{"id":2112,"date":"2013-10-14T20:14:51","date_gmt":"2013-10-15T02:14:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/babyz.hottie-biscotti.com\/?p=2112"},"modified":"2013-10-14T20:14:51","modified_gmt":"2013-10-15T02:14:51","slug":"girls-trip-to-napa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/babyz\/2013\/10\/14\/girls-trip-to-napa\/","title":{"rendered":"Girl’s Trip to Napa"},"content":{"rendered":"

I started writing this post the day after we returned from our trip, about 3 months ago. \u00a0I finished it today, which may explain why my description of things gets a little more succinct near the end. \u00a0I wrote short notes on my phone while we were on the trip to help me write this up. \u00a0I wish I’d spent some time each day writing a little more, but I got the major points in. \u00a0What a gift to have had the opportunity to take a trip like this to celebrate 30 years. \u00a0Thanks to everyone who made it happen (Ben, Kate, Steve, Dad and my sweet travel companions).<\/em><\/p>\n

Friday, July 12<\/h3>\n

Started the day at 3:30 am. \u00a0Left for the airport a little after 4 am. \u00a0The security line was ridiculous and the plane almost left without us. \u00a0When we get to San Francisco we find out that Sarah’s plane is delayed and she’ll be getting in a couple hours late.<\/p>\n

We pick up the rental and as we start to pile in we all decide that it smells too much like smoke for us. \u00a0They gave us a new one and we headed to get some breakfast.<\/p>\n

I found a place called\u00a0Plow<\/a>\u00a0by googling “brunch in San Francisco” and it was wonderful. \u00a0It’s a small place with no room for waiting inside. \u00a0So we waited outside for half an hour and we were all pretty cold, a welcomed change from the hot humid mornings of Houston. \u00a0Breakfast was incredible. \u00a0Foodies proceed here<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n

\"plow\"<\/a><\/p>\n

On the way to pick Sarah up we realize that Lisa doesn’t have her breastpump. \u00a0We thought it might be in the first rental car, so Lindsey drops Lisa and I off at the rental cars while they went to get Sarah. \u00a0The car had been rented, so Lisa gave them her info in the hopes that something would turn up. \u00a0Lisa and I had to “pump” in the bathroom…<\/p>\n

We get Sarah and head for Napa and stop at a Target for a new pump and a few groceries. \u00a0Traffic was a little slow, \u00a0but we got there early enough to make a stop at Bouchon bakery<\/a> in Yountville for croissants and macarons.<\/p>\n

\"bouchon2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Lindsey had made reservations for us at Paraduxx<\/a> for a wine tasting. \u00a0Some wineries require reservations and some don’t. \u00a0While having the freedom to stop in somewhere and taste is convenient and doesn’t require any planning, I liked how uncrowded it was here. \u00a0And it was beautiful.<\/p>\n

\"paraduxx\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"paraduxx3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"paraduxx2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We headed to the house we were renting, up a very narrow and winding road that made mom nervous, but had tremendous views. \u00a0We meet our landlord for the weekend, get changed for dinner and head out on a paved road.<\/p>\n

Dinner at Farmstead<\/a> was delicious. \u00a0We were all pretty tired, but managed to enjoy drinks, dinner and dessert. \u00a0The cardamom ice cream was the favorite. \u00a0This roasted artichoke was pretty amazing as well.<\/p>\n

\"artichoke\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Home and to bed.<\/p>\n

Saturday, July 13<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We started the morning with a trip to the framers market in St. Helena where we bought fruit and had a breakfast of tamales, Amish pastries and crepes.<\/p>\n

\"farmersmarket3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"farmersmarket2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"farmersmarket1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Wine tour and tasting at Pride Mountain Vineyards<\/a>. \u00a0Saw a tree trimming truck that had driven off the side of the road on the way up (which later caused the road to be shut down and required us to miss a lunch reservation). \u00a0Incredible tour. \u00a0I learned a lot about the entire process of wine making. \u00a0I’d recommend anyone visiting Napa book the tour here.<\/p>\n

\"girls2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"grapes\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"barrels\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"momandlinds\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Lunch in Healdsburg at Chalkboard<\/a>. \u00a0Real good sliders with pork belly. \u00a0And a yummy wine flight.<\/p>\n

\"chalkboard2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"chalkboardtasting\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Shopped in Healdsburg. \u00a0Shared an ice cream sandwich. \u00a0Scored some 75% off Tory Burch flats! \u00a0I swore I’d never own a pair…<\/p>\n

Stopped at Russian River Brewery<\/a> for a pint and a little fight over long sleeved t-shirts.<\/p>\n

Back home to shower and change for dinner at La Condesa<\/a>. \u00a0Even though they have one in Austin we figured there would never be a time when all 5 of us were going to get a chance to go there, so we decided to go and it was delicious.<\/p>\n

\"lacondesa\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sunday, July 14<\/h3>\n

Bastille Day!<\/p>\n

Massages, facials and geo thermal (clothing optional) pools at Spa Solage<\/a> followed by lunch.<\/p>\n

\"spapools\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"spa\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"spalunch\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Back to the house to change.<\/p>\n

Visited the Culinary Institute at Greystone<\/a>. \u00a0We missed the bakery, the tours AND the cooking demos but got to walk through the building a bit and go through the shop and get some chocolates.<\/p>\n

\"CIAgreystone\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Domain Chandon in Yountville, missed the tasting by 3 minutes but just ordered one glass of each of the champagnes on the tasting menu and enjoyed the patio and incredible weather.<\/p>\n

Bouchon was having a little Bastille Day festival, so we headed over there. \u00a0These guys wanted to take a picture with us. \u00a0They spoke with French accents, but we weren’t totally convinced.<\/p>\n

\"bastilleday\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I waited in line at the bakery because I just couldn’t pass up another opportunity for almond croissants. \u00a0We shopped a little more before making it over to Bistro Jeanty<\/a> for dinner. \u00a0Everything was wonderful, especially their cream of tomato soup which Sarah got and was kind enough to share. \u00a0For dessert we had warm prunes over ice cream!<\/p>\n

\"napa1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Monday, July 15<\/h3>\n

Tried to ship our wine on the way to San Francisco. \u00a0It was going to cost something like $100 so we decided to check it on the plane and pay $35. \u00a0A much better choice.<\/p>\n

We had lunch at Scoma’s<\/a>, an iconic place near Fisherman’s Wharf. \u00a0Lindsey was looking forward to having us try to Crab Louie. \u00a0It was good, but my favorite thing was the lobster bisque. \u00a0Totally delightful.<\/p>\n

\"bisque\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"crablouie\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Stopped at Ghirardelli for chocolates, cause they don’t sell them in Houston…oh wait, they sell them all over the country and I can get them anytime I want to…<\/p>\n

Went to a coffee shop Sarah suggested, Sight Glass<\/a>, and I made the mistake of asking for skim milk. \u00a0I might as well have asked for a grande 2 pump sugar free caramel macchiato. \u00a0But they didn’t deny me my cappuccino and I am glad I was forced to have it with whole milk. \u00a0It truly does make the best foam and a really enjoyable cappuccino. \u00a0Thank you, coffee snobs.<\/p>\n

\"sightglass\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dropped Sarah off at the airport, Lindsey and mom returned the car while Lisa and I waited with the luggage and Lisa went to be reunited with her breastpump. \u00a0We went to check in and realized we’d mixed up the departure time and we were scheduled to take off in something like 30 minutes, not the hour plus we all thought we had. \u00a0Panic ensued, and after getting through security I ran without strapping on my sandals which then kept slapping my ankles, the little buckles threatening to draw blood. \u00a0Somehow we managed to get on the plane and all but one bag made it to Austin. \u00a0It really was a miracle. \u00a0As we were taking off we kept looking over at each other, asking if we’d actually just managed to make it. \u00a0When they told us the TVs in the seats weren’t working I almost got upset and then realized that not having TVs was a small inconvenience compared to what could’ve been a very rough time getting back home.<\/p>\n

I so enjoyed this trip and hope to go back again sometime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I started writing this post the day after we returned from our trip, about 3 months ago. \u00a0I finished it today, which may explain why my description of things gets a little more succinct near the end. \u00a0I wrote short notes on my phone while we were on the trip to help me write this … [Read more…]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[14,13,37],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pWbPG-y4","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/babyz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2112"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/babyz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/babyz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/babyz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/babyz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2112"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/babyz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2112\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2636,"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/babyz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2112\/revisions\/2636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/babyz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/babyz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/babyz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}