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Although it’s easy to see why Northern California’s Napa and Sonoma valleys are so popular, their commercial success has come at a cost. The area’s quick expansion has meant that smaller wineries have mostly been swallowed up by larger, more commercially-viable estates. For this reason, if you’re looking for a low-key wine tasting experience in a smaller, family-run environment, the tri-valley may be your best option. For a more personal… Read More
Nestled in the mountainous Idaho Panhandle, 45 miles North of Coeur d’Alene, lies the small resort town of Sandpoint. Located next to the largest lake in Idaho, Lake Pend Oreille and close to Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, Sandpoint thrives on tourism and recreational activities. For residents of North Idaho and Eastern Washington, Sandpoint is a fun day excursion, particularly when the weather is warm enough for outdoor activities. Read More
Situated in the tri-valley area just a forty-five minute drive from San Francisco, Livermore is worth visiting whether you’re stopping over en route to surrounding wineries, or are just looking to soak up some small town simplicity.
Thanks to a multi-million dollar streetscape project in 2006, the four lane highway that ran through Livermore’s downtown area has since been rerouted and replaced with a (much quieter) tree-lined main street. As a result, the city’s main shopping district is today a laid-back, pedestrian-focused place in which to walk, eat, drink and shop.
One drive through Seattle’s rush hour traffic will tell you that this is a fast-paced, busy city. Locals are constantly coming and going from their office jobs to the gym, happy hour and Mariners games, while making plenty of Starbucks runs in between.
Fortunately, Seattle offers plenty of places to unwind from the stress of the daily grind. The next time you need a break from reality, grab some equally-stressed friends and take a day for yourselves.
Do you ever long for a place where you could get away, beyond the reach of phone, fax, and wifi? A friendly place where you could luxuriate in solitude with a good book and enjoy a meal, engage in conversation with interesting, maybe even quirky people? You’ll find such a place in Newport, Oregon at the Sylvia Beach Hotel.
[img_assist|nid=732|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=81]Located in the heart of the Balkans, north of Greece, south of Serbia & Kosovo, west of Bulgaria and on the east of Albania, is the small country of Macedonia – which together with Israel are mentioned in the Bible.
Mexico is often associated with tequila and cerveza, but wine is quickly taking the lead as the drink of choice. Valle de Guadalupe may be the best kept secret among wine connoisseurs. Located between Rosarito Beach and Ensenada in Baja Mexico are several family run wineries that offer unique wine blends at reasonable prices. Restaurants, hotels, shops, hiking trails and hot springs in the area make this a perfect day escape. My friend Janet and I recently visited the Ruta del Vino (Wine Ruta) and made some wonderful discoveries.
Halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco along the legendary historical El Camino Real trail is the still under-discovered wine region of Paso Robles. Hot days and cold nights offer an ideal climate for this region specializing in Syrah and also known for growing outstanding Zinfandels, Cabernet Sauvignons, Chardonnays, and Merlots.
Gentle rolling hills, valleys and sharp cliffs ensure a variety of micro climates ideal for wine-growing. Set amidst bucolic back roads and rolling hills, a wine tasting tour of Paso Robles blends visual pleasures and culinary feasts.
Don’t let those stories about the Sonoma "diet" fool you. If you’re looking for a place to indulge your taste buds, there’s nowhere better than the Sonoma Valley Wine Country.