Travel

November 4, 2021

Savannah, GA

This past weekend, Greg and I went on a long weekend, couples trip with some friends of ours. We wanted to go somewhere within driving distance but far enough away that we could make a weekend of it. We chose to go to Savannah. I have been to Savannah before but it’s been a while, over 10 years, and Greg has never been. We went with 2 other sets of couples and we all agreed to leave the kiddos at home.

One of the things I remember fondly from the last time I was there was the small-town feel you get being there. It definitely has that Southern charm and everyone is very friendly. It also is very historic and one of the most haunted cities in the United States. There are cobblestone streets everywhere which makes it feel very quaint. The architecture is also beautiful. There were so many cute cottages, big traditional houses, and colonial-style homes. We really didn’t have anything on the agenda except that the boys wanted to go golfing one day. We found a beautiful Air Bnb right by the riverwalk, which is a big tourist attraction there. The riverwalk is lined up with bars and restaurants and I feel like we hit them all! Here are some of the places we went:

The Grove – Restaurant:

The other ladies and I had brunch at The Grove the morning the guys went golfing. We went on a Friday morning so there wasn’t any wait but we couldn’t order from their brunch menu because they only offered that on the weekends. This restaurant was really cute. It was on the smaller side but when you walked in there was a huge bar that was placed right in the middle of the restaurant as a focal point. It was very industrial and gave a very Urban, cool vibe. There was also a stairway in the back of the restaurant that took you upstairs to the Rooftop Bar. This wasn’t open when we went but we were told it was a fun hangout for locals for cocktails and socializing. We had to take a picture of the QR code to get the menu, likely to ensure COVID safety. Their food was delicious! I would say it was classic Southern food but elevated. I had crispy chicken sliders that had arugula and this killer bbq sauce. It was also moderately priced. They had a separate cocktail menu with homemade cocktails. I would highly recommend this place for brunch or even just a quick bite while walking around downtown.

2 Cracked Eggs – Restaurant:

We ate at 2 Cracked Eggs on Saturday morning and all of us went. Get there early! You are going to wait. The restaurant itself is tiny, maybe 20 tables total and it’s located upstairs above a shop. It has an old, Southern feel but the food was great. Their staple was easily their homemade biscuits. They came with most of the meals and were as big as my head! They had some cocktail options and Cuban coffee, but nothing fancy. This is an old school, rustic restaurant but worth the wait!

Treylor Park – Restaurant:

This was a good restaurant option as well. This one is also tiny but they have additional seating on the back patio which is where we ended up. There is a bar out there and high-top tables so it’s more casual than inside. I don’t know how to really describe their menu. There was no specific type of cuisine but everything had its own twist to it. For example, some of their appetizers were avocado fries, PB&J chicken wings, and fried banana pepper rings. Some of the items sounded odd but they were delicious. There was definitely an elevation put on most of the dishes and everything was really good. They had a full bar but their beer was definitely a specialty. They had some old-school beer like Miller High Life and PBR and then some local craft beer. I had lager and it was delicious!

The Pirate’s House – Restaurant:

We ended up going here twice because it was right down the street from where our Air Bnb was. The food was ok. It wasn’t bad but there wasn’t anything on the menu that blew my socks off. They have a full menu and it’s also a casual setting. The first time we went in there we sat at the bar and the bartenders were really cool. They gave us a list of places on the riverwalk that we had to check out and they had a lot of drink items. It was definitely a good bar to start off at.

The Vault – Restaurant:

We wanted to have one “nice” dinner while we were there so we planned on going to this restaurant. Side note, NONE of the restaurants took reservations so you have to get there and put your name on the list. We waited about 40 minutes. This restaurant is Asian fusion and ohhhhh mannnn was it good! They had sushi, great cocktails, killer appetizers, and their main menu items were delicious. I will say their whole aesthetic doesn’t make any sense. They were all dressed in flannel shirts and jeans and the decor looked like an elegant Southern woman’s home. It didn’t match the food at all but after eating there, it didn’t matter! Such a good place to go if you’re in the mood for some delicious Asian food.

Tubby’s – Restaurant & Bar:

The weather did not cooperate for us and so we ended up spending a lot of time at this restaurant. They were a full restaurant but we didn’t end up eating there. You can tell that most of their business was on the outside patio. They were also another restaurant that was upstairs above a store. Their patio was huge with a big bar and a lot of TV’s. The inside sat maybe 15 tables but since it was pouring rain, we were inside. The staff was fantastic. I remember telling the girls, “man, this is one well-oiled machine.” The food looked really good, even though we didn’t eat anything. They had a lot of cocktail and beer options. If the weather was nice, we would’ve sat on the balcony and enjoyed the beautiful view of the river and hung out there. I highly recommend if you want a place with good cocktails, great service, and an overall good place to just hang out for a bit.

The Warehouse – Bar:

This might have been my favorite place we went. This place is the definition of a dive bar. There was a pool table in the back, each table had a T.V, and then there was a big bar you could sit at. Most drinks came in plastic cups or a beer can and I’m pretty sure my shoes were sticky from the ground. It was amazing though! It’s also right on the riverwalk and it’s just a fun atmosphere. There were a lot of people there and you can tell it’s where locals like to hang out. If you want a cool hangout spot to either start or end your night, highly recommend it.

All in all, we really had a wonderful weekend there. The riverwalk and downtown were our favorite spots. Downtown has a lot of walkability with cute shops, bars, candy stores, etc.. We spent most of our time at the riverwalk since it was so close to us. There are endless bars and restaurants to go to. I have to say, though, the service was mediocre at best. I’m not sure if everyone was upset because the weather was so bad, but we did not have a good experience with the bartenders and waitresses/waiters. They were very cold, they barely made eye contact, and we all felt that they were annoyed we were there. The last time I was in Savannah, I did not receive this type of service so I’m hoping it was a fluke. However, it was several restaurants and several bars that we felt that way so I’m not sure what happened. We definitely were loud, there’s 6 of us, but I know we were respectful so I know we didn’t do anything to warrant that reaction. I highly encourage you to visit and see for yourself!

June 29, 2021

Destin, FL

We have gone on family trips with my whole extended family for as long as I can remember. We haven’t had one in a few years both because of COVID and how busy everyone has been. Most of our trips are to various locations within the U.S. There are about 20 of us total so we always try to go to a place where everyone can do their own thing, but also spend time together. This year we went to Destin, FL which was a first for most of us.

One of the immediate challenges with Destin is it’s location. Don’t get me wrong. Destin is located on the West Coast of Florida near the pan handle and is beautiful. However, the closest major airport is Orlando and that’s a 6 hour drive away. So if you are visiting from out of state, you have the flight to Orlando plus an additional 6 hour drive. There is a small airport directly in Destin (Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport), but it can be costly depending on where you are coming from.

I would describe Destin as a typical family beach vacation town. There are a lot of resorts, hotels, and timeshares. We stayed at the Wyndham Resort which was right across the street from the beach. In fact, we had an ocean view from our room which was an added bonus. Almost everything is walkable which is really nice. We had Jameson with us and was able to easily walk him down to the pool and the beach. We also found a great coffee place that was right down the street so we were able to take Jameson in his stroller.

The best place we got coffee was Bad Ass Coffee (no joke, that’s the name). This place was packed! We got there before 8am and we waited in a long line for our coffee. I’d say we waited about 30 minutes. We went another day before 7:30am and had no wait. If you are going to try this place out, I highly recommend going before 7:30am to avoid the wait. You can also go in the afternoon for a pick-me-up. There was no line in the afternoon. We liked it because they had every kind of coffee (espresso, lattes, cappuccino, etc..) but they also had a number of specialty drinks. They had a TON of flavors that you could add to any of the drinks. I tried a different flavor each time. My favorite one I tried was the Carmel Kreme De Kona. The staff was great too! I asked for their input on which ones to try and they asked me lots of questions and made awesome recommendations.

One night we went to dinner with the whole family to Lulu’s Destin. The second we sat down I told my dad “I’m getting Jimmy Buffett vibes here.” Turns out, it’s his daughter’s restaurant! This place was huge! It had indoor/outdoor seating but everything was open. There was live music and a very relaxed feel with cocktails being served in plastic cups, a whole kid-friendly area outside for the kiddos to play at, and a mock-beach where you could relax after dinner and just take a load off. The food was really good. It was a relatively big menu but they had a lot of seafood, Southern staples like fried green tomatoes, and easy eats like sandwiches and burgers. There were a ton of people there but they took reservations so we didn’t have to wait too long. It was also moderately priced. Definitely a great option for the whole family!

On our last night there, our family decided we wanted to check out the boardwalk. If you’ve been so the boardwalk in Myrtle Beach, this was almost identical. It was SUPER touristy so if that’s not your thing, you would NOT like it. There was a ton of things to do, especially for kids which was great. You can walk around outside with cocktails, go to several restaurants and food trucks, and play some games. You can also go on booze cruises, take a charter boat out and go fishing all day, rent jet ski’s, etc.. This is a great option if you have kids.

All in all, this is a beach vacation so you are going to spend most of your time at the beach. The beach is beautiful, the water is not super cold, you can rent chairs and umbrellas or bring your own, the sky’s the limit. It is a great option for families with little kids. The Wyndham had 2 pools that Jameson loved, but we saw plenty of other hotels with other pools that kids can go to. It was a great trip and I would highly recommend it for your next family vacation.

May 26, 2021

Sonoma, CA

This was my second trip to Sonoma. Coincidentally, this trip was also for a bachelorette party. However, this was my first time visiting Sonoma post-COVID. Boy, was it a completely different experience. I will say that more venues were open than I thought would be, since this is California and they seemed to be more strict. They also all took safety precautions with requiring masks be worn when entering/exiting but you could take them off once you sat down. We actually ended up going to 2 wineries that I went to my first bachelorette trip. One of the biggest differences was that there was no standing and tasting. Everyone had to have an appointment and you were given a table to sit at and all the tables were spaced out. I didn’t mind this so much but it definitely changed the vibe because you couldn’t stand and socialize which is always fun when wine tasting. One of the wineries we went to, that I also went to my first time, was Benzinger.

Benzinger – This was actually one of my favorites the first time we went and my least favorite this time, which goes to show you that COVID definitely has an impact on your experience. The first time I went (back in 2018) we went on the tour. The tour guide was fantastic! He gave us a ton of information but also made it fun and threw in some jokes here and there. This time, the tours were not available due to COVID. The scenery there is beautiful. When you drive up, you feel like you’re going into a beautiful garden with flowers everywhere and beautiful landscaping. They had picnic tables spread out for guests to sit at and when you sat, there was a clipboard with a piece of paper showing you what wines you would be tasting. I’m not sure if they were short-staffed or if the person serving us was new, but he did not give us any information about the wine. He simply came by, said the name of the wine he was pouring, and walked away. Their wine is good and we ordered a couple charcuterie boards which were very tasty. Overall, I wasn’t impressed with the experience and felt the staff could have been better educated and given us a more pleasant experience. Hopefully it goes back to the way it was pre-COVID once things go back to ‘normal’.

Gundlach Bundschu – This was my favorite winery. We did the tour and our guide was amazing. If you go, ask for Kat! She was hysterical and so knowledgeable. It was truly a pleasure to be on her tour. The wine tasting occurred during the tour so while you were walking through the caves where they keep the barrels of wine and the fields where they grow the grapes, you were tasting the different wines as you went. She gave back stories about the family and their plans for continuing to grow the grapes in a more eco-friendly manner. The wine was also delicious. This winery also had beautiful landscaping and tables spread out if you wanted to stay after and have a glass of wine and feel safe. We had to make an appointment for this winery.

St. Francis – This winery I would describe as unmemorable. I had also been to this one pre-COVID and the experience was completely different. This one was never my favorite but one of the things that had stood out to me before was that they had a huge bar counter when you walked in and everybody can stand up at it while they do their tastings. It made it great to socialize with other groups and the person who was pouring the wine. Obviously, this part was closed to keep a safe distance. They had set up tables outside so everyone was safely spread out. The scenery here is also breathtaking. In fact, there was a couple doing their rehearsal while we were there and it does make a beautiful scenery for a wedding. This might have been the best view of all of them. The tables are set up right next to the start of the fields where the grapes are and they let you walk through them if you so choose. You also have a beautiful view of the mountains. It is simply gorgeous. I had also remembered this winery having the cutest little knick knacks that you could purchase. Most, if not all of them, had been removed and were not on display. I assume, again, to avoid any groups and trying to keep things safe. The wine was good and the person who was pouring our wine was knowledgeable and answered all our questions. But there was nothing memorable about it. It was simply just ok.

These are the only wineries we went to so I apologize in advance for only having a couple reviews. However, the last time I went, one of the places we did a tasting at was Gloria Ferrer. WOW WOW WOW WOW!!! This one was absolutely amazing. This was my favorite winery we went to last time. This one is known for their champagne tasting. I’m actually not 100% sure if they do any regular wine tastings. I think they are all champagne. You walk up to this beautiful building. It almost looks like a castle. They have the tables set out on the back patio and you’re on an elevated piece of land so you are overlooking these beautiful fields and the mountains. It is again, breathtaking. The champagne is delicious. They give you breadsticks at the table but you can also order charcuterie boards and snacks. It is a must-see in my opinion.

If you do decide to go to St. Francis, there is a very good restaurant close by called Palooza. This place was very cool. When you drive up, it looks like a dive bar with some industrial elements and a band playing outside. It’s an inside and outside restaurant but all the seating was outside. My guess is they did that for COVID but I would bet they normally have hightop tables inside. It is one of those restaurants where you order at the counter, they give you a number, you go pick a table, and you go pick it up when they call your number. They have a full bar and tons of in-house drinks. I had a glass of Rose but a lot of the girls liked trying the different beers and cocktails. Their food was so good and reasonably priced. They had pizzas, sandwiches, ahi tuna poke nachos which I thought was super creative, and wraps. I would describe it as elevated bar food.

Another place we ate at was Hopmonk Tavern. This place was also set up really cool. We had gone here for dinner so it’s a sit-down restaurant. It had a lot of industrial elements with a lot of wood and piping but it also had the outside patio lights since all the seating was outdoors. You could go inside and get a drink at the bar but the majority of the seating was outside. They had a really tall, clear tent that made it feel like you were inside even though you weren’t. Since Sonoma gets cold at night they had heat lanterns spread out to keep everyone comfortable. The food was really good. I would also describe it as upscale bar food. Some of the girls got burgers, reubens, chicken sandwhich, etc.. They also had a few upscale items. One of my girlfriends got the mushroom risotto which was delicious. The cocktails were good and the staff was great. I would highly recommend it.

As far as housing goes, if you’re going with a group Air BnB is really the best option. Many of the homeowners out there have investment homes solely used for visitors. Many of them provide a list of their recommendations as far as restaurants and wineries. Sonoma is less expensive than Napa but it’s still California so it’s expensive. In my opinion, it is the most cost-effective option. The Air BnB we stayed in was beautiful. It had a gourmet kitchen, 3 bedrooms but it slept 10 plus 3-4 couches people could sleep on, and had a pool. Both this place and the one I stayed in last time had their own mini vineyard which was great for pictures.

When it comes to transportation, Sonoma has a company called Deanna Irish Wine Tour Drivers. This is clutch! Their whole business model is based on a having a “DD” or sober driver. You can either hire someone to drive your vehicle or they can provide a vehicle. Basically you hire them for the day to drive you from winery to winery and they wait for you in the car. The first time I went to Sonoma, we had the guy drive our rental because there was only 6 of us. He drove to our Air BnB, dropped off his car, brought a lunch, and drove us all day. This time, the driver brought a car and it was a 12 person van we all fit in. But it was the same in that she drove us from winery to winery and waited for us in the parking lot each time. She also recommended Palooza for lunch and I was told when planning they were helpful in giving us wineries that were still open, what their rules were, etc.. This is a no brainer if you come in a group!

Overall, it was another great experience. I would highly recommend Sonoma. Some of the hard parts is that Sonoma is not close to any airport. You will have to rent a car and drive at least an hour. Sacramento is a little closer than San Francisco but, depending on where you’re coming from, it may be cheaper to fly into San Francisco. It is also California so it will be expensive. That’s just the reality of going there. You can certainly make some cost-effective options with the transportation company and Air BnB but don’t expect to get any coupon books 🙂 If you love wine, dressing a little fancy, and beautiful sceneries, Sonoma is a great vacation option.