Posted on

Viansa Winery (Sonoma County)

Spread the love

Address: 25200 Arnold Drive Sonoma Ca. 95476

Viansa Winery is situated on a hilltop with a distinctive Italian atmosphere and charming old world architectural design. It was founded in 1990 by Sam and Vicky Sebastiani which were both Tuscan born and Sonoma raised. But in 2018, the winery was taken over by Jun and Christian Sebastiani which are both 4th generation Sebastiani family. Viansa is famous for it’s iconic 270 degree views of the Sonoma Valley, good wine selections and it’s wood- fire pizza. The Viansa Winery is about 1 hour and 5 minutes (45 miles) from San Francisco/Daly City via US-101 North. It is open 7 days a week from 10 am- 5 pm. The Viansa Winery is currently by reservation but also accepts walk-in customers. Children and dogs are allowed but keep your dogs on leash and outdoors.

We arrived early at around 10 am which our appointment was scheduled at 10:30 am. Since we arrived too early, we decided to check out the surrounding area and took pictures of the property. The winery grounds are very clean, relaxing, beautiful and full of colorful roses and flowers in it’s garden. We checked in at the Marketplace/Deli and were assisted/greeted by the two friendly hostesses named Tonya and Denise. We were immediately escorted to our outside Private Outlook table area which are perched along the vineyards with an amazing view of the Sonoma Vineyard and Valley floor. There were also a lot of outdoor tables situated all over the property with a gorgeous view of the vineyard. And most of the tables have sunshades to keep their customers cool on a sunny day. We also noticed that there were a lot of playful and colorful birds flying near the private outlook. And there were only 3 custom private outlook situated infront of the hill overlooking the vineyard below.

We were immediately greeted by our server/sommelier Gabriel who was very knowledgeable, professional, friendly, fast, and provided us with excellent service. He brought our first set of wine for tasting and followed by our charcuterie board good for 3 people with a wide variety of cheeses, meats, fruits and jams. I ordered a bottle of water while my daughter had a bottle of apple juice. We were given compostable plates, spoons, forks, and knives. We also ordered their famous wood-fired pizza for $20 but we had to walk over to the Pizza station and placed our own order. We were given a pager and notified us when it was ready and had to take the pizza to our table by ourselves. We didn’t order dessert as we were full with all the food that we had ordered. Before we left my wife purchased 2 bottles of wine and bought the delicious Fig jam and Brie cheese at their Marketplace/Italian Deli. The Marketplace sells real food such as freshly prepared sandwiches, drinks, souvenirs, breads, crackers, fruits and many more.

Here are some of Viansa Winery’s current wine tasting options and all prices are per person.

Summit Tasting seated on a hilltop terrace good for 2-10 guests with a price of $35 for non members and $28 for winery members. Vista Lounge Tasting good for 2-10 guests for lounge and 2-4 guests for the firepit area. The price is $50 non members and $40 for wine members. Private Outlook Tasting perched along the hillside vineyards good for 2-6 guests. The price is $75 non members and $60 for wine members. Fireside Tasting in the rustic loggia alcove good for 2-10 guests. The price is $75 non members and $60 for wine members. Wine Library Tasting good for 4-10 guests for the price of $95 non members and $76 for wine members.

Overall, we were satisfied with the quality of the food and the outstanding service of our sommelier Gabriel, Hostesses Tanya and Denise . It’s a magical place that transported us back to Tuscany Italy due to it’s casual relaxing atmosphere and architectural property design. The relaxing views of the Valley floor, the outstanding service, and the warm sunny weather made our wine tasting experience at Viansa very memorable. Our experience at our Private reserved custom outlook area is worth the costs due to it’s amazing unobstructed view of the Vineyard and the Sonoma Valley.

Tips:  They have a large parking lot area for all their customers. The parking lot area is made up of sand and gravel. They also have a live performance on weekends to entertain their customers. There is a cafe called Sonoma’s Best at Cornerstone Sonoma Shopping Mall that served delicious Gelato (Peanut Butter flavor) which costs $10 for 3 scoops. And there is an Olive Tasting experience at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. Both locations are very close to Viansa Winery. There were also some picnic tables in the back by the lawn and Pizza station area but without a view. And also on the side of the property under the shaded Trees with a partial view.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about the Viansa Winery after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel or place to stay near Viansa Winery close in Sonoma.

Posted on

Seacrest Oceanview Hotel(Pismo Beach)

Spread the love

The Hotel is located on the Central Coast and a few minutes away from the Pismo Beach Pier. It is situated on a cliff with direct access to the beach via a flight of stairs. The hotel provides different selections of guest accommodations such as the Deluxe signature oceanfront, Coastal view, and standard rooms. Some of the hotel amenities are 3 gas BBQ grills, 3 outdoor hot tubs, an outdoor heated pool, free wifi complimentary continental breakfast, and many more.

It took us 4 hours drive from San Francisco via US 101 to Pismo Beach. The drive was very relaxing and passed through a lot of beautiful wineries. We reserved and stayed at a Coastal View room with two queen beds. Our room (#211) had a view of the Pismo Beach Pier and a partial view of the ocean from our private balcony. It was one of the best views that we experienced and it felt like we were in Hawaii. We took the private stairs to the beach and had a picnic. But it was a challenge and got tired of going up the flight of stairs. (LOL) We bought bottled water and snacks in our backpacks. On our last day, it was a low tide so we were lucky enough that we visited the small caves and tide pools along the beach. We even walked for about 20-30 minutes to Pismo Beach Pier and bought some souvenirs at the gift shop near the public restroom. We also took a family picture on the 7-foot neon sign of Pismo Beach.

Overall, we enjoyed and loved the gorgeous views from the Hotel lawn and from our room’s balcony especially during sunrise and sunset. We enjoyed and maximized all the Hotel amenities such as the complimentary continental breakfast, lots of parking, onsite restaurant (Willow), private beach access, swimming pool, hot tubs, fire pits, complimentary teas, coffees, and hot chocolates and they even have an ice cream cart in the lobby which they sell ice cream.

Tips: The hotel provides a water dispenser near the lobby where you can refill your empty water bottles and save money. We also ate at ADA’s fish house and bought the famous cinnamon bun at Old West Cinnamon Bakery. They are about a 10-15 minutes drive from the Hotel. The strawberry-glazed cinnamon bun is very good and delicious.

Let me know if you have any questions and what you think about the Seacrest Oceanfront Hotel after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel at SeaCrest Oceanview Hotel or its surrounding area in Pismo Beach.

Posted on

San Jose Sharks Penthouse Lounge (SAP Center)

Spread the love

My family and I experienced the San Jose Sharks Penthouse Lounge area in Dec 2024. It was our first time at a Sharks game and we had a very memorable, fun experience at the new and luxurious Penthouse Lounge. We had access to the SAP Center Club Level. The luxurious Penthouse Lounge is located above sections 207-209. Mr. Daniel K. (Premium Sales Manager) provided us with exceptional customer service and ensured that we are all having a great time.

We were surprised and thrilled the moment we opened the door and walked inside the San Jose Sharks Penthouse Lounge. The luxurious Penthouse Lounge is spacious, comfortable, has an amazing viewing area and outstanding hospitality service. There were access to unlimited food, drinks and desserts where all kinds of Chef inspired menus are available such as roast beef, braised pork, yellow fin crudo, gambas ala jillo, celebration potatoes, brussel sprouts, chicken breasts, wide variety of crackers and cheese, healthy salads. They are all available for all the Sharks Penthouse Lounge customers. My 15 years old daughter loved and tasted all  the wide varieties of delicious desserts such as the sugar, chocolate and oatmeal cookies, lemon pies, strawberry and chocolate squares, caramel and cheese popcorn. After we ate our dinner my wife and I proceeded to the semi private bar located in the middle of the lounge and tried the special of the day “Abuelita Horchata” and all kinds of mixed cocktail drinks.

Our amazing seats are located in PL7, row 2 and we were impressed with our theater box style leather seats which are very comfortable. Each seat has an unobstructed view of the ice rink below, a nice HDTV and a medium sized table for putting your food and drinks while watching the game. Some of the tables or areas have a wireless charging station which is a plus since my cell battery was very low. There is something special about watching a hockey game, sitting on comfortable leather seats and having unlimited access to food, drinks and desserts.

There were a lot of uniformed servers that walked around and took all our trash, cleaned the tables and brought food to our tables. They are all very friendly, professional and helpful servers. The bartender even made my wife a special drink to accommodate her requests. Public restrooms are available and are close to the Penthouse Lounge. We parked in the ABC parking lot area which is right in front of the SAP Center.

Overall, we had an amazing, unforgettable, fun and memorable one of a kind experience at the luxurious San Jose Sharks Penthouse Lounge. We will definitely come back again to watch the Sharks game with our friends and families. I would highly recommend Mr. Daniel K for his superb customer service and willingness to cater to his client’s needs. Thank you to everyone at SJ Sharks for an unforgettable experience at the San Jose Sharks Penthouse Lounge. My family and I really had a great time. Go SJ Sharks!

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about the San Jose Sharks Penthouse Lounge after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

For more information about the San Jose Sharks Penthouse Lounge click the link below: Thank you.

https://www.nhl.com/sharks/tickets/penthouse-lounge

Posted on

Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant (Napa)

Spread the love

Address: 4110 Howard Ln, Napa, CA 94558

Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant is a fancy Italian dining restaurant that serves fresh traditional Italian dishes and is open for lunch and dinner. In 1993, Giovanni and Donna Scala opened Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant in Napa. Donna Scala who is a renowned Chef later died in 2014. Chef Donna Scala’s legacy was continued by his husband Giovanni and current Chef Scott Warner. Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant is one of the famous Restaurant in Napa.

The Restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor heated seating with colorful sun shade. We arrived for lunch at Bistro Don Giovanni restaurant at around 11:30 a.m. which is the time when the restaurant just opened. We were immediately greeted by a friendly hostess and was seated at one of their outdoor heated table closest to the beautiful vineyard. There was a beautiful, whimsical water fountain situated in the middle of the garden. And all their outdoor tables were situated in their relaxing garden overlooking the beautiful mountains and the vineyards.

We decided to celebrate our Easter Sunday lunch at Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant in Napa. The friendly waiter named Juan provided us with a Fresh Focaccia bread with olive oil to dip the fresh warm bread. We started out with an appetizer and ordered the famous “Grilled Octopus” with frisee, arugula, potatoes, olives, lemon and olive oil for $18. The grilled octopus was soft, flavorful and not too rubbery or tough and was grilled to perfection. And for our main entrees, we ordered “Pollo Alla Diavola” which is an oven roasted spicy rocky junior half chicken, Linda’s brocolli, natural jus for $35. The chicken’s skin is crunchy outside but very soft and moist in the inside. “Ravioli” with spinach, pecorino, bellwether ricotta lemon cream for $18. And my wife had a special menu of the day which is a fresh fish with capers and a special creamy sauce on top with a side of vegetables and potatoes. And for our dessert we ordered their special mango and coconut sorbet which is shaped like an Easter egg and a duck shaped cookie. The special sorbet dessert is so refreshing and melts in the mouth. As for our cocktail drinks my wife ordered the “La Vida Flora” made up of La Vida Mezcal, Amaro Montenegro and pineapple juice for $16.

Overall, we were satisfied with the quality of the food that we ordered. The gorgeous view of the mountain and vineyards, the great service, outdoor seating and the beautiful sunny warm weather made our experience extra special. We would highly recommend the Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant due to the quality of food and the amazing Napa view. The best part was meeting the owner Don Giovanni and took a picture with him and my family. He was approachable, friendly, inviting and a warm personality.

Tips: Make sure that you reserve the earliest time since they get so busy on weekends. The restaurant is close to Meritage Resort and Spa with a bowling alley, Galpao Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse, Town of Yountville with Bouchon Bistro and Bakery famous for their sweet and delicious pastries. V. Sattui Winery which is about 20 minutes drive and famous for their dessert wine “Muscato”.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel/room close to Bistro Don Giovanni Restaurant in Napa Ca.

Posted on

Big Sur River Inn

Spread the love

Address: 46800 CA-1, Big Sur, California 93920

The Big Sur River Inn is a very unique Inn with an Adirondack chair situated on the river. So you can sit down on the chair, eat and play in the water. It’s very relaxing and has a great ambiance. It’s great scenery for a photo opportunity. We also had ice cream on their small Ice cream truck situated near the gas station.

We purchased their famous homemade apple pie at the Restaurant which costs us $40 dollars for a whole pie with 10 slices or $8 a slice. The pie was so delicious that we ate half of it while driving along Big Sur. LOL… The River Inn is the next area after the Andrew Molera State beach. We got lost the first time since our car GPS routed us to Andrew Molera State Beach. Make sure you wear your slippers or water socks to enjoy the river and watch out for the slippery and sharp rocks. The river water is cold but you will get acclimated after a few minutes. Just sit back, enjoy and relax in the chair while you put your feet in the river. Enjoy Mother Nature at its best!

Tips: There is also a gasoline station located onsite and an ice cream truck. If you want to see Redwood Trees, explore trailheads, and enjoy the creek. There is a State Park called Pfeiffer Big Sur that is close to the River Inn. Or visit Pfeiffer Beach famous for its purple sand.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about The Big Sur River Inn after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel/room close to Big Sur River Inn in Monterrey County.

Posted on

Ahwahnee Hotel (Yosemite National Park)

Spread the love

Address: Yosemite National Park #1 Ahwahnee Drive Yosemite Valley, Ca. 95389

In 1927 Ahwahnee Hotel opened for business and is called the Grand Hotel, well known for its stunning interior and rustic architectural design. The hotel is also a Natural Historic Landmark. It has been previously visited by queens and presidents such as John F. Kennedy, Herbert Hoover, Eleonor Roosevelt, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philips, and many more. It provides guests with elegance, hospitality, and great history. The Hotel is also in close proximity to Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and Glacier Point. The Hotel is 150,000 sq ft Y shaped building and has 123 rooms which are 99 hotel rooms and 24 cottages.

It took us 4 hours and 15 minutes (220 miles) drive from San Francisco to Ahwahnee Hotel via CA-140 El Portal way. The El Portal route is less switchbacks and winding roads compared to CA- highway 120. We were in awe when we arrived at the entrance of the beutiful Ahwahnee Hotel. We were immediately greeted by the bell hop attendants, took our bags and brought it inside the hotel. We only waited in the lobby for a few minutes as our room was ready. We were impressed and surprise by the rustic and architectural design of our room with a private balcony facing the Glacier Point and Half Dome. And we have to use an old room gold keys and not the more sophisticated key card being used nowadays. The rooms decor is very classic and rustic with one bedroom, bathroom and a living room space.

We decided to explore the Hotel and walked around their architecturally designed lobby with 2 huge fire place, piano and some old artifacts and collectible items. My wife ordered a cocktail at their Ahwahnee bar which serve cocktails, small appetizers, and are only open from 2-9 p.m. It’s a great place to unwind and relax after a day of outdoor activities. We also visited and had lunch at their famous elegant Dining room which was named the crown jewel of Yosemite dining. We were impressed at the elegant, large dining room with Cathedral windows and a 34 ft high cross beam ceiling. Due to covid restrictions, we had to order first by the bar and had to eat at the available tables on a first come, first serve basis. We ordered chicken tenders for $9.25, Ahwahnee Boysenberry pie for $13.50, Seafood pasta for $25, soup of the day (miso soup) for $8.50 and seasonal grill cheese for $18.50. We were lucky enough to find an available table right by the cathedral window overlooking the meadows and trees. The tables were consistently cleaned and sanitized by the restaurant staff members. All our food came in large portions and delicious especially the seafood pasta and the Boysenberry pie. My daughter was surprised and happy to see from our window a few deers hanging out by the meadows.

Overall, it’s a very nice and grand Hotel with lots of amenities and great service. We would definitely come back again and stay overnight in the future. Some of the amenities are free WI-Fi, shuttle, valet parking, concierge, swimming pool and childcare services.

Tips: The Hotel is very close to The Village Store for reasonable price grocery items, Park Clinic, Degnan’s Deli, picnic areas and there is a giftshop inside the hotel for basic necessity and snack items. They also sell a wide variety of high quality chocolates. There are also a few tables available outdoor if you prefer to be outside. The outdoor swimming pool is open but we didn’t get to try it. And you can walk around the meadows just be careful of the deers especially during mating season. They have ample parking but don’t leave any food or scented items as the bears can break into your car at night if they smell food or scented items.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about The Ahwahnee Hotel and Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel close to Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County.

Posted on

Trattore Farms Tasting Room & Terrace Winery (Sonoma County)

Spread the love

Address: 7878 Dry Creek Rd, Geyserville, CA 95441

*** On your visit please mention to Trattore Winery that you’ve seen the review via our travel blog www.explore2places.com

The Trattore Winery is a boutique winery situated high a top a hill with an amazing view of the valley/vineyards. The winery is located west of Healdsburg in Dry Creek Valley and grows both good quality wine grapes and award winning olive oil. Trattore Winery is owned by Mr. Tim Bucher and his wife Mary Louise Bucher. Trattore means tractor in Italian due to the owners love for tractors. In fact, they have a few cool and beautiful red tractors on display inside their spacious wine tasting bar area. And the winery features Rhone-style wines, olive oils, vinegar, charcuterie, panini, and seasonal wood-fired pizzas. The Trattore Winery is about 1 hour and 30 minutes (85 miles) from San Francisco via US-101 North. It is open Thursday-Sunday from 11 am- 5 pm and closed on Tuesday-Wednesday.

The Trattore Winery accepts both reservation and walk-in customers. I contacted the winery the same day when we were in the area and was lucky that they have availability. The scenic drive to the winery was very relaxing with the gorgeous view of the mountains and beautiful wineries. The fun part was driving through all the wineries with our Mustang convertible on a warm sunny day. We had to pass through the winery gate and drove up the long winding driveway that led us to the top of the hill. The property grounds are beautiful, clean, and relaxing with olive trees. The amazing view on top of the property was so picturesque and relaxing.

As we arrived at the door, we were immediately greeted by the friendly and welcoming owner Mary Louise. We were then escorted to our table with an unobstructed view of the valley/vineyards. The table was on a large outdoor patio, very clean and have sunshade available to keep their customers cool on a warm sunny day. The view is amazing, picturesque and looks like a picture on a postcard. We were served by both the owner Mary Louise and Candis (Manager) They were very knowledgeable, professional, friendly, fast, and provided us with an excellent service. My daughter ordered a glass of fruit juice and while my wife had the 5 small glasses of their signature wine sampler. There were a wide variety of appetizers or food pairings on the menu but we ordered the Trattore Charcuterie (serves 2-4) which is a selection of Journeyman Meat Company salumi, local artisan cheeses, dried fruit, nuts, arugula salad and house made crostini for $35. The delicious Grilled Seasonal Chipotle Chicken panini sandwiches with roasted tomatoes, white cheddar, and DCOC Chipotle olive oil for $20. The Italian with Ham Panini sandwiches with Black Forest ham, journeyman’s salumi, mozzarella and pesto for $20. My favorite is the Italian Ham Panini since I love anything with pesto. We didn’t order dessert as we were all satisfied and full with the food that we ordered. My wife bought one bottle of their popular “Two Lakes” wine and we’re lucky enough that the Vineyard owner Mary Louise signed the wine bottle with my daughter’s name on it. My daughter was surprised, very happy and thankful for the kind gesture.

Overall, we were very satisfied with the quality of the food and the outstanding service of the owner Mary Louise and the entire staff. The unobstructed view of the beautiful vineyard, the outstanding service, and the beautiful sunny warm weather made our wine tasting experience very memorable. It made our early Valentines Day celebration for my wife and daughter a success. The best part of our experience was when the owner Mary Louise signed (with my daughter’s name) the “Two Lakes” bottle that we purchased.

Tips: All their outdoor seating have a view of the vineyard. They have a large parking lot area for all their customers. Dogs and children are welcome in the winery. Lake Sonoma is about a 15-20 minutes drive from the winery. Try to visit the overlook area with a view of Lake Sonoma but drive safely as the road is winding. The winery is also close to Truett Hurst Winery which allow children and have farm animals onsite. Trattore also have a display of cool tractors inside their wine tasting bar area. You can book an “Estate Tour” or “Private Event” online or by calling them. The winery also offer seasonal wood-fired pizza on Sundays from April-October. They also offer wine club membership to customers.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about the Trattore Winery after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you. Please don’t forget to subscibe to our blog.

Click here to find a hotel close to the Trattore Winery in Geyserville Ca.

Posted on

Bodega Head State Park (Sonoma County)

Spread the love

Address:  3799 Westshore Rd, Bodega Bay, CA 94923

Bodega Head Trail State Park is in Sonoma County and situated on a small town called Bodega Bay. Bodega Head shelters the bay and harbor from the power of the Pacific Ocean and is about four miles long and one mile wide. Bodega Head is good for people who enjoy sightseeing, nature walking, photography, hiking, whale watching, or simply watching the sunset. Bodega Head has two trails which are family friendly and the trailhead protects both the North and West sides of the Bodega Harbor from the Pacific storms. Bodega head bluffs and cliffs have a 360 degrees views of the Pacific Ocean with the deep blue seas. There are 2 parking lots available onsite which are the upper area which is less maintained road and the lower area which is made up of sand and rocks with large potholes. There is no admission or entrance fee to visit the State Park. And no drones are allowed in Bodega Head.

The East Trail is a 1.7 mile loop that passes through the southern coastal bluffs of Bodega Head. While the west trail is a 1.2 mile loop that leads to the coastal bluffs and overlooks the view of the Horseshoe Cove. Bodega Head is one of the great spot to Whale Watch by the west trail parking area.

Bodega Head is about 1 hour and 30 minutes drive (77 miles) from San Francisco to Bodega Head State Park via US-101 North. But we came from Napa area (Yountville area) which only took us about 1 hour drive to Bodega Head. We passed through a couple of towns, local stores along the way such as the Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery, Estero Cafe, Valley Ford Supermarket. The cool place that we made a stopped over and ate is the famous “Bodega Bay Oyster Company.” We had our late lunch and ordered the famous “Kumamoto” bbq oysters, clam chowder, shrimp tacos and garlic bread.

We also passed through the popular Bodega Bay “Spud Point Crab Company” which is famous for its signature clam chowder. Bodega Head is about 3 minutes away from Spud Point. We made a right turn at the end of the road and drove up on a two-way, winding, narrow paved road. We had to be careful and paid attention to the other oncoming cars driving downhill and leaving the area. The large parking area was very busy since it was almost sunset and made up of sand and gravel with large potholes.

Overall, it was a fun, beautiful place to watch sunset with a 360 view of the Pacific Ocean with the deep blue seas. We enjoyed and experienced the power of the ocean as the waves crushed at the huge rocks and mesmerized by the beauty of nature at sunset. There were other hiking trails available at Bodega Head that you can explore with the entire family.

Tips: Watch out when you are driving uphill towards Bodega Head as the roads are narrow, slightly winding and two-way streets. Always watch out for oncoming traffic and pay attention to cars coming in and out of the parking space. There are public restrooms onsite but without a sink, so bring your toilet paper and hand sanitizer.. Bring binoculars to see all the different species of birds, wildlife and whale watching. Parking lot is made up of sand and gravel (unpaved) with large potholes. Watch out for dangerous cliffs and bring a jacket or sweater as the weather changes.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Bodega Head State Park after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel close to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve Park.

Posted on

La Crema Estate at SaraLee’s Vineyard (Windsor, Ca.)

Spread the love

Address: 3575 Slusser Road. Windsor, CA. 95492

La Crema Estate at SaraLee’s Vineyard is one of Russian River Valley’s Pioneering wineries. It was founded in 1979, and was called La Crema Vinera which translates to “Best of the Vine”. La Crema is well known for it’s Burgundian- style Chadonnay and Pinot Noir. Mr. Rod Berglund founded La Crema and the current winemaker is Mr. Craig McAllister. The Estate Winery also has a old, remodeled historical barn dated back in 1900. The rustic, historic barn has a floor to ceiling glass windows with an amazing views on all angles of the Vineyard in the hills. The La Crema Estate at SaraLee’s Vineyard is about 1 hour and 20 minutes (70 miles) away from San Francisco/Daly City via US-101 North. The winery is open 7 days a week from 10 am- 5 pm. The La Crema Winery is currently by reservation and also accepts walk-in customers.

We arrived early at the winery around 10 am which our appointment was scheduled for 10:30 am. Our short drive from the main gate to the wine tasting room was relaxing as we saw rows of vineyards with colorful flowers. Since we arrived early, we decided to check out the surrounding area and took pictures of the property and the Historic Barn. As we went to the historic barn, we were immediately greeted by our server/sommelier “Kayla” who was very knowledgeable, professional, friendly, fast, and provided us with excellent service. Kayla checked us in and showed us the area where the reserved picnic tables are located and later brought the wine out to our picnic table. The winery grounds were very clean, relaxing, beautiful and surrounded by colorful roses and flowers all over the property. There were also a lot of outdoor tables situated all over the property with a gorgeous view of the private vineyard. And most of the outdoor tables have sunshades to keep their customers cool on a sunny day.

One of the best part of our experience was when we went inside the old, rustic, historical remodeled barn dated in 1900 and was converted into a beautiful tasting rooms for all their guests. The architectural design of the historical barn was very detailed with floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking the vineyards, rustic lighting, spiral staircase, large outdoor patios and cozy sofas for guests to relax while drinking their wines. The setting or cozy architectural design inside made us want to stay there all day.

Here are some of La Crema’s Estate Winery wine tasting options and all prices are per person/guest except the picnic table package. All package prices are discounted for wine club members.

Estate Tasting is a seated wine tasting in one of their outdoor patio overlooking the vineyard with 6 wines to try and sample. The price is $40 per guest for non members with a maximum of 10 guests including non tasters. 9 Barrel Tasting is an intimate wine tasting experience with the view of the vineyard. You will sample 5 of their small production high tier wines for $80 per non-member guest, maximum of 8 guests and available Mon-Thursday. Picnic Table is a reserved table good for 8 guests maximum and is located in front of SaraLee’s beautiful vineyards where you get to bring your own food/snacks for $50 but a minimum of one bottle purchase is required. Our picnic table reservation fee was waived since we bought 3 bottles of wines. And finally the Tour & tasting is a unique tour around the beautiful vineyard via a golf cart, the price is $85 per guest for non members and available from Monday- Thursday.

Overall, we were satisfied with the quality of the wine (my wife tasted and bought the 2018 Kelli Ann for $55/bottle), ambiance, the beautiful historical barn and the outstanding service of the staff members especially Kayla. It’s a magical place that transported us back in time due to it’s casual relaxing atmosphere, and rustic architectural property design. Their reserved picnic tables with the relaxing views of the beautiful vineyards with ripened grapes, the outstanding service, and the warm sunny weather made our wine tasting experience at La Crema memorable. Our intimate or private setting of our picnic table is worth the cost due to it’s amazing unobstructed view of the rows of vineyards.

Tips:  They have a large parking lot area for all their customers. One parking lot area is made up of sand/gravel while the other one is cemented. We bought some snacks such as cheese, crackers, dried fruits, water and juice at Mike’s Truck Garden Produce Market along the way. Don’t forget to ask the receptionist information about the self guided tour of the property. You may walk around their property especially the vineyards with all the ripened grapes. There a re a lot of great photo opportunities all over the entire property. The picnic table has a time limit of 90 minutes while kids and dogs are welcome in the property.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about the La Crema Estate at SaraLee’s Vineyard after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel or place to stay near La Crema Estate at SaraLee’s Vineyard close in Sonoma.

Posted on

Le Meridien Bora Bora (French Polynesia)

Spread the love

Address: Motu in French Polynesia

The Le Meridien is a luxurious resort on an islet in Bora Bora and surrounded by the most beautiful lagoon overlooking the famous Mt. Otemanu. Bora Bora is surrounded by lots of small islands known as Motus. Le Meridien was built in the late 90’s and is the first luxury resort situated on a Motu. Le Meridien resort has 98 guests rooms and suites with complimentary Wifi’s, 3 restaurants, 2 outdoor pools, lagoon and white sand beach. Most of the resorts rooms were overwater bungalows and a few beach bungalow villas situated around the beautiful lagoon. The resorts has a one of a kind turtle sanctuary and an ecological center located behind the resort’s protected lagoon. The different types of accommodations are Pool Beach Villas, Overwater Lagoon Villas, Overwater Lagoon Premium, Overwater Otemanu Premium, Overwater End of Pontoon.

It took us about 9 hours flight one way from San Francisco to the Island of Bora Bora. My family and I had to fly from San Francisco to Honolulu and took another flight (about 5 hours) to the town of Papeete in Tahiti. We stayed overnight at the Inter-Continental Resort in Papeete and took a smaller plane in the morning to Bora Bora which took us about 45 minutes. As soon as we arrived in Bora-Bora Airport we were greeted by a representative of the Le Meridien Resort. We were escorted and directed to the private speed boat that took us to the resort. It was about a 20-30 minutes boat ride from the airport to Le Meridien. It was a fun ride as the weather is sunny and we had a friendly boat driver. The driver explained the history of the Island and showed us the different areas or point of interest. My daughter was happy and surprised when our boat driver removed the top cover of the boat for us to enjoy the beautiful warm weather.

Upon our arrival at the resort’s loading dock, we were greeted by a friendly front desk attendant named Ning and another staff member that was singing and playing Island music with a ukulele. We were amazed with the clear turquoise ocean water, overwater bungalows. lagoon, pristine white sand and the amazing view of Mt. Otemanu. We ate at Te Ava restaurant and explored the property as we waited for our room to be available. Te Ava was a casual, cozy, outdoor restaurant on the sand with purple adirondack chairs and caribbean theme settings. The restaurant is open daily and serve meditterrean menu and other such as sandwiches, pizzas, and fresh local seafoods.

We rode a golf cart to get to our one bedroom Beach Villa with large terraces, double hammocks, sunbeds and has an outdoor private swimming pool. The best part is that our Villa is very spacious and in front of the beautiful lagoon with clear water. We had a view of the beach, lagoon, and the resorts restaurant. My wife and daughter opened the Villa and were surprised, happy, and speechless to see a complimentary bottle of champagne for our Wedding Anniversary and a special cake for my daughter’s birthday. Our Beach Villa had a really nice Island style decor, a huge bed with a canopy, a private tub, open standing shower room and an outdoor patio overlooking the beautiful blue lagoon.

We ate breakfast and dinner at the Hotel’s signature restaurant called Le Tipanie which means “Breakfast” in Tahiti. It’s a very romantic, cozy, open air setting, overwater restaurant with a view of the beautiful lagoon. The restaurant is open daily and serves breakfast buffet and an a la carte menu for dinner with international flavor and French Polynesian traditions. The fun thing about the restaurant is that they provided us fish food to feed all the fishes in the lagoon. They even have large rocks under the lagoon water that spelled “Le Tipanie” and it’s also illuminated at night. The food was very good, fresh and has a wide variety of choices that includes the local Tahitian dish called “Poisson Cru” which is a raw fish marinated in citrus juice and coconut juice.

The best part was when we visited the “Turtle Sanctuary ” and Ecological Center. My family and I had the opportunity to learn about the turtles, watched the feeding of turtles, cleaned the turtles with a brush and swam with them in the private lagoon. It was a very unique and memorable experience for us that we will treasure forever especially my daughter. We had to book and pay a fee for the special experience. Guests can even renew their vows or get married in their beautiful overwater Chapel with a glass bottom floor overlooking the lagoon and Mt. Otemanu. The white sand beach with warm, crystal clear, calm water and overlooking the overwater bungalows and Mt. Otemanu is an unforgettable experience. The white sand on the beach was so soft and powdery. They even offer free stand up paddle boards, kayaks and snorkels for guests to use and have jet ski’s available for rent.

Overall, we enjoyed our short stay at the Luxurious Le Meridien Bora Bora Hotel which is a beautiful paradise hotel with soft white sand and a view of Mt. Otemanu. It was a one-of-a-kind experience for my family to stay on a large Beach Villa with your own private swimming pool. It was fun waking up in the morning with the stunning view of the lagoon, beach and Mount Otemanu. The Hotel’s landscape was very clean, lively due to its colorful tropical flowers. It’s a great unique and romantic place to stay with your family and loved ones while enjoying the overwater bungalow experience. It was a fun and memorable experience to celebrate our Wedding Anniversary and Birthday celebration in a luxurious, Island themed style Hotel in one of the most romantic place in the world called Bora-Bora.

Tips: We stayed for another 3 days at a resort close to Le Meridien called InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa. We were transferred from Le Meridien to Thalasso Spa via private shuttle boat. InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa have a beautiful overwater bungalow with a private swimming pool. They even offer a sting-ray feeding experience for it’s guests. Le Meridien Hotel has an on-site wellness center where you can book private massages and facials. The hotel offers it’s guest a complimentary shuttle boat from the hotel to the main town of Vaitape which takes about 20 minutes one way boat ride. The beach fare attendants can also show you how to open a fresh coconut. Le Meridien Hotel has a large chessboard, foosball tables and chair lounges all over the property that is great for watching the sunrise or sunset. If you want to save money, go to the town of Vaitape and buy your groceries at the town Market.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about the Le Meridien Resort in Bora Bora after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel/room at Le Meridien Resort Bora Bora or it’s surrounding areas.