Lots of catching up to do here on my blog. I can’t wait to share our day in the Napa Valley with my husband Ken, Tim, Tammy and their kids. It’s the first time I have taken three youngsters with me to the wine country. The last trip with kids there was with our other nephew Dan and his wife Beverly and their two kids Zander and Daphne, which I have yet to write about. The wine country never disappoints.
On this special occasion a month ago, we celebrated Tammy. It’s the first time I’ve taken her and her family out. Tammy is originally from Hong Kong and has been in the Smyth family for more than Ten Years. She married our nephew Tim, who works as a lawyer and is a phenomenal dad and husband. It’s not the first time our family has married someone with an Asian descent. Ken’s sister Terri Ann married Hanson Louie over 36 years ago. They had three children, Laura, Michelle and Peter. I met Ken and was introduced to the family when Laura was just a wee child, probably only a year or so. She is now in her mid to late 30’s and was just married a few months ago. We are so happy for her.
We drove to Martinez, got organized with all the books, snacks and toys, and transferred to the minivan where we all made our way to Stanly Ranch. I wanted to make sure Angel at the bar made a special birthday drink for Tammy. Angel and I are bff’s and she always hooks me up with the best cocktail while visiting her bar at The Bear, the restaurant at Stanly Ranch. What’s great about this place is they have a coffee house “Gavel” which has coffee and pastries for your pleasure. You can start out your day right in the Napa Valley, by stopping off here.
I was pleasantly surprised by the chess game which the girls were automatically attracted to. My husband Ken immediately went into the role of uncle and taught them how to play. I persuaded Tim and Tammy to check out the grounds at Stanly Ranch while we attended to the kids. There are fields of lavender, a gorgeous herb and vegetable garden, a spa up the hill and much much more.
They have lots of activities to keep the kids busy. Corn hole, ping pong, a huge vegetable garden, lots of lawn to run and play on site are just a few activities Stanly Ranch offers. The pumpkin farm at Stanly Lane just a block away hadn’t open yet, and that was disappointing for the kids, but we made the best of it. We ordered them hot chocolate with whipped cream and a pastry to keep them occupied.
Next up was Oakville Grocery, where the kids could hang out and color and play with the toys I brought from home out on the courtyard, while I gave Tim and Tammie an introduction to the Oakville Grocery Wine Merchant where they could taste a variety of wines from the valley. We ordered them a pizza from their wood fired grille and Tim and Tammy got to have a few private moments to themselves. Before we left, we got a photo or two of the handsome couple with grape vines in the background and photos with their kids with the pumpkin which will be on our photo wall for years to come.
Next up was the town of Yountville, where we took the family on a tour of many of the fine hotels. First up, was the Estate where we took the back route and walked through the gardens and water feature. I didn’t realize The Estate had a new bar, pool room area, and board games in their lobby for patrons to enjoy. We must have stayed there for at least two hours enjoying each other’s company, getting to know the kids better and relaxing in the practically vacant lobby.
These are the moments where I swear my mother in law Nilda, who we lost 3 years ago in October during Covid, in heaven is watching over us and guiding us into moments like these. The kids had an absolute blast learning to play pool, scrabble and snack on treats like fresh cookies, Peanut M&M’s and more which were free in the lobby. We bought the kids Shirley Temples, I ordered a red wine which I tend to stick with to keep my tummy happy, and Tim and Tammy got their favorite cocktail or wine of choice.
On the walk back to the van, I had to take them through The Bardessono Hotel and Lucy Bar. It’s one of my favorite places to go while in the town of Yountville. The gate to the pool was wide open, so we were able to take them onto the property and show them around. We had decided to have dinner at the Italian Restaurant Il Posto down the road where I thought the kids would find something they would like on the menu.
I was first introduced to this place many years ago when my dad asked me to attend a Veterans Day event at the Veterans home. My Dad knew this event would be of interest to me, since the best restaurants of the valley supply the food and wine for the special event. Unfortunately, only veterans can attend, but I was able to sneak in under the radar and pour coffee as a volunteer. Dad was trying to share his meal with me, but instead, I was invited to stop by Lucy Restaurant and have a dessert. The pastry chef provided the dessert for the Veterans day meal, and I was happy to learn about them. This happened over twelve years ago and I still remember trying all three of their desserts for lunch. They were out of this world delicious and I have made my way back to that destination ever since. They also make a mean espresso martini which my niece Marie has enjoyed.
Our last stop before driving back to the Bay Area was Il Posto Trattoria. I love this place because of its ambiance, vibe and location. It’s right off Hwy 29, the perfect place to stop and end your wine country experience. The kids were happy coloring their menus and us adults got to relax and take in the great local farm to table fresh ingredients. It’s always nice to end the meal with an affogato (vanilla ice cream with espresso). I do like to bring my own wine to dinners like these since they sometimes waive the corkage fee. Even so, it’s almost always less expensive to share a bottle than to have to purchase one at the restaurant. These are the few ways we can afford to enjoy the luxuries of the wine country on a budget.
Yeay for me, who finally wrote another blog. I’m happy to share my experiences with you and inspire you to indulge in the good life while living in the Bay Area.
Thanks for joining me and reading my blog. It means a lot and I am always in constant awe of the love and support I’m given here on my WordPress site. Don’t forget to spend a little time with your loved ones and why not make it happen in Northern California? Hope to see you soon friends.
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