Alright, so the title is a little misleading because this was our first trip to Calistoga, but we definitely will be going back. Last Friday Troy and I were trying to figure out our weekend plans and decided last minute to make a little trip up to wine country. We thought we’d try somewhere a little different and landed on Calistoga. After searching online for an available hotel to no avail and calling a few B&Bs, Troy was directed to the chamber of commerce where a rabbit was somehow pulled out of a hat and we were able to find a great last minute deal on a room at the old famous Dr. Wilkonson’s Hot Spring Resort. I’m typically a big planner, so spontaneous trips like this don’t usually happen much in my book, but so glad it all worked out because we had such a great time. You seriously can’t get much better than the Bay Area where you can decide on a whim to make a trip to wine country, the beach, the mountains for a day trip or the weekend.

We rented bikes at the Calistoga Bike Shop and did a self-led bike tour. We did four wine tastings (which they reserved for us) and they gave us wristbands and a map and sent us on our way. So fun.

Troy at Twomey Cellars – the first winery on our stop.

There were two dogs that lived on the property of our second stop, Dutch Henry. They were pretty awesome. Note that if you do this same route, the map is definitely not to scale and the hills are a bit intense between the two wineries.

We bought a tasty bottle of wine and enjoyed it on their picnic grounds along with some delicious sandwiches from a deli we stopped off before the route.

Rustic chairs at our 3rd stop – Lava Winery. This place was fun. There was definitely more people here than the other two wineries and quite the lively crowd, including a former WSU Coug that was on her honeymoon with her husband. Got love that Cougar pride.

Awesome chandelier made out of an old grape vine and cut wine bottles.

These spontaneous tips need to happen more often. Such a fun weekend. Oh and we’re definitely planning on going going back back go Cali- stoga. And yes, that’s a Notorious B I G reference. May he RIP.

Some fun finds and recent favorites…

Ben & Jerry’s Greek Frozen Yogurt (loving the Strawberry Shortcake flavor) and Suppenküche.

Smitten Ice Cream in Hayes Valley. So so so freakin’ good and such a cool story. I highly recommend it.

Mission Bowling Club. Good food. Good drinks. Good bowling. And how cool are all the bowling decor details?!

Ahhh! I can’t believe June is over. Seriously, this year has probably gone by the fastest so far. It’s been over a month since my last post. Fail. Things have been a little busy since I last left off. I spent another couple weeks in India, came back for a week then it was off to New Zealand for 2 weeks, back for a day then, off to Seattle for our good friends’ wedding, back for a week and a half and then off to Chicago for my nephew’s 1^st birthday. Crazy.

Lots of exciting things to share that went on amidst all my traveling, but I thought I’d start where I left off and share some pics from India and New Zealand. It’s definitely been a great experience to visit some of these places I would probably never go on my own, but I just want to throw it out there that it’s a lot less glamorous that it seems. Long days and ughh… jet lag is the worst  (let’s just say I drank a lot of coffee). I did get to sneak in a little sightseeing on the weekends and of course I made sure to snap some pictures of things that inspired me at dinners, the hotel or wherever I happened to be. Most of them ended up on Instagram (you can follow me at christienoelle) but here’s a little compilation from where I last left off.

New scarves from India, beautiful seating area at the Leland Hotel, delicious cheese platter and gorgeous dinnerware I wouldn’t mind having on my table.

Am I the only one who gets excited to see things with my name on them?? Christie’s Cafe in Goa and Christie’s Gin spotted at the airport in New Zealand (which of course I had to purchase).

Views from my run to Mt. Eden – the highest natural point in Aukland. Gorgeous.

All Blacks game.

Some lovely flowers and displays spotted around Aukland.

Views from wine tasting at Waiheke Island. The water was soooo blue and I am obsessed with those chesterfield chairs and couch. Get in my living room.