Here are options we're considering for our "Vacation Home/2nd Home" in Orlando.....
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Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Napa Valley Reunion Day 5
August 16
Today is our final day of the Napa Valley adventure. When I was putting together our itinerary and researching the various wineries, what drew me to VJB was two things. First, our hostess, Bridget had recommended it because on Saturdays they host a table lunch while being serenaded by Italian tenors. But when I called them I discovered that the Saturday we'd be here, that wasn't offered. As we talked about the experience and I was told it was a wine tasting accompanied by wood fired pizza I knew this would be right up our alley. What I did not realize is that like our first winery stop, it was literally a five minute walk from our home. How convenient! When we arrived we were escorted into a court yard which so very much reminded me of a courtyard in an Italian villa. It was very laid back and I remarked that the experience seemed to me like a neighborhood winery experience. We got to taste four different wines while we ate a lunch of Caesar's Salad and three different pizzas - a Florentine, a bacon & cheese, and a plain cheese. While they were all good, the simple cheese pizza was the most tasty. As we were eating we noted a gelato shop on the other end of the courtyard and asked about it. And once our meal was complete we walked over because I KNEW I wanted to try that. Everyone else wanted to visit a winery next door, and I said that was a good idea, and when they came back for THEIR gelato I'd get a second one :) And to make it an even more unique experience, the gelato I got was a "Raspberry Cabernet" flavor. Just delicious. This evening we will pack and head out early tomorrow morning for our respective flights home. We have already tossed around several ideas for our next get together - and I should add, so many of the places we went and/or people we met asked about how we met. And when it came up that we met on a Viking river cruise and we've been great friends since, everyone thinks that is very cool that we continue to see one another.
The winery
Our daily photo op
Cheers!
We're home for about a month before taking off on our next adventure. We are flying to Hanoi, Vietnam for the Viking Rivers "Magnificent Mekong" itinerary where we will meet up with our good friends Valerie & John whom we met on our Viking Nile River cruise adventure.
Friday, August 15, 2025
Napa Valley Reunion Day 4
August 15
Today was certainly one of THE highlight days as we traveled to Calistoga and boarded the Napa Valley Wine Train for a three-hour, "Vista Dome - Gourmet Lunch" adventure. The drive was without incident and we were at the train station in about 45 minutes - again, kudos to Kim for getting us there smoothly and safely. I checked us in with the pre-paid ticket and was given our "boarding pass" as we were assigned to be in "Group A" - the first group to board. We had about fifteen minutes before they called our group and we exited the train station, crossed the platform and walked to the domed dining cars near the back of the train. We had a table for four right across a table for two, where Kim and I sat. The waiter was excellent and kept a good flow of personal conversation with our group, mixed with his general commentary to the entire car. He went through the menu, explaining we had a four-course meal in front of us and he explained the various options and gave his recommendations. Soon we were on our way and traveled for about two hours with vineyards and wineries passing us by constantly on both side of the train. Very peaceful and panoramic views as lunch was served course by course. At about the two hour mark we stopped at a winery where an excursion group - which had NOT been in the domed lunch car, exited for an hour-long wine tasting experience as we continued our journey for 30 minutes, then doubled back to pick them up. It was a very relaxing day and it was just wonderful. The most "interesting" part of the adventure came on our trip home. Kim set the GPS for the house and instead of taking us on the flat, highways home took us up the mountain with dozens of hair-pin turns, and then back down the mountain through even more hair-pin turns. Our driver was exceptional in handling the roads, and did not display an ounce of nervousness which made our white-knuckle passenger ride easier to "enjoy." Tomorrow is the final adventure of the trip as we have a "Long Table Lunch" at a local winery where as we taste various wines we'll enjoy wood-fired pizza and Caesar's Salad!
\The train station
And we're off!
Interior domed dining car
The meal begins
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Napa Valley Reunion Day 3
August 14
When I began putting the itinerary together for our reunion and looking for wineries, I knew when I found Jordan Estate & Winery that this would be one of the highlights of our trip. And it did not disappoint. It was truly a remarkable experience and Jordan was all first class. A huge, and I mean HUGE estate and we saw over 80% of it our guide Christine said. And she was a sensational guide, and very personable to our small group of eleven guests.
The day started as we left our beautiful rental home at 8:45am for the more than 45 minute drive to the estate. And kudos to my wife Kim who offered to be the driver, and have just a small amount of wine throughout the day. She was a most excellent driver and we were all very appreciative of her getting us there, and back, without incident. Upon arrival we wound through the more than mile and a half drive up the hills until we reached the main chateau. We checked in and were treated to fresh juice, fruit, and freshly baked scones that were to die for. The owner of the property, John Jordan came out and thanked us all for visiting and made some remarks before wishing us a wonderful day. Christine gave a history of the family and the estate and then we were on our way. We say the fresh herbs & vegetables they grew; some livestock; and then made our first stop at a bass-filled lake surrounded by vineyards and olive trees. We had a tasting and a "snack" to pair with the wine. We wound further up into the hills and stopped in a huge section of vineyards to discover more about how the entire property had been replanted not once but twice before the current vineyards had become the staple of the winery. Finally we ascended to the highest point on the property where Jordan Winery has a completely glass-walled pavilion to provide breath-taking 360-degree views while we enjoyed two more wines and a lunch prepared by an on-site chef. After a short period to take in the views and take photos we made our way back to the chateau and then traveled home. What an amazing day. AND as an added bonus, since I'd made the reservations, I am a "Silver Member" and will begin earning points towards a future visit. We all agreed that any future trip to Napa Valley would indeed include a return visit to Jordan Estate & Winery.
Tomorrow will be the "other highlight day" as we will spend the day on the Napa Valley Wine Train traveling through wine country, enjoying a 4-course lunch in a domed, vintage railroad car! All Aboard!
We've arrived to check-in
The main chateau
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Orlando Second Home Options
Here are options we're considering for our "Vacation Home/2nd Home" in Orlando..... CLICK Picture to view property
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August 16 Today is our final day of the Napa Valley adventure. When I was putting together our itinerary and researching the various winer... -
August 15 Today was certainly one of THE highlight days as we traveled to Calistoga and boarded the Napa Valley Wine Train for a three-hour... -
August 14 When I began putting the itinerary together for our reunion and looking for wineries, I knew when I found Jordan Estate & Win...