Recently at work, we were asked where our favorite place to vacation is. And I couldn't help but think, I just like to go where I know there will be something delicious to eat. Over the years, as my experience with cooking went from a relaxing after work activity turned passion project, dining experiences when traveling have become equally as important to me as location. A vacation just isn’t a vacation without great food. Naturally, the Napa Valley region, a destination for professional culinary stars and foodies alike- was top of mind. Our three-day trip a couple weeks ago was everything I wanted and more, and made even greater by perfect weather all weekend long. Crisp mornings followed by warm sunny days made adventuring, drinking, and eating all the more indulgent.

Marin Country Mart

We started off our trip with a stop at the most charming collection of shops - Marin Country Mart. We started with coffees and pastries from Rustic Bakery, which was delicious and the perfect low-key start to the day. I mainly wanted to stop into Shoppe Amber Interiors as I love her design work, but they had so many other beautiful stores to look at, including Jenni Kayne! Both were a treat for design-minded eyes.

A Stop in Sonoma

From there we made our way over to Sonoma! First we stopped for brunch at Boon Fly Cafe which was so delicious (you have to get the doughnuts) and a stop at Cornerstone Sonoma for some shopping - they have great home decor stores, beautiful gardens, and a few spots to eat as well. I highly recommend a stop here! From there we stopped at our first winery which featured beautiful views of the Carneros wine region.

Exploring our hotel in Yountville

Post wine-tasting, we made our way to our hotel in Yountville. The below was the view from our room - it was just magical! I quickly made my way down to the pool for some reading and relaxation before getting ready for dinner that night.

Walking to Dinner in Yountville

I loved the location of our hotel, because it was walking distance to everything in town but just far away enough to enjoy a beautiful sunset stroll. We walked past the French Laundry restaurant and gardens each night on the way to dinner.

St Helena And Napa

On our second day, we started with exploring downtown St. Helena. I was enchanted by all the natural flowers and fruit trees growing everywhere, filling the air with the most wonderful citrus scent. We stopped at the Cafe at Farmstead for lunch which was cute, casual and affordable! Then it was off to a couple wine tastings - first up was Duckhorn, which ended up being my favorite stop of the whole trip. It’s a dreamy blue farmhouse with an incredible wraparound porch, surrounded by vineyards and mountains, set far off from the main road, so it felt so peaceful and calming. We ended the day at Mumm, a winery we had first visited 7 years ago. We toasted our return visit by enjoying a tasting of their best sparkling wines.

A morning in Yountville

On our last morning, we grabbed coffees and pastries from Bouchon Bakery for breakfast, where I indulged my sweet tooth with a chocolate croissant and caramel latte. We spent some time checking out the shops and sights around Yountville, and discovered this little courtyard filled with gardens and shops. We grabbed lunch then headed to our last winery, Ram’s Gate, which I just love! We visited Ram’s Gate during our trip a couple years ago, when we had just gotten engaged, so it felt really special to go back!

And that’s all! We had the most wonderful time - Napa is such an incredible place. It felt great to take a few days and really relax, take in the scenery and eat delicious food.