It was two days before Thanksgiving when my husband, Benjamin, and I stood on a jet bridge in San Diego awaiting our flight north to San Luis Obispo. It had been a rough month of deadlines, diagnoses and drama that rattled us enough to prioritize living in the moment.

My reflection in the window looked as tired as I felt. Kneeding the bags under my eyes, I told Benjamin, “I want to just be.”

He nodded, knowing that this made perfect sense, despite the fact I spoke in a dangling verb hungry for its noun. Lately, we had lived in verbs, “stressing, fearing, crying, praying, working,” and now, oddly enough, “traveling.”

But this was an escape trip, one spontaneously chosen because we wanted to run to a place we knew nothing about. It was our chance to push reset and stay close to home but far from reality.

And so, we chose Central California.

As serial travelers, we’ve been known to chase the glass half full, seeking bold pours that somehow reward us for not reading the label. Our blend of choice was Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, which could as easily have been Tuscany.

Lavender fields and dormant vineyards greeted us at the entrance, overshadowed by Mediterranean gardens and a Romeo and Juliet tunnel that spilled onto a piazza. Marble statues and olive trees had me questioning how an Italian dream bloomed in Paso Robles.

Halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, El Paso de Robles (The Pass of Oaks) was pinned on the map for its hot springs, almond orchards and Southern Pacific Railroad. Yet its innovative cowboys and vineyard pioneers kept it there, making it a wine-lover’s destination with over 200 wineries.

The resort itself is a living gallery featuring French limestone, Venetian plaster, Italian gazebos, Murano chandeliers, Cambodian tables, Indian teak, Buddhist statues, Greek amethyst and over a million dollars’ worth of commissioned works. In the shutters and bell tower are pops of teal and aqua, Dylan’s favorite colors. The masterpiece is Star Garden Trail, a walking journey through 12 stations of the constellations.

We tasted the stars through a flight of the hotel’s wines, our favorites being Tannat and Heart of the Vibe. During vineyard tours and art walks, we experienced the tranquility and rejuvenation that Douglas longed to share. Despite being part of the Ayres Hotel empire, he considers Allegretto his personal “story of joy” where he mingles among guests and introduces himself as “the gardener.”

Saying farewell to coastlines and wineries, we went urban with two nights in downtown San Luis Obispo. It was less than an hour’s drive and worth the hype. Staying central, Hotel San Luis Obispo was our base, with modern rooms, a lively bar and a prime location off Higuera Street.

This hub of action meant we could walk to Scout Coffee Co by day, and toast to being present at Feral Kitchen by night. The latter was a funky-fresh restaurant with a cocktail menu that “raised our spirits” in the lounge complete with a library and disco ball. The marketing team (and chef) earn top scores for Bone Appetit (bone marrow), Duck Duck Frites (duck fries) and Braise the Bar (braised short ribs).

Between window shopping and battling over Pac-Man at an arcade, we let our hearts dictate our pace and path, taking us to Avila Beach. This walkable village hosts galleries, boutiques and Avila Pier with a smattering of beachy eateries and seafront dining. Blue Moon Over Avila transported us to southern France with its bistro chairs, ocean views, a menu of baked Brie, escargot and Steak Au Poivre. Yep, we tried them all.

From there, we sweat calories at Sycamore Mineral Hot Springs in their hillside soaking tubs.

After a deep sleep and full hearts, we headed to SLO airport, stopping midway at Madonna Inn.

What started as 12 hotel rooms in 1958 expanded to a bakery, spa, coffee shop, dining room, cocktail lounge, and three gift shops meeting the needs of their kitsch following.

Pink is more than a color at Madonna Inn; It’s a pillar of strength, luring travelers from afar to photograph the Barbie-meets-Dolly Parton match-up of décor. Over breakfast, we must have counted half a dozen signature Pink Champagne Cakes bouncing by, renowned for three layers between whipped almond Bavarian cream.

“I’m so full,” Benjamin said, pushing away remnants of his corned beef hash.

Setting down my biscuit, I blurted, “I don’t want to go home yet.”

With no kids and a car full of gas, it didn’t require much convincing for a couple on the run from responsibility. As the realist, Benjamin threw out budget and weather as priorities. And so, we headed north.

The sunniest city in California, Redding was an economic move and a bold one at that. Looking at the map, Benjamin noted, “It’s a freeway surrounded by a town.”

“Or maybe,” I said with optimism, “It’s a town surrounded by a freeway.”

In the rearview mirror were gas stations, Weiner Schnitzel, motels, and a north-western vibe to match. I still held tight to my hypothesis. Regardless, for us, it didn’t come down to fancy hotels, nor the food scene, but rather nature. That was our purpose, to get outside and keep fueling. Our plan was to set up camp in Redding and to web out to Lake Shasta, Whiskeytown Lake, and maybe even try our luck at fly fishing. Welcoming us to Redding were cotton-candy skies pierced by Mount Shasta, the fifth -highest peak in the state.

That night, we dined at Pipeline, a brick-loft-esque hotspot with stellar crafts and elevated bar food profiling lamb burgers, ahi tacos and Reubens. We turned corners and followed the holiday lights, literally 2 million of them, at the Redding Garden of Lights. They had me at “glowing swings,” and kept me Instagram-ing with 10-acres of illuminated gardens synced to music.

By day, the sun overpowered the glitter of night, as we biked 15 miles beyond the Sundial Bridge along the Sacramento River Trail. The award-winning 17.4-mile loop framed the river, connecting over 80 miles of trails.

For lingering bites and “another round,” we found nourishment at Cheesecakes Unlimited with salmon wraps, Fusion Lounge with ramen, Evergreen with organic waffles, and Mosaic Restaurant with elk meatloaf. The food scene was eclectic, with cozy cafes and dive bars coming up for air.

The big win came at Lake Shasta Caverns, where we boarded a catamaran to cross Lake Shasta.

On the banks, we explored ancient caves resembling candle wax, coral, honeycomb, and lemon meringue. Another gain came at Shasta Dam constructed in 1938, as the second largest concrete dam in America.

With nothing but time on our hands, we dedicated an afternoon to Whiskeytown, a 42,000-acre national recreation area boasting 36 miles of shoreline and multiple waterfalls, both of which we explored.

Of all the trails we had trekked, it was a “zoo” and a lazy trout that brought me home. At the edge of Sundial Bridge, sat Turtle Bay Exploration Park, which ironically has nothing to do with turtles. Instead, it has to do with life-giving moments that start with rescued animals and ends with a full heart. From porcupines and opossums, to skunks and beavers, guests can interact with these “free-range” healers during daily parades and private encounters.

I might have cried.

Literally hours before our flight home, we rowed onto the Sacramento River with Darrin Deel from AC Fly Fishing. As a first-time caster, I failed miserably as my husband pulled in one trout after another. I clapped without spirit. And then my moment arrived, when the biggest beauty of the bunch tugged my line. For the first time in my life, I couldn’t wait to thank the puckering creature for gifting me a memory in Redding.

It was a moment where life below the river kissed the setting sun; where a jet bridge of exhaustion led me to a story of a man’s sorrow that built a sanctuary; where farmers had the power to turn grapes into wine; where rancheros could build kingdoms; where waiters could become authors; where fishermen could became guides; and where a couple broken and done could learn how to “just be.”