Good morning!
Ahhh I slept FABULOUSLY last night after that amazing meal! My mom and I are staying at The Napa River Inn and I just love it. The hotel is one of the historic hotels of America and most rooms have fireplaces and balconies. It’s so quaint!
For the record, I was asked to review this hotel for the blog. Legally, I have to tell y’all that. It’s definitely one of the perks of the job. 😉 However, I really don’t have too many negative things to say. I grew up in the hospitality business, as my mom was a manager of a Ritz Carlton for many years when I was young. I adore hotels, especially little ones that have old fashioned touches. This is definitely that! My favorite part definitely was the fireplace in the bedroom…super cozy!
The hotel is in the small town of Napa, about 15 minutes away from Yountville. Though I haven’t really explored the area, it seems really cute…sort of like stepping back in time.
So, this morning I woke up at 6:30, laced up my sneakers (ate half of an Odwalla protein bar) and went on a mission to find the exercise room for a quick workout! It’s all about balance, guys…..I don’t feel guilty at all enjoying such a fabulous meal last night because I know that’s one side of a healthy balance that also includes exercise! The exercise room was incredibly tiny….it had a treadmill, an elliptical machine, a bike and a weight machine (that was broken). I opted for the treadmill and did an Angela inspired fast paced incline workout for 20 minutes. I was happy because speed walking on an incline didn’t bother my ankle, whereas I still can’t run (trust me, I’ve tried…it doesn’t work). It felt great to break a sweat and afterward I did some crunches and stretched.
Breakfast is complimentary here with your stay and last night I opted for the egg and cheese bagel with fresh fruit, fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and coffee!
It was SO good!!! The bagel was huge so I only ate half + all the fruit, juice and coffee. I love grapefruit juice….that and orange juice reminds me of home.
Today we’re really not in a huge rush to get back….it’s my mom’s last day here so we are just roaming around and enjoying it all. We are definitely stopping at the CIA though so I can look around and pretend I’m back in culinary school. 😉 It seems so long ago now! Also, a tasting at Cakebread and a potential trip to the Outlets.
Enjoy your Wednesday!
Tracy
November 18, 2009 at 9:13 amI went to Napa in May for my 1 year anniversary – we ate at Bottega and had the same tuna app as you! SO good! Cakebread was my favorite winery of every single one – I hope you love it!
simpledaisy
November 18, 2009 at 9:18 amWhat a cute little place!! Enjoy:)
Megan @ Megzz Wins At Life
November 18, 2009 at 9:27 amCute pictures!! Looks fabulous!
Carolyn
November 18, 2009 at 9:29 amHave fun! Love the hotel! 🙂
valerie
November 18, 2009 at 9:29 amOhh Cakebread! I LOVE that place. It is great. I hope you and your mom have a fabulous day.
Kati
November 18, 2009 at 9:30 amSuch a fun time with your mom! That breakfast looks grand!
katherine
November 18, 2009 at 9:31 amMmm I love Cakebread! Have a great time 🙂
Diana
November 18, 2009 at 9:32 amYep, definitely love hotels that have a classic, old fashioned feel to them. 🙂
Hope youre having a great day!
lindsay
November 18, 2009 at 9:32 amI love hotels with lots of character. A fireplace in the bedroom sounds so cozy 🙂 The furniture looks really pretty too. It’s definitely all about the balance, a little wine and gourmet food, a little sweat, and it all evens out. Have a fabulous day with your Mom!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
November 18, 2009 at 9:33 amThat place looks gorgeous!
Evan Thomas
November 18, 2009 at 9:36 amThat breakfast looks awesome for a hotel! SO nice and healthy yet delicious 🙂
Jessica
November 18, 2009 at 9:48 amWow. I’m just dropping by for the first time here to comment on your blog. Ever since I found it a few weeks ago, I’ve been LOVING it. I seriously wish I could be you 😉 I went to Sonoma (Healdsburg!!) for the first time for my 30th birthday this past October and LOVED it. I also just started a blog of my own that’s fitness-inspired but speaks to the “balance” mantra you bring to your blog, another reason I love what you have to say everyday! That and getting to see all the fabulous wineries you get to visit and work for, of course 😉
Erin
November 18, 2009 at 9:52 amWow, that hotel looks gorgeous. Enjoy the rest of your time with your mom. 🙂
Estela @ Weekly Bite
November 18, 2009 at 10:01 amLooks like a beautiful hotel!
Cynthia (It All Changes)
November 18, 2009 at 10:04 amThat’s a nice perk 🙂
Hunni and I stayed in a hotel like that once and had a blast. It was nice to cozy by the fire.
Sarah (Oc2Seattle)
November 18, 2009 at 10:06 amCakebread is so good! If you’re doing a little more tasting you might want to check out Stag’s Leap – fabulous petit syrah.
Paige (Running Around Normal)
November 18, 2009 at 10:10 amHow cool they asked you to review the hotel! It sounds magnificant!
Good for you for getting up and finding a way to workout 🙂 The post-walk breakkie looks fab.
Chrysta
November 18, 2009 at 10:11 amOh wow! That all looks and sounds fantastic! I hope you have a fabulous day!
Tasha - The Clean Eating Mama
November 18, 2009 at 10:17 amLooks like a great night! Thanks for sharing!
Megan (The Runner's Kitchen)
November 18, 2009 at 10:24 amWas the breakfast delivered via room service? Just wondering why everything is covered in saran wrap! Looks yummy though – hotel breakfasts are one of my favorite things! I walk by fancy hotels on my way to work and imagine myself as a tourist instead 🙂
laura dishes
November 18, 2009 at 10:26 amWhat a great perk! I’ve never stayed in the town of Napa, but I’ve been wanting to try Ubuntu!
I love Cakebread’s sauvignon blanc… very reasonably priced when you buy it in the tasting room!
brandi
November 18, 2009 at 10:34 amit looks beautiful! How cool to get to review it for the blog 🙂
enjoy your day!
Leianna
November 18, 2009 at 10:34 amI love exploring new hotels and this one looks fabulous! Love the breakfast, very fresh and grapefruit juice is my favorite too!
Have a great last day with your mom!
Karla
November 18, 2009 at 10:40 amI love hotels! They make me feel like I’m in fantasy land!
How on earth did you get them to ask you to review the hotel??
Dara @ MyVeryFirstKitchen
November 18, 2009 at 10:42 amI adore small and historic hotels as well! Now that you are on the west coast, you should really make your way to Willamette Valley in Oregon and stay at Hotel Oregon (suuuper historic quaint hotel!) By the way, as I am sure you know, Willamette Valley in OR is PINOT NOIR COUNTRY! My fav:) The hotel is right in the heart of wine country and the town is called McMinnville. when you have time, look it up!
Christie @ Honoring Health
November 18, 2009 at 10:42 amLook like a charming little place to stay.
Enjoy the rest of your time with your mom!
Joelle (The Pancake Girl))
November 18, 2009 at 10:51 amHow fun! You and your mom do look alike, btw!
Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats
November 18, 2009 at 10:53 amCakebread!! My FAVORITE wine – sooo delicious!
Hallie
November 18, 2009 at 11:00 amI just read your last post, and I had to tell you that your writing and experiences totally remind me of Eat Pray Love, only of course a Nor Cal version. I think your book is going to be really popular, think about what a hit EPL was! These experiences you’re having are so amazing and while I’ll admit I am jealous, I know you work VERY hard for everything you have and this is going to make amazing material for the book! Can’t wait.
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries
November 18, 2009 at 11:09 amIt looks adorable! Glad you’re making workouts, hmm, work for you while you’re ankle is still healing. It’s always hard working around injuries–but you’ll be back in action pronto 🙂
Kat (kats daily plate)
November 18, 2009 at 11:22 amWhat a great perk! The hotel + food look lovely!
Mel
November 18, 2009 at 11:29 amThe hotel seems so quaint, definitely a place I’m keeping in mind, in case I ever go to Napa!
Liz
November 18, 2009 at 11:30 amWhat fun trip with your mom! You sure do get some great perks through your line of work 😉
Nicole (dishin')
November 18, 2009 at 11:34 amHave fun on your Mom’s last day! Looks like a great place to spend it 🙂
Stephanie
November 18, 2009 at 11:45 amHooray for Cakebread – DELICIOUS!!!
Caitlin in MD
November 18, 2009 at 11:47 amJenna, I thought your parents were coming for Thanksgiving? What are your holiday plans now?
Tania @ Moment Anew
November 18, 2009 at 11:51 amSounds like you’re having an amazing time! Enjoy…you deserve it! 🙂
diana(mymarble rye)
November 18, 2009 at 11:59 amCan I do a review on a bed and breakfast with you next time? Thanks. 🙂
Marissa
November 18, 2009 at 12:13 pmThat looks like an awesome fruit bowl! 🙂 Not a dinky little thing like most places have.
Jess (Fit Chick in the City)
November 18, 2009 at 12:13 pmI wish I was going to Cakebread today instead of working. 😉 Have fun!
Ali @ Food, Fitness, Fashion
November 18, 2009 at 12:26 pmLooks fun!!! That hotel looks so fancy 🙂
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg
November 18, 2009 at 12:40 pmHey Jenna, I’m listening to this NPR story as I grade, and it made me think of you (it’s about Thomas Keller). You should listen to it when you get a chance!
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120133084
Sarah @ See Sarah Eat
November 18, 2009 at 12:52 pmI didn’t know your mom was the manager of a hotel, how neat! I think one of the best things a hotel can do is include breakfast…it’s a deal breaker when we are looking for a place to stay if they don’t 😉
Enjoy the rest of your day!
Hillary @ Nutrition Nut on the Run
November 18, 2009 at 1:22 pmHave you eaten at the restaurant at the CIA? If not, you must sometime. It’s fabulous. It’s such a beautiful school!
Ameena
November 18, 2009 at 1:32 pmWhat an amazing hotel! You are so lucky!!
Light Delight with TouTou
November 18, 2009 at 2:01 pmwow! review of hotel ? you are so lucky!! it really looks cozy and fabulous, nice review!
Christina MINDFUL LIVING
November 18, 2009 at 3:06 pmmy parents lovedd cake bread when they went to napa!! hope you enjoy it as well 😉
Shelly
November 18, 2009 at 3:08 pmHi Jenna,
I’m sure you don’t remember me from home, but I love your blog! Next time you go to Napa River Inn, you HAVE to go to Angele..right next door. It is awesome and if you go on a Thursday they usually have 1/2 price wine night. ENJOY!
Kristen
November 18, 2009 at 3:18 pmI have been wanting to go to Napa for so long. Your trip looks fantastic and I am glad you can spend QT with your mom.
I love discovering small towns and some of the smaller old fashioned hotels are bed and breakfasts. I feel you can really get to know the character of the town and people better when staying in places like that.
skinnyrunner
November 18, 2009 at 3:59 pmcakebread!! the first (and only) time i drank it i got sick… i seemed to drink alot of it, mixed in with pomegranite mojitos, ahi tuna, and champagne. yeah, the throw up was as gross as it sounds.
rebecca lustig
November 18, 2009 at 4:18 pmI’m glad you’re having an enjoyable time with your mom, dear!
And as for the power walking– I’m ALL into that.. Especially after I broke my foot last year.
Hope you have a superb evening, lovely lady!
tons of love,
becca xo
Jenna
November 18, 2009 at 4:57 pmglad you enjoyed your stay and breaky!
jenna
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca)
November 18, 2009 at 5:32 pmThe hotel looks lovely! Thanks for the review!!
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun)
November 18, 2009 at 5:39 pmI love hotels. Thanks to my job, I often get to stay in pretty swank ones for free. The Ritz Carlton in Boston is definitely one of the best ones I’ve ever been to! I agree with you, though, the unique ones with antique touches and personalized atmosphere really are wonderful and leave such memorable impressions.
Kudos on the workout!
Naomi(onefitfoodie)
November 18, 2009 at 6:11 pmwhat a fabulous Review! I certainly would stay at this hotel (resort) any day!! that breakfast looked delicious and that bagel is huge!!!
your pictures are so beautifully taken!!
Angela (Oh She Glows)
November 18, 2009 at 6:18 pmok could your mom look any more like my mom??? LOL. I swear its her! They must meet someday!
Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat)
November 18, 2009 at 6:34 pmOH CAKEBREAD! I can’t wait to hear how it is!
lk
November 18, 2009 at 6:37 pmyour mom is adoreable and the hotel is so gorgeous! BTW, it was nice to meet you at the foodbuzz fest! I’ve been so swamped at work that I’ve been being on my blog reading since I’ve gotten back .
J
November 18, 2009 at 6:38 pmI am looking forward to your book and Paris “memoirs”!
I actually thought your book was going to be about your brother John ….maybe the next book?He just sounds like such a wonderful young man .
Will you include a lot of your personal life from that time(like Ryan’s visit,etc)or will the book me more centred on your foodie experiences there?
Anyways,no need to respond really.Just wanted really to say I will definitelyt buy your book if for sale in a small bookstore in Canada!(I try not to support big book chainstores if I can help it!)
You definitely have a big fan base already and we all look forward to your first book.Very impressive at 25(or 24?)
Congrats and happy writing and Sonoma living over the comign months 🙂 all the best!
amanda
November 18, 2009 at 6:39 pmLooks like you and your mom are having a great time together. Enjoy eating all the great food and shopping before she leaves.
eatmovelove
November 18, 2009 at 7:01 pmI heart bagel sandwiches 🙂