Where to Stay: The St. Regis Punta Mita, Nayarit, Mexico

Margaritas, fresh guacamole and endless sunshine… I love Mexico, and it’s such an easy trip from the West Coast. If you’re craving a quick escape to Mexico, book a trip to the St. Regis Punta Mita now. There’s not much I love more than stepping off the plane in another country and it has been a few years since my last trip to Mexico. The trip was super easy — about a 3 hour flight from San Francisco, then a 45 minute drive to the property once you land in Puerto Vallarta — plus this incredible hotel made our first international trip with the babe a breeze!

Set on a private beach on Punta Mita, the St. Regis is totally secluded. When you need a break from the beach, the hotel has three pools (one is for adults only) spread across the property. This set up helps any part of the hotel from feeling crowded. We were there the week before Christmas, and it never felt too busy at all.

Once you arrive everything is taken care of for you. Each room has dedicated service that is on call 24 hours a day to and available for the duration of your stay. From the early morning complimentary coffee service in our room (with mini chocolate muffins for me and bananas for the babe) to dinner reservations and arranging transportation, no detail was overlooked. This is the type of service I think is usually overkill, but the St. Regis executes well and our butlers were incredibly helpful without being obnoxious about it. The service here is truly one of the things that sets this hotel apart - starting with the adorable stuffed giraffe waiting for our son in his crib on arrival.

The food is delicious - think fresh seafood and traditional Mexican dishes like tacos and quesadillas. One of the highlights was the daily happy hour in the main lobby where special mezcal margaritas and champagne are served overlooking this view.

The St. Regis is an indulgent but fabulous choice for a relaxing trip. And really an incredible spot if you have kids. This was probably the most relaxing vacation we could have with a young babe. And a reminder that the St. Regis is a Starwood property so if you have points, this would be a good time to redeem them. As we left all of the staff told us they’d see us next year - I hope they are right!

— IF YOU GO —

Details… 120 rooms set on a 22-acre beach front property with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. Very kid friendly - hotel staff were so happy to accommodate our little one and there were lots of other kids on the property.

Pack… The vibe was more casual here than I expected. Bring a good book (I was so excited to finally dig into this), and essentials for the beach plus a big beach bag to throw everything in.

Plan ahead… The hotel can arrange airport pick up and drop off which was a nice way to arrive. Email the concierge a week ahead of your trip to arrange.

Day trip… While it’s definitely tempting to never leave the property, we ventured to Sayulita one day and had a yummy lunch overlooking the beach at Don Pedros , then spent some time shopping. There are colorful weavings, baskets, pompoms and skulls aplenty (like the beautiful selection at Evoke the Spirit). I was excited to explore Sayulita, and while our time was rushed, it felt crowded and touristy which I was honestly a bit disappointed about.

Where to Stay: Nick's Cove, Tomales Bay

One of my favorite escapes from San Francisco is heading north to Point Reyes and Tomales Bay. It's a beautiful spot that feels far away from everything but in reality is only about an hour and a half drive from the city. I've shared some favorite spots in the area before in my Tomales Bay Guide. You can do it as a day trip, but it’s worthwhile to invest the time to stay a few nights. It’s a beautiful slice of part of the world it is. 

Any time we drive up to the Tomales area, we plan our drive to stop at the Marshall General Store for lunch. The oysters are fresh and the sandwiches are filling and delicious.

After lunch, keep driving to reach Nick's Cove, a charming and unassuming inn off the side of Highway 1.  Twelve cottages line the coast and the hillside across the road to make up this spot. Low key but completely luxurious, with wood burning stoves, claw-footed tubs and heated tile floors in the bathroom in most of the cabins. I've stayed here twice, once in a waterfront and and once in a waterview cottage. If you can justify the splurge, the waterfront bungalows are perfection. Waking up to the water is one of life's great pleasures, and it's equally as pleasing to watch the sun set over Tomales Bay from your own private over-water porch. 

Be sure to indulge in your complimentary oysters upon check-in, and enjoy the casual atmosphere at the roadside restaurant for a hearty dinner after working up your appetite on a hike in Pt Reyes National Seashore earlier in the day.

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If You Go

Pack… No matter the season, it gets chilly in the evenings and mornings on the water. You'll want an extra layer for hiking, cozy sweats for lounging by the fire.

Good For… Romantic getaway

Plan Ahead… To maximize your relaxation, you’ll want to book a waterfront room. Al’s is my favorite! If you are just going to eat at the restaurant (which I recommend so you don’t have to drive) you can make dinner reservations when you arrive.

Value… There’s a fairly big range in price depending on which cottage you book, and when you go (also note there’s a 2 night minimum on the weekends). The rooms are cozy, comfortable and outfitted with details like heated floors in the bathroom and in some rooms soaking bathtubs and fireplaces. The value for the price is worth it if you are looking for an off the grid place to recharge.

Where to Stay: Carneros Resort & Spa, Sonoma

Wine country is obviously an essential Northern California destination, and living in San Francisco means we are usually lucky to make a day trip to enjoy some wine every so often. But there are some amazing hotels up in Napa and Sonoma counties, and I have a long wish list of places I'd love to stay. The Carneros Resort and Spa has been on the top of that list since we moved out here, and we finally made it happen to celebrate my first Mothers Day! 

We booked a Premier Garden Cottage, arrived on Friday after work and basically never left our cozy room again. With a king sized bed, outdoor deck, lounge chairs, large soaking bath tub, an outdoor shower and a fireplace, we had everything we needed and the ingredients for a perfect weekend. 

We traveled with our young son, so the stunning pool that I drooled over on instagram was off-limits to us (but yes I did sneak in for a photo). However, for us hanging out in our cottage was all we needed for a perfect weekend. We ordered room service from their fabulous restaurant Boon Fly Cafe for all of our meals -- didn't have to wait for a table or worry about our baby crying in the restaurant, plus we got to eat every meal alfresco on our deck (except for breakfast in bed!) Win-win-win in my book. And yes, the Boon Fly Donuts are worth it. Definitely dip them in the chocolate sauce. 

The property is large and very family friendly. It would be a great destination for any trip (romantic getaway, a girls trip, etc), but I really loved it for traveling with a baby. There is a family friendly pool that we spent a few hours relaxing at, and there were lots of other young couples with babies cruising around. 

This can obviously be a great home base for wine tasting in the region -- it is very centrally located on Sonoma County's Highway 12, and is a short drive to my favorite vineyard Scribe Winery. 

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If You Go

Pack... bathing suits, easy sandals, wine tasting-chic dress, and a wide brimmed hat to keep the sun out. 

Good for... traveling with small babies, wine country weekend, girls trip

Plan ahead... wine tasting reservations usually need to be made in advance. The hotel staff can assist with that and any reservations for meals. The staff was very friendly, helpful & accommodating throughout our stay. 

Price... It's expensive, and the price has deterred me from staying a few times before. But if you are in need of a relaxing getaway in a beautiful setting, it's worth saving your pennies for a splurge (we put some old AmEx points to good use).  

A Birthday Surprise

I'm lucky I married a guy who loves exploring and experiencing new places as much as I do. And he is also one heck of a good planner himself. Bonus points for his undying love of a good surprise. 

To mark my recent milestone birthday, my lovely husband secretly packed an overnight bag (bathing suit, running shoes - the essentials) and loaded it into the car without my knowledge. As we set out to do some Saturday errands we were in fact (and still unbeknownst to me) on our way over the Golden Gate Bridge for a night away!

The Cavallo Point Lodge has been on my radar for awhile. My parents visited a few years back and had a wonderful time. It is also just a quick 10 minute drive from our apartment and we've driven past the exit often. But when we actually turned off the highway I still wasn't sure what was up.

A room with a view. 

However, from the minute we arrived and the valet whisked away our car, I was blown away.

The service was top notch throughout our entire stay. We had one of the eco-friendly, contemporary suites with views of the Golden Gate Bridge just steps from the main restaurant and bar, but we felt completely removed and secluded. Our room, with a large gas fireplace separating the bed and the sitting area, was a perfect place to relax with some wine and watch the fog roll in and out of the city. We didn't get a peek into the historic lodging, though I can report they are completely charming from the outside. I would definitely recommend a stay in the contemporary lodging - especially as most of them have the unbeatable Golden Gate Bridge views!

After arriving and settling into our room, we explored the property a bit, stopping by the pool and the spa to soak in some sunshine (all with a glass of wine in hand, naturally). We didn't take advantage of any spa services but the aptly named Healing Arts Center & Spa definitely has me itching to plan a return visit. 

Before dinner we stopped in to the Farley Bar. This is one of those cozy wooden bars that you could spend hours in cuddled up by the fireplace. We had a reservation at the hotel's Murray Circle restaurant so we didn't stay long. But there are no complaints here. Dinner was a highlight - one of those meals that exceeded our expectations, all the way through to dessert. We indulged in local oysters, kale salad, duck ... and enjoyed it all. 

A lazy breakfast on the patio the next morning was a perfect way to wrap up our quick getaway. Cavallo Point Lodge is one of those fabulous hotels where you can relax and be pampered but also feel close to nature and enjoy breathtaking views no matter where you are on the property.

For us, it was such a treat to get away without actually having to travel. I loved every minute of my birthday surprise. Can't wait to go back!