Part 4: Last day.

Saturday was time to go home.  We woke up and were getting all packed in ready when Matt got a notification that our flight had been delayed which would cause us to miss our connecting flight home.  Matt called Southwest and next thing we knew we weren't leaving until 6 that evening so we had 1/2 a day to pack in.  We were thrilled and rushed to get out of there.  We grabbed a quick Starbucks and went back over to the shops we were at the night before where Bottega was.  There were SO many cute places to shop and I really wanted to go to a few.  I am so glad we were able to fit that in because I found a few great souvenirs.  One I am hoping comes in the mail this week!

There was one winery we wanted to try but never fit it in, so it was at the top of our 'drop in list'.  It's called Saddleback Cellars.  Y'all this place is KUN-TREE (in my best Texas accent).  I'm talking Lyle Lovett and Willie Nelson playing in the background with a little Dixie Chicks thrown in there.  The guys running it were in shorts and a t-shirt.  It is so far from fancy in every single way.  Picnic tables and green plastic chairs---it was very unique to say the least.  We loved it.  The wine was excellent and award winning nonetheless.  I am so glad we fit it in.  It is far from fancy, but certainly a place you can go and sit-back and enjoy being in Napa.

Right across the street from Saddleback was Silver Oak Vineyard.  We've had this wine before so when we drove past it we knew we wanted to stop by.  It is a beautiful spot--fancy schmancy....high dollar wine.  It was so fun sampling it because we're talking BIG bucks for this vino that we would never in a million years pay for.  BUT--it was exceptional and we loved getting to try it.  We walked around and shopped a little bit.  I am so glad we drove past this one.  We want to go back again and have lunch or dinner there as well as a tour.  It was beautiful---quite the opposite experience from Saddleback.

By now it was time to wrap things up and start our trek to the airport.  So sad to leave, but aching SO bad to get back to our kids.  8 days people!

We were so sad to part ways with this bright blue beauty.  This car had everything to do with why this vacation was a perfect 10. 

Just because I wanted to remember riding shotgun to this stud.

Love love love

We stopped at Oakville Grocery Store for another delicious sandwich for the ride back.  We kept that top down on our convertible all the way back to the Oakland airport.  From start to finish this week away was perfection.  I know I've overused many words--perfect, great, amazing, 10, unbelievable....there really aren't words that can adequately describe how wonderful it really was.  I tell ya, you can put me anywhere with Matt and I am a happy girl.  There is no one I love traveling more with than him.  He is so much fun and so romantic....

So--the million dollar question that I've been asked, "When you travel the wine country are you just hammered the entire time?"  No, not at all.  I suppose you could if that was your plan, but that was never our intention.  When you go visit a winery you are given a tasting---and that is exactly what it is a small sample/a taste.  We wanted to go and enjoy ourselves and drive ourselves around....so getting 'hammered' was not on our to-do list.  We enjoyed ourselves to the max & definitely enjoyed the wine---but yes, you can go visit the wine country and stay sober.

The next question I've gotten a lot is, "do you plan to go back, and would you do things differently?"  Our first trip there was perfect in every way, but yes if we go back we will do it completely different.  There is SO much to do and see, restaurants, hotels, shopping---we would never go back and do the same thing.  We already have a list of 'what's next' when we return.  An absolute for us is the convertible---I've said it a million times on here---best part of the trip.  Another thing we'll do differently is we won't make many reservations at all for the wineries.  We LOVE exploring...we loved driving up and down those gorgeous roads.  Our down time in between our appointments were some of our favorites because we would drive by something that looked pretty or worth stopping by and we would drop in, walk around, sample, take our time, and explore ourselves.  The tours are great, but we learned quick that if you seen 1, you've seen them all.  Just grabbing a small table, sharing some wine, enjoying the scenery with no one telling you where to go and where to be---that is more our style.  Also--as far as reservations go at wineries--if you go on a guided tour or cave tour, sure, it's definitely wise to have your reservations set..BUT you will also hear stuff like 'appointment only' or only certain 'A' list people can get you in or 'members only' or your concierge will say he can get you into an 'impossible to get into' winery....it really is all hogwash.  There were several places that we drove by that say 'reservations only' and we'd call and we'd walk right in---or those 'you have to know or be someone to get into it'---whatever, just call.  No one turns away a paying customer.  We learned from talking to others as well as our own experiences it's all about the hype---if it's an impossible place to get into people go and buy this impossible to find wine---don't fall for it.  As for hotels--we loved where we stayed and definitely recommend them, but we probably wouldn't stay at them again.  We hope to venture up the valley to Yountsville, St. Helena, Oakville---all really neat towns that are SO beautiful with so much to do and see.  We like to travel off the beaten path a little bit.

So we got home around 1 am on Sunday and were greeted with the 4 most precious faces I have ever seen.  My goodness we missed them and could not wait to get back to them.  The 4 of them are the best part of being "us".  Matt and I love nothing more than getting away together, but coming back home to them--you can't beat it!


AND I have to give the shout out of ALL shout outs to my SIL AND MIL, Melissa and Karen who came and spent 8 days with these munchkins--8 DAYS!  I don't have the words to thank them.  It is no easy job watching these 4...you are very out numbered, but they graciously did and we are so very thankful.  Thank you both from the bottom of our heart!!  We love y'all!!  And Mel, Greyson is OURS when he gets bigger and y'all get to traveling again!!