After a few days of roughing it in the wilderness and an already crazy half year, I knew we would be ready for a night of indulgence when I was scoping out a getaway spot that could feel as remote as it did luxurious, but within an hour’s drive from San Francisco.

Gaige House, A Four Sisters Inn, nestled deep in Sonoma County totally hit the spot! Located in Glen Ellen, a small town 20 minutes from Sonoma town center, the Inn was as quaint as the hamlet itself. Constructed in the 1800s by a renowned butcher, the house was, in fact, a butcher shop in a previous life. Fortunately for my vegetarian sensibilities, there are no signs of this past other than a couple of pictures hung on the walls. Instead, zen-like tranquility drips from every corner of the space. From the picnic tables and hammock lined up by the gently flowing Calabaza Creek to the hot tub nestled under the frangipani trees to the thoughtfully appointed Zen suites, the attention to luxurious details was impressive.

We arrived just in time for the evening happy hour at 5 pm where we sampled some local wines and cheese. After a brief tour of the property, we were led to our gorgeous suite. The bamboo furniture, a lush courtyard with a small gurgling fountain and the striking granite soaking tub in the bathroom loosened up the tension in our muscles as we took it all in. We spent as much time as we could in our suite indulging in our beautiful sanctuary.

There are a few dinner and winery options right in Glen Ellen and even within walking distance. The Fig Cafe came highly recommended but we decided to venture out to downtown Sonoma to spend a beautiful summer night. Dinner and a bodacious pinot noir in the outdoor courtyard under the stars at Harvest Moon Cafe were followed by drinks and dessert at Tasca Tasca, a Portuguese wine bar.

Lovely Pinot at dinner

Enjoying a beautiful summer night

The next day being July 4th, we had limited winery options and wanted to avoid going back to downtown Sonoma which was hosting a parade and street festival. We went to the Cline Cellars, sister winery to the much more opulent Jacuzzi Winery and spent a lovely afternoon tasting French varietals before settling with a bottle of the Viognier at the picnic tables under the sun.

We came back refreshed and rejuvenated from our respite outside the city.

Veggie Delite Tip: Try the Chitarra pasta at Harvest Moon Cafe (garlicky goodness) and the creamy passion fruit mousse at Tasca Tasca.