by Sandra Crittenden

After the Allison Inn & Spa was  repeatedly  recommended as the place to stay when in Willamette, I went on-line and booked a room. The  resort was built in 2009 and was the valley's first luxury hotel. It sits on 35 acres with vineyards, gorgeous gardens and a surrounding art walk.  We arrived to find that we had a ground floor room with a back patio and small garden space which lent an air of privacy though it lead out to the walkway.  Our room was fairly spacious with a gas fireplace easily lit for warmth or ambience. There was adequate storage for two people's things and comfortable seating where one could work or enjoy coffee.   It had a large marble bathroom and vanity area. While the room had abundant natural and artificial light and was easily darkened for sleeping, the bathroom could have used a bit more light for morning and pre-dinner primping. There was a nice bar on the lobby level with a living room  serving up ...

On a recent trip to Napa Valley, my husband and I decided to check out the  Michelin-starred restaurant,   Auberge du Soleil . In addition to the amazing views that summertime dining on the terrace provides, the   menu  showcases  local ingredients prepared with Mediterranean flair  by  Chef Robert Curry .  It was our first night in town and we had big plans for touring and tasting on the following day. We arrived for an early alfresco dinner at 6:15pm on the covered terrace  overlooking the lush resort grounds with the expectation that our multi-course meal would keep us there until sunset. The dinner options at Auberge feature a choice of either a three course meal for $110 or four courses for $130. You can also add an extra gourmet touch to your dinner with extravagant add-ons like c aviar with all the traditional garnishes, fresh truffles to top your entrees or an extra course of cheese for an extra fee. There is a Chef's selection ...

One of our favorite lunches in Paris was at the Michelin-starred  Il Vino d'Enrico Bernardo .  The restaurant states on-line that its concept is "A place for those who live the art of table sharing the pleasure of the senses and the intellect." That perfectly describes my daughter and I, so, off we went after our morning at the Louvre. The elegantly designed contemporary eatery boasts a multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings by world re-known sommelier Enrico Bernardo. We were served wine in black blind tasting glasses with each course. The menu was innovative, everything was delicious and the pairings were perfect. It was an exceptional way to continue a morning of art appreciation, the tasting lunch at Il Vino d'Enrico Bernardo is a highly recommended way to spend your afternoon in Paris.