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).  

Where to Stay: The Line, Washington, DC

In a city that has long lacked hip and trendy places to stay, there's a new kid on the block and its the Line Hotel. Recently opened in late December, you can still score a room at the incredibility discounted preview price. Nestled in the heart of Adams Morgan, a buzzing, diverse neighborhood with tons of great restaurants and bars, the location is a great option for visitors to the nation's capital that are not looking for a fancy place to stay on the National Mall or a chain hotel in Pentagon City. You may be tempted not to leave the hotel during your stay. With 3 restaurants, 2 bars and a coffee shop, and a distinct "see or be scene" vibe in the hotel lobby, its a spot you could easily post up for some impressive people watching all afternoon. We arrived at 2pm on a Sunday and it was packed. Laptops open and cocktails being enjoyed. 

The hotel was built in a former First Church of Christ, Scientist with a strong emphasis on preserving original details, like the organ that is now deconstructed and hangs from the lobby ceiling as a work of art and subtle light fixture. 

The rooms are thoughtfully designed with an eclectic mix of art hung on the walls, textiles throughout and most importantly, a comfortable bed. After checking we inquired about switching rooms to one that had a bathtub (I'm 7.5 months pregnant over here!) The staff was more than happy to accommodate, a bellhop came to our room to move our bags and the manager personally greeted us to escort us to the next room. This turned out to be a suite (room 406 for the record) with a stunning view of the entire city, the Washington Monument and Capitol building peaking out above the buildings. The helpful attitude to make this switch, with only a small increase in the nightly price, was service I've rarely encountered at similar hotels. Our new room provided a spacious area to enjoy the views as we watched the sun set and also take a relaxing bath. It was so comfortable that we debated ordering room service for dinner, but with one of my favorite restaurants, Mintwood Place, just 2 blocks away, I couldn't resist an opportunity to indulge in their Tagliatelle Bolognese. 

The Line call their hotels a place for community, culture and exploration, and I'd say they hit the mark. I lived in DC for years, and am so excited there is finally a place I'm excited to stay when I come back to visit. 

Where to Stay: Sublime Comporta

Often the road less traveled leads you to exactly where you need to be. And the road to Comporta, Portugal in November is certainly a less traveled path. Known as a popular beach escape for many Europeans, Comporta is increasingly a popular destination with new hotels opening up over the past few years.

Visiting in the off-season gave us a chance to see the sleepy beach town without tourists, or really many people at all. With most of the town was closed for the season, we enjoyed a relaxing few days at the new-ish Sublime Comporta hotel and leisurely explored the area without fighting any crowds or traffic. Within an easy hour drive from Lisbon, we were happy to escape to a nice hotel for the last few days of our trip. 

Located on 17 acres, the Sublime Comporta is built to blend in with the natural surroundings. We stayed in a Cabana Suite that included a cozy king bed, and a full kitchen, fireplace and living area in a separate room, plus a deck and private pool give you the option to never leave your cabana! 

A spa, pool, fire pit, on-site organic garden, yoga pavilion and tennis courts offer plenty of activities to keep you busy during your stay. We, however, found it hard to leave the cozy couch in front of the fire (and the staff was happy to frequently re-stock our wood supply). It was so pleasant to hunker down and enjoy our minimalist but comfortable cabana. 

The on-site restaurant Sem Porta uses lots of local ingredients and offers an upscale dining experience. While the restaurant was good, it's very pricey, and we really enjoyed eating a more causal meal in the lobby bar one night.  

The hotel is not right on the beach, but it can be reached in a quick 10 minute drive. We ventured out several times for meals during the day, and while a lot was shut down for the season, we found a few noteworthy spots. Have I mentioned the amazingly delicious seafood that we encountered at most meals on this trip? Enjoy!  

• Comporta Cafe - One of our best meals of the trip. We ate on the deck right off the beach, filled up on clams and seafood spaghetti and enjoyed the ocean breeze.
• Restaurante Dona Bia - A popular restaurant but was unfortunately closed for the season.
• Eucalyptus - We had a casual meal here - a good place for a simple sandwich and coffee.