Today’s agenda is pretty loose.  Brunch in Healdsburg (not sure how any of us are hungry after last night’s dinner), a little shopping, and a stop by the coast. Lea’s so excited, she can’t stop dancing.  Dance, monkey!

On the way to Healdsburg, we passed J Winery.  J is known for its great sparkling wines, and while we didn’t have plans of stopping, it’s a great way to start your Sunday.  Maybe the best part of this stop was the tasting room assistant’s recommendation to check-out the brunch at Barndiva (FYI – this link has audio).  Part restaurant, part art gallery, all good.  You really have to be there to experience it, but the courtyard in the back was…beautiful?  I don’t know how to describe it.  Hopefully these pictures and the gallery in the link above help do it justice.

Have you ever seen huevos rancheros that look like this?  Everything on these plates is local; and most, if not all, is organic.  If that’s not enough, it tastes as good as it looks.

Eggs Benny.

After brunch we went for a walk around the town square, which is lined with shops, boutiques, restaurants, and tasting rooms.  It’s uniquely charming in that it looks like something out of a movie set, but still feels very genuine.

Since the Rosenblum tasting room is there, we just figured…when in Rome!  If you ever have a chance to try their Petite Syrah, this is the benchmark for what that type of wine should taste link.  Its color is deep like ink, and when the flavors open up (let it breathe) it’s juicy.

OK, Healdsburg…check!  Now we said we’d go to the coast, right?  Well, yes, but after a detour to Ridge Winery.  Ridge is known for its Zinfandel, and they have a few locations.  The Monte Bello winery is their flagship label, which down by us in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Today we’re at the Lytton Springs location in Dry Creek Valley.

It’s beautiful, and it’s empty.  Where is everyone?!  I would’ve figured that on a perfect Sunday afternoon, this place would be hoppin’.

On the way into the city, the fog was as thick as I’ve ever seen it.  When it’s hot everywhere else in Northern California, it’s foggy in San Francisco.  I’m no Al Roker, but I think it has something to do with the heat’s impact on the atmospheric pressure.

Where’s the bridge?

Fortunately for us, by the time we reached the beach, the clouds parted and it was sunny!  We’re at Devils Slide Beach at Gray Whale Cove.  It would be a shame to come all the way from Iowa and not see the ocean, right?

It’s trips like these that make going back to everyday life really difficult.  We had so much fun, as we always do, and I can’t wait for the next one.

We love you!