We Go With Kids!

Tag: winery

  • Things to Do in Napa With Kids

    Things to Do in Napa With Kids

    Napa Valley is definitely not a typical family vacation destination, but my husband and I did not want to pass up the opportunity to enjoy a few wine tastings while in Northern California visiting San Francisco and Yosemite.  We tacked on two nights in Napa and hoped that the wineries would be as much fun for our two and four year old boys as wineries in Ohio’s Grand River Valley.  While we definitely all enjoyed our time in Napa, our experience visiting California wineries with children was not what we expected after our regular trips to Ohio’s wine country.  Here are our recommendations for the best things to do in Napa with kids.

    Visiting Napa Valley With Kids

    We thought our kids would have the chance to drink grape juice served in wine glasses and eat delicious meals at wineries in Napa.  However, we discovered that Napa wineries do not make grape juice because their grapes are too expensive to “waste” on juice.  Only one winery we visited offered my boys juice, and it was served in Capri Sun pouches rather than fancy glasses.  Because it is expensive for wineries in Napa to obtain food permits, most stick to serving wine and the occasional free snack.  While my boys enjoyed frolicking in vineyards, touring wineries and watching some grape stomping, we did not find any vineyard in Napa where we could relax for an entire afternoon or fly a kite like we regularly do in Ohio.

    Where to Stay in Napa Valley With Kids

    We stayed at the Meritage Resort and Spa, a wonderful Napa family resort that offers both rooms and suites.  We booked a one bedroom suite with a full kitchen, living room with a pull-out couch for the boys, a whirlpool tub in the bathroom and a washer and dryer, which was so helpful after a weekend in San Francisco and a few days in Yosemite.

    This 2012 trip was before Airbnb had its reached its current widespread popularity, and we really had not yet stayed in many condo-style accommodations when traveling with kids.  It was so convenient to feed the boys breakfast at a full dining table as we were getting ready for the day and also have the option of watching television in the bedroom after they went to sleep.  When we found the weather a bit too chilly to enjoy the outdoor pool, adding shampoo to the whirlpool tub made a fabulous bubble bath alternative.  Our kids simply loved this hotel.


    We arrived in the late evening and ate dinner at the hotel.  When we decided to venture out the next morning, the concierge was helpful in directing us to more family friendly wineries, even though we honestly felt our kids were tolerated rather than welcomed wherever we went in Napa.  Of the more than 500 vineyards in Napa, the concierge recommended only a handful.

    Napa wineries are each unique but typically open from about 10 am to 5 pm daily.  Some offer simple tastings with some free snacks, others have tours of the facilities and vineyards.  While reservations are required at some wineries, we were able to drop in at each of the wineries we visited during our mid-week visit in October.  Obviously, drinking and driving is a concern in Napa, and so we took turns tasting wines and driving.

    Here are our five favorite Napa Valley kid-friendly wineries:

    #1:  Sterling Vineyard With Kids

    Sterling Vineyard has a beautiful setting.  It was our first stop in Napa, and the tree-lined approach was so spectacular that we stopped to take a picture.

    The main draw for kids at Sterling Vineyards is the aerial tram used to transport guests from the parking area to the hilltop winery located in a stucco building that looks like a monastery.  It is the only aerial tram in Napa and offers amazing views of the surrounding area.  Our family of four fit into one gondola and thoroughly enjoyed the ride up and down.

    Sterling’s aerial tram

    As part of our general admission package, we enjoyed a tasting and a self-guided tour of the lower portion of the winery.  Because we visited during the Fall harvest, humongous containers of grapes were arriving at the winery.  Our boys were at the height of their truck enthusiasm and were thoroughly mesmerized watching the carts move these containers around.

    After our tour, we sat on the terrace to sip some wine and soak in the scenic rolling hills surrounding the valley.  Even a quick call from a colleague couldn’t dampen this gorgeous day.

    We were surprised that bottled grape juice was not available for the kids and honestly a bit taken aback when the boys were offered CapriSun pouches, but it turned out that this was the only winery that had any sort of juice available.  If the aerial tram and grape vats were not enough to keep the boys happy, they created their own excitement by “decorating” their shoes with wine corks.

    #2:  V. Sattui With Kids

    V. Sattui Winery is a family owned winery that dates back to 1885.  It is unique because of its onsite Artisan Deli that offers amazing homemade food that is perfect for picnicking.  Unlike the Ohio wineries we frequent, very few Napa Valley wineries serve food.  We picked up some amazing paninis at the deli and found the perfect picnic spot in the shaded grounds.  The wine barrels were an appropriate choice for garbage cans.

    Outside food and wine are not permitted, but this was definitely our favorite meal in Napa.

    • Kid Facts:  V. Sattui was established by Vittorio Sattui, an Italian immigrant from Genoa in 1885.  The winery closed during Prohibition but was reopened by Sattui’s great-grandson in 1976.

     

    #3:  Andretti Winery With Kids

    Andretti Winery was established in 1996 by retired Kmart CEO Joe Antonini and retired race car driver, Mario Andretti.  The Tuscan architecture and exudes the feeling of Italy.  The grounds were superb, and the boys loved running in the vineyards and playing near the stunning fountain.

    • Kid Facts:  Mario Andretti is Vice Chairman.

     

    #4:  Grgich Hills Estates With Kids

    Grgich Hills Estate is distinctive because it does not use artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides in its vineyards and has relied on solar power since 2006.  Formerly known as Grgich Hills Cellars, the winery changed its name to Grgich Hills Estate in 2007 when it started producing only “estate grown” grapes grown at its own private vineyards.

    One of the draws of visiting Grgich was to witness grape stomping, a seasonal activity offered at the winery. Guests can stand in a barrel of grapes and stomp to make juice.  When completed, they step onto a new white t-shirt to imprint their grape juice footprints onto a very unique souvenir.  We neglected to take any pictures of videos of grape stomping, but this promotional YouTube video provides a great view.

    We did forego grape stomping in favor of a tour and a tasting but thoroughly enjoyed watching stomping in progress.

    • Kid Facts:  Owner Miljenko “Mike” Grgich surprised the wine world in 1976 when his 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay was named as the world’s finest white wine.

     

    #5:  Beaulieu Vineyard With Kids

    Beaulieu Vineyard was our last stop in Napa Valley before heading back to San Francisco.  This winery was established by Georges and Fernande de Latour in 1900.  Fernande named the vineyard “beau lieu” meaning “beautiful place.” The de Latours were French immigrants who sold their crème de tartar business to enter the wine making business.  BV is the oldest continuously producing winery in Napa.

    We did a simple tasting, but our two year old was clearly done with wineries and literally fell asleep in my arms.  My husband couldn’t resist snapping a commemorative photo of the winery nap.  BV turned out to be our favorite wines of the trip and the one we most often purchase at home.

    • Kid Facts:  Prohibition did not wipe out BV’s wine making business; instead, the winery continued making wines to fulfill their contract for sacramental wines for the Catholic Church.

    While we definitely felt that our boys were tolerated rather than welcomed at Napa wineries, they still really enjoyed our two days.  I’ve heard rumors through the grapevine that Napa’s wineries have become more family friendly in recent years but have doubts after finding  that the website, NapaValleyKid.com, The Go-To Guide for Families in Napa Valley, has no posts in its listing of Family Friendly Wineries. Even if it is not a “must do” with kids, there is no reason to skip it during a family vacation to Northern California.  We’d certainly jump at the chance to go back to Napa with kids to check out wineries again to compare experiences.  To find out more about family trips to Northern California, see our posts on San Francisco, Yosemite and Monterey.

  • Virginia Wine Country with Kids!

    Virginia Wine Country with Kids!

    Virginia has nearly 300 wineries and dozens of wine trails sprinkled throughout the state. There are 10 general wine regions in the state, ranging from the Blue Ridge region to the Northern Virginia region, very close to our home in Washington, DC. Do we really visit wineries with kids? Yes, yes we do!

    Virginia wineries are, for the most part, child friendly. We have been visiting wineries in Virginia since before my oldest son was born and we continue to visit wineries even though we now have two kids (and sometimes a dog!) to bring along for the ride.

    The wineries we tend to visit most often are located in two different regions: Northern Virginia and Central Virginia. The Northern Virginia wineries are located just about an hour away from home and are an easy activity for a leisurely Saturday or Sunday when the weather is nice. The Central Virginia wineries are usually reserved for our fall getaways when we rent a cabin for a long weekend and sneak off to the greater Charlottesville region.

    Northern Virginia Region Wineries

    If you find yourself in Washington, DC and searching for a day trip away from the city, the Northern Virginia wineries are truly a treat. Just a short one hour long drive from DC (traffic depending, of course!), we frequently drop into a winery as part of another event or activity. Our favorite wineries are:

    Chester Gap Cellars – Family owned and operated, Chester Gap is a small producing vineyard with incredible white wines. We visited years ago when the winery was just getting started, and we have loved seeing their wines pop up on finer restaurant menus throughout town. We have met the winemaker and his lovely wife (they also have a son who we met ages ago but is probably a grown man by now!), and the staff in the tasting room is always happy to entertain well behaved children.

    my son hanging out on a barrel in the tasting room
    our hostess was so enamored by my son that she held him while my husband played with the grape cultivator model

    The Winery at La Grange – The Winery at La Grange is one of our favorite wineries to visit because the tasting room is set in the historic Manor House at La Grange.

    photo credit

    The house itself is fun to explore, but my kids particularly love to run around in the expansive outside space. We frequently stop at La Grange for a glass of wine and then sit outside to enjoy the outdoors, while our kids take a much needed car break.

    Barrel Oak Winery (“BOW”) – Barrel Oak is probably not the best place to visit for those seeking an exclusive wine experience. But, if you happen to have kids or dogs and enjoy a fermented grape or ten, BOW is a GREAT place to visit. I’ve been fortunate to attend many events at BOW, including a morning yoga class followed by a wine tasting. The winery really does emphasize fun and unlike some wineries that have been restricting crowd side and hinting that children are not welcome on weekends, BOW is committed to having fun with friends and family, including your favorite four legged dependent!

    Bluemont Vineyard – Like BOW, Bluemont Vineyard is truly a family friendly place and it is conveniently located literally around the corner from Great Country Farms, a local U-Pick farm with abundant activities for children. I highly recommend spending a morning at Great Country Farms with your little one and then driving down the road to Bluemont for lunch (the Tasting Room offers simple eats like flatbreads and sandwiches, perfect after a few hours of strawberry picking) and some wines before heading back to DC – truly a perfect day trip and a little something for everyone.

    strawberry picking before a visit to Bluemont Vineyard
    sample menu offering at Bluemont Vineyard

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    Central Virginia Region Wineries

    Our favorite Virginia wineries are those in the Charlottesville area, mostly because of the breathtaking landscape. Located approximately three hours away from Washington, DC, the Charlottesville wineries certainly are more of an investment in terms of time and effort, but if you happen to be visiting for the weekend, you absolutely should pop in and get a sip or two.

    Barboursville Vineyards – Our favorite winery to visit is Barboursville. Arguably one of Virginia’s most well-known wineries, Barboursville is frequently extremely crowded and elbow room only, but the wine and the space easily make up for the crowds. The winery has an outstanding restaurant, Palladio (which I wouldn’t recommend dining at with small children as it is definitely high end dining!), and a small herb garden where they grow items for the restaurant.

    The garden at Barboursville

    The flagship wine at Barboursville is Octagon, which is stored in the Octagon room and is available for peeping.

    my toddler, running amongst the aging barrels of Octagon

    On weekends, Barboursville offers a vertical Octagon tasting, which takes place in a more private, less crowded environment. I highly recommend this experience!

    The Octagon Tasting Area

    Grace Estate Winery – Grace Estate Winery is a great winery to visit if you’re looking for simple snacks and some outdoor space for your kids to run around. We have visited Grace and taken advantage of the small snacks they offer to feed our children.

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    The winery also has gas grills, free wifi, and outdoor games (like corn hole), which makes it a lovely place to spend a few hours on a nice afternoon.

    Final Thoughts

    I would not say that Virginia wineries make an effort to cater to children – they do not offer grape juice or playground space, and you’d be lucky to find outdoor activities like the corn hole set we found at Grace Estate. The most you’re going to find is a sad bucket of toys that won’t even hold a toddler’s attention.

    A pretty sorry excuse for a kids’ toy basket, if you ask me!

    But, I have never hesitated to visit a Virginia winery with my kids because by and far, the winery experience is just fine for kids. There’s always ample space to run around outdoors and plenty of indoor stuff to keep a child’s attention for a few minutes. Of course, you’ll want to come prepared with snacks, treats, and even a iPad (heaven forbid!) just in case things get rough, but it is possible to visit wineries and have a good time with kids!

  • France: Alsace With Kids!

    France: Alsace With Kids!

    Guest Blogger:  Ophélie is originally from France but moved to Belgium from McLean, Virginia five years ago.  She and her husband have found that kids didn’t have to stop them from doing what they love.  Instead, they shared their passion for travel and the outdoors with their young son and daughter. Ophélie can be found on Instragram and Facebook. 

    Located only five hours by car (or two hours by train) from Paris, Alsace is a cultural region in eastern France, which, since 2014, has been part of the of the Grand-Est administrative region. Due to its location along the French/German border, Alsace has been the center of a centuries long tug-of-war.  Our visit to Alsace in winter was a lovely family vacation.

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    Today, when you visit the region, you can see how the influence of the two empires has affected the area in all aspects, including architecture, language, and gastronomy. Alsace is a land of transition, overflowing with history and half-timbered houses and ruins of medieval castles abound. While Strasbourg (the largest city in Alsace) and Colmar (the third largest commune in Alsace) may seem like obvious and attractive places to visit, there is so much that Alsace has to offer, and I highly encourage you to explore the entire area. Indeed, the Alsace Wine Route is located between Strasbourg and Colmar and offers a mosaic of landscapes, including vineyards, forests, picturesque villages, and old castles. Between Christmas and New Year’s Day, we decided to explore the region. With a mix of many of our family’s favorite activities, including hiking, small towns, gastronomy, and wineries, this was the perfect destination for a family trip.

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    THINGS TO DO IN ALSACE, FRANCE

    #1: Places to Visit in Alsace With Kids

    Many villages along the Alsace Wine Route are part of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France), a small association dedicated to promoting tourist appeal of small rural villages with rich cultural heritages. These charming and colorful villages definitely deserve to have their own title and the Alsace Tourism Center lists 18 iconic villages along the Wine Route. Because we were only there for a few days, we could not visit every single village. Instead, we visited fewer places but took the time to get lost in the small streets to immerse ourselves in the magical atmosphere of those small villages.

    Although the Christmas market season had ended, the Christmassy vibe of cheerful songs, festive decorations, and seasonal food was still present. We particularly loved Ribeauvillé, a medieval village steeped in history, Kayserberg, a fairytale village surrounded by vineyards with forested hills rising above the town, and Riquewihr, the must-see fortified wine-making village. From mid-November to mid-January, these villages offer treasure hunts with game booklets that are available at the Office of Tourism, which has an office in each village. This was such a fun, interactive, and entertaining way to visit these stunning villages as we were able to roam the illuminated streets of Riquewihr and Kayserberg on the trail of a Christmas treasure while also unraveling several riddles. Our quest brought us away from the main tourist streets and into small narrow streets, where we learned about the history of the place. After a 1-1.5 hour sightseeing walk, we had gathered all the clues and returned to the Office of Tourism with our “mystery word.” All “winners” were offered a reward, which included an Alsatian seven family game, an artisanal Christmas decoration, a wine glass, a local story book, and much more. It was so hard to choose! My kids loved the whole process from finding the clues to picking out a gift, and the treasure hunts are one of their favorite memories of the trip! We did not do the treasure hunt in Ribeauvillé because we were there for less time. Overall, I highly recommend you look into this as an activity if you find yourself visiting around the holidays.

    Pro Tips:

    • Most of the towns are closed to traffic, unless you are a resident. Luckily, there is paid parking outside of the villages and the parking is less than a five minute walk to the village.
    • The treasure hunts were FREE!
    • I highly recommend that you visit the tourist office website to check out the calendar of activities in each village as they tend to offer different activities and events through the year. You can also visit the tourist office desk when you arrive at the village. As a bonus, the tourist office is staffed with friendly people with handy tips to share and free public restrooms (my kids always need to go at the worst possible moment, so I thought this was worth mentioning!).

    #2: Vineyards and Wineries in Alsace With Kids

    The best way to discover the countryside is to hike it. We followed the “Grand-Crus” Wine Trail, which crosses several villages and is punctuated by signboards, explaining the work happening in the vineyards and the wine making process. Hiking through the Pays de Riquewihr, we were immersed in the heart of the vineyards and, along the way, we discovered the three castles of Ribeauvillé (the Saint-Ulrich, the Ribeaupierre, and the Girsberg) and witnessed the medieval way of life. The old castles truly are a great way to keep the kids motivated and excited while hiking!

    If we enjoy very much walking in the vineyards, it’s almost a certainly we will love the final product even more! Raised in a family of wine-producers, I adore traveling to wine regions to discover small producers and taste their wines, while learning about region specific wine making processes. Appellation d’Origine Contrellé (AOC) laws govern French vineyards to ensure consistent and highest-quality winemaking and Alsace has been designated four grape varieties that meet the Grand-Cru AOC designation: reisling, gewürztraminer, pinor gris, and muscat. Along the Alsace Wine Route, many small producers offer degustation (wine tasting) menus and, after trying the amazing Grand Cru Schoenenbourg Reisling at one dinner, we opted to try the Fux-Fuchs GAEC in Zellenberg, a small-family owned production. The tasting room happened to be located next  door from our hotel (the Au Riesling Hotel).  Although it is tempting to try out the region’s amazing wines at every pit stop, we don’t drink and drive so finding a wine tasting spot within walking distance of our hotel was great – a win-win situation all around.

    Pro Tips:

    • Most wineries are open for visiting and tasting Monday through Saturday (9am – 12pm, 2pm – 6pm) without prior reservation.
    • Access to vineyards is restricted during harvest season and the month beforehand. Check with the local Tourist Office before planning a visit during the harvesting months (August to October).
    • For the wine lovers among you, I highly recommend you check out the Winefolly page on Alsation wines.
    • Fux-Fuchs is a family-run wine producing company, with nine hectares (or 22 acres) of vines. They don’t have a website, but you can find their contact information on the Alsace tourism website. I highly recommend you try the Grand Cru Schoenenbourg Riesling!

    #3: The Haut Koenigsbourg Castle in Alsace With Kids

    The Haut Koenigsbourg Castle cannot be missed during any trip to Alsace. Built in the 12th century, this incredible monument has witnessed the course of European history – constant rivalry between lords, kings and emperors. At the beginning of the 20th century, the German Emperor Wilhelm II (Alsace was controlled by Germany back then!) decided to renovate the castle that had been besieged and destroyed during successive battles. From 1900 to 1908, the Château du Haut Koenigsbourg was restored to its original glory.

    Up on the heights of the village of Orschwiller, located a short 25-minute drive from Ribeauvillé, the Haut Koenigsbourg Castle is just a small detour from the Alsatian Wine Route. Perched on a rocky hill at an altitude of 757 meters, the Castle offers incredible views of the vineyards along the Alsatian Plains. A must see if you are in Alsace!

    Pro Tip:

    • Free parking is available along the road leading to the castle. There is then a two to 15 minute walk before you reach the castle.
    • Plan to spend at least 90 minutes visiting and exploring the Castle.
    • Because of stairs (and the terrible freezing air flow in the winter), I recommend you use a baby carrier rather than a stroller.
    • Entrance fees are: Adult 9 € (~$11USD), Child 5 € (~$6USD), Student 7 € (~$8.50USD). Kids under six are free.

    #4: Gastronomy in Alsace With Kids

    Alsace is a foodie heaven with countless culinary specialties. The symbol of Alsatian cuisine probably is the delicious choucroute: sauerkraut accompanied with pork meat. While my kids (who are usually not picky eaters) are not big fans of choucroute, they appreciated the flammenkuche (or tarte flambée), a thin tart covered with cream, fried onions, and bacon. Tradition Alsatian specialties also include street foods such as bretzels (fresh baked and soft pretzels, sometimes found with melted cheese on top or accompanied by smoked salmon or ham), and kougelhopf (a sort of brioche and leading symbol of Alsace), to name a few. We sampled as many specialties as physically possible after two days of Christmas family meals. Alsatian food is delicious, but definitely not light!

    WHERE TO STAY & WHEN TO VISIT ALSACE WITH KIDS

    We stayed at the Hotel Au Riesling, in the heart of Alsace’s vineyards, and we loved it. Au Riesling is a family-owned and run hotel located in the traditional village of Zellenberg along the Alsace Wine Route. Situated between Ribauvillé and Riquewihr, the hotel is ideally located to visit everything in the area. From the terrace, the hotel provides an unrestricted view of the vineyards and a glimpse of the faraway Black Forest and Vosges Mountains. The staff is very friendly and you can feel the warmth that is typical of family-owned and run hotels. The Hotel’s restaurant offers both classical French cuisine and Alsatian specialties, with a selection of local wines. We love our children to try new food and be sensitive to fine food, so we were really pleased that Au Riesling offers a “Children’s Menu,” which is actually half-portions of the regular menu! The time between courses was a bit long, but that is the French way and next door to the restaurant is a room with board games, books, and a television where kids can relax in between meal service.

    The Christmas season is really magical in Alsace and therefore is one of the busiest periods of the year in terms of tourism. Consider booking your stay during the week to avoid overcrowding. Between May and October, Alsace’s natural landscape is simply stunning. During this time, the vineyards display shimmering colors, from tender green to deep orange. Apart from the enchanting postcard villages, the Alsatian vineyards really are the charm of the Alsace Wine Route.

    Ophélie travels to some stunning locations and this post on Alsace has us wishing we could tag along on their next family adventure! If you find yourself similarly inspired, be sure to check out Ophélie’s other posts on WGWK!

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  • Fall Getaway: Off-Season Chautauqua With Kids

    Fall Getaway: Off-Season Chautauqua With Kids

    Chautauqua is a small town in western New York best known for the Chautauqua Institution, a lakeside resort that offers weekly educational programing for nine weeks each summer.  Over 100,000 visitors participate in one or more of the Institution’s over 2,000 lectures, art exhibits, outdoor symphonies, theater or dance performances, opera and classes each year.  Additionally, Lake Chautauqua offers opportunities for fishing, swimming, sailing, boating and canoeing.  Chautauqua is an easy two-hour drive from Cleveland, and we have friends who regularly vacation here or own a second home in the area.

    Visiting Chautauqua With Kids

    We ended up making an unplanned stop in Chautauqua while driving back from New England in October 2016.  We typically book hotels in advance but had not because we were not sure how far we would make it after leaving Amherst, Massachusetts in the late afternoon.  None of the larger cities on our route along I-90 were “must-sees”, and the kids ended up holding up on the long drive better than we expected.  At around 10:30 pm, we briefly considered driving straight home.  Luckily, my husband took a look at a map and suggested we spend the night in Mayville, the seat of Chautauqua County and booked us room at Chautauqua Suites.  Chautauqua with kids ended up being a great family destination.

    We arrived at the hotel with three sleeping kids around 11:30 pm and quickly got them changed and into bed.  Our “suite” was roughly the size of a normal hotel but had two small sleeping spaces that were separated by the bathroom at the center of the room.  The setup would have been more useful if we arrived earlier in the evening and wanted a separate space after putting the kids to bed.  Nevertheless, Chautauqua Suites totally met our needs for the eight or nine hours that we were there.  The included breakfast buffet was an added bonus that saved us a morning stop.

    After breakfast, we stopped at a playground right on the shore of Lake Chautauqua.  The playground had all the traditional equipment, but the gorgeous view of the Lake really set it apart from the typical play area.  With the park completely to ourselves, we had one of our most memorable mornings just relaxing and playing on a beautiful and warm fall day.   I knew as soon as we arrived that this was definitely the perfect I-90 pit stop.  Luckily, this was just the beginning of a wonderful unexpected day.

    Monkey bars

    Visiting Panama Rocks With Kids

    After finishing up at the playground, we headed to Panama Rocks, which is about a 15-minute drive from Mayville.  It was listed as #1 on Trip Advisor’s list of Chautauqua County activities.  And, we could see why – Panama Rocks is probably the best privately owned nature park that I have ever visited.  There is a one mile trail that is an easy, Class 1 hike in an ancient forest.  It is not stroller accessible, but my two year old daughter walked a good bit of it herself and enjoyed the view from her carrier or on my husband’s shoulders the rest of the time.

    • Kid Facts:  To be classified as an ancient forest, a forest must be at least 200 years old and have large trees, dense canopies and diverse wildlife.  Panama Rocks has been privately owned and operated since 1885.

    The colored leaves covering the ground added to the beauty, and we saw some of the most brilliant reds of the whole trip on the hike.

    There are towering rocks, deep crevices and caves that guests are welcome to go off trail to explore, and you can be sure that my boys thoroughly investigated the rock formations and caves.  Hiking boots might be helpful, especially if the ground is wet, but we all found our sneakers to be adequate.

    Climbing some rocks

     

    • Kid Caution:  While exploring off trails is permitted, close adult supervision is necessary.  Caution is always needed when climbing rocks.  There is also a short part at the end with cliff edges where we were extra careful and made sure our daughter was safely in her carrier.

    We received an initial treasure hunt clue after paying our admission, and following the clues, which provided facts and history about the park was as fun as exploring the rocks, caves and forest.  We located a locked box near the end of the hike and used the clues to determine the combination and solve the mystery.

    Panama Rocks is definitely a park we would recommend to families and all nature lovers and plan to return ourselves.  It is a perfect place for kids to explore nature and learn about the plant life and geology of the area.  The treasure hunt also helped us to look carefully and take in our surroundings.  Of course, the boys loved the “mission.”  Note that it’s only open seasonally and generally closes at the end of October.

    Visiting Noble Winery With Kids

    After lunch, we decided to stop at a winery before heading home.  We ended up at Noble Winery in Westfield, about 15 minutes from Mayville on the way to I-90.  Noble is one of over 20 wineries in Lake Erie Wine Country.  It is located on a secluded hill with an absolutely spectacular view overlooking the vineyards and Lake Erie.

    Westfield is known for concord grape production, and a Welch’s plant is located here.  So, unlike Napa where grape juice was not produced at any of the vineyards we visited, it wasn’t surprising that grape juice was available by the bottle at Noble Winery.  My husband and I enjoyed sitting on the large porch while the kids ran in the field in front of the winery.  We had a clear view of them playing on the gentle slope, and they came back every few minutes for another sip.

    I even spent some time frolicking in the field with the kids.

    Why We Loved Chautauqua With Kids

    Our visit to Noble Winery capped off our perfect unplanned day.  Even without the Chautauqua Institute and local marinas buzzing with activities, we found Chautauqua to be a lovely place to visit during the off-season.  Our first family visit to the area was so enjoyable that we would love to return to Chautauqua with kids again in the spring or fall and explore some more.

    Fall happens to be our favorite season here at WGWK, so be sure to check out our more expansive Fall Getaway series.  If you enjoy wine, check out other wine regions we have explored with kids.

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  • Fall Getaway: Lydia Mountain Lodge & Log Cabins in Stanardsville, VA With Kids!

    Fall Getaway: Lydia Mountain Lodge & Log Cabins in Stanardsville, VA With Kids!

    Virginia is well-known as the birthplace of the nation, home to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, to name a few. Many do not know that Virginia is also home to some of the most beautiful countryside. We are so fortunate to live only two hours away from Charlottesville and the surrounding area, which is one of my favorite places on earth.

    For four years counting, we have rented a cabin from Lydia Mountain Lodge & Log Cabins. I discovered Lydia’s many years ago while searching for a dog-friendly cabin rental in the Virginia country side. Having now stayed with Lydia a handful of times, I can truly say that our “fall weekend at the cabin” is one that I look forward to all year.

    Located approximately 20 miles north of Charlottesville and 100 miles from DC, Lydia Mountain is only a two hour drive from home, making it an ideal place to sneak away for a weekend getaway. Our preferred cabin to rent is the Dancing Bear cabin, which sits on a private road that holds only a few other rental cabins. The cabin is pet-friendly and has three bedrooms and three full baths + two sleeper futons if you really have a crowd!

    The Dancing Bear cabin.

    Our weekends at the cabin are not complicated – our goal is simply to unplug from our daily lives and take a minute to enjoy the outdoors and each other. The wood burning fireplace in the main living area is always on and the boys have free rein to run around outside and enjoy themselves, as all kids should do.

    the wood burning fireplace
    a glimpse of the dining room that leads in the master bedroom

    As with most cabins, there is no meal service, so meals are on your own. Luckily, the cabin is located only a short drive from Charlottesville, and we have had no problems purchasing groceries to cook at the cabin, or dining out if the mood strikes us.

    our first night at the cabin meal of homemade lasagna
    The boys always enjoy the evening ‘smores!

    My favorite way to start a day at the cabin is to take a morning walk up the private road it is located on. There’s a short uphill climb, past a few other rental cabins, before you reach the house at the top of the hill, from where there is a spectacular view.

    Spectacular view of the VA countryside at the end of the road.

     

    The walk “up the road” is quiet and full of beautiful leaves.

    One you reach the house at the top of the hill, you can venture further into the woods via two separate trails. Nestled amongst the trees is a disc golf course, which my kids love experimenting with.

    My little one trying his hand at disc golf.

    After our brisk morning walk, we usually venture out for lunch. Over the years, we have dined at a variety of restaurants in Charlottesville, grabbed sandwiches at the local Mennonite shop, or dined at a brewpub. After lunch, we typically mosey back to the cabin where we spend the afternoon enjoying the outdoor fire pit.

    View of the side of the cabin, leading down to the fire pit.

    Happily for us, the boys find plenty of ways to entertain themselves while at the cabin. From rolling down the hill, to learning how to start fires, to sneaking marshmallows before dinner. There is also a hot tub at the cabin, which my oldest has availed himself on occasion.

    The hillside provides hours of entertainment for the boys.
    sneaking marshmallows before dinner
    Enjoying the pizza pies we made on the fire.
    roasting marshmallows

    Having spent fall weekends in the area for a number of years, I can recommend a few great family-friendly activities.

    #1: Yoder’s Country Market

    No visit to the cabin is complete without at least one stop at Yoder’s! The shop is located approximately 20 minutes from the cabin and specializes in deli meats, prepared soups, bulk foods, and much, much more. We typically pick up light foods from Yoder’s to snack and munch on during our stay, and our kids enjoy the adjacent petting farm and playground!

    The outdoor play structure is a great way to burn off some energy.
    Kid meets goat.

    #2: Charlottesville Children’s Museum

    The Virginia Discovery Museum in Charlottesville isn’t a place I would recommend you go out of the way to visit, but a few years ago, our stay at the cabin happened to coincide with the government shut down and many, many days of rain. The national parks were closed and it was pouring rain, so we ventured into Charlottesville and spent a few hours at the museum to simply give the kids a change of scenery. My oldest was less than five years of age at the time and it held his attention for a few hours, but it’s not something I would envision holding his interest now, at the ripe old age of 8. Nevertheless, it’s an option for when all other options are unavailable.

    #3: Fishing

    Virginia is home to some incredible fly fishing and there are many streams in the Charlottesville area that provide a wonderful low key setting to introducing your little one to fly fishing. Years ago, my husband, in laws, and I took my young son to Swift Creek to practice casting in a gentle steam. There are a plethora of small streams and easy locations for little ones to be introduced to fly fishing, so if this is your cup of tea, I highly encourage you look around and explore your options.

    #4: Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park

    The Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive are less than 30 minutes from the cabin, so it’s a great option for hiking, enjoying the scenery, and/or fishing.

    Posing in front of an Appalachian Trail marker in the Shenandoah.

    #5: Charlottesville!

    Charlottesville is such an amazing city and full of great dining experiences. Our stops in Charlottesville usually involve picking up groceries and enjoying lunch or dinner somewhere. I encourage you to poke around and find your favorite dining experiences!

    My boys enjoying an afternoon snack along the waterfront in Charlottesville.

    #6: Virginia Wines, Breweries, Distilleries, and Cideries

    Virginia’s beautiful countryside lends itself to some gorgeous wineries. Although a far cry from the wines you can taste and experience on the West Coast, Virginia’s wineries are a beautiful place to spend an afternoon and, as an extra bonus, they are much less expensive and pretentious than the wineries on the West Coast and I have never had an issue bringing my kids along for an afternoon of tasting.

    Many of the wineries offer light meals or snacks for purchase and even those that don’t generally feature a large outside area for kids to run around without risk of knocking over glasses or decorations. This past weekend, we visited Stinson Vineyards for the first time and were pleased to discover not only the great outdoor space, but a basket of toys for children to discover.

    Basket of children’s toys at Stinson Vineyards.
    Outside tasting area at Stinson Vineyards.

    In addition to the vibrant wine scene, Virginia, in recent years, has seen an incredible growth in breweries, cideries, and distilleries.

    For the first time this weekend, we did a hard cider tasting at Blue Toad Hard Cider, located approximately 45 minutes from the cabin. For $13 each, my husband and I enjoyed 7 different hard ciders while our children played in view of the outside tasting area.

    Two sets of cider tastings at $13 each.
    The play area at Blue Toad Hard Cider.

    We also visited Blue Mountain Brewery, where we enjoyed lunch (complete with beer tastings), followed by a rousing round of hide and seek outside with the boys, while my husband and our friend finished up their beer tastings and paid the check.

    Cornhole at Blue Mountain Brewery.
    The outdoor fire pit at Blue Mountain Brewery.
    Toddler hide and seek fail.

    This being our first experience cider and beer tasting in Virginia, we were pleasantly surprised to discover not only how low key the environment was but also how child friendly the experience can be. We will most definitely be incorporating this into our fall getaway weekends in the future.

    Although we just returned from our fall getaway, I am already looking for our return to the cabin. My youngest, who is just now old enough to articulate his thoughts and feelings said, the morning of our departure, “can we stay at the cabin forever?” I think it’s safe to say that our boys love our fall weekends at the cabin as much as we do and I am so thankful we have been able to find this little bit of heaven for all of us to enjoy.

     

    All three of our boys love our fall weekends at the cabin.

    Fall happens to be our favorite season here at WGWK, so be sure to check out our more expansive Fall Getaway series.

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  • Fall Getaway: Rose River Farm in Syria, VA With Kids!

    Fall Getaway: Rose River Farm in Syria, VA With Kids!

    My husband is an avid fly fisherman and for years, many of their family vacations centered around fly fishing. At some point in our relationship, I accepted that fly fishing was always going to be a part of my life and I began keeping an eye out for new locations where my husband and my father-in-law could go fly fishing, while at the same time providing my mother-in-law and me with other distractions and things to do!

    Rose River Farm in Syria, VA in located near some of the very best fly fishing in Virginia. The farm was purchased and built with the intention of providing a “fly fishing getaway” close to Washington, DC that offers the same uncrowded fly fishing experience to those who enjoy fishing in Colorado and Montana. In 2011, the Farm added two modern Mongolian Yurts, to provide sleeping quarters for both fishermen and their families. I personally find the notion of a yurt to be fascinating (bordering on a hobbit house like experience), so when I realized that I could combine both my yurt fascination along with my husband’s intense love for fly fishing in one fall getaway, I immediately booked us for a weekend at Rose River Farm.

    The Farm now has a total of three yurts which are available for booking year round. Each yurt is just over 1,100 square feet, has central heating and cooling, two full baths and two full bedrooms (each with double beds). The yurts are fully equipped with just about everything you can think of for a fly fishing vacation, including washing machines, however, I must note that the yurts are not equipped with dish washers, which may be a dealer breaker to some.

    The yurts are stunning:

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    The major benefit to my family, of course, was that the yurts provided close proximity to excellent fly fishing. By staying at the Farm, you have access to fish a stretch of the Rose River that is private access only. It is $95/day/person to reserve the right to fish the stream and the Farm limits access to five rods a day (if your party books four rods, they will reserve the entire stream for your use). My husband and his father loved being able to fish the reserved stream that was located just minutes away from the cabin and, when they were ready to take a break, they came back to the cabin and walked our son down to the pond so he could practice his own fly casting.

    There are a number of nearby attractions in addition to fly fishing, such as wine tasting. My mother-in-law and I spent a lovely afternoon wine tasting while my son napped. If you’ve never been wine tasting in Virginia, it’s not quite the same as wine tasting in California, but there are a number of excellent wines (and ciders) that you can sample throughout the state.

    The Farm also provides a list of other activities nearby, including guided kayaking trips, horseback riding, and fishing on public waters. Although having a three-year-old in our party meant that we could not participate in many of those activities, I would definitely explore more active activities now that our kids are older.

    Finally, I would love to return to Rose River Farm, especially now that my oldest is 8 and could learn to fish on the relatively calm stretch of the river they offer private access to, but, unfortunately, the Farm does not allow pets. While this may be a benefit to some, with three cabins available for rent, I sure would hope the Farm reconsiders the policy and allow pets perhaps in one of the three cabins! I have no problem traveling without my pet when the need arises, but for fall weekend getaways close to home, it just doesn’t seem right to leave our four-legged child behind. Nevertheless, if you aren’t limited by this factor, I highly encourage you to getaway to Rose River Farm and experience a yurt, as well as excellent fly fishing, wines, and more, just two hours from DC.

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  • Spring Break ’17 Part II: A Week in Monterey With Kids!

    Spring Break ’17 Part II: A Week in Monterey With Kids!

    Although I have driven from Southern California to Northern California more times than I can count, I had only been to Monterey once prior to our family trip this spring. As an avid fan of aquariums, however, I have long wanted to take my husband there and when I started researching options for things to do in Monterey, I quickly realized that it would be a wonderful place to spend the week with the kids. In Part I of this series, I discussed the logistics of our flight from DC to Los Angeles and our decision to spend the night in Santa Barbara and take our time driving up the Coast. In this post, I’ll describe the activities we packed into a seven day trip to Monterey.

    What did we do?

    Carmel Mission Basilica

    My Fourth Grade year was spent studying California history, which included an exhaustive series on California missions. I spent a lot of time as a child wondering about the missions and intrigued by their history. Although I did not get a chance to visit many as a child, my husband and I have explored many together through the years.

    If you spend any time driving up and down the California Coast, you’ll invariably see signs indicating that you are traveling on the Historic Camino Real, the road connecting the 21 Spanish missions.

    photo credit

    Happily for me, the house we rented was just a short 25 minute drive to the San Charles Borromeo de Carmelo Mission, or the Carmel Mission, and it was the perfect location for our Easter morning mass.

    The mission was built in 1770 and many parts of it show its age. Luckily, it is now the home of a vibrant parish and school. The early morning mass we attended (7AM) was completely full, with seats in the courtyard for the overflow. Since I had a defiant toddler with me, we ended up exploring a lot of the grounds during mass. Unfortunately for me, a Southern California native, it was much much colder than I expected so I was freezing by the time my son and husband were done. Definitely do not underestimate how much colder it is in Northern California than it is in Los Angeles!

    Juniper Serra, the Franciscan priest who founded the first missions in California is actually buried in the sanctuary floor. My then-seven year old, who had learned about the Spanish missionaries during Spanish class  was intrigued by the historical significance of the Mission and we stopped by the gift shop to purchase some items to bring back and share in class.

    Being that it was Easter, we, of course, did an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids.  The garden at the vacation house provided the perfect spot for hiding eggs.

    Monterey Bay Aquarium

    As you might expect, we spent a lot of time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This was the driving force behind our decision to visit Monterey and we visited every single day for a few hours at a time. The house we rented came with two guest passes to use for the duration of our stay and children under 3 are free, so we really only needed one more ticket. One day admission is $49.95 for an adult, so we decided to go ahead and purchase a $95 annual membership for my husband to use. Had our house not come with the two guest passes, we would have purchased a family membership which, at $250, is a bargain for a week of entertainment.

    Many of the days ended up being rainy, so the aquarium was the perfect place to let off some steam and get some toddler energy out. My seven year old never got bored and my toddler loved the playspace.

     

    The only downside to the experience is that my husband and I didn’t learn a single thing while there! We were too busy chasing our toddler (who thought it particularly fun to run like a maniac through the dark aquarium gallery). I did catch this video of the sea gooseberry, which was probably my favorite organism at the aquarium.

    My kids loved the sardines swimming in an endless circle. I remember being fascinated by this very aquarium as a child, so it was neat to see my kids experience it as well, even if it is much smaller than I remember it being!

    Dennis the Menace Park

    Monterey happens to be home to the Dennis the Menace Park.  Unfortunately, our stay occurred while it was under construction, so we did not get a chance to actually experience the park.  The park, however, is adjacent to Lake El Centro, where you can rent paddle boats from El Estero Boating.

    We took advantage of a sunny afternoon for our first family paddle boating experience.

    my fearless munchkin

    The water was calm and as we were there in the middle of the week, it was not crowded. I believe we were the only people on the water that day. Now that the Dennis the Menace Park has reopened, this is an easy place to spend the afternoon with kids.

    Asilomar State Beach

    Our vacation rental was only a 15 minute drive from Asilomar State Beach, which turned out to be a surprisingly delightful place to visit. Across from the beach is the Asilomar Dunes Natural Preserve:

    where a landmark stile stands at the gateway to this preserve and the Asilomar Conference Grounds. A ¼ mile boardwalk meanders through 25 acres of restored sand dune ecosystem where visitors can discover the native plant greenhouse where more than 450,000 plants, representing 25 species, have been grown and planted in the effort to preserve the dunes and coastal bluffs. Several boardwalk outlooks provide panoramic views of Asilomar State Beach and the blue Pacific Ocean.

    coastal trail @ Asilomar Dunes Natural Preserve

    Both my kids enjoyed the boardwalk and so did we! It was not crowded and the wooden pathways were easy for my toddler to manage on his own. Although it would be a bumpy ride for a stroller, it is certainly manageable – the bigger concern would be sand from wind. My seven year old had a blast playing army on the walk with his cousin while my toddler enjoyed stopping and throwing sand every few feet.

    Later that week, we returned to the beach for some play time in the sand and despite the stiff wind, both kids had a great time.

    Jacks Peak Park

    My husband and I are avid hikers and there was no doubt that we would try to sneak in as many walks as we could. Of course, it is necessary to adjust your expectations when hiking with kids and we try to find small walks that they can enjoy.  Jacks Peak Park fit the bill. Although there is a nominal fee to park (I believe it is $5/car), it was well worth it.

    Looking out over Monterey with the map pointing out major destinations.

    The trail was well maintained such that my toddler had no trouble walking most of the path himself.

    Dad was happy to give him a ride when he got tired!

    Although this is not a stroller friendly spot, it is a relatively easy walk without too much elevation change and the path is maintained such that I would not hesitate to bring a child in a carrier. Most of the walk was shaded and cool – especially with the ocean breeze coming in from the west.

    Jump-N-Around

    Being in Northern California, there were many days in which it rained too much for us to do anything other than go to the Aquarium. One day, we took the kids to the Aquarium in the morning, but were desperate for indoor activities for later in the afternoon. My brother (who was visiting with his wife and two kids) ended up taking all the kids to Jump-N-Around, a local chain bounce house. My kids had a great time and it provided them with some much needed jumpin’ around time (pun intended).

    Wine Tasting

    Although we did not intend to do much, if any, wine tasting while in Monterey, we spent one afternoon exploring the Monterey tasting scene after we discovered there were a number of tasting rooms all centrally located in one area, thus saving us from having to drag the kids to and from wineries. One of the tasting rooms we visited was Georis, located in nearby Carmel.

    The day we visited was pleasant enough to be outside and there is a little garden where kids can play without disturbing others (although there are cacti, so be careful)! Georis also has a limited menu, which we did not take advantage of, but it would have been easy to get a snack for the kids and keep them entertained while we sipped. Many of the other wineries we visited had similar set ups and it was definitely a more laid back environment than Napa. I would not hesitate to bring my kids along for some wine tasting next time we are in the area.

    Relax

    Reading through this post, it sure does surprise me how much we managed to work into a week long stay in Monterey! My husband and I each worked in a few visits to the Monterey Sports Center, where we paid a nominal fee for a day pass so that we could get some exercise in and we also spent plenty of time sitting around and just enjoying the cool, ocean air from the comfort of our rented backyard. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised by how much there was to occupy ourselves with and we never got bored. We tend to focus on big, exciting places to visit – London, San Francisco, DC, New York – visiting the sleepy town of Monterey was a nice change of pace and there was plenty to do while also providing us with some much needed down time.

    And just like that, it was time to pack up the car and the kids and head back to Southern California. Continue to Part III – Driving Back Down the California Coast

  • Africa Part I: Africa with kids?

    Africa Part I: Africa with kids?

    Last night, I was flipping through twitter and came across Nomadic Matt’s live tweets from South Africa. His safari photos were enough to prompt me to open up a bottle of South African wine and begin reminiscing about the amazing trip we took to Africa earlier this summer. In June of 2017, my husband and I celebrated our tenth anniversary with a nearly 2.5 week-long vacation in Africa. It began with three nights in Cape Town, one night in the Cape Winelands, three nights at Umlani Bushcamp in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve just outside Kruger National Park, two nights in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and finally, three nights at Muchenje Safari Lodge in Chobe National Park. Although this was a rare kid-free vacation for us, I did spend most of the trip missing my eight-year-old, who I think would have enjoyed the trip tremendously, while at the same time keeping an eye towards just how quickly we could return with both kids (because the trip was not ideal for toddlers and I know  the “baby” won’t want to be left behind when we go!).
    View of Cape Town from Table Mountain
    Why Africa?
    Neither of us had ever been to Africa and knowing we had just over two weeks of time, it seemed like a great place to explore for the first time without kids. Our decision to travel to Africa was cinched by the fact that I was able to book two round-trip business class flights from Washington, DC to Cape Town and then from Johannesburg back to Washington, DC for 320,000 United miles (which we transferred from our Chase Ultimate Awards account) and $150.72. Knowing that we would could make the trip to and from Africa in relative comfort for almost nothing out of pocket was a major factor in deciding on Africa.
    A second major factor in our decision to go to Africa was that it would be winter in Africa during our summer! Living and working in Washington, DC, I was adamant against going somewhere where it would be hot and humid. That meant most of Asia was out of the question, as was much of Central America. Although we briefly considered a walking tour of Switzerland, it did not come to fruition as my husband (who lived in Switzerland one summer in college) had no time to plan the trip and I quickly lost interest in the notion of taking a nomadic journey across Switzerland on foot. Traveling to South Africa in June ended up being perfect. Because it is the middle of winter, the climate was generally in the mid-60’s and thus, perfectly comfortable for the hiking and walking we wanted to do. Moreover, the biggest tourist season is during their summer – which spans December and Christmas. According to one of our guides, it would be a 90 minute wait to get down to the Cape of Good Hope during high tourist season. We were able to pop in and out without any trouble.

    Travel Logistics / Itinerary:

    The logistics of travelling to Africa were slightly overwhelming at first as neither of us had been and there was a lot to figure out – immunizations, transfers from one side of the country / continent to another, visas, etc. Luckily, I had a coworker who had just returned from a trip a few years prior who had a few recommendations. Initially, the thought was to spend a few days in Cape Town, a few days in the Winelands, and then travel to Kruger for a safari. However, as I researched, I realized that given the length of time we had reserved for the trip, we could easily squeeze in a second safari. This decision was reinforced by a travel agent, who based on our interest, was able to recommend a few different medium-priced safari lodges. Ultimately, we decided to stay at Umlani Bush Camp in the Timbavati, which billed itself as a “rustic” three-star safari lodge, followed by a stay at Muchenje Safari Lodge which was recommended by our travel agent as a medium-high end safari experience. The two stays at the safari lodges and the transfers to/from each lodge were booked by the travel agent, who was able to secure a cheaper rate than had we booked it directly ourselves, but I was able to book everything else myself, including our three intracontinent flights and hotels in Cape Town / the Winelands / Johannesburg / Victoria Falls.

    Our itinerary was as follows:

    Day 1 & 2 – 5:30pm arrival in Cape Town, followed by two nights at the Protea Hotel Cape Town Victoria Junction
    Day 3 – Babylonstoren
    Day 4 – Overnight stay at Protea Hotel Cape Town Mowbray, in preparation for next day flight to Hoedspruit, South Africa

    Days 5-7 – Morning three-hour flight from Cape Town to Hoedspruit
    • three days, two nights all-inclusive food/drinks/game drives at Umlani Bushcamp in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
    Day 8 – Transfer from Johannesburg Airport to Protea Hotel O.R. Tambo Airport, in preparation for next day flight to Victoria Falls

    Days 9&10 – Morning two-hour flight from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe on day 9 and then two night stay at Batonka Guest Lodge
    Day 11-14 – Transfer from Batonka Guest Lodge to Muchenje Safari Lodge
    • three days, two nights all-inclusive food/drinks/game drives
    Day 15 – Two-hour flight from Kasane, Botswana to Johannesburg Airport, overnight stay at Ten Bompas Hotel in Johannesburg

    Day 16 – Fly home

    The Highlights:

    Cape Town:

    My husband and I were both blown away by Cape Town. It is easily one of the most beautiful cities we have ever been to, easily rivaling San Francisco in terms of its beauty, climate (at least while we were there in the middle of their “winter!”), and devotion to good food and wine.

    Our first full day in Cape Town was spent hiking up Table Mountain via Skeleton’s Gorge. Our hike was led by Pietro of Table Mountain Walks and his style of guiding and pace was a perfect match for what we were looking for. Despite our late arrival at the hotel the prior night, he called to confirm our meeting time the next morning and also to suggest what shoes/clothing to wear given the weather. We met Pietro the next morning in the hotel lobby after a light breakfast and proceeded to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, the designated starting point for our five-hour adventure. Although my husband and I greatly enjoyed our hike Skeleton’s Gorge, it does involve climbing ladders and a very wet rock gorge. Since it had rained the few days preceding our planned hike, there was so much water actively streaming down the gorge that I simply thought it was a waterfall and asked Pietro when we got to the landing, “now what?”
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    one of the most interesting rock formations at the top of Table Mountain
    Although we had a blast climbing up the gorge and then walking across Table Mountain before taking the cable car back down, this is not something I would recommend with young children. If I were to return with young children (not yet teenagers), I would recommend riding the cable car to the top of the mountain and then walking the flat part of Table Mountain, Smuts Track. You can spend as much time as you want walking the flat trail and there’s plenty of views and rocks to see – just be cautious, in adverse weather conditions, the cable car will stop running and if that happens, you will be left with the option of sitting and waiting for it to reopen or a near vertical climb down.

    Our second full day in Cape Town was spent with Andrew at Vineyard Ventures. Vineyard Ventures offers only private tours and can custom tailor the tour based on your particular needs and interests. Our tour began with an early hotel pick up, and we immediately proceeded down to the Cape Peninsula, the Cape of Good Hope, and the penguins at Boulders, before dropping us off at our hotel. Along the way, Andrew drove us through Constantia, Cape Town’s “wine country” and provided us with tons of information regarding the local architecture, political climate, and other historical insights that we would not have been privy to without his company.
    panoramic view of the shore and large number of cormorants near the Cape of Good Hope.

    Unfortunately for us, my husband and I came down with a mild stomach bug the morning of our planned Cape Peninsula Tour. Although the stomach bug was short lived and well-managed with antibiotics and other medications we picked up from the pharmacy, it still affected our ability to really engage and fully appreciate the day. I will say, however, that having hired a private tour for the day (and a private wine tour the next day) really saved those two days we were down with the stomach virus in Cape Town / Winelands. If we did not have pre-arranged transport and someone else to do the driving, there is almost no chance we would have attempted to do it ourselves. Overall, I was thrilled with the quality of the guiding offered by every single company/vendor we engaged in Cape Town / Winelands and would not hesitate to recommend them going forward.

    Winelands:

    Andrew conveniently dropped us off after our Cape Peninsula tour at our accommodations for the evening – Babylonstoren, the highlight of my time in Cape Town. Babylonstoren is a Cape Dutch Farm that has an operating fruit and vegetable garden, bee hive, winery, restaurant, spa… Although our stay was too short to arrange for a spa treatment, our accommodations (a single room with bath in a free-standing dutch home) were exceptionally well appointed and dinner was also lovely. We took a quick tour of the gardens the next morning and loved seeing the different fruits and vegetables and, my personal favorite, the jumping chickens.

    outside view of our cottage that we called home at babylonstoren

    From Babylonstoren, Eileen from Tsiba Tsiba Wine Tours took us on a private tour of six different wineries. Although Eileen chose the wineries, she did so with prior information regarding our tastes and preferences and chose a wide variety of wineries – some that we would be able to find in the United States and others that we could only enjoy in South Africa.
    representative of the scenery in the Winelands

    Would I recommend Cape Town / Winelands for those traveling with children?

    It depends. If you’re planning on traveling with young pre-teen children, I suggest that your time would be better spent on safari than in Cape Town and the Winelands. Although there are definitely things to do with young children in both areas, the real attractions – to me – in Cape Town and the Winelands are the food, the hiking, and the wine. Of course, if you’re not someone who is called to four course meals* with wine pairings and/or full day wine tasting adventures, by all means, enjoy the small hikes in Cape Town and the surrounding mountains and even take your kids to Babylonstoren – they likely would love to spend a day in the gardens, learning about harvesting, growing, and jumping chickens. But, my husband and I both agreed that given the opportunity to travel to South Africa again alone, we would spend a long weekend or a week in Cape Town / Winelands, saving the kids for the big game safari adventures.

    Regardless of the age of your traveling dependents, however, South Africa was an ideal place to visit in mid-late June. School age children will be on summer break, the temperature will be moderate (for us East Coasters used to extreme fluctuations), and the crowds were practically nonexistent – we encountered no other climbers on our hike up Skeleton’s Gorge, and there were very few people on the cable car and/or touring the Peninsula. I wouldn’t hesitate to plan a summer vacation next time, but I would not recommend going in our summer (their winter) if you are not keen on crowds.

    * we had numerous, amazing fine dining experiences that blew our minds during our stay in South Africa. Not only was the food and wine inventive and delicious, but the portions were huge, and the checks were not! Our four-course dinner for two with wine pairings on our last night in South Africa came out to $140 total, tax and gratuity inclusive – cheaper than what we usually pay for a four-course meal with no wine pairings for one! If you’re interested in specific dining recommendations for South Africa, let me know. I’d be happy to share our experiences and send along recommendations.
    Interested in safariing with your kids? Read about our experience at Umlani Bushcamp and Muchenje Safari Lodge. You can also read about our experience in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe here.
  • Ohio Wine Country With Kids

    Ohio Wine Country With Kids

    Are wineries really a place to take kids?  We’ve found that with limited exceptions, a winery can provide fun for all ages, and we are lucky to have the Ohio’s Grand River Valley wine region about 45 minutes away.  We think it is a hidden gem of the area as we find many of our friends and neighbors do not know much about it or have never actually been and definitely recommend a trip to Ohio wine country with kids.

    I grew up in the Cleveland area but never visited the wineries in this region until I was in my 30s.  Our seven month son joined us on our first trip there.  Since then, Ohio wine country has become a favorite family day trip.  We usually go at least once a year to celebrate a special occasion. While it is just a short drive, our favorite wineries have amazing and relaxed settings that make us feel like we have made an excursion.  Sipping wine is just the icing on the cake of a great afternoon.

    Ohio’s Napa

    While the wine produced in Ohio may not be as famous as those made in Napa, Grand River Valley wineries are much more family-friendly than those in Napa, and our kids love winery trips.  Many Ohio wineries produce their own grape juice, and my kids absolutely love drinking red grape juice (a special treat) in wine glasses.  Also, most wineries in Ohio double as restaurants or permit guests to bring their own picnic.  Some wineries have enough green space to relax on a picnic blanket and fly a kite, and the nearby beach in the State Park is an added bonus.

    When we planned a trip to San Francisco and Yosemite a few years ago with our two and four year old boys, we tacked on two nights in Napa. While Napa is definitely not a typical family vacation location, my husband and I were not going to pass up the opportunity to go to Napa just because our kids were with us, and we figured that the wineries would be as much fun for them as Ohio wineries.  While we definitely all enjoyed ourselves, our experience visiting California wineries with kids was not what we expected after our regular trips to Ohio’s wine country.

    We thought our kids would enjoy drinking grape juice and eating good meals at wineries in Napa.  However, we learned that Napa wineries do not make grape juice because their grapes are too expensive to “waste” on juice.  Only one winery we visited offered my kids juice, and it was served in Capri Sun pouches rather than fancy glasses.  Because it is expensive for wineries in Napa to obtain food permits, they stick to serving wine and the occasional free snack.  While my boys enjoyed frolicking in vineyards, touring wineries and watching some grape stomping, we did not find any spot in Napa where kids could relax for an afternoon or fly a kite.

    Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake – An Ohio Wine Country Resort

    The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake is a family-friendly hotel complex on Lake Erie that can turn a trip to the Grand River Valley wineries into a weekend getaway.  I enjoyed a few nights there.  The Lodge has expanded in recent years to include indoor and outdoor pools as well as two-bedroom cottages completed in 2016.  The Lodge also offers family rooms with bunk beds and a number of fun activities, including bike rental, zip line tours and snow shoe and ski rental.

    The Lodge at Geneva on the Lake

    Logistics

    Other than designating a driver, there is virtually no preparation needed for planning a trip to the Grand River Valley WIne Region.  If you are planning to picnic at the South River Vineyard or adding on a stop at the beach, make sure to bring a blanket, snacks, juice, a ball and a kite.

    Wineries

    There are a number of wineries in the Grand River Valley Wine Region area. While we occasionally try a new one, we generally stick to our favorites, including:

    • Ferrante Winery and Ristorante: This is our favorite lunch spot in the area.
      • Food:  The food is particularly enjoyable, and the restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the beautiful vineyard.  We particularly enjoy the gnocchi brue, which I order with chicken instead of filet mignon and with lighter sauce.  The kids like the pepperoni pizza.
      • Wine and Juice:  We order the sweet and dry tasting trays to share.  Ferrante’s makes their own white and red grape juice.  If we are headed to South River Vineyard after lunch, we pick up a bottle for the kids on our way out.  Servers will ask you if you would like to add a bottle to your lunch tab, but it’s about half the price if you pick it up at the souvenir shop yourself.
      • Tours:  Ferrante’s offers free winery tours on weekend afternoons from Memorial Day through Labor Day with posted hours.  My boys really enjoy these tours.  We were with a large group of visiting family the last time we had lunch at Ferrante’s, and it was our nine year old who asked if we could take the tour.
      • Location:  Other than the large blue factory building next door that seems completely out of place in the vineyard scene, the setting is truly picturesque.  On weekends in the summer, there is usually live music outside.
      • Notes:  Note that the restaurant is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Ferrante’s offers a lunch menu Wednesday through Saturday, but the dinner menu is used for lunch on Sunday.

    • South River Vineyard is one of our family’s favorites wineries.
      • Food:  The only food sold is a cheese plate, but guests are permitted to bring small picnics.
      • Wine/Juice:  Wine is sold in flights and by the bottle, and the bartender will cork an unfinished bottle so that you can take it home with you.  They do not sell juice, but guests are permitted to bring non-alcoholic beverages.
      • Setting:  We call it the “church winery” because the tasting room is housed in a Victorian Methodist Church originally built in 1892 that was moved from Shalersville, Ohio and reconstructed here in 2000. Outside, there are beautiful terraces and a pavilion with Adirondack chairs and picnic tables.  On colder days, there is an outdoor fireplace.  There is a large grassy area next to the pavilion that is perfect for the kids to play ball or fly a kite.

     

    • Laurello Vineyards is a small, boutique winery that opened in 2002. While it is not set in a vineyard like many of the other wineries, there is a large outdoor patio with live music in the evenings on summer weekends. The flatbread pizzas baked in a wood oven are amazing.
    My friends, Sandy and Barb, at Laurello Vineyards
    • Harpersfield Vineyards is a farm winery housed in a charming French estate. Harpersfield serves soup, sandwiches, flatbreads, cheese plates and desserts. Outdoor seating includes a patio and pavilion. The indoor fireplace is a big draw.

    • Debonne Vineyards is the largest estate winery in Ohio with over 175 acres of vines. It is also the most commercial winery in the area.Weddings occur here most weekends in the summer, and we have seen a few ceremonies. Appetizers, sandwiches and pizza are available inside all year. During the summer months, the outdoor Grille at Debonne is open for outdoor dining.  Debonne was the first Ohio winery to open a micro-brewery and is open daily 12 pm to 6 pm with longer hours on some days and on a seasonal basis.

     

    Visiting wine country in Ohio is one of our family’s favorite summer activities.  Now, we need to check it out during the off season!

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