If You're Tired, You Take a Nap-a!

It was Christmas in June! That is, we got to celebrate Jamie’s Christmas gift to her parents when they ventured out to see us. We drove to Napa and into warm weather. Checking into a wonderful Yountville hotel, just a few blocks from the infamous French Laundry, we ate warm cookies and quickly changed into our bathing suites. We spent the day happily enjoying the hotel pool, the poolside drinks, and the prospect of good food. Being close to the French Laundry meant good food in all directions.

Our second day in Napa was the classic vineyard hopping. We went to The Beringer, Castello di Amorosa, Chateau Montelena, and Inglenook. We loved walking around the Italian stone turrets, the endless rows of vines, the barrels of wine, the cellars, and the courtyards. We played corn-hole and compared Chardonnays. By the evening we had a wonderful blend of vineyard tastings, and headed for fire-oven pizzas.

The next day was our return to San Francisco, but we spent the first part of the day indulging in the luxuries Napa also offers. In town, we walked around an old car show before heading to a Natural Spring Spa, where we learned a great deal about each other. The thing with this type of spa, is you go in together, and without fear or apprehension that your girlfriend’s mother is about to see you naked, you proudly drop the towel and immerse yourself in a bath of ash, spring water, and mud. After ten minutes you would start to shift in the gelatinous mass of Earth as the sweat pours from your hairline. Women come by and offer sips of water, and you begin to wonder how you will even get yourself out of this goopy mess. But succeed you do, and you rinse off before the bath and the steam room.

We left the spa relaxed and feeling smooth, with a faint hint of ash still in our pours. We decided to continue our indulgence with a pit stop to Sterling Winery, where we learned a great deal about wine making, its original discovery, and the art making that ensued. With incredible views all around us, we at a cheese board before saying goodbye.

It turned out to be a very successful, no stress attached, Napa trip. We took the time to wine and dine, swim and play, walk and spa, and returned to the city refreshed.