Today, We Shopped Local.

Dec 4, 2011 by Diane Davis

Today a couple of friends and I had a little girls day out  in Lakeport. It was the first time in a long time and so much fun. After an excellent  lunch at Biggs 155 we walked next door to the Bell Hills Vineyard tasting room.  There Julia Maxwell, (who co-owns the winery with her husband, Phillip), poured a delicious 2005 and 2006 Merlot and a 2006  Cabernet Sauvignon, all excellent in their own unique way.  After a bit of delightful conversation, one of my friends found the perfect gift for one of her friends of a pre-made basket of wine, glasses, treats and other surprises for under $40.00.

We then ventured down to the Lakeport English Inn.  The English Inn is a bed and breakfast impeccably decorated all of the time, and taken up a thousand feet during the holiday season, it is impossible not to catch the holiday spirit when you visit.   There are a bunch of trees (I’m guessing at least 15) all decorated with different themes and all of the decorations are for sale.  It is there you will find something that will become the next heirloom of your family.

The holiday fair is a family endeavor with Karen Mackey at the helm and her two sisters, her mother and other family members play supporting cast.  This group makes the experience of shopping even more special as your purchases packaged beautifully in shopping bags and tied with ribbons.  You feel like you’ve really been out shopping the streets of the city as you leave with your packages.

In addition to the beautiful holiday shop, the Lakeport English Inn serves tea two time per day.  We scheduled our tea for later in the month when the kids are home from college so we can all enjoy the fun of the Christmas tea with family and friends.

As I see the wonderful and fun things our little group found for gifts, we are again reminded that the experience is as important as the purchase, and the experience is always best with the small, local businesses.