Yesterday Rick and I decided, quite impulsively, to set aside Saturday's usual mundane chores and go on a road trip. Just a nice drive, end up somewhere pretty, have lunch and then head back home.
I know I apologize for the quality of my picture a lot but most of these were taken from a moving car, through a bug splattered windshield (anyone that travels across the Yolo causeway with any regularity knows what that is about…).
We decided to drive to St. Helena in the Napa Valley, taking the backroads. There used to be a program on television called Bay Area Back Roads that would feature out of the way places to visit. We wanted to do our own version of that.
St. Helena (the entire Napa area for that matter) is just so pretty. Grand wineries, old Victorian style houses, acres and acres and acres of vines. St. Helena itself is a smaller town with a typical Main Street of restaurants, shops and lots of visitors. We just parked at one end and walked down one side and back up the other.
We picked a smaller coffee shop type restaurant for lunch and then afterwards wandered over to Woodhouse Chocolates to buy a treat for a friend of ours. It is the prettiest chocolate shop I have ever been in. Beautiful cream wood work, chandeliers, hanging tapestries. I wish I had asked to take pictures inside but I was all agog at the chocolate selections. Even the distinctive pale blue, round boxes are the prettiest candy boxes I've ever seen.
After lunch we hopped back into our car and drove around town. I think we like looking at old houses more than anything else. If I had an extra couple of million dollars I could see buying a little place here.
If you have 3.8+ million dollars this house can be yours too. There are other, more affordable options but they might not come with their own barrel room.
This may have been a morbid way to end the outing but I made Rick stop at the local cemetary so I could walk around and take pictures. Even in the afterlife you can live in a perfectly charming place in St. Helena.
What a beautiful drive. I am definitely saving my money so I can get the 3.8 mil house. Can you imagine living in something like that? I love the chocolate shop and wished you could have taken pictures or sent us samples!!
Such gorgeous scenery! You are very lucky! xxx
Thanks for the road trip, my first! I’m not kidding!! I’ve never gotten in the car without a determined destination and always take the quickest route. Is this a learned behavior or hereditary?
That chocolate shop looks and sounds amazing. How great of you to pick something up for a friend, but what did Andrea get?
Your pictures make me want to see your neck of the woods!
Love Woodhouse Chocolates. We even save the boxes!
What a beautiful road trip. Isn’t California great, expecially the weather and wonderful places to visit. The little blue boxes from the chocolate shop made me think of the wonderful little Tiffany boxes! I also, think cemeteries are enjoyable to visit. Ususally, there is a lot of history within them. Thanks for sharing your wonderful Saturday with us.
I love the Napa Valley! Your road trip looked like a lot of fun. I will have to try out Woodhouse Chocolates. Sounds yummy.
I do love a good cemetary.
I’ve never wanted to come to California…until now! Oh, and I love cemeteries too! Beautiful photographs!
I love Woodhouse Chocolates! The store is gorgeous and rivals ones in France. They have a web site where you can order their treats.
I love St. Helena, and the lighting in the Napa Valley is amazing.
I just realized you had a link to Woodhouse! duh 🙂
Now my above comment looks silly, since my other comment didn’t make it on. I was blathering on about how Woodhouse had a web site. Anyway, I love the lighting in St. Helena and the whole of Napa Valley.
Great trip you guys! The house you featured made me hungry for more of St. Helen. And the vineyards made me more interested about the place! It must be wonderful growing up in a place where memories are preserved.