THE ALLIE WAY
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TRAVEL

WHEN IN CANNES

2/20/2017

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​When in Cannes, talk to strangers.
After all, strangers are just friends who you haven't yet met. 

This edition is dedicated to two perfect strangers
who became two perfect travel companions.
I'd like to raise a glass to Gian Reyes and Krystin Hargrove.

      Cheers,
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FORT FUNSTON

10/25/2016

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While Tony Bennett may have left his heart in San Francisco, it is the very city where I find mine over and over - especially in places like these. One of the many scenic spots in the San Francisco, Fort Funston is entirely breathtaking. On this particular day on a trail along the sea, the serenity of the moment was enriched with the salty ocean breeze that met the aromatics of nearby eucalyptus trees. For one who gets sentimental over intoxicating sights and scents, I was instantly infatuated.

  Cheers to ocean side strolls in the city by the bay.
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INN LOVE

9/22/2016

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Love At First Oceanside Sunset
After a winding, scenic drive up 128, past vineyards and through redwoods, I arrived just in time to see the sunset on the ocean at the Little River Inn. Upon being greeted at the office with a warm smile and an invitation to set a dinner reservation, I settled into my suite (specifically #103 Oceanview Deluxe with fireplace and Jacuzzi) where a chilled bottle of wine awaited. Cheers to you, Cally, for providing one of the warmest of welcomes I've experienced.

Wait. Who's Cally?
She's the fifth generation innkeeper - Cally Coombs Dym.

Originally built in 1863 and resting on 225 wooded acres, what started out as a house constructed by Cally's great-great-grandfather and lumber mill owner, Silas Coombs, was turned into an Inn by Silas's daughter and her husband (Cora & Ole Hervilla) in 1939. Decades later, the Inn remains in the care of the family. Cally Dym, GM and Owner, manages what is now 65 ocean-view rooms, a full-service day spa, and a nine-hole golf course. Her husband, Marc Dym, is the Executive Chef for the Inn's garden view dining room where 'family favorites meet fine cuisine' and Ole's Whale Watch Bar where you can sip classic cocktails or choose from a well crafted wine list or a selection of both local and imported beer all while taking in the stunning seascape.

Pleasure On The Palate
After driving past Roederer Estate only a few hours before I arrived at Little River Inn, I found myself sipping their Brut while tipping back oysters at Ole's Whale Watch Bar. A near perfect pairing, the Beausoleil Oysters with grapefruit chili mignonette were a match made in heaven with the Roederer Anderson Valley Brut. And this was just the beginning of the great pleasure my palate was to have at the Little River Inn.

My 7pm reservation in the garden-view dining room resulted in one of my favorite pairings - Salmon and Pinot Noir. The preparation was impeccable. The salmon was pine nut crusted and pan seared with spinach puree, Parmesan polenta and basil coulis. The spinach puree had a consistency that complimented the salmon, serving up added richness. The polenta's silky texture made it a decadent side that was in a single word - awesome. And the salmon itself was magnificently moist and stunningly accented with the pine nut crust. This Little River Classic was paired with the Lula 2012 Costa Vineyard Pinot Noir - a bottle I picked up earlier that day upon stopping at Lula Cellars and meeting with winemaker Jeff Hanson. Cheers to wine and food pairings that are leave you entirely and utterly impressed.

Other menu items, among many, to note at Little River Inn are the Calamari (rice flour dusted and flash fried with Little River Inn mustard sauce) and the Dungeness Crab Eggs Benedict (the crab cakes for which Little River Inn is famous for).

Beyond the Beloved View and Fare
The view is breathtaking. The fare is inspiring. But it's more than that. The Little River Inn is inviting on every level and with each detail. The people here are what make the experience picture perfect. I spent a few hours at the spa and received more than 'services'... I was given experiences that evolved with genuine care and consideration and honest conversation. I can't say thank you enough to both Chris for my manicure and Sue for my massage. With both of these women, I was in good and gentle hands. Cheers to service with more than just a smile. 
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Confession
I've been married twice before (and divorced twice as well). I figure third time's a charm. So, if I should find the man I'm meant to spend the rest of my life with, I'd like to also find my way back to the Little River Inn. I'd spend the rest of my life there, if I could. That said, I believe it would be the ideal location to celebrate the man I want to spend the rest of my life with.

All that said, I've already decided to make the Little River Inn a personal tradition on a more than regular basis - for myself... and for those I love.
Raise your glass to special places and singular moments.

  Cheers,
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P.S. Their robes are the comfiest I've ever had the pleasure of cuddling up in.
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EAGLE FALLS - SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

9/6/2016

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In my black ballet flats, my favorite fluorescent tank top and my new Rose Gold iPhone 6s, I trekked up into the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the Eagle Falls Trail in South Lake Tahoe with friends from the city. At the end of our hike we were rewarded with the most gorgeous lake I've had the great pleasure of seeing. I'd like to raise a glass to old friends, new friends, good hikes and great memories.

  Cheers to picture perfect treks!
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A special thanks to a few of The Allie Way crew: M'Lady, Matty & Lady Leeda.
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SOUTHWEST: STRAIGHT FARES. NO CHASERS.

6/8/2016

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I love Southwest. Straight up.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

1.  I checked TWO BAGS that I imagined weighed more than me for FREE.
2. $5 COCKTAILS. Yep, mixed drinks, including my new go-to 'Scotch & Ginger', were priced to pour and pound down.
3. STYLISH flight attendants with sassy dispositions make flight entertaining & enjoyable. Loved our flight attendant who rocked the man-bun.

A toast to flights with multiple delights. It's Southwest or bust for me.

  Cheers,
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COYOTE POINT

5/3/2016

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A Sunday by the Sea

When just south of San Francisco, I do believe there's no better place in the bay area to spend a sun soaked Sunday than on and along the trails of Coyote Point. The view is incredible, trails are well cared for and the trees.... the trees are phenomenal. I'm biased, I suppose, as Eucalyptus is my absolute favorite.

On a particular recent Sunday (my birthday in fact), I spent the day enjoying walking (and a bit of wine) on trails carved through a Eucalyptus Grove at Coyote Point. Each intoxicating inhale was only magnified with pleasure by the view.

I'd like to raise a glass to aromatic treks on trails with scenery worth sipping to.

  Cheers,
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SCENT OF A WOMAN TRAVELER

11/8/2015

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"The scent of a woman
need not be tampered with by travel."

I don't wear my prize perfume to entice others. Rather, I wear it for my own enjoyment. In fact, the last thing I do before climbing into bed all by myself at night, is to put on my Chanel. I fall asleep bidding adieu to the day with accents of my favorite aromatics. All that said, when traveling, carrying a full bottle of perfume is a bit difficult due to TSA regulations and limited room in my small, efficiently packed carry on bag. So, how does a woman traveler maintain the ability to carry her signature scent with her at all times?
Travalo has come up with an answer. www.us.travalo.com

  Cheers,
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1) SELECT YOUR SCENT
2) REMOVE THE PUMP HEAD
3) PRESS TRAVALO ON VALVE
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5 out of 5 Spoonfuls of AWESOMESAUCE
The AWESOME score is based on a scale of AWESOMESAUCE spoonfuls,
from 1 (sorta like it) to 5 (really love it).
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BIG FUN @ BIG SUR

10/29/2015

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This post has been a production of The San Francisco Wine Girl.
Produced by: Allie Merrick
Featuring: Prerna
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PARIS VIA THE ALLIE WAY

6/22/2015

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So, here's a look at Paris through my lens, paired with the wine I poured. Please lift your glass with me to the City of Light. Click HERE to flip through pages of pictures to see what I saw.

  Cheers,
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THE BROOKSIDE INN

4/29/2015

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THE DELIGHT IS IN THE DETAILS.

It's the little things that make all the difference in the world, or all the difference in the inn. Petite arrangements of fresh flowers, artistic oil rubbed bronze light fixtures, antique racks of glassware, new leather furnishings, intriguing artwork, and a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen with granite and stainless steel. And that's just the beginning when it comes to describing the delight found in details that the Brookside Inn offers its guests in accommodations that serve as a home away from home for those with even the highest of standards. Inside there are six guest suites with private baths, a great room that opens to the second level with a stone fireplace, a formal dining room, a breakfast nook and an entirely epic kitchen. Outside, a warp around deck provides a view of the estate's 20.7 acres that include a forest with trails for walking, a nearby creek, a pond stocked with fish and a fire pit with Adirondack chairs for enjoying conversation in the evening or counting stars at night.
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YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RELAX.

"For the record, in the chair to the left in the photo pictured to the right, I 'relaxed' for the first time in a very long time. Completely unplugged, I hovered over no laptop, listened with no ear buds and didn't take or make a single call on my cell phone. I simply sat. I was kindly reminded by the comfort and serenity of the moment that I had the right to relax. And so I did. Normally, five minutes of sitting still drives me crazy, and yet there I sat, parked and perfectly happy in an ivory painted Adirondack chair at the Brookside Inn in Carlton, Oregon. I'm not sure if it was the clean, cool air, the warm, welcoming sun or the surrounding, serene forest. Perhaps it was all three factors that made me feel at ease in a way I haven't been in a very long time. Cheers to the permission granted to pull up a chair & simply be present." -AM
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So, here's the deal. If you have plans to travel to Oregon's wine country with a group of people (8-12), the Brookside Inn is absolutely ideal. Jerry & Erika, the managers & caretakers, are fabulous hosts and offer an experience that is nothing short of fantastic. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I'm ready to go back (right now). That said, if you are interested in getting a group of wine lovers together and heading to Oregon for 4 to 5 days, do let me know. Yes, I'm serious. Send me an email (alliemerrick@gmail.com). Consider me your personal wine guide.

Cheers,
Allie
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BROOKSIDE INN
8243 NE Abbey Road, Carlton, Oregon 97111
P: 503.852.4433
E: info@brooksideinn-oregon.com

www.brooksideinn-oregon.com

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  • CHANNELS
    • WINE
    • DINE
    • POETRY
    • FILM
    • FASHION
    • ART
    • MUSIC
    • BEAUTY
    • TRAVEL >
      • ARIZONA
      • NEW ORLEANS
      • NEW ZEALAND
      • OREGON >
        • LAURELHURST MARKET
        • LOWELL COVERED BRIDGE
        • PACIFIC CITY
        • SALT CREEK FALLS
      • SAN FRANCISCO
      • SPAIN
      • TORONTO
    • SPIRITS & COCKTAILS
    • ETC
  • PRODUCTIONS
    • SIP & STYLE
    • FIFTY SIPS OF WINE
    • TRAINSIPPING
    • BEHIND THE BOTTLE >
      • BEHIND THE BOTTLE TRAILER
    • HAVE WINE WILL TRAVEL
    • SAVOR
    • CHICAGO WINE GIRL
    • SAN FRANCISCO WINE GIRL
    • HOLLYWOOD WINE GIRL
    • SIPPING WITH THE STARS
    • FLAT OR BUST
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • PRODUCER
    • THE WAY
    • THE SCORE
    • THE SERVICES
    • THE STATS
    • THE DISCLAIMER
    • CONTACT
    • SIGN UP