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Getaways- The Parker Palm Springs

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The weekend before last I got away for a birthday and anniversary weekend with my husband to The Parker Palm Springs. I’ve always wanted to stay there and it did not disappoint! It’s a gorgeous place with amazing gardens and the whole resort was decorated by Jonathan Adler, whom I love. Here’s a little glimpse into this fabulous and fun spot some call the adult version of Disneyland!

The rooms have a 1970s vibe with hanging chairs and some terrific mid-century modern furniture, like our room above.

The public spaces…Love this green marble bar in the lobby.
This sofa was making me wish I could find something like this. Cool colors and fun pillows..

More lobby..

Love this retro fireplace! At night this is a busy gathering spot with the fire on.

We were upgraded to a villa since the resort wasn’t full. It was a beautiful space with a bedroom, living room and a small kitchen and big patio.

We loved these furry rugs for your feet on each side of the bed and the travertine side tables.

 The beds were uber comfy and I want a leopard bench with light celery paint like this..Isn’t the Jonathan Adler pillow cute? You can find it here.

More patio. This would also be a good room if you had kids along. We didn’t this time. There is also the 2 bed, 2 bath Gene Autry residence on the property if you you need a whole house..Here’s a photo below, from the website. Looks pretty fun. Yes he really did live there!

Palm Springs is just an hour flight from San Francisco. It was a fast trip leaving Friday night at 8, we arrived before 9, and the resort was just a ten minute drive away. We explored the place that night..

 There are three pools, a spa, croquet, fire pits, and two restaurants. You needn’t ever leave!

 I think my husband was ready to relax!

One of the fire pits by day…
It’s a bit of a maze wandering the resort with it’s crushed gravel paths and almost tunnel like hedges. To be honest it’s a little disorienting if you arrive after dark as we did. It’s lovely though and impressive what they can grow here in the desert.

Citrus was everywhere!

There is many relaxing spots to chill out.

The family pool..

Norma’s, the casual restaurant here, has the most yummy comfort food ever. They do breakfast, lunch and dinner. This really does have a bit of an old Disney feel doesn’t it?

The placemats were giving me flashbacks to my 70’s childhood..or The Partridge Family!

These lemon pancakes were fab, but warning the portions are HUGE! We shared.

 Pentanque  (kind of like French bocce) courts are in the center of the resort and reminded me of Luxembourg Garden in Paris.

If it gets too warm the darling Lemonade Stand is adjacent and has all kind of fun twists on lemon drinks especially the alcoholic versions.

 I don’t remember what the pink drink was Max had, but mine was a custom made cucumber mint ice thingy with vodka…I think. I wish I had time to try more, but the heat + alcohol was almost too much.

They know it so they have misters all around and shady spots. I’m crazy for the retro scalloped edged umbrellas they had everywhere.

When the heat got too much, we spent some hours at the indoor pool..

PSYC stands for the Palm Springs Yacht Club that was a genius fun idea. The minute you walk through the doors of this spa and cool space you instantly feel chill.  There’s a huge pool room that feels like ship with steamer chairs and cool air pumped out continually. We relaxed and cooled enough to go into one of the jacuzzis here. 
We sat outside on the patio and you can feel the cold air out there too. This is really a sanctuary when you are here in the warmer months. We just hit the beginning of what will be the busier season so it was warm 90-100 degrees, but not crowded. A super weekend if you want to get away, relax and not spend too much time traveling!
Of course there is other things to do in Palm Springs. It’s a big magnet for those who are into midcentury modern design as there are many homes built here in that style. The Design District is a short drive away from The Parker in downtown Palm Springs and has cool shops and restaurants. Of course I had to visit Trina Turk’s flagship store. There was also a Trina boutique in The Parker which was cute with books and swim suits, coverups and a few Adler pieces. This big flagship though had the full Trina clothing collection, but also included a home store and Mr Turk for men.

She has a terrifically curated home store which carried Trina’s line, but also things like books, totes, gorgeous glass bowls and even Missoni towels as well.

Like all Trina Turk stores, it was wonderfully designed. I loved the floor which I was told was pool tiles! What a cool idea.

 No one does good crochet coverups like Trina Turk. In the end I bought the chambray dress  with pockets I’ll wear a ton. Trina Turk is a must see when you are here in Palm Springs!

We also ate lunch at a fun spot called Trio. Disco music played non-stop. I love a little Donna Summer or Bee Gees with my meals don’t you? My husband kept saying he thinks they imported my playlist as everywhere we went some cool retro music was floating through a speaker somewhere. Another reason to love Palm Springs!!

Koffi is a good stop for blended or iced coffees (really it’s too hot for anything else) and the wonderful Just Fabulous with cool souvenirs and the best collection of design books I’ve ever seen is right next door.

These funky windows belong to Wil Stiles which is next to Trina’s shop..

It’s a riot of color, prints and amusing clothes. If you need to find your inner Rat Pack vibe this is the place! Check out the hats and retro wooden racquets.

This whole Design District on North Palm Canyon Drive has unique shops and restaurants.
 There are more great spots nearby like Palm Desert, La Quinta resort, hiking spots and even an aerial tram (sadly closed for annual repair when we were there.) Palm Springs is quite mountainous and beautiful and I hope to see more of that part of it next time I visit.  I’d love to go back this winter as it’s so quick to get to and totally relaxing and different from the Bay Area!
Kim

 photos all NorthernCal Style       This was not a sponsored stay and all opinions are my own.

Getaways- A Girl’s Guide to the Napa Valley

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Every girl needs a weekend away, preferably a few weekends a year. It helps to keep her sanity by reconnecting with friends, and getting away from the home drudgery.

I highly recommend the Napa Valley for a girl’s getaway. It’s got everything I look for in a respite – a beautiful location, spots to relax and explore, as well as wonderful places to shop and eat. Add to that, the best wineries in the world, and you’ve got it all.

So let me share a little more of our Blogger’s in Napa Valley trip and, and give you some great spots to get to and tips for planning your own little getaway as well.

1. Pick a hotel that is a vacation in itself. A hotel with lovely bedding, modern rooms, a lively bar and  restaurant is a great choice. A terrace for alfresco drinks and chat is always a nice feature too.  The Andaz Napa that I wrote about in my previous post was perfection! I couldn’t think of a better spot and highly recommend it for a ladies weekend.

2. Meet up for lunch! Our meet up spot was Redd in Yountville. Redd has amazing food and one of the largest and chicest patios to enjoy a lunch. A little chilled white wine and fabulous risotto, made this a perfect kick off to our 2 days!

3. Explore and Shop. As Redd is located in the charming small hamlet of Yountville, we had a lovely walk after lunch and made it to the V Marketplace , a beautiful spot to do some shopping while you are in Yountville. They have the flagship NapaStyle store, which has it’s own cafe and market. There are many fun shops here, but our main target was to get to the Montecristi Panama Hat Store, which is the ultimate cute hat destination.

First let me say if you think you can’t wear hats or don’t look good in them, you haven’t tried one of their Panama hats. They are unlike anything you can find in most retail stores. They are made in Ecuador and feel wonderful on. They are light as a feather and don’t flatten your hair either. The brims are flat in front and tip just perfectly up in back so you get that jaunty look just popping it on.

I have worn my hat a ton since buying and want a natural color one next.

I highly recommend a stop there. It’s the perfect souvenir from Napa and will protect your skin while you enjoy all the outdoor time at so many of the beautiful wineries. Luckily, Adrienne knew the darling owners, Mercedes and her daughter Carolina, who were on hand to help us all find the perfect hat. Do you know how much fun hat shopping is?

We adored these sweet ladies and all the lovely goods they sell. They have a treaure trove of styles,  not just Panamas. Adrienne got a large hat for a Derby party and there are even handbags like Mulberry, from the U.K.

A few steps from their hat store they also own Scents of Napa Valley, a purveyor of beautiful bath and bed items. Everything from Turkish towels to luxe bath soaks, soaps and pretty robes is here. It’s just the place to find a gift to bring home to someone or perhaps yourself. I was actually in love with the floral sheet sets they carry here from England. Really unique things.

After the excitement of meeting up and a fun night on our hotel’s lovely patio, we turned in to grab a few winks before our day out wine tasting. We didn’t have to worry about which of us was to drive or what maps to follow. We had our driver Mike coming for us at 9:30, to begin our adventure.

4. Hire a driver so you can relax and enjoy a day of Napa Valley with a expert guide. This was my first experience doing Napa with a driver and I highly recommend it. It takes the stress out of navigating the roads and worrying about driving while wine tasting.  A good driver is essentially a guide who has a lot of knowledge about what wineries are worth visiting and other unique places to do lunch and more.

The five of us with our trusty guide and driver Mike, who we adored.

We were fortunate to have Mike Johnson of Napa Valley Tours and Transportation as our driver and knowledgeable guide. We knew two of the stops we wanted to make and he recommended a few others that we would have never known about with just a wine country map. It was lovely to step into his air-conditioned Suburban after each stop. He carried and stowed our purchases, patiently watched our bags we left behind, guided us in and out elegantly of our car, and plied us with bottles of cold water as the day progressed. He was a gentleman in all ways and I can’t imagine going again with friends and not hiring him. He also is a gifted photographer. You can see his great pics of the Napa Valley if you follow him on Instagram. This is even more affordable if you have a group of ladies to split the tab. It’s worth doing.

6. Start with a little bubbly. On this trip we commenced with a stop at the glamorous and panoramic Domain Carneros. This visit was planned for us by the brilliant Charlotte Milan whose company C. Milan Communications, does public relations in the wine country and San Francisco. We first got a tour of the gorgeous Chateau and then sat with a stunning view of surrounding vineyards.

It’s fun to learn more about what you are tasting and the knowledgeable Sean Donaghue gave us a crash course in bubbles. We learned about their organic sparkling wines, the difference in bubble sizes, and Methode Champenoise, and what that means.

Umm, why yes I’ll take the one on the right!

During this we tried many of their special vintages while enjoying cheese, fruit and nuts. Why can’t learning always be this fun? Domaine Carneros makes organic varietals, which were some of the best we tasted. I personally loved that Domaine has 350 acres of organic vineyard, and a fantastic reputation of energy sustainability and green practices. Very cool!

Domain Carneros also makes Pinot Noir and we were fortunate to meet their Pinot Noir winemaker,  TJ Evans. You could tell he was passionate about everything from the smell in the vineyards to each step of the Pinot Noir process.  TJ has a fascinating background in wine and we wish we had more time with him.

The Pinot from Domaine was some of the best I have ever tasted.  I especially liked their organic Pinot, The Famous Gate. I had no idea they had such a reputation for their Pinot as well as their bubbly. After languishing as long as we could at the lovely view, we popped in the Chateau to buy our bottles to take home. It was tough to choose. The shop holds many cute things to bring home here.

7. Take a winery tour and visit a vineyard. Our next stop, Pine Ridge Vineyards, on the famous Silverado Trail, offers many different types of tours and has it’s own Stag’s Leap vineyard adjacent to the tasting room. Our visit included a walk through the barrel room, the deep wine caves and we even got to sip while we walked through the vineyards.  I have never done that in all the years I’ve wine tasted. A great experience for sure.

Pine Ridge was a perfect stop to learn more about wine production. The caves here are like fingers and they have a spot for special dinners and tastings with pretty lighting along with art like this beautiful Dale Chihuly piece.

 Pine Ridge is famous for it’s special Cabernet Sauvignon and it also makes excellent Chardonnay and Rose. I brought home a bottle of the Rose for Summer pool parties and I wish I bought more. It’s really something special.

Pine Ridge has tours for all interests and if you haven’t done this, it’s a lot of fun.

8. Visit a historic winery,  try an olive oil tasting, or have your lunch at a winery.  The historic and most beautiful Merryvale Vineyards, in St Helena, was one of my favorite stops.  Merryvale, was the first winery opened after prohibition ended and it has one of the most stunning historic cask rooms. It’s property couldn’t be better located right in the heart of St Helena. It’s an easy walk to lunch or you can do one of their artisanal cheese and wine parings which are at 11:30 daily by reservation.

We were fortunate that day to be treated to lunch by Charlotte who has Merryvale as a client. The delicious Gotts (amazing burgers, tacos and more), is right across from Merryvale.  We were able to lunch on the veranda of the old schoolhouse, which is part of this historic property. It gave us an opportunity to chat with the gracious Laurence Schlatter, who with her husband Remy and his family, own this pretty winery.

Laurence was so charming and fun. She and her lovely family, are Swiss, and run this winery like their personal home.

Their Merryvale Chardonnay was my favorite and I also love the Sauvignon Blanc. Another must try here is their famous Profile wine, which is a proprietary blend Bordeaux. Amazing! They make other wines as well, many of which are only sold at the winery. If this isn’t enough, there is also olive oil to taste and purchase. It makes a super souvenir to bring home. There is something for everyone here.

I adored Merryvale. The wines were sublime, and you won’t see a historic cask room with 2,000 gallon, 100 year old casks like this anywhere. To see a selection of wine experiences available or reserve a tour when you visit find it here. You can even reserve the room for special dinners and events. I can imagine what a magical evening it would be with all the candles glowing!

9. Stop at a small batch producer. Thanks to our trusty driver and guide Mike, we ended our day with one more stop at a very tiny, but special winery Bolen Family Estates, which specializes in Merlot. Did you know Merlot has made a huge comeback? I didn’t know it has returned in a big way and is very in-demand.
The owner, another Mike, is from Missouri. He loved visiting wine country and had a dream of one day moving here and making his own. Amazingly, he started by renting part of the wine cave he now owns, and having his son learn winemaking by neighboring winemaker in this Dry Creek area of Napa. Somehow, it all fell into place and Mike was eventually able to buy the cave and the vineyard and they now produce some of the best Merlot ever tasted. 
Bolen’s Wine Cave and a vineyard growing above.
 Mike Bolen produces a limited amount of no more than 500 cases per year, which allows him to really craft this wine from start to finish. His difficulty now is keeping up with the huge demand. He gets calls from all over the world from devotees of his wines to ship more. In fact, right before we visited he had just returned from Washington D.C., where one of his customers flew him out with his wines for a personal wine tasting for their friends!
What was a real blast here, was barrel tasting. Mike let us sip a bit from each vintage of his Merlots, straight from the barrels. He explained why some are still very fruity and others are mellowing as they go. In the end, when they are ready, they mix some that are aged in new oak with some that are aged in older oak barrels. This mix, that the family passes around and tastes until they hit the perfect note, makes for his mind-blowing wine. 
How often do you get to sit down with a winemaker and do a tasting?  We were getting a little silly, it was our last stop!
I splurged for a 2010, that still needs to age a while. The other girls bought the 2009 vintage that was ready now. All can be stored a decade or more. The bottles themselves were beautiful and so heavy they could be used for home security if you are able to control yourself from drinking right off! 😀

This stop was just so special. Mike Bolen is one of those guys who is the real deal and a lot of fun. If you are into Merlot, and small batch special wines, find time to taste at Bolen. It will be memorable, I promise! You can contact them through their site for a visit.

9. Explore another town and shop. After a night in, where we all decided we’d rather hang at out comfy hotel than go out, we ventured our last day to explore St Helena. St Helena is the perfect   destination for shopping while in Napa.

 The downtown has many darling stores to get olive oil, chocolates, cute shoes, bags and more. I love that most of these stores are locally owned and many incorporate the wine region into their merchandise.

10. Have your parting lunch at a charming spot! There are so many seriously good restaurants in Napa Valley it’s often hard to choose where to eat. For a ladies lunch, you can’t go wrong with a lovely atmosphere, outdoor dining and a little continental flair. Our last stop, Archetype ticked all the boxes for us!

You enter by a wooden gate into a greenhouse area they call the front porch. Benches with ticking stripe pillows, ives on tables, and windows filled with jars of fruit and plants enchanted us. Inside there are walls of shelves with white stoneware, bowls of pears and more fluffy banquettes or wicker chairs to relax in. These are just some of all the things I love and I was crazy for it all!!

We chose to sit in the greenhouse and of course snapped a zillion photos. They could have served dog food at this point, I adored it so much. However, the food was excellent. It’s fresh, delicious and everything was so good, we all shared our plates. My favorite was a buttermilk dressed romaine salad with avocados, the parker house rolls, and tandoori cauliflower. Archetype does tea and fun cocktail creations as well. Service was super.

11. Get a keepsake to mark the trip. Before we parted we all took a snap with our matching bracelets. We each had one that jewelry designer Tamera had made for us and also one Adrienne had bought us with a little cluster of grapes. They are both a wonderful reminder of our special trip and the bonding with these amazing gals. Each time I wear them I think back to those 3 days and feel a little lift.

 With that in mind, I suggest buying a little souvenir of your getaway that you all have. It is a wonderful way to keep a memory of that time.

Thanks for letting me take you along on our girl’s getaway!

Doing this made me realize how important it is to make time to plan things like this in our lives. It’s so easy to get caught up in the daily grind and not make time. Friends are special and as I get older I realize I need to make more time to appreciate them and be with them.

May you all get to experience something like this soon!

Kim

Special thanks to Adrienne Shubin, and Charlotte Milan for helping make this happen. Thank you to  Domain Carneros,  Pine Ridge, Merryvale and Bolen Wineries for hosting us. A very special thank you to Mike Johnson and Napa Valley Tours and Transportation for providing the fantastic transport for us.

All opinion expressed are my own as always on this blog.

Getaways- The Hip and Lovely, Andaz Napa

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Last week our, Bloggers in Napa Valley event happened after much planning and excitement!
We checked in to the very fresh and chic, Andaz Napa.
It exceeded our expectations in so many ways.
You can’t get a better spot in Downtown Napa. It’s close to the charming little walk to the riverfront, and many excellent restaurants and shops.
As it’s a short drive from the Silverado Trail, and the neighboring towns of Yountville, Rutherford and St Helena, it’s the perfect base for exploring Napa Valley wine country.

Loved the entry and the gorgeous ironwork on the windows.
The welcome is there the moment you arrive. 
They insist you relax while they check you in on an IPhone and hand you a glass of Napa Valley’s finest.
Nice!

Heather, and I were already giggling.

We had just had an alfresco lunch at Redd in Yountville. (More to come on that.)

Tamera, Jennifer and Adrienne getting silly in the lobby which had a nice buzz.  There are many spaces to chill and kick back here as well as fruit waters, nuts and other goodies to snack on.
We headed up to check out our rooms and get pretty for our little cocktail meet up we planned for a few Napa Valley friends and fellow bloggers who could make it.
The rooms were beyond.
My particular room was a corner suite that was like an apartment.
I loved the big sitting area with the sectional. It was perfect for having all the girls up later for more chatting and goat cheese. (Told you this was a girl’s getaway!)
The bed was as heavenly as it looks. 
Yes, I did take a bath! How could I not?

Much space to spread out including a desk and dresser..
Can I tell you how spoiled I felt to have my own space, as I live with 3 men?
I spread my things about!
Had to keep pinching myself. The rain shower and large bath were indulgent as well.
After I roused myself from this, and secretly schemed how I could stay a few months :D, we headed up to the open terrace top of the hotel.
Andaz’s lovely Mercantile Terrace did not disappoint. 

It’s a place to dine and socialize with fire pits and sofas, rockers and even swings.
There’s a fun vibe out here and frankly, the last thing you want to do is leave your hotel for dinner,  after a day of wine tasting.
We all ended up in some form of black. This is my favorite Instagram of the 5 of us.

There was some serious display of jewels by my fellow bloggers!

Jennifer and Tamera had some beautiful necklaces.

Adrienne wore her wine county necklace she had been working on for this trip. Love it.

We gravitated toward one of the fire pits and met some really great ladies.

Heather and Tamera with the lovely Contessa from The Vintage Hen House, who made the trek up from Orinda. 
So fun to meet her and she’s as fabulous as she appears in the blog world!

We also got the pleasure of meeting the charming Wine Country stylist, Malia. 
This girl is seriously talented and funny as heck too. I am hoping to get to work with her as Adrienne did for her photo shoot and also for her shopping expertise!

After a late dinner out there we all went up to Adrienne’s to chat more. 
Her suite had a fireplace and different configuration and was spacious too.
Couldn’t resist sharing cute Tamera in her sequin pants. 
We were like girls in slumber party mode and yakked late into the night..
It was hard to leave my cozy room in the morning…

 The sun streamed in and there was a pretty view of the little downtown and the hills beyond.

The fog was still burning off here.

We had room service the first morning. I adore the cute boxes they brought it up in.
This is my quinoa oatmeal with pears and almonds as well as proper Earl Grey tea, loose leaf and all.
Delicious.
There is a also cute breakfast bar where one can grab coffees, smoothies, oatmeal and more.
 We did this the second morning and ate at a high table.

The darling Famer’s Table Restaurant is another choice in the hotel for food.

Just adored the lobby. 

Fantastic huge map of Napa.
There’s a good feeling about this whole hotel. 
The spaces were so well designed for socializing and relaxing. 
A breakfast bar in the lobby becomes a fun regular bar later in the day.

I cannot say enough about the good service at Andaz. 
Everyone was so friendly and excited to share knowledge about the area and other great spots as well.

We lingered for a long time before departing on the last day.
 It was such a joy being together at this beautiful spot.
I am absolutely coming back to this gem. If you are planning on a trip to the Napa Valley, Andaz is a wonderful choice for so many reasons! 
Thank you to Andaz Napa, and all the lovely folks there who sponsored our stay and made us feel so well looked after. As a woman traveling alone, I really liked that.

Andaz itself, was a holiday and the highlight of this trip.

I am excited to show the other fab parts of this adventure- the friends, the spots we went, the wine we sipped, the hats we bought, the shopping, and our great guide, Mike of Napa Valley Tours and Transportation,  in my Girl’s Guide to Napa Valley, up next!
xKim
 A special thanks goes to my dear friend Adrienne who did so much work for this to happen. 


Disclosure: Andaz Napa generously sponsored my lodging for two nights. I paid for food, parking and other incidentals while staying at Andaz Napa. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Photos Northern Cal Style and top Andaz exterior photo and Farmer’s Table pic courtesy of Andaz Napa Pinterest.

Getaways- The Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay

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Rarely does a getaway combine nature and luxury at the same time. Hiking seldom involves cocktails overlooking the beach after. Biking along the sea followed by a gourmet dinner isn’t the norm. However, that is the charm of The Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay, which has the best of both worlds. You can commune with nature and feel pampered as well!

Half Moon Bay has been one of my favorite spots in Northern California for so many reasons. I love it’s wind-swept beaches with some of the most picturesque dunes and wide-open expanses. The tide pools of Fitzgerald Marine reserve here are the some of the best in the world.  The biking and hiking paths meander for miles over charming bridges, beautiful fields, and around sand dunes and hidden  beaches. The trees alone here charm me. The downtown is unspoiled and uncommercial, still a small sleepy beach town. I love it all. This is also home to Mavericks, location of one of the most famous big wave surfing events in the world.

This charming and romantic spot was a foggy Northern California beach town when the Ritz decided to build a world class resort around an historic golf course and nestle it’s property right on one of the prettiest coastal views anywhere. The Ritz here is a destination resort. You go to Half Moon Bay to get away from it all, and the resort coupled with nature is perfection.

The resort attracts a varied group. There are couples getting away for a few days, families hoping to enjoy some quality time with each other, as well as men on golf trips and women doing girlfriends spa getaways. You also get travelers from all over the world, who have heard of the charms of Half Moon Bay.

My husband and I got down here last in October, during the famous pumpkin festival. I loved how festive the resort was with pumpkins and gourds all over. We enjoyed lunch in the Conservatory, overlooking the ocean.  It was one of the nicest days and I knew we had to come back and experience this spot as a family. Last week. during our boy’s winter break from school, was the perfect time.

Driving up to the Ritz, you get the feeling of being of being in Cape Cod.

Right away the loveliness of this resort surrounds you…

It’s designed like a East Coast shingle style beach home, which I love.

Inside it’s all whites and blues.

Cozy nooks to relax are by the many fireplaces.

There are several public rooms that open on to each other that have spots for reading or having a cocktail or cappuccino. It reminds me of the design of the Lodge at Pebble Beach in that way.

We were thrilled about our guest room, which looked over the Pacific and the 18th hole of the golf course.  There was a balcony and quickly everyone got their relax on.

 Case in point.

 Our room was spacious and pretty. There were chairs and a table just right for activities. We really wanted a place to reconnect with the kids and brought cards and games. The hotel concierge has board games as well.

After we all kicked back a while, we explored the property and took in the ocean views.

We ended up at the indoor pool house. The very large pool was great for the kids to mess around.  Max and I chilled in the jacuzzi, while we debated about cocktails by the fire pits after or before sunset.

Walking to the pool.

The Ocean Terrace, with fire pits, is popular for evening drinks or hot chocolates. Their bagpiper plays at sunset every evening. The sunset couldn’t have been more beautiful that night!

The Ocean Terrace is alfresco dining and it is open all day for drinks and light bites. The view is my favorite here looking towards a little hidden beach, and you can see golfers finishing their 18th.

When we came back to the room, the boys were excited to find the resort had left them a s’more kit for the fire pits after dinner! A quick dry off and we all headed to the terrace to watch the sunset….

My guys dressed up (California style), for dinner.

 Then to dinner at Navio, the resorts’ lovely main restaurant…

 Dinner at Navio, was a treat.  I loved the blues and ocean inspired hues. There is a real feeling of being on an elegant ocean liner, and even the ceiling is curved like a ships hull.

There was so much to choose from, seafood is the specialty and there were many interesting and unique dishes. The boys were excited when the chef, Kevin Tanaka, came out to chat and we got to learn more about some of the original creations on the menu.

Jackson, my gourmet had snapper, and it’s his new favorite. I had salmon from Scotland that was finished with a butternut squash and cocoa relish. It was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten! Max loved his butterfish. Griffin had the macaroni and cheese and chicken fingers that we all stole a bit of.

I also loved my market salad with it’s beets, goat cheese and pistachios. I believe this was one of the best meals we have ever had. The view of the ocean was the capper. I was happy to sit there with my champagne all evening if I could…However, the boys couldn’t wait to get out there and make s’mores.

Boys + fire+ sticks- Of course they loved it!!

We warmed ourselves by fire pit and made our gourmet s’mores. I have never tried this kit before, but will again! The homemade marshmallows and chocolate plus graham crackers crusted with sugar made for very decadent treat. You can purchase this kit at the Ritz.

I think you can see I couldn’t help myself! Thank goodness for the little wipes that come in the set!

Did I mention they also have a wine, cheese and chocolate bar that’s called Eno?
Chocolate, wine and cheese? What’s not to love? This a perfect spot for a nightcap, dessert or some afternoon wine-tasting after an ocean walk.  Check it out if you are here even just for a day visit. It’s right above the Conservatory.
After a day of exploring and a wonderful dinner, we curled up in our cozy room. 
Nothing beats going to sleep hearing the ocean waves.
Even the little door hangers are half-moons.  Love!
We have traveled quite a bit in the past few years and I have to mention the bedding here. Wow, probably the best bed and bedding I have ever slept on. I love the feeling of drifting off on a soft cloud… Fabulous sleep!!
  We woke up to this…
So peaceful! Max and I let the boys sleep in and grabbed some coffee downstairs in the pretty Conservatory.
The Conservatory Lounge has complimentary coffee bar in the mornings. It’s another beautiful spot to have lunch or dinner here. On Thursday nights they have Burger, Beer and Jazz event, with local musicians which looked like a lot of fun.

We then took a morning stroll along the beach paths. 

Breakfast where my boys matched the decor, at Navio again.
 Gourmet Irish oatmeal for me. The men partook of the pancakes and waffles. House apple juice is fantastic too. The seafood eggs benedict is supposed to be phenomenal. Next time perhaps…

After our delicious breakfast, the boys did a special bike tour with the Ritz Kids program.

The winding trail that begins along the ocean here, goes as far as 5 miles into the town of Half Moon Bay, and beyond.

The boys went with Sean, a fun guys and great guide who took them for an hour and a half along the trail, across meadows and into the quaint town..

Sean took a pic of Griffin that he Instagramed. 🙂  They had a blast!

Bikes are available as well as segway tours for adults. The Ritz Kid program has special bike tours and fun activities geared to many ages. They have a kids night out program on Friday and Saturday nights, so parents can dine at Navio or try the wine bar, and have a relaxed evening, while children can get dinner and a movie with crafts. Kind of genius. You can read more about it here.

I was glad to know Jackson and Griffin weren’t too old, at 15 and 12, to do something like this and still have fun.

It was great to have some time to play tennis with just my husband and I on their courts.

We even took some time out to hang out on the Ocean Terrace and have our coffee with a view.

Next time, I think I would love to check out the beautiful spa and have a treatment for myself!

 I also want to get to this hidden beach, that is to the front right of the resort…

Some other nice points at this beautiful hotel were the baths. Love the bathrooms! They are luxurious, spacious and have many spots for your toiletries. That isn’t always the case.

The products in the bath are Asprey from the U.K. These were totally new to me and I loved the whole mess. I’m especially crazy about the hair products of this Purple Water line.

I didn’t get a chance to see if they are sold on site. They are wonderful and I am hoarding the last bits at home now.

 I also appreciated how they designed the room with pretty and roomy closets to store your luggage, jackets and shoes out of sight. So smart. Hotel rooms feel so much more spacious when you can walk about without tripping over someone’s bag or shoes, right?

After check-out, (I always hate that part), we popped over to downtown Half Moon Bay to check out some of the cute shops and grab lunch.

 Downtown is home very good bakeries, home shops, a wine and cheese store, a cooking store and a cool spot called Earth Impact with all Earth friendly finds! Always excited to find stores like that.

These cool California cutting boards were at Abode. Also fun is The Half Moon Bay Wine & Cheese Company.

Colorful graphic aprons and more at this darling cooking store, Toque Blanche.

Some of my other favorite stops on the way in or out to the resort are Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, for tide pooling,  The Waterfront Coastside Trail, for bikes or hikes, the Half Moon Bay State Beach for unmatched vistas, and Sam’s Chowder House, for world famous lobster rolls and a great beach scene.

You could easily spend a weekend or a week here, so many things to see and do along this coast!

We are all already talking about the next time we get to go back again.

Special thanks to Kaitlin Crawford of Ritz Half Moon Bay for making this trip possible and tailoring it to my family of four! Thanks also to the staff at Navio, and the chef Kevin Tanaka, who made our night. Last, but not least, the Ritz Kids program and Sean, who made some great memories for my boys.  A media rate for accommodation was provided by the Ritz, but the experience and opinions are solely my own.

Photos all Northerncalstyle except for the top and bottom photos, courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton.

Getaways- San Francisco’s Hotel Monaco- or Bloggers in the City!

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Living here in Northern California, one of the holiday rituals I look forward to is getting up to San Francisco to shop, see the Christmas windows and lights, and grab a great show or dinner. It’s a festive and fun time to be in the city. You can turn it into a little getaway for two, or a girl’s trip, or even a family weekend. Well, I now have the primo spot for such an escape, the Hotel Monaco! I got to join two wonderful blogess gals, Adrienne of The Rich Life on a Budget and Heather of StyleMindChic.
As Northern California bloggers from three different corners, we wanted to find a central spot to meet up and also create a holiday getaway that might inspire readers, and the Hotel Monaco generously sponsored our stay. We couldn’t have been more thrilled. Hotel Monaco is all that a boutique hotel should be. It’s quaint, charming and housed in a gorgeous, early 1900’s Beaux Arts building, which is pretty fabulous and lovingly restored.
It’s things like this marble staircase and it’s railing that wow you there.
The newly redone rooms are comfy and cozy, bright and pretty. I loved the chair and desk in my double room as well as large almost window seat to take in the city….
 I felt spoiled even more with the sweet note they left to welcome me as well as wine and wonderful cheese plate with a key to the city! Now I always have a little souvenir from them…
My view…Gotta love a pretty sky.
The Hotel Monaco isn’t just a pretty face though. She has an amazing staff that is so good, I would venture to say it’s one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in. I’m serious. The folks here are like a big family. They looked out for us ladies in the city. I felt safe and taken care of! 
After checking in we met up, shared some wonderful Veuve champagne courtesy of Adrienne, and we relaxed downstairs in the pretty main lobby. I love a good fireplace and a spot to chat, read or work. This room with it’s pretty fireplace and palm trees, seemed to have an old Hollywood vibe.
The ceilings are fabulous too…
Hotel Monaco’s other room houses their afternoon wine reception and a generous coffee bar in the morning. Lovely to sneak down and grab a fresh cup and favorite newspaper before the city is awake! In the afternoon a wine reception is laid out for guests – so nice after a day out exploring the city. The wines are chosen by a Kimpton sommelier and are “responsibly sourced.”  Pretty cool. Hotel Monaco is all kinds of progressive and you can read more on their website.

Hotel Monaco is pet friendly, (they do petcations!) as well as welcoming to kids and babies. ( I love this on the website – “Traveling with kids? You have our sympathy.”)!  Seriously though, they have red-carpet treatment for pets and kids of all ages. ( Okay I know they aren’t in the same category, but sometimes…) Check their site for the deets. Bikes, hula-hoops and goldfish in your room, all figure in the fun they offer.

When we finally tore ourselves away from the lovely Monaco, we made our way down to shopping nirvana, Union Square for some retail therapy. First stop was the Neiman-Marcus Rotunda for lunch and fantastic views overlooking the square…I think you can see they had the Christmas tree and ice rink up already.

Lunch here means champagne,  popovers, and the daily fashion show that comes by your table. I ask you is this not the perfect old-school ladies who lunch spot? Very few of these places left.

The Rotunda is gorgeous. Look at this view below. Their huge holiday tree is coming soon.
After our lunch, we made our way downstairs to visit our gal beauty maven,Tiffany Johnson. Heather and I had some quick make-up tips from Tiffany and Adrienne had the Giorgio Armani rep, the dashing Fernando, do hers.
We all bought some gorgeous Armani colors and foundation. Tif sent us home with samples of some more Tom Ford fragrances…We couldn’t decide. I think we wanted them all!
We love Tiffany. She knows about everything on the beauty floor, and not just one brand. We also got stocked up on some Armani skincare, which I am enjoying, especially the Youth Serum! Did you know Neimans now has free shipping and returns now? That’s pretty sweet, so if you couldn’t get in to see our girl Tiffany personally, you could email or call her over the phone and she can ship it free of charge. Ms Tiffany knows her stuff, so should you be in the city, stop by and see her and Fernando.

Later that evening we walked a few blocks up and had dinner at Farallon, a San Francisco institution. The restaurant is named for the Farallon Islands, which sit off the coast of San Francisco and are a marine sanctuary. The restaurant is almost an undersea experience. As someone who has gone scuba diving under the bay, it’s pretty close!

 Can you spot the kelp and jellyfish? Food and service were top notch here.

Back in our rooms, the bedding and bed was exceptional too. A really nice touch were the cute animal print robes provided. I loved my room! It was like a small sanctuary. In the morning I curled up with my pillows, coffee, fluffy zebra robe and NY Times -bed  heaven! As a mom, who hits the ground running most days, it was a real treat.
Another very important piece of what makes Monaco such a perfect place is their Grand Cafe. Housed in the only ballroom still standing after the 1906 earthquake, this brasserie is warm and stylish. In the front is their charming and snug bar, which is ideal for a cocktail before heading out for a night on the town, or just a cozy nightcap!
This sculpture was in the brasserie, one of many unique pieces in the hotel! 
The next morning, we had brunch there and what a treat. Even my ordinary order of oatmeal was lavished with browned butter, raisins on the vine, and pecans. We got to meet Chef Dirk and his assistant chef Lisa who were so welcoming. They are obviously very proud of their unique menu, and this gorgeous space! 
Many locals eat at The Grand Cafe and that speaks volumes for a hotel restaurant! It’s full service with breakfast, lunch and dinner and they do the hotel’s room service menu too. They are one block away from the theatre district, so it’s an ideal pre-show dinner and drinks stop too.

Our favorite waiter, the charming Jose!


As if being there wasn’t fun enough, something marvelous happened on Friday. The whole city was gathered in Union Square to make one little boy’s wish come true.  Bat kid, aka, Miles Scott, took the city by storm and everyone got into the act. A little boy who had been battling leukemia, he had a dream of being Batman. The Make a Wish Foundation and countless others made his wish of fighting evil in the city happen! If you missed this, Adrienne wrote more about it on her  Skimbaco page.    
 All the employees of Hotel Monaco wore bat wings and got us even more excited to see it. Once we got down to Union Square, we couldn’t believe the crowds, signs and the cheering for this little guy. It was so moving, I couldn’t help crying. It reminded me of the inherent goodness in people. I think we felt lucky to experience such an inspiring event.


After all the excitement  we did a bit more shopping. We hit Macy’s and all three of us bought some pretty blouses. We also had lunch at another darling cafe, and then we parted ways. We all had multi- hour drives ahead of us. Heather gave us both cute travel bags from her online StyleMindChic shop. I loved my bag and her pretty packaging too! Check out her lovely shop if you have not. She has a great eye for what is glam and some goodies that are perfect for holiday gifts!

It seemed like our girl’s trip was over way too fast. I really had fun with these funny, smart and kind women. It was great to see Adrienne again and get to know Heather better! I also feel lucky to have connected with them through blogging. It’s something I never expected when I began this journey and it has been the nicest part of all.

Thank you to the delightful Hotel Monaco, especially Nancy and Daniel and all their staff for making this getaway such a pleasure. I felt like royalty staying there and if you choose to visit you will understand what I mean. If you are near Union Square, stop by and have a look. It’s a wonderful time of the year to get to San Francisco and the hotel is in the best possible location for shopping, shows and restaurants. I loved it so much I am planning on taking my family back with me during Christmas break.
It’s a gem in the heart of the most loveliest of cities!
Kim
Disclosure: Kimpton sponsored our stay including our three individual rooms, breakfast and incidentals. All opinions of Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco and Grand Cafe are my own, as always. 

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