california dreaming.

In a day of fun news {like giveaway winners}, I wanted to share another bit of excitement on the horizon in the {v} household...We're going to CALIFORNIA for one whole glorious week in May! We're on a bit of a tight turnaround in the planning department, but I won't complain--it's v.a.c.a.t.i.o.n. :)

Here's a glimpse at our {very barebones} itinerary...


After soliciting your help for my trip to New Orleans with my girlfriends and our anniversary trip to Charleston, I couldn't think about going on a vacation without asking for your wonderful suggestions! We have booked our hotels for all of these stops, but that's where the planning stops...

So, if you're lucky enough to call any of these places home--or if you've visited recently,
where should we explore?!

An enormous thank you in advance for all your help :) I truly don't know what I would do without all of you! Ok, maybe I do...we might end up at chain restaurants and awful vineyards. This is why your help is SO important! I can't wait to hear your suggestions! Thank you again! xoxo {av}

P.S. To the 52 incredible bloggers who joined in the Friday's Fancies fun last week, thank you soooo much! I hope you'll 
all be back this week for the Royal Wedding-themed posts! Didn't join in? You're always welcome! Email me with questions!

40 comments:

  1. ohh, so happy for y'all!! I've heard wonderful things about Napa Valley!

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  2. I love San Fransisco! When we go wine tasting we go to to the Russian River Valley. Most of the wineries don't charge for samples (like they do in Sonoma) and there are FABULOUS restaurants and little towns.

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  3. Sounds like an incredible vacation! Make a stop in Big Sur while you're up there.

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  4. Oh Sun and Ocean! I have Napa Valley on my list for this summer as well!

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  5. I will make sure to get you a detailed list since I lived in SF for over 3 years! :) There are some definite must visit wineries in Napa and Sonoma! xxoo!!! *Ashley {a little dash of ash}

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  6. So exciting and I love your little travel picture- so fun! I'm of no help at all but I'm sure you'll get lots of fabulous suggestions. I'd love to take that trip- bliss!!

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  7. In Napa,I would visit Cole's Chop House for dinner -- it's to die for. And of course, French Laundry, which I have never been to but I hear is THE place to go in Napa. I went to the Trefethen Vineyard when I was there -- it was absolutely gorgeous. There are so many vineyards to choose from, you can't really go wrong! There is also this really great breakfast place called Grace's Table. We ended up going every day of our trip because it was so good! What a fun trip! So excited for you! San Fran is my favorite city!!

    xo

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  8. You have choosen some great stops. In cambria I highly recommend Cambria Bar and Grill for their tritip sandwiches, all salads, and fries. In Napa, there's Ruferford Grill delish! And with so many wineries it's a blast. I would however make sure Highway 1 is open from Monterey to Cambria. There was a massive landslide earlier this winter and I heard highway 1 through that area was going to be closed. Fear not, there's always other ways to get down to that area. If you feel like venturing away from Cambria, san Luis Obispo isn't too far and it's a wonderful little town. Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questionss, I used to live on the Central Coast and now live in the Bay Area!

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  9. I LOVE Monterey! I've been the aquarium twice, but you could just walk on the docks to see the cutest otters ever. I also adore Sausalito -- it's quieter and has the cutest shops on the waterfront. So, so envious!

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  10. omg HOW FUN!!! I love Sausalito too and of course San Fran has great shopping, dinning and hot spots to see! I'll think of a few things I think you'll enoy! xo

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  11. My BF's family is from Sonoma so we spend A LOT of time in that area (we have a little long-distance loving of our own right now). I highly recommend Sonoma over Napa for wine tasting. It's less tourist-y and you'll find a lot more locals around the wineries than you do in Napa. Viansa is my favorite. It's a gorgeous winery with stunning views of the valley. It was modeled after a winery in Tuscany and I swear you'll feel like you suddenly left California and were transported to Italy (minus all the English speakers of course!).

    Monterey - check out the aquarium and take a little stroll down cannery row. It's usually pretty crowded/touristy but it's so cute. Nearby Pacific Grove (the towns are basically the same) is also known for it's massive amount of butterflies but I'm not sure if this is the season.

    SF - you can't really go wrong w/what you do here, as long as you avoid the Tenderloin! (very sketchy neighborhood) If you're into running/jogging, there's a great path along Crissy Field that takes you over the Golden Gate Bridge. You can also just walk across the bridge - it's kinda fun and it's a little less than 3 miles roundtrip.

    Have a blast on your Cali vacay!!! :)

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  12. I have only been to California once, so I am ZERO help, but I am dreaming of a California roadtrip when Matt gets home! My thought is: San Diego / Palm Springs / LA / San Francisco .. can't wait to hear about your trip.

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  13. This sounds like an amazing vacation!! I've been thinking of planning a Cali trip, but in SoCal instead.
    I'm sure Napa is going to be SO gorgeous in May!

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  14. What a great road trip and in my neck of the woods. As the comment above, check out French Laundry for a fine dining option (yelp). Also in Napa, sign up for a wine tour… it’s the best way to explore the wineries w/o having to drive. In SF- there is so much to see, too much to list… but check out Union Square for shopping and Fisherman’s Warf if you like seafood, to souvenir shop and people watch. If you want more specific restaurants,nightlife… etc... let me know. Ava xo

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  15. What an awesome trip! If you haven't seen the golden gate bridge yet, you have to. Cliche, but breathtakingly beautiful and a tourist attraction for very good reason! We also had a lot of fun in cafes in North Beach while in San francisco, and also just wandering around telegraph hill.

    Have a ton of fun!

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  16. YAYYY! CA is the best! Monterey...don't muss the aquarium {duh!}, SF...where to begin? So many amazing restaurants and shopping...and Giants baseball! :) Napa...I highly recommend going to the smaller and more intimate wineries...you will be treated so much better and discover wineries you wouldn't be able to buy elsewhere. BRIX is amazing...HIGHLY recommend eating there! It's a beautiful setting and the food is awesome! They grow all their produce in their own garden. Hope you have the BEST time!!! xo

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  17. Sounds like a great trip! I've never been to California so I don't have any suggestions! But I can't wait to hear all about your trip! I always love your collages! I wish I had Adobe Illustrator!
    Happy Monday! XOXO

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  18. yahhh!! so excited for you and chris to have a fantastic trip :) xoxo jcd :: cornflake dreams

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  19. Spend more time in SF! :) It's my favorite city, ever!

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  20. I highly recommend Mumm's vineyard in Napa. In San Francisco, one of my favorite places is Golden Gate Park. The Ferry Building is also a good place to go. If you can I also recommend going on a ferry cruise around the Bay. It will be cold but the views are great if it's not foggy of course. I love Monterey and you can't go wrong with the Aquarium and Cannery Row. I was actually just thinking last night how I haven't been in a while and I should visit there on the weekend. I hope you have a great trip! I also love the fun image you made. :)

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  21. SO jealous! If you end up packing light and have some wiggle room in your suitcase...this girl's always willing to tagalong :)

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  22. I CANNOT wait to see how this vaca goes. I am going on a short trip to San Fran and Napa in the Fall and I want tips, tips, tips! I know that you'll be the one to get fabulous info from! :)

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  23. I wish I could give you some advice but unfortunately have never been to CA! Sooo sad! Haha. Have a great time though!!!

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  24. I have no California experience - but HAVE FUN!

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  25. Ack! I LOVE California! We got married in Napa so it's near and dear to me. Go to Castillo di Amorosa for a tasting/tour. It's a medieval tuscan-inspired vineyard and the wine is AMAZING. Have fun!

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  26. Those are some great places to visit! J and I went to SF and Napa/Sonoma for our honeymoon last year and had a blast! If you can, try going to the Culinary Institute of America in Napa for lunch or dinner. The food and service is absolutely amazing!

    Our favorite winery in Napa was Pride. Try to sign up for the full winery tour if you can because they will take you in the caves and allow you to taste right out of the barrel. The views at this winery in particular are to die for, mainly because it is up in the foothills :)

    Can't wait to compare notes and see where all you visited!

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  27. How exciting for you! I really want to go back out to CA. In fact, we were just talking about possibly planning a trip out there on our drive back to Chicago yesterday. You have to indulge in In-N-Out burger in SF. :) Also, drive down Lombard Street- it's really pretty. I can't wait to hear all about it!

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  28. Since I've never been to Cali, I can't say much; however, I had a friend recently visit "The Flower Fields" near San Diego. She loved it - but then again she might be biased since her fiance proposed to her there. As you know, geography is not my strong suit but I'll take my chances that SD might be near to one of the places your visiting. If not, it's always a great reason to find another excuse to go back in the future!

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  29. Yay! you MUST eat at Robin's in Cambria. Second suggestion: bolt on down to San Luis Obispo (my neck of the woods)! Come on, OPRAH called it the Happiest City in America!

    LOL - hope you have a blast!

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  30. oh..and Delfina's Pizzeria in SF (mission district)...and Tartine for pastries (also mission district)..There is so much to do in SF!

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  31. SO exciting-I won't repeat that whole crrazy email I sent you, but I can't wait to hear about the trip once you guys get back!

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  32. what an AWESOME trip! wish I had advice for you on where to go!
    xo! Lauren @ tickled.

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  33. so excited for you! i need to see more of northern cal. I loved sausalito when we were there. it is so cute!

    i wander, i wonder

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  34. My tip for Napa: make a reservation for popular wineries you really want to visit-sometimes you can't get in if you don't do this in advance! Cakebread is a must!

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  35. so fun! my husband and i are going to California tomorrow :) you will have so much fun- San Fran and Napa are two of my favorite places!!!!

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  36. Ah so many beautiful places! If you're going to Monterey, Salinas is right next to that. If you're a John Steinbeck fan, you should go to his museum. Also right by that is a little town (village?) called Moss Landing that is quaint and has cute antique shops. If you go anywhere near Carmel on your roadtrip, I highly recommend going on the 17-Mile Drive. It's stunning.

    I've spent less than twenty-four hours in San Francisco, but you need to go to Boudin's (I also wanted to go to Tartine, but it didn't happen) and Golden Gate Park. (Also, if you're a Jack Kerouac fan, check out the little house he used to live in.)

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  37. Hooray! What a great trip you have planned. My boyfriend and I live in SF but escape up to Sausalito as often as possible. I definitely recommend going to a new place called bar bocce. So much fun to play bocce on the water whilst enjoying a winesicle. If you are in the mood for sushi, try Sushi Ran. My favorite restaurant in the world is in Sausalito and is called Caffe Divino. Best Italian food ever! Have fun.

    xo.

    Angie

    thehotnessyourmommawarnedyouabout.blogspot.com

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  38. Yountville is my fave in Napa Valley. Try Bottega for awesome Italian flava. It's Michael Chiarello's resty (of top chef masters notoriety (:). I also love Cornerstone Cellars and Jessup Cellars for tasting. They're small and intimate...you can get real chatty with the wine peeps if you're so inclined. Also, you simply must try a little of the bubbly with a sparkling wine tasting at Domaine Carneros (it's not in yountville, btw). No idea how much it costs--my husband's best friend is conveniently in the wine biz in SF and hooked us up--but the landscape alone was enough to make it worth it. Beautiful mansion on a hill in Napa Valley? Can't beat it. We also really enjoyed tasting at Hogue. Because their pours were quite generous (:, their Sauvignon Blanc was delish, and you can usually find their bottles in stores. (always helps to be able to relive your adventure by purchasing bottles from places you tasted once you get back home)

    have so much fun! cali is da bessss. say hello to Santa Cruz when you drive by! (hubs' hometown)

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  39. I live in NorCal, and I'm glad you're coming here! :) It's pretty great. Sausalito is gorgeous, just eat at one of the restaurants on the water, and take a look at the little shops. Really cute Anthro type things for very inexpensive prices!

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