Mother's Day in Sonoma

Ever since our first trip with the kids to Sonoma County, I have been itching for an excuse to go back. We had so much fun exploring Jack London State Park and the Cornerstone Gardens, and the trip gave me the confidence to try and tackle the somewhat daunting idea of wine tasting with the kids. While the desire for another trip was there, it wasn't until a family dinner when my father-in-law offered me a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, that ideas for our next adventure starting coming together. I usually favor red wines, so when offered a glass of white, I asked for "just a little sip". That little sip quickly turned into a glass of the best white wine I have EVER had and me enthusiastically pointing out that the winery was only an hour away in Sebastapol! After a little research into the area, a day trip was promptly planned for Mother's Day.

Relaxing in Livermore

This coming summer will be the first in 4 years that I will not be pregnant or breastfeeding...which means it's the first summer in 4 years that I can really entertain the idea of wine tasting with the kids! Woohoo! Visiting wineries with children in tow is very intimidating to me. My 2 year old can be particularly unpredictable and has no concept of an "indoor voice" whatsoever. Luckily we have some friends that moved to Livermore about a year ago and have done the hard work of figuring out which wineries are best for young kids. We have taken a couple of trips to the area this Spring, so I wanted to share our favorite stops for wine and beer tasting along with a great family hike. 

Abbott's Lagoon

Point Reyes had me at "hello" and our recent trip to Abbott's Lagoon only solidified my love affair with this stunning part of West Marin. It is honestly one of the most beautiful areas that I have ever visited and thankfully there seems to be no shortage of ideas for future trips to the area!

Davis Picnic Day

If you had asked me when I was a student at UCD, if I could imagine myself returning to Picnic Day in the future with two little kids and my husband, I probably would have looked at you confused. Why would you bring your kids to an event that completely revolves around excessive amounts of day drinking? Well the answer to that question is quite simple...Picnic Day is a fantastic event that actually caters to families and children! The annual open house for Davis offers a calendar full of events starting with a parade in the morning and ending with the Battle of the Bands along Lake Spafford in the Davis arboretum. In between you will find special demonstrations and exhibits being held by the different colleges within the University and tons of activities for kids of all ages. While this day marks a very popular drinking event for UCD students, the drunken mess confines itself to the downtown area and is easily avoided if you make your way to campus by mid-day.