wine tasting - Pitstops for Kids

Grown-Up Getaway: Wine and dine in Lubbock Texas

August 17, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

Last spring, we outlined the perfect Grown-Up Getaway to charming Fredericksburg, Texas, in the Hill Country. Now we’re back with one more–perhaps unexpected–Texas getaway: Lubbock. Everywhere I went in Fredericksburg, I was told by winemakers that their grapes came from this city in the West Plains. So naturally, I had to go see Lubbock for myself.

If you’ve driven through Lubbock, Texas before, you might assume this west Texas city of approximately 250,000 is primarily comprised of strip malls and suburbs. However, dig a little deeper into the heart of Lubbock, and you’ll find some true gems hiding in plain sight.

What to do on a Lubbock Texas getaway:

Lubbock is a college town, so most of its culture spans out from Texas Tech and the recently growing urban downtown core area.

Starting your days:

Starting with your morning cup of joe, head to J&B Coffee in the college district for great drip brew and breakfast sandwiches, or to Sugar Brown’s Coffee, where you can soak up great ambiance inside or outside.

Wine tasting:

This is big country, with an abundance of land. As winemaker Bobby Cox of Pheasant Ridge put it, if Texas wineries planted on half the land available, they’d grow more grapes than Europe’. As a result, tasting rooms in Lubbock’s High Plains AVA can be spread out, and often, vineyards are off-site. That said, here are the best options for your Texas wine tasting tours.

Kim McPherson of McPherson Cellars

Burklee Hill Vineyards: With an inviting tasting room located in the Historic Kress Building in downtown Lubbock, Burklee Hills tastings that can be enjoyed indoors or out. The owner has been growing grapes since 2002, and has been custom crushing since 2016. They make a particularly good dry Muscat, and have won awards for their Malbec.

McPherson Cellars: Back in town, McPherson Cellars is run by Kim McPherson, whose father, Doc McPherson is considered the ‘Father of Texas wine’. McPherson Cellars offered the best of anything I tasted in Lubbock, so it’s a must-do. Plus, the tasting room is easy to get to, and fun and funky. The outdoor patio is inviting with couches and sculpture art, and across the street, McPherson’s wife runs one of the best restaurants in town (see below). Not to be missed at McPherson: the dry rosé, Grenache, Tempranillo, and Sangiovese.

English Newsom Cellars: Located out-of-town on Woodrow Road, English Newsom Cellars is also the real deal: their huge facility is putting forth serious contenders for the best wine in Lubbock, in my opinion.

Pheasant Ridge: Out of town on Courtney Road, Pheasant Ridge is the oldest winery in the area, and the 7th oldest in Texas, bought in 1978. They grow seven varietals on-site, and while the tasting room isn’t fancy, there’s a nice canopied seating area out front, with views of their 30 acres of vines (more are off-site), and like CapRock and McPherson, especially, their staff in the tasting room know their stuff.

Are you more of a beer person? Brewery LBK is the area’s up-and-coming brewery, located downtown in the Pioneer Building!

Dining:

If you follow our plan for a Lubbock weekend, you’ll spend the bulk of your day at area wineries, so plan on light bites and charcuterie plates until dinner. I promise you’ll want to come to the following restaurants hungry.

The West Table Kitchen and Bar:

With a seasonally-changing menu and a young chef who has returned to his hometown after training in California and working across the US, the West Table on Broadway Street makes use of prime downtown space in what used to be the historic Lubbock Hotel. Now, it’s a fine dining venue with high ceilings, tile floors, and exposed beams, with an attached artisan wine event space and the afore-mentioned Brewery LBK in the same building. Make sure to try one of their craft cocktails; I loved their spin on a Whiskey Smash. Get the roasted poblano peppers if they’re offered as an appetizer.

Tip: Upstairs the Pioneer Pocket Hotel offers renovated suites with clean lines and contemporary touches. Stay here and you can go right downstairs for coffee in the mornings.

La Diosa Cellars:

Tucked away in downtown Lubbock across the street from McPherson Cellars, La Diosa is the success story of Sylvia McPherson, wife of winery owner Kim McPherson. She’s put her interior decorating background to work to create a warm, eclectic atmosphere, and her tapas-forward menu is the real deal. She’s tapped into her family’s Spanish and Mexican heritage to create a unique and truly beautiful menu. Start with the sangria, and don’t be afraid to be adventurous.

Cocina de La Sirena:

This gem for modern Latin American cuisine is located right off the highway, and looks quite unassuming behind an old motel-turned-artisan boutique strip. But step into the courtyard and you’ll find patio dining under twinkling lights and a cozy interior with a stellar bar. Come for happy hour and small plates, or settle in for dinner, but either way, the margaritas and homemade salsas outshine almost everything (and that’s saying something). The owner is truly passionate about local sourcing, and everything is fresh.

Funky Door Bistro & Wine Room:

Best known for its fondue (in West Texas? Yep!) this restaurant serves to showcase the best of Texas wine, plus varietals from around the world. They have over 650 labels, so plan to stay awhile!

Want more to do? Try to plan your trip for the First Friday Art Walk downtown, which features food trucks and multiple gallery openings, and learn more about Lubbock native Buddy Holly’s history at the Buddy Holly Center. In spring of 2020, a huge downtown development project, the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts & Sciences, will open across from the civic center, offering theater space and event space with the capacity to host Broadway productions and world-class musical guests.

How to go wine tasting with kids: tips on visiting wineries as a family

September 5, 2019 By Amy Hagstrom

With vineyards springing up all over the U.S., wine tasting has become more popular than ever. Visiting wineries is a great way to assist a local economy, taste local pairings, and learn about an area’s agriculture. In fact, vineyards are now a big part of agricultural tourism. But what if you have the kids along? Can you go wine tasting with kids? We believe the answer is yes. Follow the tips below to have a fun, successful, and positive experience at a winery with kids.

Pair vineyards with outdoor activities:

Instead of telling the kids that they’ll be touring tasting rooms all day (get ready for a negative reaction on that one), pick one winery you’d really enjoy visiting and pair it with a family outdoor activity. Many wineries and tasting rooms are ideally located in the countryside surrounding tourist destinations and cities: think of your wine tasting day as an opportunity to explore a rural area. Outside of Portland, Oregon, for instance, lies the Willamette Valley brimming with wineries…and family fun. Before heading the casual and cozy Alloro Winery, we opt for a bike ride or a side trip to nearby Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum for hands-on, kid-centric entertainment.

No matter what region you’re visiting, before your wine tasting, parents can take the kids on a hike in the area, rent bikes and go for a bike ride, or tour a local museum or amusement park. Consider your wine tasting to be a complement to this family day outside, not the sole reason for it.

Select no more than one winery per visit:

Multi-vineyard wine trails are a lot of fun…for adults. Most kids, however, are pretty much of the opinion that if you’ve seen one vineyard, you’ve seen them all. Most tourists spend an average of one to two hours at a winery: plan for one and done to avoid tired, bored kids. Which winery to pick? Ask your hotel concierge or another local for the scoop on the most family-friendly winery in the region, or pick one closest to other area attractions.

Opt for a family-friendly tasting experience:

Yes, they do exist! The emphasis of a successful family day at a winery is not on the wine itself, but rather on the ambiance and togetherness. That said, my kids will tell you it’s not much fun if everyone has something good to drink except for them. We pick wineries that serve sparkling cider or root beer to the kids while adults enjoy tasting flights, and those that will put together a kid-friendly snack, such as a cheese plate.

Many wineries now allow picnics and other food items to be brought in by guests. Check ahead of time to make sure the one you want to visit has this policy, and if so, bring a spread! Look for wineries with plenty of outdoor space, and a staff who will welcome your kids. During a recent visit to Cliff Creek Cellars on the Upper Rogue Wine Trail of Southern Oregon, our kids were greeted by the vineyard dog and offered their pick of bocce ball or other lawn games by the winery staff.

Get on winery mailing lists to learn about events and festivals:

Many wineries host summer concert series, holiday events, and other family-friendly happenings. One of our favorite Easter Sundays was spent at Troon Vineyard, where the kids enjoyed an elaborate Easter egg hunt while adults enjoyed tastings and brunch. Other wineries in our region host bluegrass bands (perfect for dancing to, if you ask any toddler), art festivals, and local charity events. During the summer months, kids can spot hang-gliders coming in for landing at many Applegate Valley Wine Trail vineyards.

Above all, be responsible:

Of course, you want to be safe and set a good example to your children whenever you consume alcoholic beverages. If you think you’ll need it, hire a wine tour service to drive you to the tasting room and back again, or set out on a short walk with the family post-tasting before you get behind the wheel of your car. Most wineries don’t mind a bit if you linger: bring extra outdoor toys for the kids or even a pack of cards and play a family game before heading home.

Grown-Up Getaway: Sonoma County without the kids

January 28, 2019 By Amy Hagstrom

Sonoma County is certainly a kid-friendly destination, but to best enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, fine dining, and wine tasting opportunities of this region of Northern California, we suggest planning a getaway to Sonoma County without the kids. Here’s how we went about it, including our favorite wineries, dining opportunities and hotel options.

Grown-up Getaway: Sonoma County without the kids

Sonoma County runs parallel on the east with Napa County, and as such, all the wineries and tasting rooms of both counties are easily accessible to you. We think it’s best to break up the county into sections by city, then decide where to stay and what attractions you most want to visit. We drove from Southern Oregon and filled our days with wineries, quaint shopping districts, and restaurants.

Healdsburg:

This town represents some of the best of Sonoma County, with a pretty downtown shopping and wine tasting district and nearby wineries that will wow you. We came in on scenic Highway 128, so we could take in the rolling hills lined with wine grapes to immerse ourselves in our location. Along the way to Healdsburg, we stopped at Silver Oak winery, which has recently built a very impressive LEED-certified facility in the Alexander Valley, and at adjacent Hawkes, both of which produce big, bold Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tip: To enjoy popular Sonoma and Napa wineries without crowds and the need for reservations, consider visiting in the off-season, as we did. We had our share of rain during our January visit, but we also got the full attention of staff at wineries and felt completely relaxed.

Once in Healdsburg, we shopped along the central square where we found a lot of fun boutiques and fair trade stores that we doubt the kids would have had the patience to peruse. If you want to stay the night in Healdsburg, you have a wide array of options, from AirBnb rentals to traditional B&Bs and inns. Try The Girl and the Fig for lunch, if you want to linger over a meal here.

Santa Rosa:

We continued to Santa Rosa, where we settled in at The Sandman. Recently renovated in 2017, The Sandman has been elevated from roadside motel to an up-market boutique feel. The value is definitely there, especially in the off-season, as you get a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, free parking and WiFi, included basic breakfast, and a staffed poolhouse bar (during the weekends). During the summer months, look for weekend pool parties with food trucks and live music! The Sandman is pet-friendly and the rooms have been upgraded to have a chic, modern feel. We were within easy access to downtown Santa Rosa, where we ate a fun meal at Gerard’s Paella, and within just minutes of Healdsburg wineries.

Poolhouse at The Sandman

Sonoma:

From Santa Rosa, we drove about 45 minutes to downtown Sonoma the next day, where we once again browsed boutiques and bookshops, stopped in at Basque Bakery, and had our pick of dozens of tasting rooms. This is a great way to taste area wines more efficiently if you don’t have time to visit the wineries themselves. We spent the better part of a day here, before heading just outside of town to visit Cline Cellars, which we found delightfully down-to-earth (the most affordable wine we found in the valley, but also simply very friendly) and the adjacent Jacuzzi Winery, owned by the same family.

Shop window in Sonoma

Sonoma coast:

From the town of Sonoma, it’s easy to head out to the Sonoma coast on Highway 1. After a scenic hour drive, you’ll hit the coast at Bodega Bay. From here, we drove north up the beautiful California coastline to Jenner, where we were warmly welcomed for the night at the gorgeous and cozy Timber Cove Resort. Built in the 1960s and modernized and updated beautifully since, I cannot recommend Timber Cove enough. After our drive, we were welcomed with a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage from their bar called The Remedy (made with ginger beer to ease any rolling tummies after curvy Highway 1). The spacious lobby had a warm fire roaring, and even in the off-season, the bar was well-populated. We settled into our room, which featured a record player (with a full library of records available to us!) and other retro touches, plus a fireplace (gas burning) and balcony overlooking the stormy sea.

We half-wanted to get right into our cozy robes and curl up with a record, but instead we made it back to the lobby to dine at Coast Kitchen, Timber Cove Resort’s restaurant. The oysters were among the best we’ve ever tasted, and the wine list, as you might imagine, was impressive. Definitely, plan to spend at least one meal here.

Tip: Timber Cove Resort’s WiFi is spotty at best, but that’s okay! There are plenty of board games in the lobby, you have music to listen to, and out on the patio outside the main building, ping-pong and pool tables await, as well as a nice paperback book and many seating options overlooking the ocean.

Timber Cove boosts 25 acres, dotted with benches, nature paths and hiking trails. Consider getting the lay of the land with a personal tour of area hiking options with Unbeaten Path Tours, a local business that introduce guests to nearby Salt Point State Park, Sea Ranch architecture, and the Point Arena Lighthouse and Stornetta Lands National Monument. Timber Cove guests on the Seascapes tour will get an on-site tutorial of our trails, the Bufano Peace Obelisk and the Yakutia Totem (called a Serge).

Fort Ross is also only a mile or so away, a California State Historic Park showcasing a Russian-era church and compound with a National Historic Landmark designation. Fort Ross is surrounded by sandy beaches, panoramic coves, and redwood forests.

After a 1-2 night stay in Timber Cove Resort, we recommend heading back to Sonoma to round out your trip with a few more wineries, or heading north up Highway 1 to explore the Mendocino coast next!

Disclosure: We explored Sonoma County as guests of Timber Cove Resort and The Sandman. All opinions remain our own.

How to experience boutique wine in the Northwest

March 19, 2018 By Amy Hagstrom

With over 18 viticulture regions in Oregon alone, the Pacific Northwest has gained a reputation for growing wine grapes and producing great wine. To date, however, the vast majority of Oregon and Washington wine production is small-batch, grown on boutique estates. For wine aficionados used to frequenting large, well-known wineries in California, Tuscany or France, the difference in experience is significant. Those seeking out boutique wineries in the Northwest will discover a world of hands-on winemaking, with winemakers attached to their grapes and the land they’re produced on, will discover wines no one else knows about, and will have unaccustomed access to winery owners.

Where to go for Northwest wine:

With over 700 wineries in Oregon and over 800 in Washington, choices are plentiful, but a wine weekend is best focused on one of four regions. In Oregon, the best-known option is to head to the Willamette Valley, where Pinot Noir reigns king. The wineries here are among the oldest in the state, with heritage winemaking over several generations. Take a tour with Grape Escape to make the most of your visit, and stop for dining in Newberg or McMinnville and consider an overnight stay at the Allison Inn and Spa or a more relaxed yurt stay (yes, yurt!) at Bradley Vineyards.

A few hours down I-5, Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley has emerged on the wine scene in the past ten years, producing wines that do well in hotter, drier climates. Take a day to enjoy the Applegate Wine Trail or Table Rock Wine Trail, and consider a stay in Ashland or Jacksonville to round out your weekend. South Stage Cellars in historic Jacksonville offers an excellent selection of local wine, as does Old 99 Road Wine Shop in Medford. For sweeping views of the Rogue Valley, wine taste and dine at Dancin’ Vineyards or Kriselle Cellars.

In Washington State, Walla Walla plays host to some of the top wineries, with the Walla Walla Wine Alliance bringing them all together. Stroll the quaint downtown sector of this small city, poking into various tasting rooms and wine bars. Take a wine tour or pair your trip with a visit to Washington’s other major wine region, along the Columbia River Gorge. This wine region is ideally situated to pair with a city visit to Portland or a weekend away in Hood River.

Types of wine to look for at boutique Northwest wineries this coming year: counter-culture chardonnay, MRV, and Grenache Blanc (as opposed to blends).

How to find boutique wines during a city vacation:

Not heading to wine country, but want to discover boutique wine in Portland or Seattle? Start with urban wineries, which typically buy grapes from around the region, or consider joining a localized wine club. Cellar 503 is based in Portland and ships Oregon wine to its members monthly. Cellar 503’s tasting room in the city offers a place for members to taste, congregate to share wine news, and educate.

In Washington state, it’s possible meander along an urban wine trail right in Seattle, or taste the best the state has to offer at Bottlehouse or The Tasting Room.

Wine festivals and competitions not to miss:

Serious about wine tasting and want the biggest bang for your buck? Head to a Northwest-focused wine competition. Topping the list: The Oregon Wine Experience, held each August in Jacksonville Oregon. 65 Oregon wineries will congregate in one place during one week, with winemaker’s dinners, award competitions, tastings and wine university classes. The Northwest Food and Wine Festival, held in Portland, is another sure bet, as is Taste NW’s Seattle Wine Awards.

However you experience the Pacific Northwest boutique wines, you can expect to be greeted in tasting rooms by owners (and probably their dogs), shouldn’t be surprised if you’re invited to tour a barrel room or two, and will be delighted by low tasting fees and affordable bottle prices. Cheers!

Grown Up Getaway: Eureka California wine and cider weekend

March 15, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

A wine weekend in…Eureka? Yes, California’s rugged northern ‘lost coast’ can make for an ideal grown-up getaway, provided you know where to go. Parents will feel completely away from it all, with cell service cutting delightfully in and out with each curve of Highway 101. The scenery is spectacular, the shopping and art scene funky and fun, and the cuisine is original, yet suburb.

Eureka California wine and cider weekend:

Eureka, California is about five hours north of San Francisco, up the windy coastal highway, Highway 101. We approached it from the north; Eureka is about 1.5 hours from Crescent City, California and four hours from our home in Southern Oregon. Either way, it’s far enough to feel transported. (I think we felt truly relaxed as we left the Redwood Highway by the California/Oregon border and turned south along the coastline.)

Stay at Carter House:

Eureka is known for their oysters, not their wineries, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find 100 point wines in town. Carter House is touted as a bed and breakfast, but we decided we’d consider it a closer cousin to a boutique hotel. With over 30 rooms in three Victorian buildings in the heart of historic downtown Eureka, Carter House has a beautiful bar with a 90-page wine list, including offerings from wineries such as Silver Oak, LaFite, and George Latour, and a wine cellar on premises that guests can tour (actually three wine cellars). Their Restaurant 301 is well-known in the area for their philosophy of local sourcing and seasonal ingredients; in fact, they have their own gardens across the street.

Our room at the Carter House was small but beautiful, with a jetted tub and the tall ceilings you can expect in a historic building. Downstairs, the bar and lobby areas invite guests to mingle for complimentary appetizers and wine during happy hour, and again at 8 pm, where complimentary tea and cookies are set out by the fireplace.

We wished the check-in desk was located slightly apart from the sitting areas of the lobby, as it took away from the ambiance, but during a three-day stay, this was our only complaint. We made a reservation at Restaurant 301 our first night, and were not disappointed. (I recommend the French onion soup, made from scratch on premises.) Guests can order wine by the glass or by the bottle during dinner or in the bar, and can expect bottle prices to start at around $50-60 and top out at a stunning $12,000. While such a wine was beyond our means by about $11,950, we enjoyed pursuing the menu. Restaurant 301 also offers a five-course tasting menu with wine pairings, for about $100 per person. Our meal with wine, appetizers, and an entry each was just over $100 for two, so we opted for the a la carte menu, but were tempted by the pairings. The bar has happy hour food to sample as well, such as truffle fries or rolled tacos, if you’re not up for a full meal.

At Carter House, guests are within walking distance of the rest of historic Eureka, which showcases an impressive number of restored Victorian buildings hugging the waterfront. (Outside the historic downtown area, Eureka gets significantly more dingy; anyone familiar with small, isolated towns with struggling economies will relate. We never felt unsafe; we just preferred the historic center while on a weekend vacation.) Within the historic downtown, we found multiple additional restaurants, including an additional wine bar called The Wine Spot with great selection and a friendly staff. There are also several art galleries, specialty shops, and bookstores. We recommend Humboldt Bay Bistro, Cafe Nooner, and Oberon Grille, all located within walking distance. You can also walk easily to the marina, located just a block from Carter House.

What you get for your room rate at Carter House:

No matter which room you book, a Carter House stay includes breakfast (hence the B&B designation), which is excellent. Each day, breakfast included a generous and gourmet continental breakfast buffet with fresh juices, baked goods, and fruit and granola, plus a complimentary menu of oatmeal, yogurt, toast, and the like. One special per day is also included complimentarily; during our stay, it was eggs Benedict and French toast.

You also get the nightly appetizers and tea/cookies that are set out in the lobby, and one glass of complimentary wine in the wine bar (one per person per stay, not per day). WiFi and parking are free, and the ambiance is warm. The staff is helpful and welcoming, and we found the room rate (in off-season) of $200 per night to be a good value.

Taste wine across the Eureka area:

In addition to the impressive wine cellar at Carter House, there are a number of small, but up-and-coming wineries in the area. Recommended to us were:

Persimmons Garden Gallery & Wine Tasting This winery is also a nursery, art gallery, wine bar, and cafe. 1055 Redway Dr., Redway.
Riverbend Cellars Located on the Eel River, Riverbend is producing Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah. 12990 Avenue of the Giants, Myers Flat.
Elk Prairie Vineyard For a remote tasting room experience, Elk Prairie’s wares can be sampled, above Humboldt Redwoods State Park.

Sip brews for grown-ups:

Eureka is home to Lost Coast Brewing and nearby Humboldt Brewing, so beer lovers will be content, but we love finding unique cider breweries, and were very impressed with Humboldt Cider Co. It’s located east of downtown in a residential area near the Eureka fairgrounds, and actually hard to find from the street (you’ll find it off Harris St). You need to go inside the parking area just past the fairgrounds, where a few other businesses are located, and it feels like you’re going to the wrong place, but once you get there, it’s great. They have a small but cutely decorated tasting room, and during our visit, had ten ciders on tap. We opted for a tasting of all ten for $17, which we happily shared. Their ciders ranged from very dry, hoppy brews to sweet brews laced with local honey or candied pecans…. we loved the honey one so much we bought a growler full to bring home.

Note: If you’re willing to go a bit further afield, try Bittersweet Sea Cider in Arcata.

Hiking and nature:

Between sipping wine and cider, we made our way down the coast about 40 miles to the Avenue of the Giants, located within Humboldt Redwoods State Park. This large park has multiple entrances and exits along Highway 101, with the headliner being the Avenue of the Giants, a 30+ mile roadway through towering redwoods. The ‘Ave’ used to be the original Highway 101, before it was rerouted, and driving through can take just an hour or so or all day, depending on how many times to stop to hike through the various redwood groves. You really can’t go wrong picking a path to hike; we tried several couple-mile loops, then ended up at the visitor center, located at about the halfway point along the Ave.

If you go north instead of south from Eureka, Patricks Point State Park is located directly on the rocky coastline by Trinidad, and offers multiple hiking loops and beach walks. There’s also a small visitors center, though we didn’t check it out, and campgrounds. The Inn of the Lost Coast is located at the end of Patricks Point Road at Shelter Cove, and has a causal eatery with ocean views for lunch. The seaside town of Trinidad itself is a great stop, with an iconic lighthouse and cute harbor for small fishing boats. You can explore small but beautiful Trinidad State Park, or just head to the adjacent city beach to watch the surf.

En route back toward Eureka, we decided to stop at Loleta Cheese Factory (at 252 Loleta Dr.). We were expecting a large cheese operation in this sleepy coastal town, but instead, found the factory to be in a small house. We took a chance and checked it out, and are so glad we did. This little cheese factory has amazing cheeses (all available for sampling), and best of all, in the back resides a grilled cheese bar, serving inventive sandwiches headlining their cheeses. Guy Fieri has featured it in Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (in fact, he’s recommended several establishments in the Eureka area, his home county). In the back of the grilled cheese bar area is a beautiful garden, which is inviting in the warmer months.

Tip: If you’re following this itinerary WITH kids in tow, this cheese shop would be a great stop; they even offer a fun scavenger hunt for kids when they arrive. Of course, all the hiking in Humboldt Redwoods State Park would be a excellent way to spend time as well.

During the summer months, it’s easy to rent kayaks or stand up paddle boards in Eureka or neighbor Arcata, and beach-going and picnicking is a popular pastime. Don’t be afraid of visiting Eureka during the off-season, however. We visited in February, and found the hotels to still be bustling, and the room rates to be slightly lower. While it rained during our visit, the chances of rain are significant during any time of year.

Have you been to Eureka or the Lost Coast for a weekend getaway? Where did you stay?

Photo credit: Unique Inns, Amy Whitley

Touring breweries and wineries (and how to take home souvenirs)

November 6, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Indulging in a libation or two while on vacation has always been popular, but with the number of microbreweries and wineries popping up all across the country, it’s now a legitimate way to experience a new destination. Here’s how to drink in the local culture, touring breweries and wineries on vacation, even with the kids in tow.

How to find the best local beer and wine:

You’ve arrived at your destination, and would love to get to know the wine or beer scene. The best way to go about this is with some pre-trip research, on-site polling, and dining. Ask the folks at your local hotel for recommendations, or talk to waiters or tour guides. They’re locals, and will know if there’s a craft brew or wine that’s the pride of the town. Pop into the visitor’s center or welcome center and ask about wine or beer trails. If you’re in a city or agricultural region, the answer is overwhelmingly, yes!

How to enjoy local beer and wine with kids in tow:

It can be tricky…as parents you want to unwind and enjoy a local craft brew or spend a few hours at a winery, but you also want to enjoy a family-friendly vacation. Here’s how to do both!

Make it about the process or the place, not about the booze. If an afternoon’s activity is all about tasting beer, and you’re 10, you’re not going to have fun. But if it’s all about the cool fermentation process during a factory tour, kids may dig it. Find a brewery that offers behind-the-scene tours of their floor, or look for a winery with an activity, such as a grape stomp or even rows of vines to stroll through.

Designate it as a picnic spot. Many wineries allow outside food to be brought in. We try to pair a winery visit with a local hike or biking trip, visiting at the end of our outdoor activity. This way, the winery is the destination for everybody, and the kids have the payoff of fun food while Mom and Dad taste.

Find wineries with outdoor space. Related to the tip above, a winery with outdoor space allows kids to play and explore, crucial to the experience. Many wineries have lawn games for families to play, or resident pets, like friendly dogs or bunnies. More and more wineries even offer planned kid activities.

Head to brewpubs instead of tasting rooms. A tasting room is going to be boring for kids, if they’re permitted inside at all (not likely). The good news: most microbrews are attached to restaurants, and almost all of them are highly kid-friendly, thanks to yummy pub food. Ideally, head to a pub that makes its own brew on-site, but lacking this, find a pub with local beers on tap. Parents will still taste the local culture and kids will get a great burger.

Enjoy local beer and wine in your vacation rental or room. Can’t find a kid-friendly venue to taste wine and beer? Head to a local grocery store, armed with knowledge about local brews and bottles. Look for cans of locally brewed beer and bottles of local wine, and enjoy after the kids settle in for the night.

Look for a local craft brew or wine at sporting events. Local pride is strong at sporting events and ski resorts. Take a careful look at the menu before ordering standard domestic beer…it’s very likely they’re serving the local brew alongside the usual suspects.

Attend a festival: One of the most fun ways to experience the local beer scene, brewfests or events like Bluegrass and Beer are almost always family affairs (just do your research to ensure there will be kid-friendly activities). Most brewfests we’ve attended included games for kids, music and dancing, and even activities like bungee jumping and ropes courses for kids to enjoy while parents sample brews.

How to take it home with you:

Beer and wine make for great souvenirs, albeit tricky ones to transport. When visiting breweries, bring your own growler to take some suds home with you or to enjoy in the days following your visit. At wineries, cases can be shipped home for you, but if you want only a few bottles, consider investing in a wine transportation sleeve. Our picks:

Hydroflask growler: I’m an Oregonian, so local Hydroflask is the only growler option for me! This 64 ounce flask keeps beer cold up to 24 hours, which means you can enjoy a pint or two the night of a brewpub visit, but also enjoy another round the next night…even if you’ve moved on. The walls are insulated, and totally temperature controlled. Pour your beer from the growler into the Hydroflask True Pint glass (which are also great for keeping kids’ water cool by their bedsides at night). Pick up the growler for under $45 on Amazon.

Wine skin: Pick up a padded or inflatable wine skin to transport wine bottles home without damage. You’ll need to check your luggage if flying, but if you’ve left room in your bag for a few bottles, this is still more economical than shipping wine home. We like this reusable wine skin that comes in a two-pack.