We just returned from a PERFECT trip to California wine country...I never thought you could have such an ambitious yet incredibly relaxing vacation...it was A W E S O M E ! ! ! ! Adam and I went with Shawna and Jeremy (you may remember them from their 2011 Halloween visit), and they planned everything. It was nice to not be the ones in charge (shocking for me, yes, I know!), and the trip could not have gone better! We flew into and out of LAX, and toured wine country north of LA in the area of Carpinteria and Solvang, spending most of our time around Los Olivos. I know most people are use to Napa and Sonoma Valleys in CA for wine, but this area was MUCH less crowded, more friendly, and had excellent wine! We really cannot wait to go back. Also, I fell in love with Santa Barbara CA, it is my new favorite continenal US city...it should be on everyone's "to visit" list (I know, I have a long list of recommendations).
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| First CA meal, as featured on "Best Thing I Ever Ate" |
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| The girls cruising Pacific Coast Highway |
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| Adam wanted to have an unobstructed view, and be tallest |
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| Cruising Pacific Coast Highway |
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| Strawberry field...the air smelled of them, it was awesome! |
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| First wine tasting stop: Four Brix Winery |
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| Barrels of tasty |
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| Shawna and Jeremy enjoying the first glass |
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| Adam polishing off the tasting |
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| Squashed Grapes Winery |
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| <3 |
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| Entering wine country! |
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| The BEST Mexican food EVER, in Santa Barbara |
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| Making our torillas by hand! |
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| Eagerly awaiting dinner |
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| Our feast! |
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| Evening walk on Santa Barbara Beach after dinner |
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| Looks inviting, but WAY too cold |
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| As the sun goes down.... |
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| Huge kelp |
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| Sea wash at the end of the beach |
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| Santa Barbara |
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| Breakfast so good that we went twice: D'angelo Bakery |
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| Favorite picture of the trip |
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| Translocated from Baltimore |
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| Lock up your valuables! |
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| Walking up State Street in Santa Barbara |
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| I love hats! |
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| Of course we indulged, and it was sublime! |
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| An afternoon walk |
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| My husband is weird...at 50mph |
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| Cupcake and wine tasting?!?!? |
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| Absolutely! It was delicious, and I don't like cupcakes! |
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| The crew! |
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| Not sure what inspired this pict... |
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| But we got the <3 |
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| Tasting board |
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| Kenneth Volk Vineyards |
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| Kenneth Volk Vineyards |
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| Kenneth Volk Vineyards |
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| Wine dog! |
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| My nut at Tres Hermanas Vineyards |
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| SOOOOOOO many choices! |
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| Adam spent A L O T of time here, and we can home with a bunch. Galic is tasty! |
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| Oh yes: Baked Brie with raspberry port and arugula |
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| The min-vineyard outside out Inn in Solvang |
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| Where Adam wished we had stayed |
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| Adam |
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| Shawna |
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| Solvang really over-embraced the Danish theme |
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| Demetria Vineyards = Heaven on Earth! |
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| Demetria Vineyards |
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| Demetria Vineyards: Shawna basking in its glory! |
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| Demetria Vineyards |
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| Demetria Vineyards: Adam enjoying the good life |
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| Demetria Vineyards: Wine dog was sleepy |
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| Demetria Vineyards: SUCCESS! |
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| Demetria Vineyards: <3 |
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| Demetria Vineyards |
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| Demetria Vineyards |
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| Demetria Vineyards |
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| Presq-uile Winery |
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| Presq-uile Winery |
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| Photobombing Jeremy |
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| The boys: Los Olivos Cafe was so good we had to eat here twice too |
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| Watching our pizza cook! |
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| Of course we ended with tiramisu!! |
