Oh, readers, I can’t believe I haven’t shared our honeymoon plans with you yet! When considering our honeymoon options, we knew we wanted to go somewhere with both culture and natural beauty, where we could spend lots of time outside but also learn something along the way. Naturally, we started with Europe, since it fit every aspect of what we wanted, but it became very expensive very quickly as we totaled up the airfare and lodgings alone. We considered more tropical locations like Hawaii and Mexico, but began to think a beachy honeymoon didn’t really fit with our style as well. Finally, we settled on the perfect place: Napa Valley.
Immediately following our wedding in Annapolis, we are leaving for a one-week dream vacation to the Napa Valley area in California. Our journey is based around wining and dining: visiting lots of wineries, tasting wines, touring vineyards, and eating at the area’s legendary restaurants. We will begin with two nights in San Francisco, where we hope to tour the city by foot in the daytime and eat at outstanding restaurants by night. After that, we will be staying in an adorable and secluded cottage in Napa for four nights, touring wineries and biking around the hills daily. Our stay will conclude in Yountville, a foodie’s paradise, where we’ll dine at The French Laundry (if we can get reservations!) and retire in style at the gorgeous and eco-friendly Bardessono hotel.
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| Grant Achatz and Thomas Keller |
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| Cyrus Restaurant |
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| Bardessono |
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| Bardessono |
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| More Bardessono |
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| Quintessa |
San Francisco
Tartine
Coi
Blue Bottle Coffee
The Slanted Door
Millenium
The Clift Hotel
Napa Area/ Yountville
REDD
Bouchon
Cyrus
Meadowood
The French Laundry
Quixote Winery
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Quintessa
Ma(i)sonry
The Bardessono Hotel
The Cottages at Napa Valley
We're pretty much already trembling with excitement about this honeymoon, and it will be a total dream come true. It blends in everything we love and seems tranquil, relaxing, and absolutely perfect. Right now, we still have to book everything aside from the air travel. Does anyone have a recommendation for planning? Should we schedule everything to the hour to make sure we get as much in as possible, or should we go with the flow and relax a bit? I tend to lean more toward the first. Thank you so much for reading!
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Oh wow this looks amazing. I hope you do get to experience French Laundry!
ReplyDeleteSounds incredible! I love wine country! I've only spent a small amount of time in Napa, but have been to Sonoma twice.
ReplyDeleteWhen my hubby and I did Sonoma we found it was best to go with the flow. This allowed time for fitting in things we didn't know existed until we got there. I found that locals gave us most of our suggestions and if we had planned everything down to the minute we wouldn't have had time for the locally suggested things! We also didn't book where we were staying every night and just found some places when we got there. One night we stayed in a tiny cottage right on the ocean. It was incredible!
Hope you have a great time!
It sounds like a fabulous plan! Following a tight itinerary may wear you out after a few days, but it's nice to have an idea of what you want to do each day. With 2 days in SF, it's easy to overwhelm your schedule, so a game plan would be helpful.
ReplyDeleteIf you're into sweets, I'd recommend a stop at Birite Creamery for some yummy ice cream. It's pretty close to Tartine.
For Yountville, I like Ad Hoc over Bouchon, but who's to say you can't try both. =)
Great plans! I love the Napa valley and don't live too far away :)
ReplyDeleteSlanted Door is overrated in my book but it is ok...fun if you want to see and be seen. The Ferry Building where it's located has the best farmer's markets!
Del Dotto Caves is the best winery tour I've ever done, you do all the tasting right from the barrels in the caves. SO FUN!
Have a wonderful time!
I'm from San Francisco-I think you'll love it here! Everything you've planed sounds great. Have a great time!
ReplyDeleteThe Girl & the Fig and Ad Hoc (same chef as French Laundry, fixed menu).
ReplyDeleteWineries- Cakebread, Schramsberg (sparkling/champagne)- amazing. You will not regret either of these tours, they are family run and world renown, but also take you through the grapes and riddling process. Ah-Mazing.
I'm so glad Millenium is on your list! I'm vegan and so I love it, yet whenever I suggest it to omnivores and they try it they love it! Another great place here in the city is Dosa--fabulous upscale south Indian food.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy your trip!
Oh, and if you are looking for some pampering check out the hot mud baths in Calistoga!
What a great plan! I was in San Fran last November and it is an amazing city.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend going to the Top of The Mark Lounge at the InterContinental hotel. It's located on the top floor of the hotel, which is located at the top of a hill- so you have a wonderful view of the city from almost ever seat!
They have a great drink menu (I recommend the Coral Reef Cocktail), and delicious appetizers (great tapenade and hummus!)
Napa is beautiful. You'll have an amazing time.
ReplyDeleteJust today there was an interview on Fresh Air with Grant Achatz. I hadn't heard of Alinea before that. Sounds like an experience!
http://www.npr.org/2011/03/03/134195812/grant-achatz-the-chef-who-lost-his-sense-of-taste
I also like Ad Hoc more than Bouchon, but it depends on the night you go. You can check the menu for Ad Hoc online in the morning and try to squeeze your way in if you're willing to eat early or late. I've had no problem getting a table for two at 9pm on a Friday when reserving at 2pm same day.
ReplyDeleteIn the city, I'd choose Coi over Slanted Door, though they are very different (Coi is much more high end). Another high-end place you might look into is Benu.
Here are some other places you might consider:
Mid-range dinners:
Boulevard
Bar Crudo
Bar Tartine
Pizzeria Delfina
Flour + Water
Cocktails:
The Alembic
Lunch/Snacks:
Banh Mi at somewhere on Larkin (Saigon Sandwich is a favorite)
Dynamo Donuts in the Mission
Humphry Slocombe for ice cream (more interesting flavors than Bi-Rite, but a little less creamy)
Kitchenette if you're there on a weekday
And of course you'll want to check out the Ferry Plaza farmer's market, which happens on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
If you make it over to Oakland (where I live, and LOVE it), there is a lot of really great stuff going on foodwise here right now. For salumi and cocktails, there's Adesso. For mid-high prix fixe, try Commis. Coi spinoff Plum is over here. Camino makes great wood-fired fare. Bakesale Betty has great fried chicken sandwiches (usually! sometimes they're off). For the most amazing beer selection, try The Trappist. Also, Oakland is the actual home of Blue Bottle coffee. Their roastery is in the Jack London Square area.
What a treat! I was just talking to someone tonight about how I've always wanted to go to wine country, I bet you guys will have a blast. The hotel looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMillennium is perhaps the most amazing place I have ever eaten. Also Greens is an outstanding place with a beautiful view...I would also suggest trying something more hole in the wall while in San Francisco, such as one of the burritos places in the mission, Spices II, or an ethiopian restaraunt.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful honeymoon!
Hi Maria! What a wonderful idea for a honeymoon trip! I've lived in the Bay Area for about 8 years (and go to grad school at Berkeley), and I visit Napa all the time. I'd be happy to give you some suggestions, but it might be easier by email since I probably shouldn't bore your readers with a page-long comment, lol. Feel free to drop me a line if you want any tips about Napa or SF :)
ReplyDeletetranadeline@gmail.com
Chez Panisse in Berkeley is AMAZING. It is about 45 min away from SF, and is worth the journey over the Bay Bridge!
ReplyDeleteThe girl and the fig in sonoma.
ReplyDeleteWe honeymooned in San Francisco/Napa/Sonoma as well, and this was one of our favorite meals by far. It helped that we put it on our registry and our friends treated us to the meal - they picked out a bottle of wine, an appetizer and then gave us a gift card for the rest. We loved it so much we got them the same thing for their honeymoon!
I honeymooned with my husband in SF/Napa in 2007 and lived in SF from 1998-2001. Love the region with a passion. You will have a fantastic time.
ReplyDeleteSome recommendations/strategies:
I assume you are familiar with French Laundry reservation proccess; it opens 2 months to the date and you have to get on the phone first thing and pray you get in. It fills up quickly. I have also heard they are also doing open table as well but again it generally will fill the day (usually morning) it opens.
If you are beyond that window, and still want a culinary experience of a meal, I would recommend Gary Danko in San Francisco. We were able to score reservations there with less than 1 month notice and I still dream of their cheese service. Splurge and get the wine pairings, the sommelier has excellent skill.
If you have a chance and want a quick fabulous treat, check out Mitchell's ice cream in the Mission district---wonderful unique ice creams (many asian, mmmm baby coconut, mung bean, etc).
I second Chez Panisse. Totally worth the experience.
For mindblowing sushi - Ebisu in inner sunset is one of the best on the West Coast if not the country.
For a cheap lovely comforting meal, I always go to Mifune in Japantown in SF. It's an old Japanese noodlehouse, and the noodles are wonderful.
Another more casual but delicious dining option in Napa is Mustard's grill. Pork chop blew my husband's mind.
My favorite winery is Clos Pegase in Calistoga; wonderful art (the owner is a major collector of modern art), lovely caves and spectacular wine. One of the last free tours in the area last time I was there. Other wineries I enjoy are Chateau St. Jean, St. Francis, Cakebread, Envy (was only a tasting room when I was last there but the wines are glorious), Ferrari Carrano (gorgeous grounds), Sebastiani (lots of history here if not outstanding wine), Ravenswood.
I could go on but I won't; there's a reason I had to love 40 pounds after leaving SF! Enjoy and congratulations!
What a fabulous honeymoon you've got planned! I was living vicariously just reading the descriptions of your itinerary - it sounds perfectly lovely.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to quickly mention that my favorite neighborhood in San Francisco is North Beach. It is the Little Italy of SF but in general it just has the most beautiful European atmosphere. The next time I go to SF I plan to stay in North Beach so I can just roam around and soak it all in!
Also - with regard to planning. When I travel I like to plan out the highlights of the trip - in other words my must see/do spots. That way you can arrange to go on the best days/times that are least crowded etc. You will also avoid missing a favorite spot. When I went to Rome I missed the Keats House because I hadn't planned ahead. I saved it for the last day in Rome and then realized too late it was closed that day. Anyhow - I plan out the most important sites and then I just fill in the rest - it allows for some flexibility on the trip and you don't feel like you are always trying to keep up with your schedule.
Since I know you love music, you might want to check out a show one night in San Francisco. There are lots of cool venues in the city, like Bimbo's 365.
ReplyDeleteSecond, having a drink/appetizers at the Top of the Mark Lounge at the Intercontinential. It was lovely at night when I was there. Beautiful view of the city......
ReplyDeleteI wanted to second Close Pegase, really and incredible winery. :)
ReplyDeleteOops and if you love deep dish pizza I still miss Zachary's in Barkley so much. It was featured on one of the food networks shows...
ReplyDeleteI visited Napa for the first time just over a week ago and it was incredible! Very romantic and lovely. You will have a great honeymoon there!
ReplyDeleteIf you go to Tartine, you have to go to Bi-Rite Creamy, it's so close by. They're known for their salted caramel but every other flavor I've tried is delicious. If you're going to buy a pint to share, you can jump to the front of the line.
ReplyDeleteThen take your ice cream and hang out for a bit in Delores Park and people watch. Super entertaining!
And another place I really like is the American Grilled Cheese Kitchen (http://theamericansf.com/). The mushroom gruyere is so yummy.
Sounds like a great itinerary! Just want to add that I believe Cyrus is located in Healdsburg, which is Sonoma County, not Napa. Lots of great wineries in our little valley too! Many of them are mentioned above in cwhf's post. Sonoma is a great town to visit if you are going to add Sonoma County to your itinerary, as is Healdsburg. They both havely lovely town squares surrounded by fun boutiques and restaurants, great for sunny afternoon strolling/shopping -I adore the Girl and the Fig (and The Fig Cafe in Glen Ellen)as others have mentioned. http://www.thegirlandthefig.com/
ReplyDeleteYay! I am so glad you decided to share your honeymoon plans, everything sounds absolutely amazing, you have made me want to plan a napa trip soon myself... (Perhaps an anniversary? :) ) I especially loved reading about the hotels you two are going to stay at, it looks like its going to be an incredible trip!
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ReplyDeleteNapa sounds sweet.
ReplyDeleteI went Napa winery tour once with my little sister and it was lovely.
I even considered a winery wedding (if I ever get married).
Thank you for sharing this post :)
Hi there Maria, This is my first comment on your blog, which I love BTW. I sawa this post and love that your going to visit SF and Napa. My Husband is from Napa and his whole family lives there and Yountville, needless to say we have toured at so many different places and have eaten at lots of fabulous places. I must say the service and food in Napa is in a class all its own, there is a certain expectation visitors have and the fod really does meet it, youc ant go wrong anywhere you eat.
ReplyDeleteI saw someone mention The Girl and the Fig, which is in Sonoma Square, that place is yum! Plus Sonoma square is a fun place to shop around too. Bouchon is amazing too. For wineries, for awesome wine def. hit up Stags Leap Cellars and Mondovi. Hess on Mt. Veeder has a beautiful art gallery, and Clos Pegase is just fun to walk around. Beringer is also cool cause you can walk around the wine cellars underground. But my most memorable places was this: http://www.castellodiamorosa.com/ its a castle, the wine is ok, but the experience is really cool. Anyhow have fun and congrats!
My favorite restaurants in SF - Wayfare Tavern, flour+water, Prospect, Foreign Cinema. Foreign Cinema's outdoor section has a lovely romantic ambiance and is a great spot for a couple. Also, my favorite ice cream spots are Three Twins and Humphry Slocombe if you have a sweet tooth.
ReplyDeleteAnd 25 Lusk is a good place to have cocktails. The decor is amazing. Hope you enjoy your honeymoon! :)
Maria, have a WONDERFUL time! My fiance and I have gone the last two years and I'm not sure we could like anywhere more (we've promised to make it an annual trip from here to forever).
ReplyDeleteNowhere more romantic than wine country!
xoxo,
Kim