I made it out to San Francisco recently, for the first time in way too many years. I have a few friends who live there, but somehow the city is never quite on the way to wherever I am going. And it’s such a long flight from Florida, I always feel like I should be heading to Europe instead of flying six hours to still be in the U.S. I’m glad I went back. I’d forgotten how special Northern California is. The air just smells different out there. And I had the chance to return to a favorite hotel, if you can call it that (it’s really in a league of its own), in Tomales Bay, north of the city.

Nick’s Cove is a collection of cottages right on the water, each with its own personality and cozy amenities you don’t need but sure can appreciate along the chilly Northern California coast, like wood-burning stoves and old-fashioned bath tubs.

The billowy down comforter on the bed, the moody views out the cottage window that made me feel like I was on a cruise in some Scandinavian fjord – this is what hygge is all about, if you ask me.

Our baby girl made herself right at home, too. Have I mentioned how much I love traveling with my kids? I mean, I often don’t have a choice these days, young as they are. And I know they won’t remember anything. But I’m glad I’m showing them some of my favorite places while they’re still young and impressionable, like my parents did for me. I’m quite sure those early travels here at home in U.S. are what planted the wanderlust to get out there and see much more of the world in me.