Think of wine, and you likely think of the Bay area of San Francisco.  Think a little more, and you probably think of Napa.  But if you stop there, you’d be missing out on a whole lot of great wineries – located on the other side of the bay in Sonoma County.
Wine related travel is a popular part of Sonoma County, with its 13 American Viticultural areas, each with distinctive characteristics.  The Pacific coastline, redwood forests, fertile valleys, and mountains all add to the mix in producing some truly outstanding wines.
Take a day trip from Oakland or San Francisco, …read more

Looking for a foodie-focused weekend?  Look no further than the Big Apple, and The Gourmet Institute to be held October 23rd – 25th, 2009.  Organized by Gourmet Magazine (which publishes some serious food porn), the institute offers a diverse assortment of culinary demonstrations, discussions and tastings.  Sessions are designed for all levels of culinary expertise, from master chef to curious newbies.  What a great way to spend a crisp fall weekend in New York City, than enjoying some great food experiences.
Leading the sessions will be renowned culinary masters, some of the biggest names in the business.  Here’s a sample:  …read more

Love your Maui Onion flavored chips?  You can get to the heart of the matter at the annual Maui Onion Festival, May 2nd in Whalers Village on Kaanapali Beach, Maui.
These sweet Maui onions can be grown in locations other than Maui, but nothing beats the islands for a celebration of this type.  Over a thousand pounds of onions and five local celebrity chefs will provide cooking demonstrations and compete for the Best Onion Recipe prize.
If you’ll be visiting Maui during this time be sure to head into Kaanapali – all you’ll have to do is follow the fragrance of …read more