Dec 2nd, 2011 at 12:00PM: As a native Californian and longtime former Bay Area resident, I have to confess there's no place like home when it comes to the American food/dining/wine scene (New Yorkers, feel free to sharpen your knives...).
California's always been progressive when it comes to food and drink, from the early days of the vaqueros and Gold Rush-era San Francisco, right up to today's never-ending parade of ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
NapaValley posts
January is California Restaurant Month
Dec 2nd, 2011 at 12:00PM: As a native Californian and longtime former Bay Area resident, I have to confess there's no place like home when it comes to the American food/dining/wine scene (New Yorkers, feel free to sharpen your knives...).
California's always been progressive when it comes to food and drink, from the early days of the vaqueros and Gold Rush-era San Francisco, right up to today's never-ending parade of ...10 best destinations to take a hot air balloon ride
Nov 30th, 2011 at 3:00PM: When traveling, it's always fun to explore a city from a new perspective. And, what better point of view than from the sky? These ten air balloon destinations will not only immerse you in beautiful scenery, but will also give you access to hidden treasures you may not have seen from the ground.
The Pyrenees, Spain
The Pyrenees is a mountain range that forms a divider between Spain and ...Fall festivals: five delicious ways to celebrate
Sep 21st, 2011 at 10:00AM: There's something really depressing about seeing the last of the tomatoes, corn, and stonefruit at the farmers market, the withering vines in my neighbor's gardens. But fall is also an exciting time for produce geeks, what with all the peppers and squash, pomegranates and persimmons.
If you love yourself some good food and drink, here are five reasons to welcome fall. No matter where you live ...America's 25 most expensive restaurants
Aug 11th, 2011 at 5:30PM:
What recession? Bundle just released a list of the 25 most expensive restaurants in America, and you'd never know the economy was still faltering. Your average diner would definitely require a stimulus package to pay the check.
Topping the list is The French Laundry, located in Yountville, in the Napa Valley. Chef/owner Thomas Keller's three-star Michelin restaurant is ranked among ...Lonely Planet dishes out summer travel tips and chance at a Napa Valley trip
May 26th, 2011 at 3:00PM:
Summer is fast approaching and sure to fly by even more quickly than it came. To help Americans get the most out of the summer months, Lonely Planet has launched a special micro-site called "Weekends of Summer" that has 15 free guides for all the weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The guides reads like a summer to-do list, with suggestions like "pop a cork" and "explore the great ...Pop-up restaurants: dining for a new decade
Apr 28th, 2011 at 1:30PM: First, it was underground supper clubs. Now, everything's coming up pop-ups. As with food trucks, this form of guerrilla cheffing borne of economic need has become a global phenomenon. Equal parts dinner party and dinner theater, a pop-up refers to a dining establishment that is open anywhere from one to several nights, usually in an existing restaurant or other commercial food establishment.
...European cheeses: holiday entertaining with the taste of travel
Nov 30th, 2010 at 1:30PM:
I work part-time in a cheese shop, and I'm also a contributing editor at culture, a consumer cheese magazine. I can't help noticing that, despite a still-sluggish economy, people don't want to do without their cheese. Especially if they've fallen for a specific type during their (usually European) travels.
Not everyone who bellies up to the counter is a globetrotter or a cheese geek, but ...Daily Pampering: Chauffeured rides ensure royal treatment at Napa's Milliken Creek Inn & Spa
Sep 29th, 2010 at 4:00PM: Why worry about getting from point A to point B when your luxury hotel can do that for you? Milliken Creek Inn & Spa, an intimate luxury boutique hotel in Napa Valley, is offering "Your Carriage Awaits" package - a romantic, two-night travel package that allows guests to tour the region without having to lift a finger.
Upon arrival, guests will be taken to one of the Inn's 12 individually ...Daily Pampering: Destination Cellars takes wine lovers behind the scenes in Napa Valley
Aug 5th, 2010 at 4:00PM: Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at the finest Napa Valley wineries? Destination Cellars, the wine club for luxury palettes, is offering its club members a "backstage pass" to meet the rock stars of the wine world.
The event is being held Sept. 23-26 and is limited to only 10 couples, so you'll have to act fast if you're interested. You'll get:
Room at The Carneros Inn - rated ...Aloft Hotels seeks next big music act
Jun 2nd, 2010 at 1:30PM: Now that American Idol has ended what will aspiring singers do? Never fear superstars, Aloft Hotels has you covered (if you can sing).
Aloft is launching "Project Aloft Star" in an effort to find the next great musical artist.
Project Aloft Star, which kicks off June 7, will be a virtual battle of the bands with one winner kicking off the main stage at "Live In The Vineyard" in November ...20 great bike rides
May 7th, 2010 at 2:00PM:
For many travelers, the default mode of transport is a plane or a car, but they're certainly not the only options. Have you ever considered adding a bicycle ride to your next trip? Riding a bike has a number of advantages over other forms of transportation. You'll move slower, no doubt, but with that slowness comes an increased awareness of your surroundings, a chance to get some fresh air and ...Exploring the Illinois wine trail
Mar 26th, 2010 at 2:00PM:
When people think about American wine, the region that comes to mind is the West Coast. And that makes sense - the majority of wine production in the United States does take place in California, Oregon and Washington. What many people don't realize is that America is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, right behind the major heavyweights of France, Spain and Italy.
...Daily Pampering: Condé Nast Traveller names top spa in the U.S.
Feb 25th, 2010 at 4:00PM: If a little relaxation and rejuvenation, and a lot of pampering, is on your task list for 2010, Conde Nast has a place for you: The Spa Solage.
Readers of Condé Nast Traveller voted Spa Solage, at Solage Calistoga, the "Favourite Overseas Hotel Spas: The Americas and Caribbean" in its seventh annual "Readers' Spa Awards 2010." This recognition follows on the heels of Spa Solage's number ...10 great romantic destinations
Feb 2nd, 2010 at 2:32PM: Some people like to travel for food. Others prefer to travel for sun. Still others enjoy traveling so they can share a secluded destination with a loved one. Here are ten romantic destinations for couples of all ages to enjoy... together.
Verona, Italy
Located in the northeast part of Italy near the Swiss border, Verona is most famously known as the setting of William Shakespeare's passionate ...More travel deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Nov 27th, 2009 at 2:30PM: The folks over at the LA Times have rounded up a few more great travel deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. And what better way to recoup from this most hellish of shopping weekends than by looking forward to a discounted vacation?
Shell's Vacation Hospitality's Black Friday Sale runs today with discounts of up to 50% off at 26 of its resorts located in Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, New ...10 tips for traveling as a couple - and not breaking up
Nov 4th, 2009 at 12:30PM:
Traveling together for the first time as a couple can be a make-or-break experience. You can learn more about a person on a two-day trip than you can in a few weeks of dating.
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When you travel with someone, you quickly figure out how he interacts with ...Think local for a low-cost wine-tasting trip
Aug 31st, 2009 at 12:00PM: When most people think of going on a wine-tasting trip, their thoughts tend to head west - to California, Washington, and Oregon. It's not surprising. From Napa Valley in California to Walla Walla in Washington, these states are some of the biggest producers of wine in the US. But if you don't live in one of these states, there's no need to venture far from home for a weekend of swirling and ...Eco-Friendly HALL Wines Earns Gold LEED Certification
Aug 5th, 2009 at 2:30PM: The first time I tasted HALL Cabernet Sauvignon, I will nibbling a cheese plate bar side at Fleming's Steakhouse and Wine Bar. After asking our bartender sommelier for his recommendation for a big, hearty red, he poured me a taste of the 2005 HALL Cab. Is that black cherry I'm getting? Or perhaps a little oak mixed with leather and currants? I'm certainly no wine expert, unless you consider ...Five quick trip splurges to take with the Amazing Race's million dollar win
May 13th, 2009 at 9:30AM: Now that Victor and Tammy have discovered that they get along with each other quite nicely, AND they've won the million dollar prize on Amazing Race 14, they could pool their resources for some dandy vacations and have plenty of money left over for two houses and the stock market. This is the time to buy. At least, that's what I've heard.
Let's say that Victor and Tammy only have a few days to ...Top 10 wine spots, none in U.S.
Apr 12th, 2009 at 4:00PM: I realize that, on the world stage, our homeland isn't exactly the most popular place right now. Part of it stems from eight years of political buffoonery, and a healthy dose comes from traditional "old world" bias against the United States. Like most of us, I've learned to adjust for a touch of this when I read international news coverage. To a certain extent, I understand it ... we're more like ...
