Big Bertha's Chic Redwood Retreat

Annual Away Girlfriends Getaway!  

In April I got the chance to get away for 3 nights with 3 of my best gals.  They flew in from Minneapolis on a Thursday and I picked them up from San Francisco International Airport.  Our destination was Big Bertha's Chic Redwood Retreat.  The google maps took us right over the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was a beautiful and great way to start a great trip.

On our way from SFO to Guerneville (which turned out to be a super cute town) we stopped in Petaluma for a bite to eat.  We had not planned where to stop and we were working the google, checking restaurants, and taking random Petaluma exits.  We were nearing Hangry territory and in the nick of time we pulled up to a restaurant called Taps which had a great patio and live music.  I was travelling fully vaccinated (thank you science!), and all my friends had at least had one shot, but it still felt strange and wonderful to dine outside together mask-less.  After the mayhem of the pandemic it felt so good to be with good friends away from husbands, houses, and kids.  

Link to Taps yelp:  https://www.yelp.com/biz/taps-petaluma-4 

After dinner we headed on to Big Bertha's Chic Redwood Retreat.  It was absolutely dreamier than we had imagined and pure perfection.  Cozy.  Tastefully decorated.  In the HEART of a redwood forest.  Completely surrounded by natural splendor.  We hit the Airbnb jackpot.  10/10 recommend.  That first night we stayed up late and chatted our way through 1 or 2 movies.

Link to our digs which we absolutely adored:  https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2874632?source_impression_id=p3_1625355204_jnSNPnIGsMaAfHWC&guests=1&adults=1

Friday was our "planned" day.  We began with a wine tasting at Landmark Vineyard, had lunch at Campo Fina, and had another wine tasting at Rochioli.  By the time we were at our afternoon wine tasting at Rochioli we had hit the 24 hour mark of vacation time.  This is usually when I can start to really relax.  It takes me a minute or two to shake off the cares of life and work, before I can really let my hair down.  We laughed so hard at Rochioli.  We were overlooking a gorgeous vineyard, and it was one of those "all is well" moments that are so good for the soul.

Link to Landmark:  https://www.landmarkwine.com/visit-landmark/tasting-tour-russian-river-valley/

Link to Campo Fina:  https://www.campofina.com/

Link to Rochioli:  https://www.rochioliwinery.com/

When we got back to Big Bertha's we enjoyed a bit of down time before we ran into town and grabbed food from Guerneville Taco Truck as well as supplies for one of my friends to have her customary Friday night G&T.  Back at Bertha's we watched more movies and spent some time in the hot tub.  Full disclosure the "nature" noises late at night kinda freaked me right out of my bathing suit (and I wasn't the only one lol).  We might have thought a mountain lion or some such was about to be up in that hot tub with us.  Another moment of great soul-healing laughter.

Link to Taco Truck yelp:  https://www.yelp.com/biz/guerneville-taco-truck-guerneville

Saturday we had no plan.  We started by having such a delicious breakfast at Big Bottom Market that we ate there again on Sunday morning.  After our bellies were full we moseyed our way out to the coast where one of my friends had found a great trail right along the beautiful Pacific.  Wow wow wow.  We wondered at the beauty, and had a great hike.  Like, could not have found a better trail.  Thank you, friend!

Link to BBM:  https://www.bigbottommarket.com/ 

We bee-bopped back to Big Bertha's and on a whim decided to head to Korbel for a late lunch.  I like some bubbles in my wine and our time at Korbel was my favorite winery.  We didn't do an official tasting, but had a lovely lunch in their outdoor garden.  One thing that was kind of strange was that there wasn't really a great system for claiming tables and an older gentleman and his wife got super duper angry at a younger family for taking a table.  The older gentleman was getting in the young dad's face and one of the Korbel employees got in the middle of it and de-escalated the situation.  It was hard to watch because the older man I think felt really entitled to the table they took, but they honestly did not do anything wrong in taking the table and the older gentleman got heated and upset very quickly.  The Korbel employee was young but showed such bravery and kindness in the situation.  A reminder that people are good.  People are also wounded.  Assume positive intent.  We are in this life together.

After our lovely lunch we went back to Big Bertha's, ate snacks for dinner and watched "A Week Away."  Me and my friends are all......I don't know what to call us.  Recovering evangelicals that love Jesus and......well........I don't know where to go with this sentence.  But let's just say we are all journeying.  Okay, so back to "A Week Away."  This is a Netflix musical movie.  It's about a teenager in the foster care system that goes to christian camp for a week during the summer and the movie features SO MANY of the songs that we grew up with.  I did not expect to really like the movie, but alas I loved it!  I cried my way through multiple songs including "place in this world," (shout out to MWS) and felt grateful for the message that we are good enough just as we are.  

Sunday, our time was coming to an end, but as a final hurrah we enjoyed some bubbles at Domaine Carneros.  Domaine Carneros is a beautiful winery in Napa and it was the perfect last thing to do before quickly showing my friends my house here in California and then taking them back to the airport.

Link to Domaine Carneros:  https://www.domainecarneros.com/

I'm a big believer in putting on one's own oxygen mask before putting on someone else's.  Justin and I have worked to create a life that we don't want to escape from.  Yet, it all takes work, and sometimes parenting, working, housekeeping, and all the other "ings" wear me down to a place where I'm not my best self.  Taking time for myself on a daily basis (walking, biking, cooking, reading) helps me to recharge.  Taking time away from the house for several days at a time is also very life-giving, and then I get to come back to the life I love as an even better version of myself.  Annual Away, Daily Delay.  These are things we can do for ourselves guilt-free and with all the love for ourselves and others.  If you are fortunate enough to take trips like these then pay it forward every which way you can.  Peace and love to all.

And now for some pictures in no particular order.

Rochioli Vineyard

Our lovely Korbel lunch.

Major babes on a majorly gorgeous hike.

I just really loved our hike.  

Landmark Vineyard.

Landmark Vineyard and Hop Kiln Estate in the background.

Big Bertha - oh how we loved her and she loved us.

More gorgeous hike views.

Big Bertha's outdoor space.....Helloooooo redwoods.  

For all we did and the fun we had, these spectacular views were GOOD for my soul.