Anniversary Trip Part II: Wining and Dining Napa Style

Before Kevin and I planned our vacation to Napa, we thought we knew a lot about wine. After all, wine has been our drink of choice for many years. We both love bold reds, although Kevin was not as big on California reds because of the fruit forward flavors of most of these wines. I prefer the earthy vibrance of Chilean reds. So we were eager to experience a true wine country, but our knowledge of Napa Valley wines was severely limited. In fact, the one reason we chose Napa is because it is home to Cakebread Wine Cellars, and we drank but did not remember the taste of a Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon on our wedding day.

Anniversary Trip Part I: Wining and Dining Napa Style

Our recent anniversary trip to Napa, Calif., could just as easily be called the Thomas Keller Pilgrimage. After all, most people go to enjoy the wine—we were no exception—but we were just as excited to try out our favorite chef’s famous restaurants. But the real question is, did we do a better job of vacationing in Northern California than we did on the sunny beaches of Puerto Rico? Check out these stats and then decide:

• 2 of 3 Thomas Keller restaurants visited (+ the bakery for a third trip)
• More than 120 wines tasted
• 9.3 combined miles run through the pouring rain at Artesa Vineyards
• 30-minute 5K PR set by moi
• 16 combined miles mountain biking through wine country and the wetlands
• 2 cases + 2 bottles of wine shipped back to Texas

Puerto Rico: An Unexpected Vacation, Part 3

We could not have been more unprepared for Puerto Rico if we had tried. For example, did you know that San Juan is home to El Yunque Rainforest? Neither did we, but thankfully stumbling into this beautiful forest was the best thing we did.

Puerto Rico: An Unexpected Vacation, Part 2

If you visit Puerto Rico, the first thing you should know is that the restaurants are basically a series of food trucks (I say this as someone flabbergasted by the food truck revolution. I’d like a nice table and server with my $18 taco, thank you very much.) You might be lured, as we were, by tables in beautiful gardens complete with chirping birds. You might be tricked into believing that a place sitting along the ocean would have delicious fresh seafood. But no. They are all food trucks.

Puerto Rico: An Unexpected Vacation, Part 1

My view from the finish line.

Puerto Rico didn’t start out as much of a vacation. First off, the premise was bad. We were traveling to a place I never thought of visiting so that Kevin could compete in a half Ironman (70.3 miles of swimming, cycling and running, folks). Who vacations like this? 

Travel: Romantic New Orleans Getaway

Photos by Kevin Bury

Two years ago, Kevin and I took a quick weekend trip to New Orleans to celebrate our anniversary. I still think about this trip. I figure if something is still memorable after that many years, other people should know about. If you’re planning a trip to New Orleans, check out these recommendations.

Weekend Getaway: San Antonio

Hotel Havana

Last weekend, Kevin and I fled the heat to San Antonio (about 4.5 hours from Fort Worth) to visit some friends. Granted, that’s probably not the best place to go when you’re trying to escape a bad run of 100+-degree days, but it was surprisingly cooler there. San Antonio is also a fantastic spot for a romantic weekend.

A Key West–Inspired Garden

Key West garden flair

Right now you’re probably asking yourself, How much mileage can she get out of one trip to Key West? I promise this is my last post on this topic, but I couldn’t resist sharing the beautiful plants I saw on the island. I’ve been wondering since I returned how many of these plants I can actually grow here in Fort Worth, especially because my backyard is in desperate need of a makeover. It’s been a perpetual fall back there for 5 years or longer. So, I did some research, and here’s what I uncovered.

The Best Eats in Key West

Pineapple sorbet at Café Blue at Parrot Key Hotel & Resort: We were pleasantly surprised by the food at our hotel's outdoor café. With frozen desserts and drinks and hearty paninis, we were able to stay nourished while lounging by the pool.

What? You thought I’d write about my trip to Key West and not mention the tasty vittles I sampled? Silly reader, I was saving an entire post for the best eats in the southernmost city.

Key West: Where to Stay

Parrot Key Hotel & Resort

After combing travel sites for accommodations in Key West, my friend Kelly and I were confused about where to stay to say the least. The island has an assortment of B&Bs, resorts, hotels, condos and rental homes. The Sassy Writer, the world’s biggest Key West fan, recommended Parrot Key Hotel & Resort, and we’re so glad we listened.