As you walk through the historic downtown area of Savannah, stepping over cobblestone pathways, the humidity envelops you like the ghosts of generals and Southern belles from another time. Strolling through the mossy, earthy smell of postage stamp parks, there’s an aura thick with history of an Old South that tends to not only slow your pace but make you wonder how many spirits are wandering along with you.
For off-the-beaten-path wine and olive oil tasting, Villa di Calabro delivers. Located in a little 90-year-old house just steps away from Temecula’s civic center, Villa di Calabro excels in providing an intimate tasting experience. Owners Mike and Mindy generously share stories and insights of their craft as they pour. Ask about the peach sangria. Enjoy fountain burbles and a light breeze as you picnic in the serene courtyard. Leave with a smile on your face, and delicious wines and olive oils in your bag. 951-695-4525; villadicalabro.com
The gardens are gorgeous. I’ve never seen so many tulips blooming all at once. The Netherlands probably has more but this was a pretty impressive display. There was so much color everywhere, I kept forgetting I was in Texas. Nothing against Texas, but I’ve gotten kind of used to the desert-y feel and look of this part of the country and am really just happy to see any green at all, most of the time. I felt spoiled with all these pinks, yellows, oranges, and purples everywhere!
The next morning, we took off to relive vacation memories from my husband’s childhood, when his family would pile into the car with their camping gear and head to Devil’s Lake State Park. I had found and booked a room at The WilloWood Inn, just south of downtown Baraboo and close to the main entrance of the park.
I began each morning of my 10-day stay at Yoga Prema with a bike ride to the edge of the sea for our first of two daily 90-minute yoga classes. An open-air bakery en route provided a hot croissant that I saved until after a morning swim. A seaside café is a minute’s walk down the rocky coast from our morning class where a wooden chair facing the sea would await my arrival.
