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Well, at least she can write ‘Love Samantha’; two of the most important in the English language, in my opinion.

Those of you living in California will likely find it humorous that I am featuring In & Out Burger as a kid-friendly dining option. Fast food burger joint?  Duh, we go all the time.

But as many visitors to the Napa Valley hail from parts beyond, folks–particularly those traveling with kids–need to know about this place.

While it is a chain, their success lies in their dedication to simplicity and quality. This is not your McDonalds with 152 different menu items. At In & Out, the choices are very limited. Limited, yet just right.

The vibe of the restaurant is of a slightly retro, Southern California surfer hangout. It is consistently extremely clean–there is no having to wipe your own table off with paper napkins here.

Seating is indoor or out. The stickers they give out will keep the kids happily occupied until the food is ready. Contrary to what you’d think from the name, it can take a while for the food as it is all freshly made. Be prepared for a wait of up to 10 minutes; it’s worth it.

Who: All ages; there are highchairs and stickers

What: The best old-fashioned, highest-quality burgers, fries and shakes

Where: There is one location in the Napa Valley at 820 Imola Avenue in the town of Napa (there’s nothing special about the area, except maybe the Target next door)–click here for more locations across California

When: 10:30am until 1:00am

Why: Fabulous food that’s satisfying and inexpensive

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Today I noticed the first blossom on our plum tree. Hard to believe that an entire year’s gone by-

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Part of our Valentine’s Day celebration yesterday was a picnic at Tudal Winery.

Discovered on the Napa Vintners site, this winery fit all our criteria: family-friendly, picnic area, low-key atmosphere.

And it was indeed quite low-key as you can see below the manner in which we were greeted (that there is Cheyenne, we found out).

We proceeded to a seated tasting in the winery building/shed. Samantha entertained herself with drawing as we tasted through a nice, Burgundian-style Chardonnay (Burgundian-style connoting little of that oaky, buttery–and to us, overwhelming, quality of most Chardonnays), a beautiful, fruity, textbook-Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and a jammy, peppery, but not over the top Zinfandel.

And–to kiddo’s delight–in place of the usual bland tasting room crackers, they had fishy crackers.

The atmosphere was casual, congenial and educational–and without any sort of pretension.

With the Zin in glass, our group headed out for a quick tour of the vineyards…

…the production facility…

…and the barrel room…where we tasted the Syrah…

… and ended up in what could be called the sales room.

We bought a bottle of the Sauvignon Blanc (limited production and no longer available–seriously, we got the last bottle), headed out to the picnic area, and easily settled in.

As we nibbled, sipped and chatted…

…Samantha explored the picnic area and gardens. She found this old tractor…

…and we found that it was quite dirty…

…and apropos for Valentine’s Day, there were even heart-shaped decorations (made from barrel rings).

Who: All ages, except perhaps the toddlers who are mobile, but can’t/don’t listen yet

What: A low-key, casual winetasting experience, with a short tour and a pleasant picnic and garden area, including bocce courts

Where: 1015 Big Tree Road, Saint Helena, phone 707-963-3947 (tastings are by appointment, so call ahead)

When: Best on days when you can picnic; we’re certainly visiting again come summertime

Why: To taste good wines, to learn a bit (but not too much) about the winery & winemaking, to picnic, to let the kids explore an interesting and safe picnic/garden area

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Winter is still very much here–in fact it has been gray and rainy almost non-stop (I just happened to sneak these shots in between the rain clouds).

But Spring–with all its sweet promise of exhilaration, exuberation and energy is thisclose.

The scene: A cave tour at a local winery

Samantha: “Oh no! He doesn’t look very happy!”

Tom and me, simultaneously: “Actually, kiddo, he is REALLY happy…”

Located in the town of Calistoga, Buster’s Southern Barbeque has been offering generous servings of their mouth-watering BBQ since 1965.

Now, I know that folks can be…well, let’s just say picky…about barbeque. But Buster’s delivers just what I think of when I want barbeque: smoky and tender meats with a classic spicy tomato-based sauce, served with a side of garlic bread, baked beans or coleslaw.

One note on that spicy sauce: the hot is HOT. Super hot. Tom & I both enjoy a good deal of spice (meaning we aren’t wimps here), but we couldn’t even eat the food the time we went with the hot sauce (and to think, a big, burly construction worker-type had warned us…). So take this as your warning: Go with the mild. Seriously. And put in on the side for the little ones.

Like the food, the setting is simple–perhaps ‘rustic’ is a better description. And as every parent knows, ‘rustic’ usually means kid-friendly. The only seating is outdoor–a few tables are outside, but the main area is an enclosed patio. They do have those tall heaters going in the winter, so we were comfortable in our light California-winter jackets.

The prices are decent–and as the servings are generous, you could likely even share and cut some costs.

And Calistoga is a great little town to visit, you can check out more about it here.

Who: All ages

What: Authentic Southern Barbeque

Where: 1207 Foothill Boulevard, Calistoga

When: Anytime, but be prepared for outdoor seating

Why: Barbeque done very well