From the greeting you receive when you walk through the door to the pillow you lay your head on at night, our team of expert trip designers take special pride in selecting the best hotels for your vacation. We’ve spent years researching the ins and outs of every place worth visiting, but once in a while even we are surprised by exceptional quality of accommodations found in far-flung corners of the Earth.
Our Hotel Of The Year award is designed to highlight those properties that set the bar a little higher. This year’s winners, La Plaça de Madremanya and h2 Hotel, redefine charm and exceed every expectation of hospitality. Savor the rich flavors, lavish in picturesque views, and cherish every minute of well-earned relaxation because it doesn’t get much better than this.
Situated halfway between the hinterland of Girona and the neighboring Empordà district is a small paradise of gentle hills, with the village of Madremanya at its heart. Positioned on a hilltop and crafted exclusively from honey-colored stone, the village has an Italian look to it. It is here, with meandering streets and Spanish sunshine, that time truly stands still.
The jewel at the heart of it all is the Hotel La Plaça de Madremanya. Somewhere off the grid of any map, between decadent meals and exemplary service, is a place that cannot be forgotten. Surrounded by a sweet-smelling garden and looking out over the green Gavarres Mountains, the setting is nothing if not extraordinary. So celebrate you must, among friends old and new, as the sun sets on another day in this sweet Spanish paradise.
From an undulating roof alive with succulents to ripples on the creek by its feet, h2hotel is rooted in nature and fluid by design. Its light-flooded space makes you want to stay. Espresso with your check in? Cocktail with your keys? Just step up to the multitasking Receptobar or join the crowd at Spoonbar for modern Mediterranean nibbles and an artisanal cocktail.
Striped bamboo floors, funky Peace Industry rugs and local art draw you in. Chef Louis Maldonado’s earthy favorites and unexpected flavors leave you wanting more. Mostly, though, it’s the vibrant energy of people enjoying what’s become the gathering hub for Healdsburg. It is a place where happiness comes easily and adventure is just waiting to be had.
In Santa Barbara winemaking circles, Doug Margerum is indeed a celebrity. He’s been credited with singlehandedly launching the local wine scene, and his restaurant, Wine Cask, is the place for collectors to find coveted single-vineyard Santa Barbara wines. A legend in his own right, Doug sat down to with us to share his passion for red wine and the American Riviera.
Tell us your story. What spurred your passion for food and wine?
I began my wine and food exploration at a young age, tasting wine in France and eating in France and Italy with my parents at 13 years of age. I worked in restaurants as a cook and server throughout my high school and college years. After graduating from University of California – Santa Barbara with a degree in business economics, my family purchased Wine Cask (an existing wine store, wine making & beer making supply store) in 1981. What began as a retail wine store expanded to include an adjacent bistro. The restaurant expanded again to the Gold Room in Santa Barbara’s legendary El Paseo building in 1981, and the adjacent Intermezzo cafe opened in 1996. The two restaurants and the wine store have become a destination of choice in Santa Barbara among food and wine cognoscenti locally and throughout the world.
Tell us about your handcrafted and personalized wine production. Margerum Wine Company is committed to creating handcrafted wines using only the highest quality grapes so that we can make wines that are indicative of the place where they are grown. We strive to make wines naturally, to make wines that have individual characteristics, and to make wines with personality. The scale of production is kept at a level where we can touch and know the wine as it is raised to the bottle – the antithesis of mass production. The standards of quality are measured by our criteria, not by external sources. We make wines we personally enjoy – some to drink young, all for the table, and others for long aging in cool cellars for our children to enjoy.
Can you give our readers any wine tasting tips? 1. Taste as many different wines as possible: taste the unknown to experience new flavors, discover new styles, new varietals from new lands and continue to learn more about wine. 2. Wine makes food taste better: It is healthy, improves your digestion, and makes conversation easier and sometimes more profound. 3. Be patient and age wines: Wines properly stored–at a constant 55 degrees, free of vibration, and free of light–improve with age. 4. Serve wine in proper stemware and at the proper temperature: Reds at 60 to 65 degrees and whites at 40 to 45 degrees. 5. True wine critics are the practiced: They are those who taste wine with food, meet winemakers, travel, study, learn and know wine. They are the sommeliers and wine merchants of the world. Trust these people. They know and love wine and are our best source of knowledge.
What is your favorite vintage or vineyard and what makes it unique?
I love red Rhône varietals. The red wines made from Rhône varietals produce wines that are diverse and have an array of styles. They share the common characteristics of fresh red and black cherries, strawberry, kirsch, black pepper, black raspberry, spice, earth and herbs. The textures can be lush, rich and mouthwatering when young and then become silky and complex with age. While these wines are delicious young, they have the ability to age and develop for 5 to 15 years. My favorite wine is the Margerum M5. This is a Chateauneuf-du-Pape style blend using five grape varieties from the highest quality vineyards in Santa Barbara County. The “M” is for Margerum and “5” for the five grapes we use: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Counoise, and Cinsault. M5 is all about Grenache and, as it is every year, the trick is to balance the crimson, aromatic, lean, bright, tight Grenache, Counoise, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault based components with the bombastic, dark, black, plum, tannic, bold, intense, full-bodied Syrah we make. M5 is wine created from a thought–a blend that is an amalgamation of memories, both distant and recent, of wines we’ve tasted and loved the past thirty-three years.
What makes Santa Barbara a great wine-producing region?
The unique, transverse nature of the valleys of Santa Barbara Wine Country provides a patchwork quilt of microclimates and terrains, resulting in one of the most diverse grape growing regions in the country. The valleys in the Pacific coastline actually run east-west rather than north-south, and both the coastal Santa Ynez Mountain range and the more interior San Rafael range are transverse too. Because of this geologic oddity, the ocean breezes sweep eastward, channeled by the hills and mountains that ring the region. Heading east into the foothills, the temperatures are warm during the day and very cool during the night, whereas the vineyards that lie westward toward the ocean enjoy a mild and moderate climate. Coupled with soils that run the gamut from ancient beach and diatomaceous earth to chirt and limestone, there is a near-perfect place for a wide variety of wine grape varietals.
There are currently five federally-sanctioned American Viticulture Areas (AVAs) within Santa Barbara County: Ballard Canyon, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Ynez Valley. As grape growers continue to advance their understanding of the best places to plant particular wine grape varietals, the Los Alamos region, the Los Olivos District, and the Santa Maria Bench are also showing distinct characteristics that may one day lead to AVA status. The Los Alamos Valley area between Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley also hosts several vineyards, although the area is not officially recognized.
What are the five must-dos while traveling in Santa Barbara? 1. Wine Tasting:Urban Wine Trail, Wine Collection of El Paseo, and the Presidio Neighborhood. 2. Sterns Wharf: I love walking out on Sterns Wharf to get a fish taco, watch the boats, and get a unique perspective on Santa Barbara. 3. The Zoo: I love our zoo! 4. Eating: My favorite places are Wine Cask (of course) and Intermezzo for casual dining and great wines by the glass. Bouchon is incredible for fine dining. Arigato for sushi. Lucky’s for great steak and awesome atmosphere. El Encanto for cocktails with a view. And finally, Pane e Vino for Italian. 5. Museums: Our Natural History Museum is definitely worth a visit.
At any given time or place around the world, there is a group of travelers finishing their day’s ride. They have a euphoria, a sense of tired accomplishment.
The ride included exploring a cobbled-street village in Provence, or experiencing an authentic cappuccino in a Tuscan cafe, or tasting a wine high up over the Napa Valley. The elation carries into conversations with new-found friends, often around a Trek Travel trailer, about the day’s adventure.
This is happy hour.
It can linger for hours into the setting sun with guides, travelers, and cyclists enjoying the company of one another, reveling in the stories at hand.
Just north of San Francisco in the heart of Sonoma County lies the delightful city of Healdsburg. Surrounded by three major wine-producing regions, Russian River, Dry Creek, and Alexander Valley, this is truly wine country. This charming city is a treasure for food-lovers and offers stunning views as you bike along the rolling hills of grape vines.
Our newly redesigned California Wine Country 4-Day Weekend trip takes you through these captivating landscapes and lets you unwind in the charming epicenter of Healdsburg. Here you can sip on very good wine at countless wineries and tasting rooms and feast on equally good food at one of the award-winning restaurants. In a city where old-town culture combines with new, award-winning features, Healdsburg will in some way or another win your heart. When you’ve got the time to take in the city on your own, here’s where I would go to get the most out of my visit.
Where To Go to Wander: Downtown Healdsburg
Just steps away from Hotel Healdsburg, take a stroll through the downtown center surrounding the town plaza. Each block is lined with charming shops, tasting rooms, galleries and outstanding restaurants. In true Wisconsinite-fashion, I search out specialty cheese shops to indulge in new bites of local flavors. Stop by the Cheese Shop of Healdsburg for local artisan cheeses and accoutrements and take your snacks and a blanket to the plaza for a relaxing afternoon picnic. Stop for a pick-me-up with the perfect cup of coffee at Flying Goat Coffee, or for a lovely cup of tea, chai, or hot chocolate. If you have Saturday morning available, be sure to visit the Farmers’ Market one block west of the Plaza to enjoy the the local food community.
Where To Go for Baked Goodss: Downtown Bakery & Creamery
Stopping in to this family run bakery is a must while visiting Healdsburg. Owner Kathleen opened this bakery in 1987 with her friends, all former colleagues at the award-winning and renowned Chez Panisse. Today Kathleen and her children run the bakery, serving up the best baked goods in the area. Using the best local and organic ingredients they can find, the quality of their creations is impeccable. Satisfy your post-biking sweet tooth with one (or two) of the famed sticky buns, or peel apart one of their fresh, buttery croissants. Don’t miss out on trying the cinnamon and sugar-dusted donut muffin that is raved about by locals and visitors.
Where To Go to Dine: Bravas Bar de Tapas
Healdsburg is considered the gourmet center of Sonoma County, and there is no shortage for where you can grab a really great bite to eat just a walk away from your hotel. Enjoy Bravas Bar de Tapas, awarded with “One of the top 20 tapas restaurants in the US” by Travel + Leisure and a “Top 100 Bay Area Restaurant” by the San Francisco Chronicle for the past three years. This tapas bar serves up traditional Spanish and modern tapas-style dining. Owners Mark and Terri Stark are James Beard nominees and own a few restaurants in Sonoma County, this one being their newest, and well-recognized already. They have created a relaxing and fun space to share plates and sip on a cocktail from their impressive drink menu. Sit out on the patio under romantic strings of lights and share the paella with a group of friends or try a selection of smaller plates. This restaurant is a top-choice for locals and visitors, so be aware of busy weekend nights. I’d recommend calling ahead to reserve a table, 707-433-7700. Read more culinary favorites by our Trip Design Manager Meagan Coates from her trip to California Wine Country, including Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen and h2’s Spoon Bar.
Where to go for a snack and shopping: SHED
Winner of a 2014 James Beard Award for restaurant design, SHED is a community gathering space designed to bring us closer to the way we grow, prepare, and share our food. Part market, part café, part farm, this culmination is a delightful stop for fresh flavors and local shopping. Earlier this year we had the honor of interviewing owner Cindy Daniel to learn more about her creation of SHED. The offerings start with a large menu selection including beverages made at their fermentation or coffee bar and a café serving up combinations of fresh, local ingredients. While you’re there pick up artisan-made goods in their packed “pantry” that you won’t be able to resist perusing. Try a refreshing kombucha or shrub at their fermentation bar or a sandwich or salad from the café, grab a seat on the terrace and enjoy.
About Guest Choice:
You will often hear us say, “It’s your day, you decide,” because our smaller group size allows the flexibility for you to decide how your day unfolds. In addition to multiple daily ride options and shuttle flexibility, this also means that we offer ‘guest choice’ nights designed for you to indulge at a local restaurant of your choosing, or explore the local sites. Whether you want to order take-out while relaxing by the hotel pool or get dressed up for a fancy dinner in town, guest choice nights let you craft your own perfect evening.
Your eyes are closed, sitting in a highback Adirondack chair with a glass of wine in hand, overlooking a great valley below.
Two dogs are playing fetch, roosters crow occasionally, hens cluck, horses neigh, and faint mumbles of conversation are heard between the passing summer breeze. You are on vacation in the wine country of California. You just experienced a challenging, yet rewarding climb called Ink Grade. Your guides told you that morning, “Oh, it’s not that bad…I have faith you can make it!” Maybe it was the toughest 4-mile uphill stretch you’ve ever done. Maybe it wasn’t. What really matters is where you are now, and that indescribable feeling washing over you.
Winner of a 2014 James Beard Award for restaurant design, SHED is a market, café, and community gathering space in Healdsburg, California designed to bring us closer to the way we grow, prepare, and share our food. We caught up with owner Cindy Daniels to learn more about the home she has created and join in her mission to nurture the connection between good farming, good cooking, and good eating.
Tell us your story. What inspired you to start SHED?
Over the years we’ve been fortunate to be part of a growing community of sustainable farmers, wine producers, and environmentalists in Northern California, and wanted to create a place that embodied the best the region has to offer. We found inspiration in the words of Wendell Berry: “An agrarian mind begins with the love of the fields and ramifies in good farming, good cooking, and good eating.” These words became our mantra. We called ourselves SHED, because we would be tied to our foodshed, with most of our food flowing from local farms and ranches. We would be active conservators of our watershed, and stewards of the land. Our market/café/gathering place would be, in effect, an abundant toolshed offering enduring, quality tools for the kitchen, garden and farm. And symbolically, our shed would be an enclosure that shelters ideas, sustenance and community.
What about Healdsburg, California made you decide to locate there?
In 1994 we discovered a 15-acre hay field and moved from San Francisco to Healdsburg with our two small children to realize our dream of having a farm. Located in Dry Creek Valley, a fertile watershed with the climate and geography that suggested the opportunity for a diversified farm, HomeFarm is now a rich patchwork of intermixed fields and orchards where we grow an array of vegetables, herbs, flowers, olives, grapes, chickens, bees, fruits and nuts.
You describe SHED as a modern Grange. To those who are not familiar, can you discuss what this means?
To those unfamiliar with the Grange movement, there’s a rich history that goes back to the late 1800’s when farms formed collectives to create healthier, more resilient communities and built grange halls to provide a place to share ideas and socialize. SHED engages the Grange’s history as both a rural meeting place and farmers’ exchange but is firmly rooted in contemporary Healdsburg. We are a gathering place that celebrates our region’s farmers and makers while tapping into a global community of chefs, producers, and visitors. Our dinners and programs, crafted to revive the Grange traditions of fellowship, conviviality, and exchange, feed a cultural appetite for ideas and interests ranging beyond the realm of food and farming, including art, culture, civic engagement, and community.
What does ‘farm-to-table’ means to you and why is it important to SHED?
Our vision was to create a place where the beauty and aliveness of the complete food cycle—the growing, preparing, and eating —would become visible, revealing and reinforcing the path from farm to table, and back to farm. Our café brings together all of the elements we believe in: responsible farming, ingredient-driven cooking, and flavorful food. That’s what farm-to-table means to us at SHED. Located in the heart of our space, the café features an open kitchen, wood-burning oven, and house-made products. Our menus change daily, inspired by what’s in season, and reflect our commitment to local farmers and producers.
Can you talk a little bit about your intentions behind SHED’s unique design?
Our desire to celebrate local farms, food, and community shaped the building’s architecture and informed the construction. The utilitarian pre-engineered metal building is a familiar type of barn found throughout California’s agricultural landscape. Inspired by open-air markets, the space is very light and airy, with 8 large garage-style doors that open to the outdoor decks and to the street, inviting people in and letting the activity spill out. We worked with environmentally minded manufacturers and local artisans to create a resource-efficient building that uses recycled metal siding, shredded denim for insulation, reclaimed wood for most of the furnishings, and solar power for almost half our energy. We even have a rain garden along the side of our building to filter all of the water falling on the roof and site before it flows into the adjoining creek.
What can you tell us about the community at SHED?
Our growing community includes farmers, ranchers, fishermen, artisan producers, wine/cider/beer makers, backyard gardeners, chefs, home cooks, food crafters, musicians, dancers, thought leaders, environmentalist activists, civic leaders, authors, children of all ages, and most importantly, teachers and enthusiastic learners. Fundamental to our mission of promoting good farming, good cooking and good eating is the educational program at SHED. We have a diverse array of classes and workshops with wonderful instructors teaching skills such as butchery, composting, pruning, beekeeping, basketmaking, beer and cidermaking, cheesemaking, and many others. In addition, we schedule all kinds of demos, book signings, wine tastings, etc to activate our cafe, bar, and market areas downstairs. We also like to stage fun social events such as pie contests, annual cider pressings, pumpkin carving contests and other seasonal and celebratory events.
Upstairs, in what we call our Modern Grange, a large flexible meeting space supported by a commercial kitchen, we’ve had lectures, panel discussions, exhibits, and film screenings as well as seed exchanges, farmer meet-ups, producer dinners, and live music. Pulling together society’s threads to help create a community-wide tapestry of support, we’ve also hosted many local groups doing social good: our farmers market, our farmers guild, our riverkeeper, our public schools, and our land trust among many. As a community resource SHED also welcomes private conferences, meetings, and celebrations.
These threads are just a few of the ways we’ve worked to become a community resource, a cultural hub, and a vibrant place for people to gather, collaborate, and grow.
Your fermentation bar is truly one-of-a-kind. Can you tell our readers a little bit about it and the beverages you create?
Thank you for appreciating what we’ve created at our fermentation bar! We built the Ferm Bar (and have nurtured it) as a way to share our love of fermented beverages — such as our house-made kombucha and kefir water, shrubs (vinegar-based fruit drinks) and shims (low-alcohol cocktails). We also offer wine, beer, hard cider, and honey mead, all fermented drinks sourced from local producers. Gillian Helquist, our Fermentation Crafter, says “Fermentation is an endless discovery; an ancient way to preserve the season’s offerings and feed people.”
To guests who are going to visit SHED, what type of experience should they expect?
A visit to SHED should feel like a fun and friendly tour of what’s happening in food and farming in our region — stop first at the Story Table — where we like to weave together seasonal themes and topics. Wander and discover —that’s what makes SHED a fun experience. Stop at the ferm bar for a shrub and a nibble, or take a seat at our community table and say hello to someone new sitting next to you. We hope you’ll consider us a vibrant place to eat, connect, share, learn, and grow.
What is the vision behind JoLe and how is it being received?
Our vision from the very beginning has been to provide a top-notch fine dining experience, in a more casual, fun atmosphere. We want people to enjoy good food and the people they are with.
Where does the name JoLe come from?
Out two sons: Joe (11) and Jacob Levi (8).
What does the term ‘farm-to-table’ mean to you?
Fresh, seasonal and always-changing. We print our menus in house, which means we can change them daily depending on what comes in that day. You will probably never see the same menu twice at JoLe.
Tell us about your background. What inspired you to open a restaurant?
Both Matt and myself worked in many venues before deciding to open one of our own. After four wonderful years at our first restaurant Matyson in Philadelphia, we were eager for our next challenge. Northern California was calling, so we sold the restaurant, packed up the kids, and headed west. We happily landed in the quaint wine and spa town of Calistoga, enjoying the bounty of ingredients that the area has to offer.
What is the most rewarding part about your job?
Locals that come in numerous times per week and new customers that make a point to tell us how special their experience has been.
What excites you most about Calistoga, California?
We settled in Calistoga because the restaurant space was the right situation for us, and we loved being in a small town with foot traffic. We also liked being associated with the Mount View Hotel. This part of the world holds a special place in our hearts, as we were married here in 2001.
What are the five must-do’s while traveling in the Napa Valley?
1. Drive the Silverado Trail from top to bottom
2. Schedule a tasting at Jericho Canyon Vineyards
3. Sit at the bar of a great restaurant and meet a local winemaker
4. Pick up something you didn’t think your needed at Blackbird in Calistoga
5. Meet Jeff and Sally Manfredi at Calistoga Pottery, where they have been making beautiful pottery for over 30 years.
What should our guests most look forward to at JoLe?
For a quick, casual fix they should check out our awesome bar menu. For a more in depth dining experience, order a tasting menu of four, five or six courses. James, our manager and wine director, will pair wines with every course. It’s a great way to taste a lot of different dishes and wines without breaking the bank.
Do you have an especially memorable story from your many years in the restaurant industry?
In January 2001, at our first restaurant in Philadelphia, my water broke while I was standing at the host station. I was 30 weeks pregnant with our first child, and thought I just wet my pants because I was laughing so hard. Little did I know, our son Joe was born the next day.
Famous Coconut Cream Pie
Makes 1 nine-inch pie
Macadamia Crust: Preheat oven to 325 degrees
3 1/4 ounces macadamia nuts, lightly toasted and cooled
6 3/4 ounces all purpose flour
2 ounces sugar
4 ounces unsalted butter
1 egg yolk
3/4 tsp. heavy cream
Process the nuts in a food processor with a little of the sugar until almost a powder.
Mix flour, nuts, sugar, and butter with paddle in KitchenAid until crumbly.
Add yolks and cream and mix just until combined into a dough.
Press dough into a 9-inch pie pan and blind bake with pie weights until golden brown.
Coconut Filling:
2 1/2 cups canned coconut milk
1/2 cup whole milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 vanilla bean, split and scraped
1 1/3 cups unsweetened coconut shavings, toasted until golden brown
1/4 cup cornstarch
10 egg yolks
1 gelatin sheet, softened in cold water
1 ounce unsalted butter
In a heavy pot, warm coconut milk, milk, sugar, vanilla bean, and toasted coconut until very hot but not boiling.
Remove from heat and let steep 1 hour.
In a medium bowl, whisk cornstarch and egg yolks until smooth. Set aside.
Temper milk mixture into egg mixture, combine completely, then strain through a chinois into a clean pot.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until bubbling and thick.
Remove the custard from the heat and immediately stir in the butter and softened gelatin until totally melted.
Immediately pour the custard into the cooled shell, cover with plastic wrap, and chill until set.
To serve, top pie with whipped cream and more toasted coconut.
The Town of Yountville, renowned for its world-class restaurants and award-winning chefs, has earned the unofficial title of “Culinary Capital of the Napa Valley.”
Though small enough to walk from end to end, there are more Michelin-stars within the confines of this small town than anywhere in the world. This culinary prowess is coupled with spectacular wineries, thriving shops and a world-class art community to create an unforgettable experience. Nestled in the Napa Valley and celebrating its 50th anniversary, Yountville promises to surpass your expectations of what the California Wine Country is supposed to be.
What To Do: Spa Villagio
A short walk from your hotel for the night, Spa Villagio is the perfect place to reflect on the day’s 30-mile ride to Summit Lake Vineyards. This ultimate luxurious escape is best known for their private spa suites crafted with your choice of scents, sound, refreshments and treatments. We, however, recommend booking an individual service or spending time in the sauna, steam room and soaking baths. Comfortably unwind by the outdoor fireplace while enjoying a complimentary tea or fruit infusion before tonight’s once in a lifetime meal at the French Laundry. *We recommend that you make spa reservations at least 3 weeks in advance. Call 707-948-5050 to make your reservation.
Where To Go for Dessert: Bouchon Bakery
No, we’re not crazy. There’s a reason we’re talking about dessert before dinner. As you walk one half mile down Yountville’s Washington Street from Spa Villagio to the French Laundry, you cannot pass the Bouchon Bakery without walking inside. Originally conceived to provide his restaurants with one-of-a-kind breads, Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery quickly blossomed into an important retail establishment in its own right. Stop in before doors close at 7:00 PM to pick up a French-inspired pain au chocolat or brightly-colored macaroon. Although your taste buds probably can’t resist, try to save your mouth-watering treat for the perfect after-dinner delight.
Where To Go For Dinner: French Laundry
To top off a night of indulgence, chef Thomas Keller’s French Laundry is the ultimate destination for fine French cuisine in the Napa Valley. The only American-born chef to have two three-starred Michelin restaurants, Keller cut his teeth working in a Palm Beach restaurant managed by his mother. Now consistently recognized by respected media outlets such as the James Beard Foundation and Culinary Institute of America, the creations of this award-winning chef are guaranteed to satisfy your palate. Although the menu changes daily, the French Laundry never fails to maintain the highest standards of hospitality and culinary excellence *Reservations are taken two months to the calendar date and can be made daily by calling 707-944-2380 between 10:00 AM and 5:30 PM.
About Guest Choice: You will often hear us say, “It’s your day, you decide,” because our smaller group size allows the flexibility for you to decide how your day unfolds. In addition to multiple daily ride options and shuttle flexibility, this also means that we offer ‘guest choice’ nights designed for you to indulge at a local restaurant of your choosing, or explore the local sites. Whether you want to order take-out while relaxing by the hotel pool or get dressed up for a fancy dinner in town, guest choice nights let you craft your own perfect evening.
At Trek Travel we are here to craft an extraordinary experience. That’s why we do things a little differently. We think your expectations are simply a place to begin and it is our job to give you everything you could have ever imagined and so much more.
Born from the world-renowned Trek Bikes, we are bike-lovers, fellow travelers, hospitality maestros, but most importantly we understand what a cycling vacation of a lifetime means to you. But don’t just take our word for it. Steve M. recently traveled with us to the California Wine Country and we think his review speaks for itself.
Hi Kari:
Today was the last day of our wine country tour with Trek Travel so I wanted to drop you a quick line about our experience.
Firstly, it’s fair to say that my wife and I are pretty picky when it comes to vacations. You could call us fussy I guess but I’m afraid our experience is that there’s always something which just isn’t up to scratch and/or wasn’t as described in the brochure. Our expectations are high and they are rarely met.
So I take a great deal of pleasure in writing this note – this vacation was quite simply perfect in every regard. Every single aspect of this trip was just excellent.
It started off with you yourself. The vacation experience begins at first contact and you could not have been more helpful or more accommodating during the booking process. You talked us through everything, gave us detailed (and as we now know, accurate) descriptions of every factor of the trip and answered every question. Nicely done!
The trip itself – sensational. Firstly, our guides – Dan, Jake and Beth – could not have been more professional, knowledgeable or better company. The bikes were top notch and superbly prepared. The SAG vehicle followed us everywhere and snacks aplenty were always there when needed. The accommodations were well chosen – both the Mount View in Calistoga and the H2 in Healdsburg are first class, comfortable and chic hotels with super helpful staff who were very bike-friendly.
The itinerary was extremely well thought out. Our vacation was classified as “recreational” but a couple of us wanted something more challenging. No problem – Dan and Jake were happy to arrange. Every day included enjoyable coffee, lunch and/or wine tasting stops. The welcome dinner on the first night and the farewell dinner and cocktails on the last evening were truly excellent.
By the way, special thanks to our guides for taking special care of my wife, Carri. She unfortunately hurt her back just before the trip so could only participate in the easiest of the rides. No problem – she rode along in the SAG truck and they stopped to let her out whenever she wanted to ride. If she rode and fell behind, one guide would always hang back to keep her company. At all times, they made sure she always felt fully part of the group – not marginalized in anyway.
Finally, we had an exceptional group of other guests on our trip. All extremely nice people and we have made many new friends who I know we will see again. Obviously Trek Travel can’t really be held responsible for the “quality” of your guests! But it’s clear that Trek attracts a very nice demographic that would definitely be a factor in us booking with you again.
Last but not least – Dan and Jake were both snapping photos throughout the trip and presented us with an excellent photo montage at the end which will be a wonderful souvenir of our trip.
All in all, you guys are a class act. Superbly well done all round. Bravo!
We will certainly be booking with you again – hopefully soon!
Our Santa Barbara weekend bike tour offers four full days of cycling, sightseeing, dining, hiking, and relaxing along the California Coast.
With a home base in downtown Santa Barbara, you’ll enjoy easy access to the shops, cafes, museums, and bars of famous State Street. On Day 2 of the trip the evening is yours to explore the town and enjoy dinner at a restaurant of your choice. But in a city where intimacy and friendliness meet sophistication and relaxation, it can be difficult to choose from the many great options. To aid your decision making, here are our suggestions:
Where To Go For Social Hour: Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company
Though California is best known for wine, you can’t miss the Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company while you’re in town. A favorite of Trek Travel and staple in the local beer scene, the brewery is located just off State Street within walking distance of your hotel. Started by Jim and Jamie Dietenhofer, a father and son team, the beer produced here recently won Gold and Silver medals at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival and the ‘Hoppy Poppy’ Double IPA is one of our Top 10 Beers in the World.
Where To Go For Dinner: The Lark
After you enjoy a cold one at Fig Mountain, walk next door to The Lark for a dining experience that won’t disappoint. The menu features locally sourced artisanal and seasonal ingredients, and the food is served family style to share with new friends on your trip. Located in the heart of Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, a vibrant arts district and home to local surf shops, galleries and the popular Urban Wine Trail, take advantage of The Lark’s exterior dining space to fully enjoy your surroundings.
*We recommend making a reservation in advance.
What To Do After Dinner: The Wharf
After dinner, continue your walk down State Street and make your way to Stearns Wharf. Offering the best views in Santa Barbara, the wharf is home to many incredible shops and restaurants. Walk off your meal, grab a post-dinner drink or just enjoy the views before making your way back to the hotel.
About Guest Choice:
You will often hear us say, “It’s your day, you decide,” because our smaller group size allows the flexibility for you to decide how your day unfolds. In addition to multiple daily ride options and shuttle flexibility, this also means that we offer ‘guest choice’ nights designed for you to indulge at a local restaurant of your choosing, or explore the local sites. Whether you want to order take-out while relaxing by the hotel pool or get dressed up for a fancy dinner in town, guest choice nights let you craft your own perfect evening.
If a date is marked as Private, it is reserved for a private group.
Looking to travel with a small group or looking for a custom date? Call our trip consultants at 866-464-8735
What is the Difference?
Ultimate Luxury:
Savor some of the most spectacular, 5-star properties in the world. Exuding luxury and elegance, these one-of-a-kind accommodations offer the chance to rejuvenate at award-winning spas, dine at Michelin-starred restaurants, and more.
Luxury:
Enjoy luxurious accommodations handpicked for a refined experience. From signature spa treatments to delicious local cuisine, you’ll be more than provided for; you’ll be pampered.
Explorer
These handpicked hotels provide relaxation and fun in a casual and comfortable environment. Delicious cuisine and great service mix perfectly for a memorable stay.
Combined
On select cycling vacations, you’ll stay at a mix of hotel levels, from Explorer to Luxury to Ultimate Luxury. Rest assured, no matter which level of hotel you’re at, our trip designers carefully select every accommodation.
Road: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).
Level 2:
Road: 2-4 hours of riding. 20-35 mi (35-60 km). Up to 2,500 ft (750 m).
Gravel: 2-4 hours of riding. 15-30 mi (25-45 km). Up to 2,000 ft (300 m).
Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).
Level 3:
Road: 3-5 hours of riding. 25-55 mi (40-85 km). Up to 4,500 ft (1,500 m).
Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).
Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).
Level 4:
Road: 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).
Gravel: 4+ hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
What are your trip styles?
Classic - Reserve:
Savor the finer things as you relax in luxurious 5-star accommodations and wine, dine, and ride in some of the most unforgettable destinations around the world.
Classic - Signature:
Explore beautiful destinations by bike, enjoy extra inclusions, savor delicious local cuisine, and enjoy the perfect mix of accommodations.
Classic - Discover:
Enjoy a casual cycling vacation with fantastic routes and comfortable accommodations.
Ride Camp:
Train like the pros in some of their favorite riding destinations.
Pro Race:
See the pros in action at the biggest cycling events of the year.
Cross Country:
Tackle an epic adventure that takes you point-to-point across mountains, countryside, and more.
Self-Guided
Enjoy a bike tour on your schedule with just your chosen travel companions.
Sometimes it’s more convenient and comfortable to have your own room while on vacation. We understand and that’s why we offer a Single Occupancy option. The additional price guarantees a private room all to yourself
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