The Miss Elaine-ous Life

random acts of life, family and photos

Napa/San Jose Trip Part 1

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Ok, so are y’all ready to actually “hear” about the trip? You are? Alright, alright!

After we got our baggage (please know that it’s important to note here that I arrived with the smallest suitcase of the 4 women – this will be an interesting detail later…) it was time to eat. Obviously we were on Texas time and when we finally arrived at our dining location it was actually lunch time in California so let’s just say we were HUNGRY. So…. where better to go than here:

In case you can’t see, I am chowing down on an In And Out Burger, “Animal Style.” You should of heard the gasps at the airport when my friend Heather* suggested it. Our taste buds were SO excited!

*another side note, there were 2 Heathers on this trip so when I refer to one of them you’ll just have to pretend like you know which one I’m talking about, k? They even have the same last initial…

Moving on (this is going to be LONG, isn’t it?), once we got to the Napa area we found our first winery as quickly as we could. Wine on top of a burger. Perfection. ; ) Here are a few shots from The Blacksone Winery.


My friend Jennifer, me, and my friends Heather and (yes) Heather! Notice I am the shortest by like 6 inches. Story of my life…

After our first stop (which was very nice) we drove over to Gloria Ferrer which is known for its views from the hill it sits upon and its sparkling wines. We arrived just in time to enjoy some late afternoon bubbly.


I posted the picture above so that you could see there was a child behind me and it looks like she’s partaking of some bubbly too. Either that or Daddy has two glasses…

When we came back out on the road from G.F. we found these huge chairs and well, we just had to sit in them and take our pictures. I mean why else would they be there anyway?

After this we headed to Mustard’s for dinner. Oh My Lands People! The food in California is GOOD!

Maybe it’s because I certainly don’t eat like this everyday or maybe because this place has a culinary school down the road or because the food is fresh and local but DANG it’s GOOD! Our dinner here was nothing short of excellent (Jen, are you craving that salad again now?) and it was just the beginning for many more stellar meals (no offense to IAO Burger of course…)

For dinner I had a “delightful-on-my-tastebuds” fish tostada with all these amazing flavors and then for dessert there was THE creme brulee. I actually only had a few bites but WOW! it was good. Best I have EVER had. Supposedly the secret is the bourbon-soaked vanilla beans.

{insert moment of silence for THE BEST creme brulee EVER…………………..}

That was nice but now I just want some and can’t have any. : (

Once we wiped all of the drool and food from our faces we made our way to our hotel. We actually had 2 rooms, 2 baths, a living room and a kitchen. The place looked much like an apartment complex and come to find out it was more of a time share-type place than a hotel. Here’s Heather enjoying the king-size bed.

So, that’s Day 1 in a nutshell. Come back tomorrow for more pretty pics and descriptions of food you wish you could have eaten too. Oh and there might just be a mention or two of some wine drinking.
P.S. If you thought this post was long, make sure you bring your lunch or favorite beverage tomorrow and stay a while… ; )
I’ve posted this over at Seven Clown Circus for Wordful Wednesday. I didn’t have the heart to link up over at 5 minutes for Mom at Wordless Wednesday. I have my limits people!
elaine

Comments

  1. First of all, welcome home!
    The first part of your trip sounds wonderful! I love those photos of the giant chairs. No matter how many times I look at them, trying to “place” them for size, you girls just look tiny and the chairs look normal-size. I simply can’t fathom their enormity without something else next to them like a car, LOL.

    Looking forward to reading Part 2 now!

  3. The first thing I always do when rolling into CA is hit Inn N OUT, and my burger is ALWAYS animal style. Always. 🙂

    Can’t wait to hear more…..

  6. Hi Elaine

    I am so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful time away with the girls. Three and a bit days away, enjoying the company of such good friends sounds like bliss.

    The scenery in California looks gorgeous.

    Looking forward to the next instalment.

    Lots of love
    Elise

  9. I SO want that big chair pic of you and I. If I can’t pull it down off of Flickr, I may need you to email it to me.

    — Heather

  12. Wow. Next time? I’m coming with. Seriously! So fun!!!

    That huge chair reminds me of when Lily Tomlin was on Sesame Street doing the peanut butter and jelly sandwich bit. Do you remember that?

  14. pretty sure every comment i leave for all cali all week will be something like this…

    jealous. totally jealous.

    🙂

  16. Beautiful!! It looks like a wonderful vacay, sweetie!

    And an In & Out burger?! I’ve heard the best things about that place…I must try one someday!

  17. Don’t you think it’s a travesty In n out is not a national chain? (if it was it probably wouldn’t be as good)

    They have this funny radio add of a guy that moved out of state and is calling to ask his friend what he’s having for lunch-

    In n out

    Oghh!

    It’s one of the reasons why I’d never move away.

  18. In-and-Out Burger, Wine, Creme Brulee. I can’t take anymore. I don’t think I’ll be able to come back and read ever again. Ever.

    So glad you had a wonderful trip. I’ll be back. Really I will. I have to hear about more wonderful food and wine, and the pictures are fabulous!!

    Glad you had so much fun!

  19. Blah blah JEALOUS blah blah. 🙂 And, you know how I would drive to Napa for the best creme brulee let alone the wine. I’m so glad you had a great trip.

  20. I like how you go have fun then come back and rub it in all our faces. Uh huh. I’m JEALOUS!

    Damn, I would kill for some In-n-Out fries and a shake right now.

  21. oh wow. i am loving the food and scenery and wine descriptions! i am also loving that i can enjoy this trip for free and without any calories. although i am wishing you had brought me home a bite of something!

  22. *gasp* In-and-Out! I am so jealous. I’d love a good cholesterol-loaded burger from there right about now.

    Your pictures look fantastic! That is one awesome trip. I’m going to suggest something like that to my girlfriends.

  26. K, when I come down there to visit, I HAVE to have an In and Out burger.

    And then you will take me to Napa and we will eat, eat, eat.

    *drooling*

    It looks fantastic Elaine, so glad you had such a good time…and this is only day 1!

  28. Mmmmmmmmm, Mustard’s is soooooo good! We ate there twice when we were in Napa.
    I am so jealous of your girl time there, but certainly happy for you.