Camping in style

This past weekend I went with two of my girlfriends on a little 3.5 hour road trip up to Mendocino, a beautiful area with Redwoods, campground, hiking, beaches, and of course wine tasting. Really can't get any better than that.

I booked a great camp site months ago (Site #25 - I recommend it) in the Russian Gulch State Park, off of Route 1 about 15 miles from Hwy 128. Our site was located on the bend of this stream that lined the campground, right between the toilets and the showers. The space to put our tents was right next to the stream, shaded by a big tree which offered mucho privacy (especially nice for couple camping). The ground came with a fire pit, lock box, picnic table, and parking spot - pretty standard for most car camping sites. We stayed for two nights and woke up each morning to the sounds of birds chirping, water rippling, and the occasional laughing or screaming child (apparently this came ground is also great for families with small children).

On Saturday, after having some breakfast and a couple early morning Bud Lights, we put on our sundresses and hopped in the car to drive a half hour south for some wine tasting. All the wine tasting in Navarro county is free, with the exception of 4 or 5 places (whom charge $10 max). This not only makes for a cheap day, but it gives you a much more relaxed mentality that you certainly won't get in Napa or St. Helena. Our first stop was Roderer, where we sampled some sparking wine and got the evil eye a couple times from the pourer. Needless to say, the wine was decent but the service lacked. Next we drove about 30 feet to Husch, which was one of the very first wineries established in the county. They operate out of a little cabin with some tables out back, and they offer many wines that are only available in the tasting room, including their T-Bud Dry Cuvee Gewurztraminer and Old Vine Zinfandel (both of which I couldn't resist purchasing). They also have a fantastic Chardonnay and some very nice Pinot Noirs (FYI: the entire valley is known for producing sweet whites like Riesling and Gewurztraminer, but also for their bold and fruity Pinot Noirs. This mainly has to do with the cooler climate that is caused by their proximity to the ocean, but for more information click here). We also stopped at Navarro Vineyards, which features a list of 14+ wines to choose from, and you can even taste all of them if you want, FOR FREE! They also have a nice little picnic area to bring some cheese and bread to munch on. Our next stop was a little young winery called Toulouse. It rests on top of the hill, with great views of the mountains and valley, and some excellent wines to taste, including a delicious Rose Pinot Noir, and a 2006 Pinot Noir that makes licorice taste like chocolate when you consume them together. Our last stop was Goldeneye, which is a "fancy" little spot by the same team the produces Duckhorn and Paraduxx in Napa Valley. We sat on their outdoor patio and grazed with some cheese and currants, before taking a walk through the vineyard. The sun was shining and the wine was flowing! Though Goldeneye charges for their tastings, it's totally worth it.

After chowing down on some sandwiches to soak up the day's alcohol intake, we rode back to the campground for some more relaxation. I was in charge of the fire pit for the weekend, and I did a pretty damn good job. I learned how to build a fire from my ex-boyfriend on my last camping trip and I must say it definitely came in handy for this one. My fire rocked! We cooked up some ground turkey and veggie burritos and some grilled veggies and had a little outdoor feast, complete with whiskey and apple juice - my favorite camping beverage. After some card games, star gazing and chit chat, we headed to our tents for another night of slumber in the great outdoors.

After cleaning up the site the next morning, we went on a long hike through the back of the camp grounds. We hiked to the top of a mountain, filled with century-old Redwood trees, purple flowers, and some narrow pathways. Once we reached the top, we descended into a beautiful waterfall, where we took a rest and fed some Cheez-its to a fatty chipmunk. All-in-all, a great hike to cap off a fantastic sunny weekend. If you have an interest in wine, or you just like to camp and be in a serene environment - definitely make the trip to Mendocino this summer.