You're invited to celebrate
Ed & Marika's 50th Birthday Celebration
California Wine Country
August 1 – 10, 2026
We're turning 50 — and we can't think of a better way to celebrate than with our favorite people, world-class wine, and the golden hills of Sonoma.
Join us for an unforgettable week of vineyard tours, incredible meals, and the kind of memories that get better with age (just like us... and the wine).
Wine Country Home Base
A stunning 9-person house nestled in the Russian River Valley. Pool, hot tub, outdoor kitchen, and vineyards as far as the eye can see. This is home for the week.
Coastal Finale
We wind down on the rugged Sonoma Coast — just 30 minutes from wine country. Dramatic cliffs, Dungeness crab, and the town where Hitchcock filmed The Birds. The perfect send-off.
Forestville, Russian River Valley
A perfect blend of planned adventures and lazy afternoons. Here's the shape of our week.
Exclusive tastings at legendary producers — the kind of places with waitlists and whispered reputations.
SingleThread, The French Laundry (if we're lucky), and farm-to-table excellence throughout the week.
Some of the best moments will be the unplanned ones — wine in hand, sun setting, nowhere to be.
Wind through Dry Creek Valley, explore Healdsburg, discover hidden gems along backroads.
The best part of any trip is the company.
The honorees. The reason we're all here. The newly-minted fifty-somethings.
Bringing the vegetarian excellence and excellent conversation.
Ready for adventure, great wine, and staying up way too late.
Status: TBD. We're keeping our fingers crossed. 🤞
Our coastal finale — 2 nights on the rugged Sonoma Coast. Here are the top picks.
3 bed / 3 bath · Sleeps 7. Right across from the marina — sea lions included. Walkable to harbor restaurants.
~$940 total (2 nights)
4 bed / 3 bath · Sleeps 12. Panoramic coastal views, two kitchens, and a dedicated Man Cave.
~$1,476 total (2 nights)
4 bed / 2 bath · Sleeps 8. Hot tub, stellar views, exceptional reviews, walkable to beach and town.
~$1,624 total (2 nights) · Our pick!
3 bed / 2+ bath · Sleeps 9. Freshly renovated with breathtaking bay views and brand new hot tub.
~$1,762 total (2 nights)
5 bed / 5+ bath · Sleeps 10. Private beach access, hot tub, ocean and bay views from every angle.
~$2,378 total (2 nights)
⚡ August is peak season — only 19% of Bodega Bay listings are available for these dates. Book early!
Fly into San Francisco (SFO). Here are the best nonstop options from Newark.
Saturday, August 1, 2026
| Departs | Arrives | Flight | Aircraft | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | 9:15 AM | UA 2115 | 737 MAX 9 | 6h 15m | Early bird |
| 7:00 AM | 10:15 AM | UA 1960 | 757-200 | 6h 15m | |
| 8:20 AM | 11:30 AM | UA 1777 | 777-300ER | 6h 10m | Wide-body comfort |
| 1:15 PM | 4:20 PM | UA 1227 | 787-9 Dreamliner | 6h 05m | ⭐ Recommended |
| 4:00 PM | 7:05 PM | UA 2080 | 777-200 | 6h 05m | Afternoon option |
💡 Our pick: UA 1227 at 1:15 PM — arrive with time for dinner, and the 787 Dreamliner is the most comfortable ride.
Monday, August 10, 2026
| Departs | Arrives | Flight | Aircraft | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | 2:49 PM | UA 419 | 757-200 | 5h 49m | Early departure |
| 8:45 AM | 5:30 PM | UA 435 | 777-300ER | 5h 45m | Wide-body comfort |
| 10:15 AM | 6:58 PM | UA 713 | 787-9 Dreamliner | 5h 43m | Great aircraft |
| 3:00 PM | 11:50 PM | UA 2248 | 757-200 | 5h 50m | Maximize beach time |
| 10:35 PM | 7:00 AM+1 | UA 1141 | 777-200 | 5h 25m | ⭐ Redeye — full last day! |
💡 Our pick: UA 1141 redeye at 10:35 PM — enjoy a full last day at Bodega Bay, sleep on the plane, wake up home.
Fly into San Francisco (SFO). About 90 minutes to Forestville, and Bodega Bay is just 30 minutes from wine country on the Sonoma Coast.
See flight options above — we've done the research!
We'll coordinate rides from SFO. Once at the house, we'll have wheels to explore wine country together.
Layers (mornings are cool), swimsuit for the pool, comfortable shoes for vineyard walks, and your best appetite.
Reach out to Ed & Marika. We're happy to help with travel planning, answer questions, or just get hyped together.
Until the adventure begins