California

Did last week really happen? That’s the question that keeps playing over and over in my mind when I wake up in the middle of the night, and what pops up first thing every morning. It’s gotten slightly quieter as the days have passed; last Monday night, every time I woke up and remembered, I felt like I was being punched in the stomach.

It’s all still so hard to comprehend.

We actually arrived home from the gloriousness that was our trip to Northern California wine country on Monday morning at around 10:30 a.m. The original plan was to land at 7 a.m., get a few hours of sleep and head down to Hereford and Boylston Street, where we watch the marathon when I’m not running. Our delay meant getting to sleep later and ultimately staying home. I woke up from my nap groggy and sad; Sonoma is where I love to be, and I had lived for this trip. I couldn’t imagine feeling more down than I did at that moment.

We all know what happened next. None of my friends or family were physically affected, thank God, but the sense that I might never feel happy again invaded my heart and wouldn’t budge. I didn’t want to blog, or eat, or work, and couldn’t sleep. Honestly, I kind of still feel that way. A few people who live in other places have mentioned it must be nice to be back to normal; I think most of us don’t really know what normal is right now. I feel like I am going through the motions of every day in a little bit of a fog. One day at a time. . .

I guess blogging is a step in the right direction though, so I’m here to tell you about  the most perfect little getaway on the planet, Timber Cove Inn. We made our third visit to this rustic little retreat on the Northern Sonoma Coast a couple of weeks ago, and it’s pretty easy to see why we keep coming back.

In miles, Timber Cove is not that far from the heart of the Russian River Valley and Dry Creek Valley, but give yourself time to get there. Winding, sometimes one-lane roads high above the Pacific mean slow travel, and breathtaking vistas mean you will want to stop multiple times. Once you arrive at Timber Cove, just breathe. The air is pristine, peppered with the smell of redwoods and the sea, and all you can hear is the sound of crashing waves below. It is heaven.

Timber Cove offers a variety of rooms and packages, and they have some great deals.

We took advantage of the Romance Package, with a S’mores add on. Our package included an oceanfront room with a spa tub, a bottle of Scharffenberger sparkling wine, and a delicious breakfast on-site at Alexander’s.

You won’t want or need to do much when you arrive at Timber Cove, but there are some pretty walking trails if staring out at the ocean gets tiresome. We found “Lover’s Lane”, a path down to a cliff with a seat for two, along the way.

Hearts are etched into the cliffside. . . L’amour.

As you would imagine, the Pacific sunsets at Timber Cove are one of the best parts of the day. We tend to enjoy the slow sunset from Alexander’s Restaurant, taking a few minutes from our Sonoma wine to take in the pink, orange, and yellow as the sun drops into the sea.

Speaking of Sonoma wine, Alexander’s at Timber Cove offers quite the list. I love this FerrarI Carano Fume Blanc.

The food at Alexander’s is outstanding and means you don’t have to leave the property, a good thing since there’s not much for miles around. The “Ridiculous” burger was ridiculously delicious, as were the truffle fries that came along.

Tuna tartare was fresh and mixed with raw corn, a crunchy, sweet favorite of mine. And while the food at Alexander’s is great, the service is even better. For the second time in a row, we sat at the bar and hung out with Karen, the best bartender ever. Seriously, she has made our visits to Timber Cove so much fun. She knows the area well and gives great advice (Order snacks to go after dinner. Once the kitchen closes, there’s no food until the morning, and it’s not like there are stores nearby. The cheese plate was a good call for a late-night snack.).

The best part of having an ocean front room at Timber Cove is leaving the sliding glass door slightly open so that you can hear waves crashing all night, the most perfect way to fall asleep. Being on East Coast time means being up for a magnificent sunrise, a peaceful calm before everyone else is awake, and ensures an appetite for a big breakfast and perhaps a mimosa at Alexander’s, again while overlooking the ocean. I don’t think there is a better way to prepare for a little wine tasting.

Timber Cove is really a special spot and now a fun Sonoma County tradition for us. Our last trip was perfection; I don’t think I could possibly be happier than I was during those days. It all seems like so far away and so long ago, but blogging certainly brings a little bit of it back to life.

How are you all doing after this whirlwind, heartbreaking, scary week?