Paso Road Trip, Page 3
Solvang
We spent the next three days in Solvang and the surrounding wine country of northern Santa Barbara County.
This is our hotel, the Wine Valley Inn. Here, each room is different as are the five "cottages".
The architecture is interesting. They don't build 'em like this anymore.
These are photos of Cottage #5 where Lorri and I stayed. This is the upper level.
It's not very fancy but it's clean and comfortable, and the price is right.
The living room.
We added a few chairs and had our group here for cocktails.
The kitchen. Those are our wines above the sink - a few of our purchases from earlier in the week.
The kitchen table and powder room. There was also a full bath upstairs.
And a private hot tub out the side door!
The Solvang Founding Fathers have so far avoided contracting or spreading the COVID virus by wearing their masks! What a fine example they set!
Thursday, April 15
We took a long leisurely drive out Foxen Canyon Road to - you guessed it - Foxen! The countryside was beautiful. This time of year, everything is looking lush and green and it seems to be a banner year for California Poppies, the State flower.
We tried to follow all the rules. We wore masks and we stayed in our group but while in our group we were NOT 6ft. apart. I for one did not wash my hands for 20 seconds. When were we supposed to do that? Before tasting? After? I don't know. The last command, "Enjoy your tasting!" was easy to comply with.
I must admit, I should have taken more photos. That's it for Foxen.
From Foxen, we worked our way back to Los Olivos where we all bought sandwiches at Panini and had a nice lunch and tasting at Dragonette. I have no photos. but then we went to Samsara across the street.
And here are some Samsara photos
I was careful to include me in these photos. Can you see me?
A study in red and black
Tommy M. completing his purchase. Thursday evening, everyone brought cocktails, wine, and goodies to Cottage #5 and we had a nice picnic dinner!
Friday, April 16
The plan for Friday was to do a tasting at Alma Rosa which is next door to Industrial Eats where we were to buy food to take to Peake Winery for a tasting and lunch and then stop by The Hitching post on the way back for a final tasting
So that's what we did!
It was a little warmer on Friday. We didn't even need to turn on that heater!
Selfie with Lorri and Tom
Just across the parking lot from Alma Rosa was Dorwood Distillery
They had really good Limoncello so I bought some gin.
Poppies between the vines were pretty spectacular! This photo does not do them justice.
We had a very relaxing and comfortable tasting at Peake.
We could have stayed all afternoon!
We almost did!
But, alas! We had another appointment!
The Hitching Post now has a tasting room! Well actually, many tasting rooms and outdoor areas. We were inside. I had to get me in the photo.
A little rustic which is what Hitching Post is, right?
This is Frank, one of the owners.
The grand finale dinner was at Mad and Vin, a restaurant in the Landsby, the hotel next door. This is my halibut plate.
This is Lorri's chicken plate.
This is the end!
It was a great trip and a great feeling to get out and do something after more than a year of restricted activity. Nothing is quite back to normal yet, except perhaps the traffic going through LA, but we made the most of everything and had a great time!
Cheers!