Napa Valley- Reservations Required

November 27, 2012 at 12:33 am

Appointment only wineries are worth it! They say wine is like a story and Napa Valley certainly has a lot. Don’t miss your opportunity to get all the juicy details from insiders. Wineries requiring reservations offer one-on-one time and often the chance to meet the winemakers themselves. Don’t deprive yourself of the true VIP experience by only sticking strictly with public tasting.  Make a reservation and finally find the time to relax, have a glass of wine, and take advantage of the intimate setting at these “exclusive” wineries.

Straight from the vine, freshly picked Napa Valley Grapes

Pros-Not the most experienced wine connoisseurs-fear not. Surprisingly the appointment only wineries are not as exclusive and highbrow as many may think. The wineries we experienced were down to earth and most importantly not phased by our sometimes-remedial questions.  The value of tasting are largely better, by limiting the number of patron wineries can focus on quality control rather than surviving the bum rush at the tasting bar. Savor the moment, no one is rushing you and you have the wine host all to your self. With private tasting you have a captive audience, the pourer has no reason to move on to bigger wallets- don’t be shy to ask for seconds.

Cons– yes you do have to pay a tasting fee that is on average more expensive than the public wineries. Keep in mind you are also paying for the opportunity to taste some superior quality wines available nowhere else. Why not bring home a Souvenir; often tasting fees are waived when you decide take a bottle home.

Wanting to try the experience for ourselves we called ahead and made appointments with two of Napa’s hidden gems: Fleury Estate and Schweiger Vineyard & Winery.

Front patio view from Fluery Estate Winery, Napa Valley

Appointment only Fleury Estate Winery lives up to its motto: 100% Good Juice. Their wine BDX is featured exclusively on French Laundry’s Tasting Menu- an honor that is not overlooked in the valley. Owners’ son, Eric, admits that they have no plans of making their wine available in stores anytime soon. Despite their upscale following Fleury’s atmosphere is surprising casual and fun. Eric was charming and candidly shared some of the family stories behind the wines. We spent most of our appointment with him and his passion for the family business was obvious.  Tasting highlights include: Reserve Howell Mountain BDX and the Port.

Schweiger Vineyard & Winery, Napa Valley

Historically Napa Wineries have been family owned. Boutique appointment only wineries, like Schweiger, are keeping this tradition alive, keeping both grape growing and wine making in the family. Upon arrival at this mountaintop vineyard we observed owner Fred Schweiger running a tractor through the rows. Erin our hostess sat on the balcony and chatted with us like an old friend. She told us about the wine, family history and even doted on her favorite vineyard dog.  We learned that every year wine-maker and son Andrew releases his Dedication Wine, of which he honors someone important in his life. We easily could have spent our entire day there our day was that enjoyable; at Schweiger Vineyards & Winery, “…what’s important is family and friends”.  Highlights: cheese plate with tasting & cellar and “wine blending tour”.

Interested in visiting similar appointment only wineries in Napa Valley? For a complete listing of appointment only wineries in Napa Valley please see www.napavintners.com. Check out California Tours’ Napa Valley Packages and book your private wine country get-away today!

LA Shopping: Fashion District

October 5, 2012 at 5:14 pm

Los Angeles is known as the fashion capital of the west coast.  There are a variety of different prestigious shopping locations, such as Rodeo drive, but the Fashion District is where the deals are. While you might spot a celebrity on Rodeo Drive, you will most certainly spot discount prices and unique fashions in the Fashion District. With over 1,000 stores in a 90 block radius, the Fashion District is the perfect hunting ground for the die-hard shopper.

The Fashion District can be a bit overwhelming if you have never been there. So before you race over to the Fashion District for those amazing shopping deals and discounts, here are a few things to keep in mind:

In order to efficiently navigate without wasting valuable shopping time, be sure to take a map of the district with you – trying to explore the 90 blocks without some direction can be a bit daunting. You can download a map here.

Entrance to Santee Alley

Unless you know exactly the type of merchandise you are looking for, it can be difficult deciding where to begin your shopping extravaganza. Santee Alley, yes it really is an alley, is a great place to start your shopping excursion.  Commonly referred to as ‘The Alley,” it is widely known for its great bargains and lively atmosphere. Although only two blocks long, the Alley offers shoppers a taste of the different types of stores and merchandise available in the Fashion District.

Dress comfortably!

You will be doing a lot of walking in crowded areas, so be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. There is no need to dress like you are shopping on Rodeo Drive. Bargaining and haggling are both expected and encouraged in the district. Dressing to impress implies you have money to spend. If you want to receive the amazing bargains the Fashion District is known for, dress accordingly. Take advantage – dress comfortable and haggle for great deals!

Bring cash. Many stores do not accept credit cards. If you get to the Fashion District without any cash, don’t worry. There are many ATMs sprinkled throughout the district.

Size and fit on clothing is not consistent from store to store or even from garment to garment. So before you buy any clothing articles, try it on first! The majority of the shops do not have conventional dressing rooms. Wear thin, non-bulky clothes so you can easily try things on over your clothes.

Large selections!

There is a high turnover of merchandise, so if you see something you cannot live without, it is best to buy it while it is still available.  Be aware that much of the merchandise is sold “as is,” so make sure you are comfortable with the condition of your choices before you purchase. Checking the condition of the merchandise can be helpful during the bargaining process. Merchants want you to purchase their product – make certain you want to purchase it too.

Use the restroom before going to district. There are restrooms located sporadically throughout the district, but if you do not know where you are going they can be very difficult to find. In addition, the majority of the restrooms you will find will not be ones you want to use.

The Fashion District offers its visitors a chance to shop unique trends at affordable prices. As the creative center for the fashion industry, any fashion craze can be at your fingertips. So explore the abundant selection of stores and merchandise – who knows what you may find!

Endless shopping possibilities!

For more information on shopping tips for LA’s Fashion District check out this blog: One Truth for All

Los Angeles Spring Festivals

April 6, 2012 at 4:20 pm

Food, music, games, and dancing – festivals are great way to get out of your usual routine and have some fun. The clear skies and sea breezes of spring in Los Angeles are the perfect time for celebration as the “rainy season” (though still mostly sunny) ends and before June Gloom sets in.  Whether you’re living in the L.A. area or just visiting, check out any of these cultural events.

Renaissance Pleasure Faire

When: April 7 – May 20, Saturdays and Sundays

Where: Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, Irwindale, CA

What:  A renaissance of the Renaissance, as artisans and performers show off their craft wearing elaborate period costumes. There will be rides and games, including a maze, darts, fencing, frog flipping, archery and crossbows. Events include Tea with the Queen, Easter Parade, costume contests, and pubcrawls.  Eat fish and chips, tri-tip sandwiches, and steak on a stake while enjoying jousting matches, wizardry, equestrian performances, comedy, and a performance of Hamlet.

 

Santa Monica Festival

When: May 19, 2012

Where: Clover Park

What:  A celebration including food carts, an environmentally-friendly marketplace, art workshops, an active stage to get a workout trying different activities, and performances by dance companies and music groups including Dustbowl Revival and La Santa Cecilia.

Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest and Arts Festival

When: May 20, 2012

Where: Paramount Movie Ranch – Agoura Hills

What: A bluegrass and folk festival including a contest, clogging and square dancing, singing and fiddle playoffs, Celtic music, children’s crafts, and jamming all day.

Garden Grove Strawberry Festival

When: May 25-28, 2012

Where: Garden Grove

What: A festival featuring games, rides, musical performances, contests, food booths, celebrities, and of course, strawberries.  All proceeds go to charity.

If you want to get away for a weekend, check out our blog post on spring festivals in San Francisco.

Need a vacation?  Check out our website for vacation package ideas.

Hearst Castle: Opulence Along the California Coast

February 1, 2012 at 5:00 am

Hearst Castle: Opulence Along the California Coast

Most people have an idea of their dream home – a swimming pool, a spacious kitchen, maybe vaulted ceilings. Or, if you are William Randolph Hearst, a 115-room mansion surrounded by three guesthouses, with two swimming pools, a movie theater, tennis courts, and a 360 degree view of his land all the way down to the Pacific Ocean. And he had the money to build that dream.

Hearst’s reputation is well known as a ruthless newspaper baron who helped drive the sensationalism of yellow journalism in the early twentieth century. But his publishing accomplishments fade away when you stand before his grand estate in San Simeon where the enormous presence of the house overtakes any myth of the man.

To get there, it’s a bumpy 20-minute ride in a bus from the visitors center, climbing up the hills, catching a beautiful view of the coastline and, possibly, a zebra – a lasting legacy of the private zoo Hearst once had with more than 300 animals.  As the house comes into view, reality seems far away. You have the sense that you are stepping into someone’s else’s vision of what life can be.

The bus stops at the base of Casa Grande – the main house – and you are led to the Neptune pool. It is outdoors, surrounded by Roman statues and marble arches through which you can see out to the ocean. The water is a clear, enticing blue, inviting you to grab a bathing suit from one of the pool houses and dive in as the guests used to do. If only!

Hearst Castle: Opulence Along the California Coast

At sunset, the colors of the sky give the pool a warm glow. It was the perfect time for a couple to slip away from an evening tour I was on. In front of the pool, he handed his girlfriend a rose with a diamond ring. Not surprisingly, she said yes.

The house is so big, it is broken up into three separate tours. Casa Grande is always a good place to start. In the heyday of his entertaining, Hearst regularly invited the most influential people of the 1920’s and 30’s – actors, artists, politicians and writers that stayed in the 84 bedrooms available on the estate. His guest list included Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Louis B. Meyer, Calvin Coolidge, George Bernard Shaw, and Howard Hughes.

He wanted to curry favors and glean scoops, but he also wanted to be entertained. Being a good storyteller was a good way to be invited back – and most people wanted to be invited back. Dinners were at a long table in a huge dining room modeled after a monastery. He seated the newest arrivals nearest to him, and they were moved farther down the line the longer they stayed.

Next to the dining room was a large sitting room with books and seating arranged to encourage conversation. But, a guide told me on a tour, it came with a rule – a two-drink maximum. After dinner, a movie was featured in his private, plush movie theater.

And then there are the bedrooms – opulent and unique, they spread down hallways and into turrets, anticipating every guest’s possible desire. Almost. Rule #2 was that unmarried men and women could not room together. He did not practice this himself –  he built an entire wing of the castle for his mistress, actress Marion Davis, while his wife lived in a different home.

During special evening tours, actors dress up in costumes from the 1920’s and act as guests – playing tennis on the court, lounging in the sitting room, chatting in the bedrooms as they pretend to get ready for dinner. It sounds cheesy, but it actually does make the house come alive. Touring with a group, it is so hard to imagine anyone actually living there, becoming accustomed to the surrounding splendor.

The final stop on the tour is the second swimming pool. It is all tile – with stars on the bottom as if when you are underwater, the bottom is up. And there’s a diving platform to dive into the stars.

After the tour is over, you are shuttled down the mountain to – lets face it – a less splendid reality.

Or, as I did last time, to get another ticket for a different tour and return to the castle.

Book your vacation along the California coast with California Tours today and don’t miss the history and decadence of Hearst Castle!

 

Drake Lucas is a former journalist based in Brooklyn, now working in communications for a non-profit organization. She loves a good travel adventure wherever it comes, whether it’s a spontaneous safari in India or stumbling onto a movie set during a hike in Yosemite. Follow her on Twitter: @drake_lucas.