Vacations Blog

I am really partial to my dog. In fact, I like him more than a lot of people. He can be an ice breaker, a conversation starter, a friend, a lifter of spirits, and a perspective-giver. He gets me outside and makes me a happier person.

So, when I go on vacation, it is only natural that I would want to bring the little guy along for the ride!

Especially when he gives me that doleful look that means he knows I am leaving and that he is being left behind…

Now, I know that the ‘pet-friendly hotel scene’ has greatly expanded over the last several years….but, I still find options frustratingly limited. I usually only find really upscale bed and breakfasts that welcome your pooch as well as the $1000 it costs to stay there, or I find the seedy run-down motels that probably already have wild animals living in them, so they don’t mind if your pet does too. Isn’t there a happy median here!

Thit is why I was really excited when I had to plan a last-minute trip to wine country that included my dog and came upon a terrific option! The Boon hotel and spa in Guerneville is a new establishment. It is located on the Russian river and is a wonderful eco-friendly hotel with friendly owners. For around $175/night….you can get a queen room with a private backyard, ipod docking station, linen robes, flat screen t.v., and wireless internet. You can also use their saline swimming pool and jacuzzi. The best part, your dog is very welcome there, too! I realize that $175 is not a “steal” but for wine country and the amenities offered…it is pretty darn good.

I am glad to see more pet friendly establishments like this popping up. They allow you to have a quality vacation and bring along your “best friend”…the best of both worlds!

Nothing beats a weekend in California’s wine country for romance and relaxation-that is, unless you are worried about the second mortgage you took on your house in order to finance the trip! It is true that it is easy to part with money here. However, it is also entirely possible to spend a weekend in wine country that doesn’t take a bite out of your check book–only a nibble. This starts with finding a cheap hotel!

My suggestion would be to stray a little more north of the highly frequented Napa and Sonoma valleys. Drive a little further and you will enter the Russian River Valley and Dry Creek Valley area with small towns such as Healdsburg and Guerneville. Here, you have many more economical options. Here are several I found on UpTake.

1. Creekside Inn in Guerneville. They have charming cottages that are good for one couple to a small group. You can easily get a two bedroom with a kitchen for around $175 a night. Split between friends or couples, this is a terrific price, especially if you consider how much you will save cooking in a kitchen versus forking over a lot of cash at a pricey restaurant.

2. L&M Motel in Healdsburg. Not precisely a hotel, but, worth mentioning here. The rooms start under $100 and while basic, are very clean and comfortable. The staff is friendly and you can walk the few short blocks to the main plaza in town. They are pet friendly as well, so can save you the cost of boarding your furry friend.

3. Amerisuites in Healdsburg. Again, no frills-but it has a great locations and a terrific price. Save your money for a vineyard tour.

These cheap accommodations will help you plan a more price conscious trip. I have found that the winding back country roads in this area are filled with small, family owned wineries that have a unique feel and tasty wines . Plus, these vineyards are far less likely to charge high prices for tastings-which is an easy way to spend a lot of money. What you save on paying for tastings you can make up for in actual bottles of wine!

The true splendor of wine country is also it’s beautiful setting. It does something for the soul to gaze at the rolling gold hillsides supporting bountiful vineyards and knarled stately oak trees. The best part about this: the views are free!

Thanks to Rdesai for the vineyard picture.

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!