Best Way To End 2018 or Best Way to Start 2019? Both

Among the end parties and travel that took Ellie and me to New York, then everyone to Texas, plus all the end of year things happening for the kids at school we were late in planning anything for New Years Eve.

The thought was to try and get to Tahoe, enjoy the snow, kick back in a cabin and just relax; but everything was either sold out or crazy expensive. So we ended up booking a room in Monterey, and New Years turned into an amazing two days with Cesar and Isela.

We drove down on the afternoon of the 31st and after dropping Jedi off at the doggie hotel, and grabbing some coffee, we ended up at a tasting room in Carmel, Scheid Vineyards. We enjoyed a tasting from Franny, who became a very fast friend. (And you can become a fast friend when you liberally pour wine.)

We then got a recommendation for oysters down the street, and took advantage of them. A walk around Carmel. Another stop into a tasting room. Then back to the hotel for a power nap, because we weren't having dinner until 10:30.

The nap was a success and it we were off to Chart House for New Years Eve dinner, so prime rib, oysters, and champagne to toast out 2018 and toast in 2019.

The meal was fantastic! We had a table that overlooked Monterey Bay, so a great time.



Then, on New Years Day we ventured back to Carmel for breakfast, walked down to the beach (walking up from the beach was a different story.), back to Scheid's to take advantage of our free tasting because we were now members! Had another fantastic meal at The Tree House.

It was a great day and a half in Monterey. The food, the drinks, the wine, the beach, the walking around, everything. But spending it with friends made it even more special. It just meant more stories, more laughs and more fun!

We're now onto 2019, so we'll see where the year takes us.