Sonia's American Adventure

Last month, Sonia and her husband, Garth, took a fantastic trip to San Francisco, Napa Valley and Seattle. She came back with loads of information, practical tips and feedback on her tours and experiences.

Sonia has shared the highlights, hot tips, and personal experiences from California!

First stop: San Francisco, California

A vibrant city, San Francisco definitely leaves an impression. For Sonia, it was familiar territory, but she was excited to refresh her memories by ticking a few must-do’s off the list.

“As return visitors to the city we chose Baker Beach for a quieter and different view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

We then headed to Haight-Ashbury, a historic neighbourhood in San Francisco known for its association with the 1960s counterculture and the hippie movement. This place is full of life and colour just as we remembered from a visit two decades ago.

Finally, we dove head-first into Japantown, also known as Nihonmachi. Such an energetic and culturally rich area in San Francisco - we could have been in Tokyo! Dinner and drinks in the Fillmore district to rounded out a great day!

And of course, we couldn’t pass through San Francisco without paying a visit to the painted ladies, the iconic Victorian and Edwardian houses along Alamo Square.

Hot tip! If you find yourself in this area of the world, treat yourself to the BEST fish tacos in Sausalito.

Next stop - Napa Valley

Napa Valley is renowned around the world for its wine, and it is spectacular in the fall! Plus, Autumn is an excellent time for wine tasting. The cooler temperatures make it comfortable to explore various vineyards and sample a wide range of wines. The weather is pleasant, and the vineyards turn stunning shades of red, orange, and yellow.

This time of year is also harvest season which offers you the chance to witness the grape harvest activities, with some wineries allowing visitors to participate in grape stomping or other harvest-related activities.

“We had a great day out with Platypus Winetours in the Napa Valley! Stops at Madrigal Family Winery, Merry Vale Vineyards and Varozza Vineyards in St Helena - all local, family-owned boutique wineries. With just ten of us in the group and our fab driver-guide Linda to show us the way, this tour is highly recommended!”

Sonia’s hot tip: Did you know that some of Napa Valley’s restaurants allow you to BYO? So pick out a favourite bottle from your wine tastings and take it with you to dinner!

Last stop - Thanksgiving in Seattle!

Nestled in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle has its own unique charm. The city is nestled along Puget Sound and is known for its coffee culture, tech industry, and of course is grunge music scene.

As a return visitor to Seattle, Sonia had already ticked a number of must-visits off on previous trips, including the Chihuly Garden and Glass.

"Highlights this trip for us were heading to the top of the Space Needle, the Museum of Pop Culture (a must-visit for Nirvana fans!), Pike Place and the famous Gum Wall. And of course watching a football game (NFL) at Lumen Field, known for its passionate fans and incredibly atmosphere."

Lucky for Sonia her team the San Francisco 49ers demolished the Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving Thursday. Go Niners!