If you're all about having a good time with a glass of wine in hand, here are a couple favorite vineyards from us and some of us our guests!

If you are traveling with a large group, we recommend the following: (Reservations may be required)

Armida- Healdsburg

Francis Ford Coppola - Geyserville

Gundlach Bundschu - Sonoma

If you would love to enjoy some beautiful scenery while sipping on some wine of your choice, we recommend:

Castello di Amorosa - Calistoga

Ferrari- Carano - Dry Creek Valley

Ledson - Sonoma

Matanzas Creek - Santa Rosa

Lastly, if you would like a unique experience with your wine tasting we recommend:

Bella Vineyards - Dry Creek Valley (Enjoy your wine in a cave!)

Williamson - Healdsburg (Free wine and cheese pairing!)

Sterling Vineyards - Calistoga ( Enjoy a tram ride up to the tasting room!)

Special shout-out to bridesmaid Rosana Cheruvelil for putting this list together. Thank you so much!

Just 40 minutes from South San Jose, enjoy an escape to redwood forests and the beach.

Feel free to check out the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (take a ride on the Giant Dipper if you dare!), enjoy a stroll down the pier, or try to solve what's so strange about the Mystery Spot!

Other things you may enjoy in Santa Cruz are:

West Cliff Drive

Henry Cowell Redwood State Park

Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve

Santa Cruz Surfing Museum

The Penny Ice Creamery (had to include this because their ice cream is DELICIOUS!)

Christine's Hometown!

San Jose is mainly a sprawling suburb, but it does have some fun things to explore!

Santana Row is a prime location to enjoy a coffee while shopping at high-end retailers.

Japanese Friendship Garden has beautiful scenery and is a nice, quiet place to recharge and feel zen.

Winchester Mystery House (which happens to be right across from Santana Row) offers daily tours if you're so curious to see Mrs. Winchester's troubled, though creative tendencies.

Downtown Campbell is a great place for a stroll while grabbing a drink/meal. Some of our favorite places in Downtown Campbell include:

Aqui's (if you like margaritas and sangria, make sure you get a swirl!)

Blue Line Pizza Company (great deep dish pizza if that's your thing)

What can we say? If you're visiting San Jose, we definitely recommend you visit San Francisco as well!

Some things to check out in San Francisco:

Golden Gate Bridge (self-explanatory!)

Fisherman's Wharf

Alcatraz

Palace of Fine Arts (Gorgeous architecture within and surrounding the park).

Bay Bridge (especially cool at night!)

Mission District (absolutely delicious latino food and a hub of cultural experiences. I recommend El Farolito for one of the best burritos I've ever had.)

Chinatown

One of my favorite dim sum places is called Good Mong Kok Bakery. It is a take-out only place but my recommendation is to order as much food as you like and drive over to the Golden Gate Park to enjoy your shu mai while taking in the scenery.

Perhaps one of my favorite towns in Northern/Central California.

Carmel-by-the- Sea is one of the cutest places I've been too and has an absolutely gorgeous beach. I've often seen dolphins playing close to the shore. If you'd like to enjoy a game of golf, it also happens to be the home of Pebble Beach.

If you're a fan of John Steinbeck, Monterey happens to be his hometown! Check out Cannery Row or enjoy a stroll along Monterey's fisherman's wharf. One of Grandpa and Grandma's favorite restaurants (and now our's) is Abalonetti's which is located here. Make sure to get the calamari salad and the wood-fired oysters if you do visit!