Even before we had kids, my husband and I agreed that water and sun vacations were our preference. Both of us are swimmers, he was a college water polo player, and we love spending time at the beach and in the water. Therefore, when our son (also our firstborn) was old enough to let us know that he hated the water, we were shocked. What was this going to do to our beach vacations?
Last weekend, my husband and I slept in for the first morning in weeks. We woke up at the indulgent hour of 9am–yawned–stretched–looked out at the sunny warm day–and impulsively decided to go wine tasting in Dry Creek Valley! This is one of the many pleasures of living in the Bay Area. There are so many wonderful weekend destinations and fabulous day trips within an hour or two drive from home. Sometimes my head is dizzy with the possibilities!
As we are new transplants to California, from Texas, we had not yet been to Napa or Sonoma. We considered this to be our first “scouting” expedition. The car was soon packed with our map, bottles of water, and bag of fresh cherries for the road ( I love cherry season!) As we headed North up 101, the scenery transitioned from open bay and green mountains to dry rolling hills and groves of oak trees with the occasional vineyard coming into view.
We chose to drive to the small town of Sonoma and base our explorations out of there. I found the quaint upscale shops, cute restaurants, and lovely town square to be delightful—and also very familiar!
As I mentioned, I just moved to the Bay Area from Texas. Most of you may not know this–but, Texans have a wine country region of their own–the Hill Country is a precious gem, tucked into the rolling hills in the heart of central Texas. The topography of the Hill Country is quite similar to that of Sonoma and Napa counties. There are rolling hills and dry grasses with groves of oaks and wild flowers. My favorite place to visit wineries in the area is Fredericksburg. This is an old German settlement that has segued into a modern day tourist getaway.
If you ever have the good fortune to visit, you will quickly see why it is so popular. The main street is lined with cute boutiques and antique stores and peppered with great restaurants–from authentic German biergartens to upscale and cozy fine dining establishments. There are several museums, a beautiful public library, and a charming marketplatz (town square). If you have ever been to downtown Sonoma—it looks a lot like it!
Fredericksburg is also filled with small, locally owned bed and breakfasts. My husband and I used to love driving there on weekends. It is a very scenic drive and during the spring and summer you can stop at roadside farmstands–where there are crates full of locally grown tomatoes and ripe peaches–some places will cut up the juicy peaches right there and serve them to you over creamy vanilla ice cream!
Driving into Fredericksburg on Hwy 16, you can stop in at Gastehaus Schmidt on Main Street. This is the booking agent for over 100 B&Bs in the area, offering free rental services. You can “shop” for the perfect place to stay from placards along the walls. They have pictures of rooms along with amenity and pricing information. Find one you like and book it at the office–then head right over! You often get a pretty good deal as these are places that happen to be open for the night and want to be filled. However, if visiting near a holiday weekend, it is best to call ahead and make reservations.
Once you are settled into your lovely room, you can generally walk to the main part of town to shop and dine. You are also within a short driving distance of several wineries. Places like Torre di Pietra offer tastings and are usually set back on beautiful properties. Texas makes some surprisingly good wines and a wide array of varietals. Buy a bottle or two and bring it with you to dinner.
Fredericksburg, like Sonoma, is a wonderful weekend getaway. In addition to the restaurants, shopping, wineries, spas, and plethora of B&B’s–there is great hiking in nearby Enchanted Rock State Park and plenty of cold swimming holes and picnic spots. It is also a terrific base from which to explore many of the other small and charming towns in the Hill Country–like Bandera, Comfort, and Blanco.
So, if you are a vineyard enthusiast–feel ballasted by the fact that you don’t just have to venture all the way out to northern California to sample fine libations and the wine country lifestyle. Come to Texas!
Thanks to Mike Weston for the great vineyard picture!
So Father’s Day is fast approaching (June 15th 2008), and it’s a bit of an understatement to say that it’s a Herculean task to come up the right ingredients for an enjoyable Father’s Day, let alone a perfect one. Mothers are easy to make happy. Well … Expensive, but easy to plan for. Fathers, on the other hand, are cranky, and it’s hard to make judgment calls about what they like, or not. Brunches are sissy, unless accompanied/planned by Mom with kids in tow. Add spas and shopping to the sissy list, and what you have left is … What? Here’s a reference list for you to chew on.
New York Father’s Day Restaurants: This is a list of restaurants in New York which are offering specials on the menu for Father’s Day.
This historied Tribeca/Downtown lounge is advisable if you’re a Mom with kids, planning Father’s Day brunch for the entire family. Enjoy the special Father’s Day brunch while the kids watch complimentary movies in the grand screening room. The buffet includes omelets and waffles made to order, oysters on the half shell, jumbo shrimp cocktail, quiche selection, fresh salads, antipasti, breads and pastries, cheese and seasonal fruits, and homemade desserts.And the cocktails at the Church Lounge are quite well known among serious drinkers.
Beacon – Midtown West restaurant is offering dads & guests a special 16-oz. Black Angus, dry aged natural Niman Ranch sirloin steak with a bottomless Brooklyn Lager. Dinner a la carte or $58 prix-fixe.
Creama Restaurante – Chelsea Mexican eatery offering brunch prix-fixe with a complimentary treat for fathers at the end of the meal.
Tribeca Grill – Robert De Niro’s landmark downtown restaurant offers brunch and dinner a la carte menus featuring spring seasonal offerings.
Restaurants with Father’s Day specials include davidburke & donatella, Fig & Olive, Havana Central and Lunetta.
Father’s Day Weekend Getaway Package: So let’s say you don’t think just a power lunch or brunch or dinner is enough. You want something a bit more expansive, covering the entire weekend. There’s no shortage of getaways in the Adirondack Mountains, but Father’s Day specials? This is where the 1000 Acres Ranch Resort, in Stony Creek, NY, about 3 and ½ hours’ drive from Manhattan, comes in. Photo courtesy & copyrights 1000 Acres Ranch Resort.
It’s a scenic dude ranch which sits along the banks of the Hudson River, with everything from horseback riding to a 9-hole golf course and fishing, kayaking, indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, night-time cocktail parties and ball games. Kids have a whole bunch of games, activities and entertainment under supervision from the resort staff. They’re offering a Father’s Day package deal which includes a 10% discount for Dad with 3 days/2 nights of lodging, three meals daily, horseback riding, pony rides for children six and under and full use of Ranch facilities.
If Dad is the kind of guy who enjoys fishing and the outdoors, then this is the perfect way to get him to relax on the weekend, with the additional bonus that the entire family gets to have a fun time.
Other events being held in NYC for Father’s Day include the 67th “Father of the Year” Awards being held on June 11th at the Marriott New York Marquis hotel, free , fun things including a concert, sing-along and Lullwater cruise at Prospect Park, and a 3 hour Father’s Day schooner match race starting at Chelsea Piers from SailNYC.com.
This is a post written by Lois from the Home Exchange blog. A family is seeking to a home near Cedar Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills because the mother needs treatment for leukemia for a two month period. Lois has asked us to spread the word in the blogosphere and try to help the family.
“This is a special appeal to anyone, Home Base Holidays members, members or agents from other home exchange clubs, or anyone who lives near Cedars Sinai Hospital, Beverly Hills, who might be able to either do a non-simultaneous exchange or offer accommodation close to the hospital, to please get in touch. Here’s the story behind this appeal and I hope that through spreading the word as widely as possible, we can draw on the resources of the whole home exchange community and find someone able to offer help:
Dear Lois,
I am writing because I was just diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukemia a week ago and I’m 25 weeks pregnant with a girl. (We already have a 3 year old boy, Daxton, so we’re very excited). The best treatment I can get in the area is at Cedars Sinai in Beverly Hills, but that is about an hour’s drive away without traffic and can be 2 or more hours….plus I have to go there every couple of days for treatment.
I thought I might find someone who lives close to Cedars who would be willing to let us use their home for a couple of months during my treatment, but haven’t had any luck so far. I just wanted to see if you know of any members in the Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, West LA, Brentwood, or any of the surrounding areas close to Cedars Sinai Hospital? Or if you know anyone personally or have any ideas for me. I realize you may not know how to help me, but I thought it was worth the inquiry.
Thanks so much and I hope you are well. By the way - my Leukemia is treatable and curable, I just need to get the baby out first and then I can start treatment! I also may have a surgery next week to remove my spleen.
Best,
Leslie”
If you can help, please contact me or Lois and we will put you in touch with Leslie.
Thanks,
Pat Jenkins
The weather for Memorial Day weekend is going to be gorgeous in Cleveland, so those of you who have been holding off on making plans, the time has come to move forward!
A great way to kick off the summer is by spending the weekend at The Great American Rib Cook Off and Music Festival, held each year in downtown Cleveland. Your price of admission includes live music, BBQ ribs with all of the fixin’s, and lots of fun. The 2008 dates are May 23 through may 26, which makes this a great little holiday weekend getaway.
BBQ masters from all over the country arrive in the Midwest to show off their rib skills with the goal of receiving the prize for Greatest Ribs, Greatest Sauce, and/or People’s Choice Award.
Live entertainment this year consists of KC and the Sunshine Band, Jonny Lang, Colin Dussault’s Blues Project, Dennis DeYoung, and Seether.
The Rib Cook Off is not only family-friendly entertainment, it is also economical. The Cook-Off and Music Festival is open Friday (May 23) from 11am to 11pm; Saturday (May 24) from Noon to 11pm; Sunday (May 25) from Noon to 11pm; and Monday (May 26) from Noon to 8pm. Admission prices for 2008 are $7 for adults. Children under 12 are free. The concerts are included in the admission and food prices vary. Friday lunchtime (Noon - 4pm) admission is free.
Above and beyond that, there are discounts available. Two dollar discount coupons are available at Marc’s stores and via the WKYC Website and you can also receive a $2 discount by showing a Memorial Day Cleveland Indians ticket stub.
Now there is no reason to stay home this weekend. Pack up the family and head to downtown Cleveland for sunshine, live entertainment, and great food. As always, be safe, and have a WONDERFUL holiday!
So, I know that memorial day weekend is coming up soon. I suppose I should be planning a weekend by the lake with cold beer, suntan lotion, and a flyswatter–maybe planning a day on a bud light party cruise. However, what I really want to do…is go to the movies. I want to sit indoors in a dark cool theater and get lost in one fantastical story after another….no bug spray or bathing suit required.
Now, this is not a normal urge. I like movies…but, I much prefer the great outdoors, warm weather, and sunshine. I am not some strange pale person in an overcoat that has no social life and hisses at strangers. (well, the pale part is correct). But, it has been a long time since I watched a good movie…had the powerful ’suspension of disbelief’ that a hushed theater and a giant screen can offer.
However, I don’t want just any movie experience. I am actually craving a very singular type of movie outing…
The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas.
This small chain of Austin theaters has taken all that you love about watching a movie at home (comfortable seating, food, ability to drink a glass(or 3) of wine) and mixed it with all that you love about watching a movie in the theater (large screen, great sound, getting out of the house).
They show first-run, second-run, and off the wall movies and they let you drink beer and wine and order from an extensive and suprisingly tasty menu–before and during the film. It’s as good as the movie-going experience can get.
Now, if they would only pause the film every time you had to go to the bathroom, it would be sheer perfection!
The Drafthouse began in a small renovated parking garage in Austin’s trendy Wharehouse District (before it was very trendy). They showed second run films and quickly got a reputation for screening a wide variety of non traditional films—documentaries, indies, and reruns of old cult classics, like Rocky Horror Picture Show and Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.
As the theater became more popular, they also started hosting events and creating fun theme nights around different movies. I have ‘a friend’ that went to the Michael Jackson, Thriller Sing-Along, where costumes and dancing were strongly encouraged (and adhered too!). One of my favorite theme nights was watching the fourth Harry Potter movie and ordering off their special menu… items like butter beer and chocolate frogs. Another ’special menu’ that was created was for a screening of “Like Water for Chocolate” and the kitchen served the same menu as was consumed during the wedding feast in the movie!
As time has gone on…the original theater has turned into 6 in Austin and about 15 in other cities across Texas. I have also read that the first out of state Alamo Drafthouse is slated to open its doors in Virginia, in 2009. They have added mainstream movie selections and big blockbusters to their line-up, but, have managed to keep the oddball and zany features alive as well.
What I don’t understand is why this concept has not been picked up all across the U.S. I live in the Bay Area and have had trouble finding any theaters that let you drink and order food off a menu. The Sundance Kabuki theater is the only one that comes close. But, it doesn’t have in-movie waiter service…much less the themed screenings and wacky cult classics that make the Alamo so special.
I have found more of these kinds of theaters overseas than in the U.S. of A. One of the best is the Cinema Paradiso in Wanaka, New Zealand. But, I won’t expound on it here as it is worthy of its very own post!
So, while there are certainly plenty of fantastic things to do in San Francisco and across the rest of California for Memorial Day Weekend. I am sitting here looking up cheap flights to Austin…..gotta get my Alamo movie fix!
What are your Memorial Day plans?
The suggestions keep coming in for travel toys lately. Here are two more travel toy ideas created by real moms. The first is an award winning toy, the other a travel site about toys for little ones. I always think the companies and ideas created by parents are the best–the inventors are usually creating from necessity and a sense of reality of what it is really like to travel with kids.
I like the creativity of Think-a-Lot Toys Think-ets. It was chosen by iParenting’s parent judges as one of the Best Products of 2008 and only costs $9.99 for ages 8+ . “Think-ets is the world’s first little game in a pouch containing tiny treasures from all over the world.
Think-ets has an assortment of 15 collectible miniature trinkets that can be used to create games and provide hours of entertainment or anywhere!” They collected the items from all over the world from people working in humane conditions and who also get paid enough to earn a living wage in their country. It is also, of course “green.” The packaging is also the carrying case. No plastic to toss into the landfill. Wow, could it be possible, a toy that is fun and politically correct? Worth a try, don’t you think?
If you want more suggestions, you may want to check littlejetset-they offer a variety of unusual and functional travel items for kids. I like the Find It Games for $20.95. My 8 year old likes a treasure hunt of any kind and this one is self contained-good for planes and cars.
Finally, if you like to read to your kids in the car, I suggest the book, Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen. Beautifully written, hilarious and touching. I have given about five copies to my friends and it is straying into my own personal top ten favorite books. Truly a great read for kids 8+. It does have a few swear words in it that only added to the excitement for my family. My kids were begging me to keep reading. Now, that is bliss.
Beach vacation without the beach?