out new winerys to visit each time, and joints to eat at too.
Then down to Carmel/Monterey area. A short stay at Clints place,the Mission Inn, then over to.. http://www.highlandsinn.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
California is one damn beautiful state, couldn't image comming home to the cliffs of Carmel every day.
The wife wants to visit the Hearst property,take the tour thing. I'm so-so on that one. Is it worth it ? It's a good distance from Carmel.
We reserved the last day for San Fran, mainly to go to out fav. breakfast place, a small mom and pop shop a few short blocks north of the warf. You guys who live out there sure are lucky, aside from your states financial situation and the wacko's who run it, the scenery and lifestyle is heavenly. I was almost thinking, for how expensive it is to live here in Illinois,can Cali be that much worse ? Probably so in the area's I like anyway. Any suggestions on sites to see,places to eat, are appreciated.

steveinaz

Enjoy Tony! Bev & I are on our way to Vegas Saturday for our annual anniverary trip. God I love that town...

Luck number 7 anniversary!!! Maybe we'll finally jackpot something.

tonyb

Cool Steve, been there many a times myself. Hard eights baby !!
One of these days though, ya have to get out of the desert. Sand on a Carribean beach feels good inbetween your toes.:biggrin: Have fun !!

Willow

steveinaz wrote: »

Enjoy Tony! Bev & I are on our way to Vegas Saturday for our annual anniverary trip. God I love that town...

Luck number 7 anniversary!!! Maybe we'll finally jackpot something.

Let's hope you get lucky......

Willow

tonyb wrote: »

Airfair, hotels....vacation time. I've been on vacation for a long time now,but the wife has been working her arse off. Time for some R&R. Napa is our choice to relax, chill,enjoy the wine,food, scenery. I beleive we will stay at the Rancho Caymus inn in Napa. We get a good price since being members at Flora Springs. So far the stops have to include our favs, to stock up on vino to send home. Silver Oak, Duckhorn,Frank Family,Jarvis, Ledson, and Flora Springs. I'm sure we can fit a few more in there. We try and scout out new winerys to visit each time, and joints to eat at too.
Then down to Carmel/Monterey area. A short stay at Clints place,the Mission Inn, then over to.. http://www.highlandsinn.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
California is one damn beautiful state, couldn't image comming home to the cliffs of Carmel every day.
The wife wants to visit the Hearst property,take the tour thing. I'm so-so on that one. Is it worth it ? It's a good distance from Carmel.
We reserved the last day for San Fran, mainly to go to out fav. breakfast place, a small mom and pop shop a few short blocks north of the warf. You guys who live out there sure are lucky, aside from your states financial situation and the wacko's who run it, the scenery and lifestyle is heavenly. I was almost thinking, for how expensive it is to live here in Illinois,can Cali be that much worse ? Probably so in the area's I like anyway. Any suggestions on sites to see,places to eat, are appreciated.

Enjoy your trip, this is part of what living is all about!

slk55amg

tonyb wrote: »

Airfair, hotels....vacation time. I've been on vacation for a long time now,but the wife has been working her arse off. Time for some R&R. Napa is our choice to relax, chill,enjoy the wine,food, scenery. I beleive we will stay at the Rancho Caymus inn in Napa. We get a good price since being members at Flora Springs. So far the stops have to include our favs, to stock up on vino to send home. Silver Oak, Duckhorn,Frank Family,Jarvis, Ledson, and Flora Springs. I'm sure we can fit a few more in there. We try and scout out new winerys to visit each time, and joints to eat at too.
Then down to Carmel/Monterey area. A short stay at Clints place,the Mission Inn, then over to.. http://www.highlandsinn.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
California is one damn beautiful state, couldn't image comming home to the cliffs of Carmel every day.
The wife wants to visit the Hearst property,take the tour thing. I'm so-so on that one. Is it worth it ? It's a good distance from Carmel.
We reserved the last day for San Fran, mainly to go to out fav. breakfast place, a small mom and pop shop a few short blocks north of the warf. You guys who live out there sure are lucky, aside from your states financial situation and the wacko's who run it, the scenery and lifestyle is heavenly. I was almost thinking, for how expensive it is to live here in Illinois,can Cali be that much worse ? Probably so in the area's I like anyway. Any suggestions on sites to see,places to eat, are appreciated.

Check out the "whaling station" in Monterey, most of us locals consider it one of the best resturaunts in the area. Your staying at the mission ranch( good move) the resturaunt there is also outstanding.

jamesguthrie

tonyb, check out Joseph Phelps, if you haven't before. It was my favorite stop in Napa, both for the great wine and beautiful location. Tasting was done outside, looking out over the vines.

For a cheap yet excellent burger lunch, I'd recommend Gott's Roadside Tray Gourmet, formerly Taylor's Refresher, in St. Helena. It's not high-end cuisine, but it's perfect half way thorugh a day of wine tasting.

The wife and I really enjoyed the Monterey Aquarium when we were down there. Make sure you walk out onto the pier to check out the sea lions - there's hundreds of them barking away.

Haven't been to Hearst Castle, but some friends just got back from there and said it was definitely worth the trip.

James

slk55amg

The Monterey Aquarium is a must, one of the world,s best, parts of the displays are actually the Monterey Bay itself. Hearst Castle is great, Hi way 1 from Carmel thru Big Sur and down to the castle should re-open by the end of April.

slk55amg

Want to live in the Carmel, Monterey area? Even with the housing bust, and values down by 40% its hard to find anything for less than a million dollars that one would want to live in.

cnh

I've been out there once for a conference, a beautiful area. The missions are worth the trip. The Aquarium is nice. And there is also the Asilomar complex that hosts so many of the New Age crowd events, nonetheless, it is a very nice place.

Enjoy! My first trip to Ca was to San Rafael in the early 90s. And for a while I was going out there every couple of years for professional meetings. My favorite spot, though, is San Diego (and if it weren't on a fault line and so DAMNED EXPENSIVE...I'd retire there--reminds me of the lands of my ancestors as does most of central South Ca.)

cnh

slk55amg

The problem with living in Carmel, is your stuck, with an average temp in mid-august of 70, clean air no traffic, wherever you go just is not as nice, figure this out, for me I am at ease here in Carmel, or in mid town Manhattan!

cnh

Two very different beasts there. I lived on the Upper West side of Manhattan for over a decade. The first five years I 'hated' it, the next five it GREW on me and I started to understand the Woody Allen thing!

cnh

slk55amg

If I did not live where I do, I would be in Manhattan..................

Oldfatdogs

Enjoy your trip!Go off the beaten path the back roads are beautiful.

huggies

Sounds like you're trip is pretty well planned out. Otherwise, I would have suggested a trip to Yosemite. It can be crowded, but some of the most awe inspiring vistas in the world. My fave National Park.

tonyb

huggies wrote: »

Sounds like you're trip is pretty well planned out. Otherwise, I would have suggested a trip to Yosemite. It can be crowded, but some of the most awe inspiring vistas in the world. My fave National Park.

Yep, thats saved for another time. Sedona is another favorite spot of mine,not far from there.

SLK- Carmel or Manhattan, shiiiiit, a no brainer for me. I run from the concrete jungle bro. More of a nature guy.
Any thoughts on the other hotel choice ? We picked the Hyatt Highlands because it's right on the coast with views to die for. I also saw Monterey had some nice cottages on the beach, also tempting, but those cliffs in Carmel are too good to pass up.

As far as winerys go, Phelps is also a good one,been there. Thanks for reminding me,will have to insert back on the list. Problem is that there are just so many good ones. I know some may not get the whole wine thing and are happy as a clam with their Berringer Zinvadel, but if your a beer guy, it's like drinking Shlitz then drinking Sam Adams.

Demiurge

Good to see you're going to Carmel/Monterey. Definitely go have dinner at the wharf and check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I think I'm going to take my girlfriend out there later this year.

tonyb

Demiurge wrote: »

Good to see you're going to Carmel/Monterey. Definitely go have dinner at the wharf and check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I think I'm going to take my girlfriend out there later this year.

Oh man....in her eyes, that means your going to pop the big question. Better straighten that out before you go.

slk55amg

tonyb wrote: »

Yep, thats saved for another time. Sedona is another favorite spot of mine,not far from there.

SLK- Carmel or Manhattan, shiiiiit, a no brainer for me. I run from the concrete jungle bro. More of a nature guy.
Any thoughts on the other hotel choice ? We picked the Hyatt Highlands because it's right on the coast with views to die for. I also saw Monterey had some nice cottages on the beach, also tempting, but those cliffs in Carmel are too good to pass up.

As far as winerys go, Phelps is also a good one,been there. Thanks for reminding me,will have to insert back on the list. Problem is that there are just so many good ones. I know some may not get the whole wine thing and are happy as a clam with their Berringer Zinvadel, but if your a beer guy, it's like drinking Shlitz then drinking Sam Adams.

Got married at the Hiyatt Highlands Inn, its the best spot on the coast in this immediate vicinity.

Demiurge

tonyb wrote: »

Oh man....in her eyes, that means your going to pop the big question. Better straighten that out before you go.

We both know we're gonna get married since we talk about it, so while there will be a special occasion for it, it won't be a huge surprise and she knows it's not happening this year.

It would be a good place for it, though, that's for sure.

Sherardp

Getting close to that time for me as well. Looking forward to a nice trip back stateside and over to Guam with work prior to. Enjoy the time off guys.

newrival

must try restaurants in carmel: peppoli or l'auberge (or however you spell it)

some of the best food i've had in my life.

slk55amg

I admire choices in resturaunts, those two are busy even during the winter when the town is empty.

Gadabout

Have a great time Tony.

On your drive to the coast, check out Sonoma County. The trip to Napa can be very romantic, but I have come to prefer the folks and vineyards in the Russian River, Dry creek area. While your driving to the coast, stop at few vineyards in this area and you will see what I mean.

If your up for another tour, your wife will really like the Garden Tour at Korbel

Some of the other favorites in the area (for me) would be: Pedroncelli, Quivira, Hop Kiln, Toad Hollow & Armida - The Wine Road has interactive maps if your interested.

Another place I like to stop is at Armstrong State Park and eat lunch under the Redwoods.

Not sure if you'll have time to see these, thought I would just give you a few options as you head to the coast.

Scott

tonyb

Thanks Scott, I've spent some time on the Sonoma side and know what you mean. Aside from that, and in my opinion, the wine is better on the napa side. It's kinda like a Cubs / Soxs thing between the two valleys. Ledson is my fav on the Sonoma side along with a little Italian joint tucked into a corner of a shopping center called Mama Toninos. A husband and wife team, with a menu that changes daily depending on what fresh ingredients he can find. The husband of coarse is Italian and trained in Italy. His cooking rates up there with some of the best. Sonoma is more friendly,Napa more snooty, but hot damn their wine is top notch. I'm strictly a reserve wine guy, don't waste too much time on the stuff they sell to other states.....because whats the point if I could just buy it here at home. I want the stuff I can't get at home, the stuff reserved for members. Believe me, it's more than a few notches above the lower lines.
Somethings in life, for me anyway, you don't skimp on. You don't drink crappy beer, you don't drink bad wine, and you sure don't eat terrible pizza.:biggrin: