Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. News

This Sonoma retreat is offering a $13K stay with balloon rides and fine dining

Indulge in this dreamy, three-night escape

Kenwood Inn & Spa
Kenwood Inn & Spa

Wine Country luxury is reaching new heights (literally). Kenwood Inn & Spa, tucked into Sonoma’s Valley of the Moon, has unveiled Beyond the Vines, an immersive three-night escape for two priced at $13,529 plus tax. The ultra-luxurious package centers around a stay in the inn’s lavish Tuscany Suite and layers in indulgent experiences designed to showcase the very best of Sonoma Valley.

Guests can expect private massages for two, chef-driven fine dining, and adrenaline-pumping excursions including a hot air balloon ride over rolling vineyards and a scenic zip-lining adventure. Every element is curated to deliver a seamless, once-in-a-lifetime getaway, allowing travelers to savor Wine Country’s beauty and flavors while the Kenwood team takes care of every last detail.

What’s included?

Kenwood Inn & Spa’s Beyond the Vines package is a three-night, all-inclusive escape designed to deliver the very best of Sonoma Valley. Here’s what awaits:

  • Three nights in the Tuscany Suite, a private retreat with a king-sized bed, fireplace, soaking tub, and vineyard views across the pool.
  • Private poolside cabana with lunch: Sip a bottle of Three Sticks Castenada Rosé while enjoying a leisurely arrival-day meal.
  • Two 110-minute Ultimate Bliss massages at The Spa at Kenwood Inn.
  • Dinner at Glen Ellen Star, a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant known for wood-fired, farm-to-table cuisine.
  • VIP hot air balloon flight with Sonoma Ballooning, complete with sparkling wine and gourmet pastries.
  • Hidden Gems excursion with Bohemian Highway Travel Co.: A private tour of boutique wineries and secret cellars.
  • Dinner at Golden Bear Station, featuring elevated New American fare.
  • Tree Tops Zipline Tour with Sonoma Zipline Adventures, soaring high above the redwoods.
  • Barlow Market tour in Sebastopol, meeting artisans and sampling local creations.
  • Dinner at Songbird Parlour, a posh Victorian lounge highlighting Sonoma’s farm-fresh ingredients.
  • All transportation, early check-in, and nightly wine-and-cheese hours to round out each perfect day.
Amanda, an accomplished freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio, is a dedicated explorer of both the world and the written word… Read Full Bio
Mendocino Cove opens on California’s coast with pickleball, wellness, and oceanfront suites
Sport, Tennis, Racket

Northern California’s rugged coastline has a new place to stay. Mendocino Cove officially opens Aug. 1, transforming the former Pine Beach Inn into a boutique coastal retreat designed for travelers looking to slow down and reconnect with nature.

Created by Teresa Raffo and Chris Hougie, the team behind the popular Mendocino Grove glamping resort, the 40-suite property sits on 11 oceanfront acres just six miles north of the village of Mendocino. The resort blends contemporary design with the area’s natural beauty, offering sweeping Pacific Ocean views, towering cypress trees, and direct access to secluded Pine Beach.

Read more
The 6 best places to unplug: U.S. analog travel destinations
Road, Outdoors, Nature

According to the #1 rated luxury travel advisor resource, Classic Vacations’ most recent 2026 Summer Travel Forecast, 67% of travel advisors say their clients are booking vacations simply to rest and relax, a sign that today’s travelers are embracing slower, more intentional getaways. The outdated concept of “go, go, go” vacations doesn’t always hold true anymore, as travelers begin to adopt the mindset that “analog travel” can sometimes be preferable.

Analog travel is a trend centered on disconnecting from devices and reconnecting with local culture, nature, and immersive experiences. While not every analog travel destination is the same, many U.S. analog travel destinations share common characteristics such as a heavy focus on nature, culture, or human connection-style activities, fewer crowds and less commercialization, and a slower pace that encourages mindfulness. There are many types of this style travel that can be geared towards your unique travel preferences, such as a reading retreat getaway for the bookworm to a stargazing adventure for nature lovers.

Read more
Rox Resort is the coastal escape I’d recommend to anyone visiting Copenhagen
Rox Resort

When people plan a trip to Copenhagen, they usually fill their itinerary with colorful harbor views, Michelin-starred restaurants, and endless bike rides through the city. What they often don’t plan for is slowing down.

That’s where Rox Resort comes in.

Read more