Ramblings

Did you ever think of using your vacation to ‘test drive your dream job’? What could make more sense?

First of all, if your work is something you’re truly passionate about, it won’t feel like work. Secondly, it’s much less risky (to your mental health, as well as your pocketbook) to test-drive a career you think you’d love … until confronted by the day-to-day reality.

Putting vacationers together with their dream jobs is the mission of a unique company called VocationVacations®. You can choose from one- or two-day-long get-your-hands-dirty introductions to more than 75 unique careers.

Like wine making. Book the VocationVacations Wine Maker Holiday package in Sonoma County and you’ll live in the vacation rental on the property of on the property of the 70-acre Larson Family Winery and spend two days shadowing Tom and Becky Larson.

From April through September, your education will include tramping among the vines to thin leaf clusters, sample leaf tissue and monitor grape pests. From November to May, the focus is on the process of preparing wine for bottling: clarification, cold stabilizing, fermentation, racking, topping barrels, wine blending and clean up, of course.

To help you put things in perspective for your own life, All VocationVacations® include pre- and post-mentoring coaching sessions re: strategy/life/career repercussions.

At $949 for the two days (not including lodging), it’s not cheap. But well worth it, if you're committed. If not, heck, just book the rental, called A Captain’s House. ($350 per night for up to 4; $450 for 5-7 people.)

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 02:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

“I love Sonoma in the winter …” ?

During the fall harvest, Sonoma Valley is teeming with tourists. And it can be hot. Very hot. The vine-covered hillsides are parched yellow. Good restaurants have humbling-ly long waits.  

Which makes off-season trips look pretty darn good. According to Adrien Glover in “Suddenly Sonoma” (Budget Travel Online, Feb. 18, 2005): “Springtime is still considered ‘off season’ but it’s an excellent time to visit. Not only are plum trees, quince, and yellow wild mustard flowers in bloom, you're almost certain to land a good deal at an area hotel. And there’s plenty to do year-round.”

My husband and I spent a wonderful early March weekend exploring Kenwood. From our home base at a stylish yet cozy rental, aptly named Kenwood House (look for a full review of this rental right here in the coming weeks), we ventured out to explore nearly deserted tasting rooms. Winemakers aren’t busy at this time of year so you can actually spend time chatting with one.

Because it had been an unusually rainy winter (we had hail and snow during our visit), the landscape was lush green, with Spanish moss dangling from bare branches of valley oak trees. We lingered at the fascinating Bartholomew Park Winery Museum. We enjoyed a delightful hike to the remains of Wolf House in Jack London State Park. We were seated right away at some very good restaurants, including the new Doce Lunas, where there was a guitarist playing at the bar and signature sticky toffee for dessert. At night, we cozied up to the woodstove and watched movies.

Most of my review trips are planned during the off-season. I’m so spoiled, now I won’t go any other time.

HINT: Treat yourself to a trip during the “shoulder” weeks—just before some invisible bell clangs and the high season floodgates open on throngs of tourists. You may never subject yourself to that kind of madness again.

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just happened to spot a profile on the fascinating Sim Van der Ryn in the November 2007 issue of the stylish Dwell magazine (tag: At Home in the Modern World)."For decades, (his) name has been synonymous with design that's in tune with nature," the article begins. His personal pride, Highland House is featured in Renting Paradise: San Francisco and Marin County.

Set high on a ridge bordering a nature conservancy and overlooking the magnificent Point Reyes National Seashore, Highland House is a place to indulge all your senses.

The house was built in two stages and many fixtures and furnishings are salvaged from the local area. One bathroom sink is carved from a massive piece of burlwood. The stairs to the master suite spiral around one of the original utility poles from the town of Inverness below. The house runs entirely on renewable energy from a 2.5 kilowatt sun-powered array.

If you're looking for a relaxing getaway -- and a glimpse of what's possible in a more environmentally-responsible future, take a look.

Posted by Joyce Hadley Copeland at 09:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)