For our birthdays, (Mike and I both have July birthdays) our children gave us a two day get-a-way to Sonoma. We have been through Sonoma several times, but other than the town square and the California Mission which is there, we just admired the town as another quaint part of the Wine Country. Debbie's sister-in-law Camille had told her about the Sonoma Mission Inn because her mother had taken her there for her 30th birthday.
Anyway, Mike and I had really been looking forward to it because we already knew that Sonoma was a beautiful place. It is especially beautiful right now as it is just before harvest time for most of the wine grapes and vines are loaded with deep purple and red grapes.
We started out Thursday morning and took a leisurely drive to Sonoma. It is only about an hour away, but we really meandered. Mike had his trusty camera, and since we had no time dead line, we just stopped wherever it looked like we might be able to take beautiful pictures. Around noon we stopped at a place which was a winery and a deli. We bought delicious sandwiches and ate at a picnic table under a huge spreading oak tree.
After lunch we visted Calistoga and just took in the sights. We arrived in Sonoma around 3:30 and checked into our hotel room. Luckily the night before we left, Debbie called us and told us to take our bathing suits because there were all sorts of spas and pools to relax in.
By joining the Fairmont President's Club, (which was free) we had full access to the spa area. There was an amazing spa with soothing music, hot swirling pools, steam room, sauna, shower with grape body scrub, and two relaxing outside pools. One like a small swimming pool, and the other with more warm water like a mineral bath. It was so relaxing, and you come out feeling like every pore of your body is steamed and sparkling clean!
Our room was beautiful and the bed was very comfortable. We got up the next morning, and since check out time wasn't until noon, we did the spa ritual again before checking out. We didn't get on our way until noon, but decided to take scenic Hiway 1 home just because we had no deadline. It was also beautiful along the coast. It was sunny and warm but the traditional fog was lurking just a ways off of the coastline. One of the reasons that we went home that way was so that we could cross the Golden Gate Bridge and get some good pictures. Unfortunately, because we got there just before sunset, the fog was already pouring through the gate, and the bridge was pretty well covered in fog, so picture taking was not much of an option.
I am posting some of our favorite pictures from our great adventure. Thanks to our children for giving us such a wonderful birthday gift!
