Every Traveler Has a Happy Place
Every traveler has that one destination they can’t wait to return to, and this Napa Valley trip with friends was our chance to finally share it.
For some, it’s a quiet mountain cabin tucked away in the woods…For others, it’s a tropical beach where the sound of crashing waves instantly melts away the stress of everyday life.
For us…
It’s Napa Valley.
We’ve been fortunate enough to visit several times over the years, and every trip reminds us why we keep coming back. Yes, the wineries are beautiful. The food is incredible. The rolling vineyards seem to stretch forever. But what truly makes Napa special isn’t just the scenery.
It’s how the place makes us feel.
Peaceful.
Relaxed.
Unhurried.
It’s one of those rare places where conversations last a little longer, meals are meant to be savored, and every sunset feels like it deserves a toast.
This trip, however, was going to be different.
Instead of keeping our happy place to ourselves, this Napa Valley trip with friends was about sharing it with some of our favorite people.
The Perfect Excuse for a Napa Valley Trip With Friends
One afternoon, while looking through our timeshare points, Tracey discovered something unexpected.
We had enough points available for a long weekend.
Now came the difficult question.
Where should we go?
It didn’t take either of us very long to answer.
“Napa.”
That part was easy.
The harder question was…
Who should come with us?
Travel has always been better when shared.
Some of our favorite memories have nothing to do with the places we’ve visited and everything to do with the people we’ve experienced them with.
So we started making phone calls.
Our dear friends Robert and Michelle were immediately interested.
Sean and Molly loved the idea as well.
Then we told Sean and Molly they could invite another couple they enjoyed spending time with.
That’s how we met Jerry and Rachel.
Little did we know they would fit into our crazy group perfectly.
The adventure was already beginning before anyone had even packed a suitcase.
Welcome to Napa Valley
Before long, travel day had finally arrived.
One by one, everyone made their way to Northern California.
We were staying at the beautiful Vino Bello Resort, one of our favorite places to stay whenever we visit Napa Valley.
If you’ve never stayed there, picture beautifully landscaped grounds, spacious suites, vineyards nearby, and just enough luxury to make you feel spoiled without losing that relaxed wine country charm.
As everyone settled into their rooms, introductions quickly turned into laughter.
One of the things we love most about traveling with friends is watching people who barely know each other become comfortable within just a few hours.
By the end of the weekend, you would have sworn we’d all been traveling together for years.
Starting the Weekend Right
No JourneyFor2 trip is complete without food becoming one of the first topics of conversation.
After getting settled, we made our way to Cordeiro’s Steakhouse.
If you’ve never eaten there, put it on your list.
The steaks are outstanding.
The atmosphere is warm and inviting.
And somehow every meal feels like a celebration.
The conversation flowed effortlessly as stories were shared, jokes were exchanged, and everyone began relaxing into vacation mode.
One of the things I love most about traveling is watching people slow down.
Phones disappear.
Schedules fade away.
No one is watching the clock.
The only thing that matters is enjoying the people sitting around the table.
That’s exactly how the evening unfolded.
By the time dinner was over, our bellies were full, our cheeks hurt from laughing, and we all knew this was going to be one of those weekends we’d remember for a long time.
A Morning of Relaxation
The next morning started a little differently than most of our trips.
Instead of rushing off to wineries, we decided to treat ourselves.
The Spa at the Meritage Resort is one of the most unique spa experiences we’ve ever enjoyed.
Nestled inside a hillside wine cave, the setting alone makes you feel relaxed before your treatment even begins.
Soft lighting.
Stone walls.
Quiet music.
A peaceful atmosphere that immediately tells your brain it’s time to slow down.
The ladies had massages scheduled while the guys found their own ways to relax.
As we entered the waiting area, we were each handed plush robes and escorted into one of the most beautiful spa lounges we’d ever seen.
There were comfortable chairs.
Refreshing infused water.
Healthy snacks.
And absolute silence.
Well…
Almost.
The Story We Couldn’t Stop Laughing About
While everyone else was enjoying different parts of the spa, Michelle had an experience the rest of us completely missed.
Later that afternoon, as we were all sitting together, she couldn’t wait to tell us what had happened.
She explained that she was standing at her locker, getting ready to change, when a spa employee entered with a new guest and began giving her the same tour we had all received earlier.
The employee walked her through the locker room, pointed out the showers, the steam room, the sauna, and finally the whirlpool.
As they made their way back toward the lockers, the guest commented that she wished she hadn’t forgotten her swimsuit because she would have loved to enjoy the jacuzzi.
Without hesitation, the employee smiled and casually replied,
“We’re swimsuit optional here at the spa.”
The guest’s face instantly lit up.
She threw both arms into the air, clenched her fists in celebration, and enthusiastically shouted…
“YAY ME!!!”
Michelle said she immediately gathered up all of her clothes and headed for the nearest changing room.
Apparently, getting dressed in front of someone quite that excited about the spa’s clothing policy suddenly didn’t seem like such a great idea.
By the time Michelle finished telling us the story, we were all laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes.
Naturally, it didn’t stop there.
For the rest of the weekend, every time someone said “yay” or celebrated anything at all, someone else would throw their fists into the air and strike the pose.
Of course, we eventually had to recreate it for a group photo.
To this day, all someone has to say is “YAY ME!”, and we instantly think back to that cave spa in Napa Valley.
It’s funny how vacations work.
You spend months planning wineries, restaurants, and sightseeing, only to discover that one of your favorite memories came from a complete stranger you never saw again..
Vacation Is Officially Underway
Following our wonderfully relaxing morning, we met back together refreshed, smiling, and ready for the adventures ahead.
Wine country was waiting.
Beautiful vineyards.
Outstanding wineries.
Amazing food.
New friendships.
Old friendships growing even stronger.
And, knowing our group…
Probably a few more stories we’d be laughing about for years to come.
Little did we know…
The best was still ahead.
Up next: a full day of wine tasting, including our stop at Viansa and V. Sattui.