Why We Needed a Reset
After months of working our butts off, trying to keep up with our kids’ activities (all the birthdays for most of my boys and husband, Christmas shopping, wrapping, soccer, swimming lessons, figuring out baseball registration, and navigating different pickup times from two schools…not to mention volunteering at one of them), I knew we needed a break. Whoooowee.
As a stay-at-home mom, I’m also prepping healthy meals and tackling the constant household tasks… the reset was long overdue. We hadn’t had a weekend away with the five of us… ever? I suppose our trips home to Newfoundland count, but this time we needed something close by.
So when the chance came to escape for a mini vacation, we chose Windsor, California, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
As Canadians now calling California home, the drive itself is a huge part of the adventure! We always take the opportunity to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, maaaaan I love it. Such a classic drive that instantly puts me in a vacation state of mind.
We both had never been there before (I’ve only been to Santa Rosa on a girls trip pre-kids, ages ago!). It’s nestled in Sonoma County, just north of San Francisco, it offers the charm of a smaller town with access to beautiful nature, and good food. It felt like the perfect place for us, and give our family the weekend we’ve been meaning to take for so long.
What was so wonderful about the weekend was how family friendly Windsor feels.. it’s safe, walkable, relaxed, and full of parks, restaurants, and open spaces that make traveling with kids so much easier.
It felt like exactly the kind of place our family needed.
Checking In: Hampton Inn & Suites Windsor
This is an especially magical time to stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites. The fireplace in the lounge area, the cozy atmosphere…it all felt so inviting.
We left the busyness behind and arrived in Windsor with open arms, and lower expectations, ha I’m serious, with kids ya gotta be like that! Instead of trying to cram in everything, we chose to slow down. Our family checked into the newly renovated Hampton Inn and Suites, unpacked, and let the kids lounge, and just be. The hotel is so modern and clean and the boys immediately approved of the spacious room. The staff also included a pack’n play for our toddler, which made the bedtime routine feel like home.
Our supper plans that evening was sorta like a choose your own adventure. Shall I say, risky with 3 little food critics? But Windsor has a lot of great options.
Afterward, we drove less than 10 minutes to Healdsburg to see their Christmas lights and kids activities downtown. It was decorated so nice! Christmas is my FAVOURITE time of year by the way, so you can imagine how happy I was.
Wine Tasting With Kids (Yes, It’s Possible!)
Saturday morning was slow and misty. My boys didn’t want to join me for a walk, so we did some crafts from Healdsburg the night before. Around lunchtime, we headed back to Healdsburg for a wine tasting at Foppiano Vineyards.
Foppiano is only a short drive from Windsor and is a true Sonoma County gem…one of the oldest family owned wineries in the region, operating since 1896.
We settled down as much as we could with our 3 energetic boys for our scheduled tasting . And…..to make the experience even more special, Costeaux French Bakery had sent over a wonderful picnic lunch for us to enjoy. Instead of rushing to a restaurant, we were presented with beautiful boxes that honestly elevated the afternoon. After our tastings were done, we got a grand tour of where they made and stored the wine.
Mid afternoon the toddler was overdue for his nap and succeeded (pitch black room thanks to those fantastic blackout blinds!) and my husband rested, I took the older boys across the street for Starbucks.
When we returned, we toured the hotel, like ya would….checking out the guest laundry, fitness center, and the pool/hot tub area. It was too chilly to swim, so we cozied up inside with complimentary coffee for me and hot chocolate for the boys. They loved that.
Supper Adventures in Windsor
For supper, we headed to KIN Windsor. Located right in Windsor on the Town Green, KIN is a fantastic restaurant option, especially if you’re looking for a family friendly spot with delicious food and an inviting atmosphere. Everything you want after a full day.
We found the service to be just as impressive as the meal. Our waiter, Harrison, was absolutely fantastic as he was so attentive, friendly, and quick! He served the boys their own kid friendly charcuteries (super cute) asked if the kids needed kid cups (yes, yes they do), and also suggested we order the kids meals and have it out faster than our meal (their pizzas came as soon as our appetizers arrived).
I ordered Pan seared salmon filet, with a chipotle maple glaze, butternut squash puree, wild rice, and seasonal vegetables (just as incredible as it sounds honestly), and Scott went for the Creamy Tuscan Chicken served with mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, topped with roasted garlic, tomato, and spinach cream sauce. I could’ve eaten all of his mashed potatoes hah! Great atmosphere, delicious food, and zero complaints from the kids… which might be the highest compliment.
We were in and out in about an hour (!!), making it an excellent choice for a satisfying, yet quick supper before heading to our next activity which was taking a stroll through the Charlie brown themed Christmas trees! The Town Green is lined with what felt like hundreds of small trees, each adopted and decorated by local families, schools, and businesses.
Headed back to the hotel and warmed up in our room, watching a movie before settling down for our last nights sleep.
The next morning we enjoyed one more hot breakfast at the hotel, packed up our bags, and checked out. The Hampton staff was wonderful all weekend, and the recent renovations really showed everything felt fresh, and new, and of course family friendly. We truly felt taken care of.
We packed up the rental car and wanted wanted to explore more. As a Snoopy fan, I always wanted to check out the Charles Schulz museum in Santa Rosa, so that’s where we went! I’m pretty sure we were there for more than 2-3 hours, most of the time was spent immersed in the art room (the toddler napped in the stroller for most of it… praise be!) and my two older boys and I had an excellent time drawing, and doing origami.
The museum is a fantastic tribute to the life and work of Charles Schulz, who called Santa Rosa home for decades. We got to see a re-creation of his actual studio, view original comic strips up close, and explore the outdoor gardens. It was a memorable conclusion to our Sonoma County escape.
Our Cozy Holiday Weekend Takeaway
Our weekend in Windsor and Healdsburg full of holiday sparkle, delicious food, and cozy corners proved that Sonoma County is more than just a wine destination… it’s a welcoming, and festive haven for families looking for a Northern California getaway.
I’m a little behind on blog posts so bare with me. I am going on my 3rd cold/illness since Halloween and all of last week we had all 3 boys home for the Thanksgiving break. So, of course we HAVE to get out of the house – as a boy mom x 3 if you know you know. Life is better outside than in with the constant fighting.
For the outing, I dressed them in 
I google mapp’ed the time back to our house and it was going to take way too long so off we went back down to Palo Alto and headed over to Nealon Park. Spent a great bit of time there and google maps was still in the red zone. Another detour? Sure! Let’s do it. I knew we were somewhat close to the not-so hidden gem, Redwood Grove in Los Altos. Honestly, we only stopped for about fifteen minutes before it got too dark to safely explore anymore…and I get incredibly sketched out exploring the woods after sunset!
For some reason this year Santa must’ve been on a limited schedule and I had a hard time securing a spot for visiting him at Bass Pro Shops. My five-year-old calls Bass Pro Shops: Santa’s Workshop (adorable) and with the impressive setup they have each year I can’t blame him.
What a day!