Mini-Mooning It.
6 months into our relationship, Hunter and I spent a month backpacking Europe together. It was one of the best times of our lives. It was also an amazing opportunity to get to know each other in a new way. Being together 24/7 for 31 days, navigating foreign countries in foreign languages, in the biggest heatwave of the decade was a true test of our strength. I really believe that traveling together should be a pre-requisite of marriage. There would probably be a lot less divorce that way.
(Collobriers, France 2003)
As evidenced by our taste, we’re big fans of the cultural and artistic influences of Asia, but neither of us have been there and we’re desperate to remedy that situation. The honeymoon seems like a perfect excuse. But affording a trip like that on top of a wedding is…. laughable in our circumstances.
So, we’re planning to visit either Thailand or Bali for our 1-year anniversary. It will be nice to do something special for the occasion, and I’m excited to have something to plan after the wedding, during my anticipated post-wedding slump. It will be a welcome diversion, I’m sure.
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In the meantime, we both feel its really important to take at least a few days after the wedding to get away, slow down, and enjoy eachother as husband and wife. Enter the mini-moon!
Originally, we thought Napa was the obvious choice. We’ve always wanted to go. We love wine. The French Laundry, aka mecca for foodies, is there. Its purportedly uber-romantic. I hear tell of a wine train which sounds like lots of fun…. or a bicycle wine tasting. Idyllic right?
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But we began to question it when we went camping on Catalina Island for the 4th of July. Its just a short ferry ride away from the California coast, but it feels like a cross between Cape Cod and the French Riviera! Very quaint and romantic. Wouldn’t it be fun to take a family trip out there one day after the wedding, and then just stay behind for a few days of lounging, hiking and romance?
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The last wrench in the wheels is that Hunter has spent 2 out of the last 4 weekends in Las Vegas for various bachelor parties and family stuff. He’d never been there before and really enjoyed it. After seeing a dance performance on from the upcoming Criss Angel/Cirque show (choreographed by my hero, Wade Robson), I started to think it might be fun to go out there and see some shows, eat at some of the amazing restaurants (Thomas Keller, again), and lounge by the pool.
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What do you think… Wine? Catalina? Dancing Rabbits? Which would be most affordable? Memorable? Special? Grrrr…. Too many options for this broke-ass to decide…
Definitely Napa! :)
i heart wine country…and i think it’s surprisingly affordable. (we are in the same boat..and considering wine country as well). however, napa is my least favorite. it’s overrun with tourists and wineries that make you feel like cattle…we prefer russian river. you can stay in healdsburg if you want to do some shopping and eat some AWESOME food…or if you prefer romantic nights, we LOVE to stay at pearlessence inn. you can read my review about it here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/pearlessence-vineyard-inn-sebastopol#hrid:blVUt10ao99n4ddmSMkD9g
a lot of the tastings are free along russian river and oh so personal. there is also fun activities like horseback riding, conoe trips, and hot air balloon rides. aahhh. http://www.wineroad.com/
happy-mooning!
Vegas you will definately get the opportunity to do again. Sounds like you’ve done some of Catalina. I think Napa would allow you some good down time and quality time together. Choose something that you might not normally think to do again, that’ll make your mini-moon all the more special!
I am with you on the Thomas Keller thing, so my vote is Napa. But, Vegas is such a food mecca lately, it’s totally worth it. We actually eloped there and spent the whole weekend eating at great places and seeing Cirque shows. Yay! We stayed at the Bellagio and it was fantastic. I got a great deal on it online. I can’t believe that was 5 years ago today! OMG. Anyway, make sure when you go to Napa that you also try Cyrus in Healdsburg. It’s very very very close to FL and they have great cocktails!
Oh and make sure you go to Quintessa. Great tasting and tour! Make a reservation.
we had both been to Vegas alraedy and decided to go there anyway for our mini-moon. We stayed 4 nights and we both had a blast…and we we did all the things you mentioned and saved loads of cash. We stayed at The Palazzo (got an awesome rate since it was off season), ate at 2 nice restaurants and splurged and saw 2 shows (LOVE and Jersey Boys. The rest of the time, we lounged at The Palazzo and Venetian pools.
What we loved about it is that since we both had been there before, we had no qualms about parking it on our butts by the pool. We debated about a Cali mini-moon, but then we’d feel like we HAD to do stuff. It was SO nice being able to relax after such a busy weekend.
AND! we did our whole vegas mini-moon (drinks, dinner, shows, flight, room, etc) for under $2k.
A truly inspirational account and excellent advice for folks planning the life-long commitment. Thanks!
hmmm…I’d vote for Napa. I agree with you on the requisite travelling bit – Mr. Shortcake and I did Europe for two months and it was a real eye opener! :)
I have to vote for Napa, aside from the fact that i too heart wine country, neither one of you has been there and it would be great to discover it and enjoy it together on your mini-moon…..and who knows maybe you will want to be back for your 2nd, 3rd……..25th anniversary…:-)
I vote Napa, Sonoma or Healdsburg. Wine country is soooo romantic. Just read that this is a great (not too expensive) place to stay in Calistoga: http://www.solagecalistoga.com/
