Napa, CA – June 2023
Hotels: Cambria Beach Lodge (Cambria) | Hotel Indigo Napa Valley (Napa)
Sun Luis Creek Lodge (San Luis Obispo)
Well, seems like we must be big fans of torturing ourselves, because not only did we attempt a 7 hour road trip with a baby for our second trip post-Lionel, we brought our puppy, Chloe, too.
Grandma and Grandpa usually get stuck being doggy daycare while we’re gone, but since that wouldn’t be needed this time, we were lucky enough to have their extra help on the trip instead.
To help reduce our driving each day, we decided to split up the trip by stopping in Santa Barbara for a few hours, letting Chloe and Lionel wiggle their legs, and then to Cambria for overnight.
We didn’t stay long in Cambria before heading on our way, but we stayed at the cutest beachside motel — with a sun deck and free bike rentals — and enjoyed a tasty breakfast at the Creekside Garden Cafe.
Once we finally reached Napa, we had several reservations set for the day. Making reservations is highly recommended, since many wineries won’t even allow entrance onto the property without one. Some will need to be prepaid for, while others don’t require anything until you arrive.
Castello di Amorosa
Our first visit was to Castello di Amorosa, a beautiful winery featuring a castle, farm animals, and, of course, amazing wines. They have a few different types of reservations to choose from. We opted for just the tasting, where we could do a self-guided tour of the castle after. Even though I told everyone our itinerary didn’t include a breakfast spot, no one prepared or ate before we left the hotel, so luckily the tasting had an option to purchase a small charcuterie box to share. Chloe made sure to collect her cheese tax and gave the box a 10/10.
For the tasting, our handsome waiter, Bruno, helped pick out different wines for each of us depending on our preferences. My husband, who loves being the center of attention, despised Bruno for being so charming with not only our table, but all surrounding us too. Might have been the wine, but we spent the whole time laughing at Joe’s fake feud. *cue music* We don’t talk about Brunoooo. No no no! In addition, if wine isn’t your preference, or you have a child in attendance, the winery has a delicious grape juice to enjoy that’s made at the vineyard.
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
For lunch, we stopped by Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch. The restaurant had a gorgeous outdoor patio and featured a farm-to-table menu, which is exactly what I was dreaming of the whole trip! They had a wide variety from burgers to pork chops, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Rombauer Vineyards
After lunch, we visited Rombauer. Our reservation here didn’t require purchasing a tasting, so instead my mom and I opted for just enjoying a glass. The property is filled with gorgeous landscaping and a “secret garden” vibe with tables scattered throughout to sit at and enjoy a picnic, as the winery does allow outside food to be brought in.
RH Yountville
That night for dinner we had reservations for RH Yountville. When I asked friends for recommendations, over and over again I was told Restoration Hardware for dinner. Yes, I said Restoration Hardware. As one of the prettiest restaurants in Napa, I couldn’t believe they would allow dogs even. Filled with chandeliers and twinkle lights everywhere, it really is a must see.
Other Recommendations:
Before we left, we were given wide range of recommendations for wineries and restaurants to visit. Below are ones that allowed both dogs and kids.
Alpha Omega – Gorgeous and modern winery with a huge fountain out front.
Cliff Family Winery – Offers a breakfast and wine pairing that would be perfect for starting the day.
Goose & Gander – Open for dinner, with a gorgeous patio, serving pub-like meals and amazing craft cocktails.
Boon Fly Cafe – Great breakfast spot with a menu featuring everyone’s favorite classics.
Typical Joe decided to wake up and completely disregard all plans I had made, so instead of visiting another winery the next morning, we took off towards San Fransisco. We were able to visit the Golden Gate Bridge, walk Fisherman’s Wharf, and enjoy a bowl of clam chowder before continuing our journey to San Luis Obispo.
We reached SLO right before dinner, so after we checked into the cutest motel I’ve ever seen, — Check it out above. They drop off fresh coffee and scones every morning at your door. — we headed to walk around downtown. We were able to get a table at the popular restaurant, Novo, sitting outside on the patio near the creek, and enjoyed McConnell’s ice cream for dessert. All while little Lionel stayed awake until 10 p.m. because he suffers from some massive FOMO like both his parents, apparently.
Our last stretch of drive home, of course, Joe already planned our detour to Solvang, where we stopped for baked treats and lunch.
After five days of long driving, we were happy to be home and out of the car again, but happy for all the memories we were able to make on a trip with our entire family. The smile on our dog’s face every day made every struggle entirely worth it.
• Everyday Davis • 