Thyme to Unwind Travel Planning

09/05/2022

Some of us get anxious at the thought of planning for a trip. Either because it takes time we don’t have, or we feel like by planning everything we’ll be over scheduled or lose spontaneity. In my experience, having a thoughtful plan ensures that you do not miss those special moments and allows you the freedom to explore and experience what truly matters.
England is my husband’s birthplace, so we frequently make stops to London on our way to other destinations and really enjoy spending time with our extended family and experiencing the city. On this particular day when visiting with our 5-month-old daughter, we had planned to visit Harrods (because…really you must) and do some shopping on Oxford Street and Regent Street. We had plans for dinner and a show on the West End but otherwise we were free for the day. After indulging in Pierre Hermé macarons and buying Christmas gifts for family and friends at Harrods (including the board game Snakes and Ladders, the British version of Chutes and Ladders) we decided to meander around Knightsbridge and look for a place for lunch.
On our way we saw a sign at a bookstore for the Great British Bake Show book signing. This is my husband's all-time favorite cooking show, and we have watched and re-watched each season religiously. We did not see a line and because we had the time we thought – why not let’s go to the book signing? Once we entered the bookstore, we realized that the line wrapped around the book aisles, snaking in and out but by this time we were committed. I had our daughter in my Baby Bjorn-type carrier and for the moment she was playing the part of the adorable baby, perfectly cooing and laughing and eating her hands. After about 15 minutes of standing in line, we started to think that we may not make it to the front after all but were still determined to give it a shot. Then a security guard approached us and asked who we were dedicating our book to and of course we said Savannah, our 5-month-old future baker. And without a word took us the front of the line. And for some reason we instantly became celebrities. The cast was amazingly friendly, oohing and ahhing over our baby, and the security guard asked to take our picture will all the cast members. At which point everyone in line started taking pictures of us…I’m still not sure what happened to this day or who people thought we were, but it was a thrill and an experience I will never forget.
We can’t guarantee that you’ll be mistaken for celebrities on your next trip. But if you need help managing the logistics of your trip and are looking to create life-long memories with friends and family without the fuss and having opportunities for special experiences like these, let me help. Message me to find out more.

06/05/2022

Have you ever rented a car in a foreign city and suddenly your GPS stops working? Have you taken the London Underground only to realize you have to climb 200 stairs with your child in a stroller and your luggage? Have you ever gotten lost on a California freeway and ending up in the wrong city? If you said yes to any of these, you are not alone. Travel logistics can be nightmare when you try to wing it, or if your planning did not account for the actual challenges of travelling.
A few years ago, my husband and I took to the English countryside. We had spent a week in London and were looking forward to a relaxing drive through the Cotswolds: stopping at small pubs, seeing the quaint English towns, sipping tea, and munching on biscuits. But that is not exactly what transpired. What really occurred was a nail-biting escapade with a lot of back seat driving, phantom petal pushing, near-misses with bushes, buses, and cyclists as my husband tried to navigate driving on the opposite side of the road while I tried to figure out where we were going. I’m fairly sure I remember some turns down wrong way streets, near-head on collisions with cars (or sheep) and missed experiences because…well…it was just too much, and we were not prepared. By the end of the first day, I think I lost my enthusiasm for the Cotswolds and was ready to head back to London. Needless to say, we got better at driving and navigating and our trip improved. In hindsight, a little more planning and preparation on our side would have lessened our anxiety with the drive itself and made for a much more relaxing and enjoyable experience.
Does this sound familiar? If you need help managing the logistics of your trip and are looking to create life-long memories with friends and families without the fuss, let me help. Message me to find out more.

04/05/2022

SETTLE INTO SONOMA
DAY 1 - ARRIVE BY CAR TO SONOMA
As you approach your destination take in the sights and sounds of the countryside, take the top down on your convertible rental car and feel the breeze as you meander to the El Dorado Hotel, located in historic Sonoma Plaza. Drop off your bags and take a walk around the plaza making a stop at Mission San Francisco Solano the twenty-first and last mission on the mission trail. Then make your way to the Sonoma Cheese Factory a purveyor of award-winning cheeses for over 90 years. Endulge in superb cheeses or gourmet sandwiches for a light picnic in the plaza before heading to your first wine tasting experience.
(Upgrade Options: The Lodge at Sonoma Resort, Autograph Collection, 1325 Broadway At Leveroni & Napa Roads, Sonoma, CA 95476, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, 100 Boyes Blvd, Sonoma, CA 95476)
Refreshed from your lunch hop back in your car and drive up to Benzinger Family Winery 1883 London Ranch Rd, Glen Ellen, CA 95442 located in the Sonoma Mountains. There you will enjoy wines with a buttery nose of apple crisp, caramel, ripe pear; or full-bodied, creamy and crisp with lively peach, pear, lemon meringue and buttery caramel. The winery known for its biodynamic wines, and healthy vineyards is known for their Chardonnay’s. For your second tasting of the day wander over to Kunde Family Winery - Sonoma Estate Winery (9825 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, CA 95452).
Feel yourself unwind and take in the fresh air as you enjoy estate-grown, sustainably-farmed wines on the Kunde patio overlooking the beautiful estate and vineyards. If you’re lucky you can try some BBQ oysters from the local food truck often found on the property.
By this time you’ve soaked in the scenery and are ready for some rest and relaxation back at the hotel. Check in to your hotel and catch a quick nap or lounge on the outdoor patio before walking down to dinner at The Girl and The Fig, (110 W Spain St, Sonoma, CA 95476). Celebrate your first night in Sonoma with a Fig Royale sparkling cocktail, followed by pastis-scented steamed mussels & frites and a fig & Arugula salad before you enjoy your main entrée. Finish your meal with a fabulous dessert or stroll down the street to Sweet Scoops Homemade Ice Cream store.

DAY 2
HEALDSBURG – “THE NEXT NAPA”
Check out of your hotel and start your morning with a delicious danish or croissant and a coffee at Scandia Bakery, (500 W Napa St #542, Sonoma, CA 95476) one of the best bakeries in town. And be sure to try a slice of Princess Cake or take one for the road…it’s not to be missed! Following breakfast you’ll be heading to the Russian River Valley for your first tasting of the day at J Vineyards & Winery, (11447 Old Redwood Hwy, Healdsburg, CA 95448). J Winery is known for their sparkling wines, chardonnay, and pinot noir which you can enjoy as a signature tasting or with an artesian cheese pairing. Fresh, clean, crisp wines will set the stage for your day as you meander through the valley.
Your next stop Lambert Bridge Winery, (4085 W Dry Creek Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448) is a wine lovers haven and one of my all-time favorites for magnificent Bordeaux style red wines. If you’re hungry pickup lunch from Dry Creek General Store, (3495 Dry Creek Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448), just prior to the turnoff to Lambert Bridge. The General Store is a gathering place in Sonoma County offering hand-crafted sandwiches, salads, and spreads. You can picnic on the property in the back gardens overlooking Dry Creek Valley or head to Lambert Bridge Winery nestled among redwood forested hills and rolling vineyards for a picturesque picnic and tasting overlooking the vineyards.
(Optional add: Tasting at Passalacqua Winery, 3805 Lambert Bridge Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448) on your way to or from Lambert Bridge.
After an unforgettable day, check into The Madrona (formerly Madrona Manor), 1001 Westside Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448, a storied hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant. The Madrona boasts a stylish contemporary feel with a nod to its Victorian past. (Upgrade Option: Hotel Healdsburg, 25 Matheson St, Healdsburg, CA 95448)
Wander the leafy pathways, sip cocktails on the porch, or take a late afternoon nap in your private bungalow and then head to dinner at Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen, 317 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, CA 95448. Prepare your senses for a sensational seasonal three-to five course prix-fixe menu with the best of Sonoma county. Start with a delicate grilled octopus bruschetta brimming with scarlet runner beans; then comes braised rabbit ragù with chestnut rigatoni and smoked pecorino. Dessert is a must, thanks to such recent favorites as the Dry Creek olive oil cake with citrus curd and caramelized pineapple; and Rum Baba with persimmons, golden raisins, and cream.

DAY 3
HIGHWAY 101 WINERIES
Day 3 begins with a farm fresh breakfast filled with ingredients freshly sourced from the Madrona gardens. You’ll check out of your hotel and head South for your final round of tasting from some exceptional wineries. Our first stop of the day takes you to Ridge Vineyards (Lytton Springs, 650 Lytton Springs Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448) for some single-vineyards wines. Lytton Springs Winery/Ridge Vineyards stands as one of the most unique sites in all of Sonoma County’s wine country with its remarkable facility, built of straw bales and vineyard clay.
Following your first tasting you’ll head to Wilson Winery, 1960 Dry Creek Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448, for some world-class Zinfandels. Sit at the veranda and sip a selection of four wines overlooking some breathtaking vineyards.
Finally proceed down the road to Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards, 10300 Chalk Hill Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448. Enjoy a cheese and charcuterie platter with your pairing or splurge with an Estate Hummer and Tour Tasting. For 90 minutes you journey in style as you learn about the 1,300 acre-estate concluding your tour with a seasonal garden-to-table food pairing.

(Optional Paradise Ridge Winery, 4545 Thomas Lake Harris Dr, Santa Rosa, CA 95403)
Charles M. Schulz Museum, 2301 Hardies Ln, Santa Rosa, CA 95403)
And now reinvigorated from your wine country experience you will leave Sonoma County with fond memories and lasting impressions….
If you need help managing the logistics of your next trip and are looking to create life-long memories with friends and families without the fuss, let me help. Message me to find out more.

02/05/2022

11/01/2022