Wine and Spirits Travel

I usually love my job, but sometimes I really love my job, like the last two days when I got to take off with my daughter Sam in Napa to check out a great hotel, two spas, four restaurants – and lots of wine. I was in Napa last summer , but it’s been a few years since I spent any time in Calistoga .  This quaint area is the perfect place to plan a girls' getaway as it appears to be the land of spas.  That’s exactly where we started, at Solage Resort & Spa , a luxury retreat in the center of Calistoga. Our cottage at Solage was just beautiful, complete with a cozy living room and a patio in the back that included a Jacuzzi.  We also had two bicycles on our front porch and though we didn’t have a chance to use them, they are a popular mode of transportation around Northern California, where gas is over $4 a gallon. The Spa at Solage has received many accolades (including a vote as the No. 1 Spa in the Americas in Conde Nast Traveller) and it was easy to see why. It’s a r

I actually took some time off this weekend to spend with the family, while having a chance to taste my way around more of Marin County. I’m staying at the Courtyard Larkspur which is in a perfect location for just about anything you want to do in this area.  The hotel’s only about a mile from Highway 101, within walking distance of the San Francisco Ferry Terminal and across from a great little shopping center. Within that center is the Marin Brewing Company which, as the name indicates, is a great place for beer.  I enlisted Sam’s help in trying some out and she gave it the thumbs up. We made our way around the county on Sunday.  I explored the Larkspur area a little, taking in the 70 degree weather (and, unfortunately, the pollen).  The Courtyard by Marriott Larkspur Landing has a great Bistro in the lobby that has Starbucks coffee and a good selection of healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner choices.  I also love the large lounge area for relaxing and catching up on sports (on y