Travel

Traveling to Sonoma County, I have found myself staying at the Vintners Inn in Santa Rosa on numerous occasions. A luxury hotel located on a vineyard trail, the Vintners Inn has the feel of a villa in Italy. The rooms are warm and spacious and always inviting. But, on my most recent visit, I stayed in one of the newest rooms at the Vintners Inn and that is why it is the Please The Palate pick of the week. The Vintners Inn is situated on 98 acres and is owned by Rhonda Carano of Ferrari Carano Winery. In 2016, the property underwent a renovation which added 34 rooms, for a total of 78 guestrooms and suites spread across five two-story villas.
24 November, 2018
My newest addiction is food tours. Each time I head to a new country, I search out a food tour to take on my first day in the city. It is a great way to get a sense of the place and an understanding of the cuisine, which I feel enhances the rest of my trip. I shared some of the great food tours I have found in a recent story in the Napa Valley Register which you can read here. The late Anthony Bourdain once said that “Food is everything we are. It’s an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It’s inseparable from those from the get-go.”
On his show, “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown,” he filmed 96 episodes over 11 seasons in which he shared his passion for culture, food, travel and adventure. His enthusiasm was contagious, and we were all inspired explore the world through food.
Or, at least, I was.
After all, what better way to explore a different culture than through its food? Of course, there is architecture, art, religion and nature, but food has so many meanings and incorporates everything. Food is a cultural identifier. Food is shaped by location and by history. Food can represent status and pleasure or can be for survival. Food is also about community and is a unifier across cultures.
As I traveled to countries for my first time, I have found myself in search of food. Yes, I like to eat. And, I can think of no better way to learn about a city and a culture than through its food. But, how does one decide where to go?
27 September, 2018
A few trips to Napa in the past few months had me exploring St. Helena, in the heart of Napa Valley. I shared my thoughts on where to eat, drink and sleep in St. Helena in California Winery Advisor and am re-sharing it here. In the center of Napa Valley is the town of St. Helena. Eighteen miles north of downtown Napa and ten miles south of Calistoga, St. Helena is known as Napa Valley’s Main Street. Packed with acclaimed wineries and home to more Michelin starred restaurants than anywhere else in Napa Valley, St. Helena embodies perfect wine country charm. Heading to Napa Valley for the weekend? Settle in and explore St. Helena. St. Helena is home to numerous accommodations ranging in price. If you want to splurge, check out the new Las Alcobas Napa Valley, a 68-room resort offering rooms with private terraces and an on-site spa, or the luxurious Meadowood Resort. But, for a more affordable, yet unpretentious, luxurious option, select the Harvest Inn (1 Main Street, St Helena). Situated on eight acres, the Harvest Inn was first built in 1975. The property is home to 320 redwood trees and artwork is scattered throughout the property. You can enjoy a self-guided art walk through the peaceful property, swim in one of the two pool or workout in the small gym. Harvest Inn has 78 updated rooms, some of which have fireplaces and hot tubs. The Vineyard View rooms overlook Whitehall Lane’s Leonardini Vineyard and other rooms have views of the lush gardens. The restaurant at Harvest Inn serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and features menus that highlight locally sourced ingredients. Be sure to try the bacon at breakfast, a recipe created by Hector, the bellman at the Harvest Inn. The hotel hosts free wine tastings on Monday and Friday, is dog-friendly and offers complimentary car service to wineries within a three-mile radius. Add to that, Harvest Inn does not charge any resort fees. Harvest Inn really offers a great value for the price.
25 September, 2018
I have been traveling to Napa Valley a lot recently. And, each time, I find myself hanging out in downtown Napa. With so many incredible restaurants, wine bars and new hotels, downtown Napa is thriving and quite a destination. I shared some of my tips on where to eat, drink and sleep in downtown Napa in California Winery Advisory and you can also read it here.

Exploring Downtown Napa – Where to Eat, Drink and Sleep

Napa Valley is 30 miles long and 5 miles wide. For decades, downtown Napa, Napa Valley’s largest city, and the county seat, was bypassed for more upscale experiences in Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga. But, over the last decade, the city of Napa has undergone a revitalization that has made it a destination of its own. There are hotels, restaurants and tasting rooms that line the streets that make downtown Napa an exciting place to visit and explore. In the heart of downtown Napa is First Street Napa, a 325,000 square-foot development that covers three square blocks. It is home to retail stores, restaurants, and offices, as well as the 183-room boutique Archer Hotel Napa. At five stories, with an additional sixth-floor rooftop bar and pool, the Archer Hotel is the tallest building in Napa.
18 September, 2018

When you think about wines from Piemonte, Italy, you probably think about Barolo or Barbaresco. But, on a recent trip to Piemonte, I spent a...

04 September, 2018
Our journey up the coast of Croatia started in Dubrovnik. About halfway up the coast we hit Split, the second largest city in Croatia. It was from Split that part 2 of my story begins that originally ran in ATOD Magazine. Beaches, Roman ruins, trendy cafes and boutique shops greeted us in Split, the second largest city in Croatia. Split is in the center of Dalmatia and home to the third largest port in Europe, after Athens and Naples and where our cruise up the coast of Croatia continues. SPLIT | What To Do Take a tour of Diocletian’s Palace. The palace was built by the Roman Emperor in 4th century AD. The ancient fortress has become the old town of Split and you can wander the narrow streets to find shops and restaurants. Split has a really inventive way to explore the city: a scavenger hunt. We were given a list of things to find and take photos of and in the process get a unique take on the region. Initially, I thought that this seemed a bit silly but as we started doing it, we realized how much we were really exploring the town. We paid more attention to small details, spoke to locals, and had a lot of fun.
23 August, 2018
Croatia had been on the top of my list of places to visit. Just across the Adriatic from Italy, it has become a popular travel destination. And, a few months ago, I was lucky to finally go. My mom and I took a "girl's trip" and traveled up the coast of Croatia by boat, stopping in more than ten ports. I wrote about our journey in ATOD Magazine and here is Part 1 of Cruising up the Croatian Coast, exploring the history, cuisine, market places and more.
What was once considered off the beaten path, Croatia is one of Europe’s hottest destinations. Perhaps it was the filming of Game of Thrones that opened the world’s eyes to the beauty of the country but regardless of what it is, people are flocking to the country in droves. Croatia had been at the top of my list to visit for the past few years. But with 21 regions and 1185 islands, 67 of which are inhabited, deciding where to go and what to see was overwhelming. To simplify the challenge, I invited my mom to join me for an Adriatic Sea cruise up the coast of Croatia.
21 August, 2018
As someone who travels a lot, I have had to eat a few meals at airports before catching a flight. Sometimes I have stayed at a hotel near the airport in order to catch an early morning flight.  All of these scenarios have caused a level of dread since to date, airport hotels are usually not the most desirable place to want to eat or sleep. But, in recent years, airport hotels and their food offerings have started to trend upscale. One of these airports is my home-base, LAX. Just outside the entrance to LAX is the recently renovated Hyatt Regency LAX. Walking in, you will never believe you are at the airport. The hotel is mid-century modern and is striking in its clean, open spaces. Inside the Hyatt Regency LAX is the hotel restaurant called Unity LA. There are three distinct dining concepts at Unity LA - there is a self-service market, a bar and a full-service restaurant. Unity LA will change your idea about dining at an airport hotel restaurant. Upon walking into the Hyatt Regency LAX, you will first see Unity Bar LA, which offers a lively environment to enjoy food and drink in a community setting.
09 August, 2018
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