If you’re looking for a getaway, outdoor fun, sun, and maybe some wine tasting, the small town of Los Gatos is a great choice. Set in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this affluent hamlet, with a Victorian downtown, is a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of urban living. As you drive into town, you pass Netflix headquarters, and you realize, this is perhaps where the 1% live, a notion that was confirmed at the stylish Purple Onion Café, where at 10 a.m., the place was hopping with expensively clad moms chatting and nibbling, post workout. The Illy coffee and yummy breakfast items made with cage-free eggs, local produce, and freshly baked whole-grain breads were tantalizing.

For lunch, a traditional Irish pub with Americanized pub grub, was a more down home option. C.B. Hannegan’s was bustling with business folks and families; the outdoor garden was so pleasant and portions big enough to share. The beer choices were impressive and International, with 15 on draught.

Another must dine spot, great if you’re on your way to Santa Cruz, is The Cats Restaurant and Tavern, just off highway 17. Originally a pit stop on the old stage line, the Cats Roadhouse was once a welcome spot for horse-drawn lumber wagons on their way to San Jose, as well as a rowdy social club for locals.  In the Roaring 20s, the Cats was one of the area’s most notorious speakeasies and bordellos! Renovated and reopened in 2008, the menu still features BBQ favorites and is certainly a crowd pleaser after a day at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk or hiking the mountains!

Camping options abound. Two of my favorites are Big Basin Redwoods State Park and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. It can get cold under the redwoods, so pack accordingly!

Finally, if you want to splurge, a stay at the Mediterranean boutique hotel and spa, Hotel Los Gatos, is quite a treat. The pool is small but with mosaic tiles and an ample hot tub, a perfect spot early morning, midday or at night for a dip and soak. The hotel has a Moorish feel mixed with California Mission, and the rooms were luxurious but in a cozy way.

Mediterranean food is one of my favorite cuisines, and I have to say since I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area nearly 20 years ago I have been on a constant hunt for Greek Cuisine from high-end to gyros. Dio Deka, fine Hellenic cuisine, really lived up to its Michelin Star hype. The food, ambiance, presentation and service were really top notch, from the marinated kalamata olives in chili and rosemary to the spanikopita, pork ribs and these delectable crispy potatoes with smoked roe.

The wine list was overwhelming, but we chose a crisp New Zealand white and sat out, talking and savoring the special tastes, as if we were on the island of Santorini or an Athens plaza. I took a close friend to celebrate a recent triumph, but I could imagine taking my two boys there, all rumpled in their “fancy” clothes, perhaps for a special occasion. Luckily there are plenty of tapas-like options I think many older kids would appreciate, if your budget allows.

All in all, if you’re looking for a staycation in the Bay Area, a romantic getaway, a taste of “Peninsula living” or an overnight splurge, the combination of great food and wine, ample hiking and biking spots and wineries galore, make a trip to Los Gatos, the Cat’s Meow!

My friend’s birthday fell on Inauguration Day so she really wanted to celebrate this year for many reasons. The weather was so glorious and we were headed to this resort called Seascape in Aptos, California. Just a few minutes south of Santa Cruz, this lovely spot is a great respite from the frantic city life I call my existence.

Five moms were headed to this condo to celebrate our good friend’s momentous birthday. The trip started out like some AbFab meets Sex in the City moment with three of us in a Volvo in heels, driving down Highway 1 at 10 p.m. It was pitch black and we were jabbering away about the economy when I thought I heard a plane crashing (the USAIR flight crash landing on the Hudson River fresh in my mind). Turns out, the front tire blew. It was terrifying….

I won’t go into the sitcom-esque story but suffice to say after our husbands insisted we could change it in the pitch black with no flashlight;  we decided it was not going to happen since none of us felt confident in our tire changing skills. Ultimately, a very cute tow truck driver came to our rescue (cue the laugh track).

With the trip off to an ominous start, we arrived at the condo and drank heavily, cherishing the moments without the kids, who were due to arrive with the husbands the next day. I retired early, sure that I wanted to enjoy the glorious surroundings in the morning more than partying. I awoke to brilliant sunshine and the pools and Jacuzzis beckoned.

After scones, yogurt and fruit I rallied the troops and we took a walk on the grounds. One of the big things, that the kids loved once they arrived, golf carts scoot around the property and take you anywhere you want to go. The drivers are very friendly and helpful. We decided to hoof it and work off our hangovers and breakfast before a yoga practice overlooking the surf. The setting couldn’t have been better, the sun warming our souls and shoulders. I had to keep reminding myself that it was January and most of the country in a deep freeze.

The children arrived and the mood changed; they frolicked in the pools and had a great time. That night all the adults went out to eat in Santa Cruz and the birthday girls’ husband had arranged for two babysitters in a separate condo. After margaritas, champagne, cake and beer in the decorated condo we all played a rousing game of Taboo — hampered a bit by mixing tequila and champagne.

The next day the beach was on the agenda. The weather was almost warm enough to body surf but we opted for sand castle building and magazine reading on one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve been to in Northern California. There were fire pits and we noted that one could even request equipment for marshmallow roasting to be delivered by golf cart, something my kids thought sounded simply magical. The price tag was more than $50! Not in my budget.

The condo was very comfortable and we were lucky, one of our party’s parents owned it and let us use it for free. Normally prices run between $300 and $700 depending on size and season. It is not cheap and I found mixed reviews on tripadvisor, which surprised me. We brought our own food but there is a restaurant with a great view on the premises.

This is not the sort of getaway I take often, but one I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to attend. I would recommend it for a splurge and a taste of the good life in California. The site couldn’t be more stellar, made picture perfect by the weather and company. I definitely felt rejuvenated.