SONOMA WITH THE GIRLS BY ELAINA VERHOFF
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ometimes when your birthday is around the corner, and you’re craving some quality friend time, you have to take matters into your own hands. And that’s exactly what I did when I suggested to my girlfriends that we all take a midNovember trip to wine country. Amazingly, all four of them were free, we booked a smoking deal on our flight, rented an awesome minivan, and soon we were on our way. My super helpful dad offered to shuttle us to the airport, a quick trip that set the tone for a no-filter, snort-laughing weekend. “Just pretend I’m not here,” he joked after silently enduring 20 minutes of free-flowing girl talk before dropping us curbside at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Now, before I fast-forward and tell you about my totally embarrassing goof at the airport, I want you to know that in my past life (pre-kids), I was quite the world traveler. These days, not so much. OK, so what did I do at the airport? I forgot
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greenliving | March 2020
my driver’s license! Yes, I made the stupid move of throwing my license and debit card in my small purse for a night out earlier in the week—and leaving it there! But because of this bonehead move, I now have a very important travel tip to share. You can get on a plane without a photo ID! Yes, it’s true. If you are a big nerd and carry a huge wallet with a checkbook (proof of address) and a few other pieces of ID like a credit card or insurance card, you have to endure a little more thorough security, but you can still fly! It was close, but I made it through the cavity search (kidding!), caught up with my friends, and slid into my seat not a moment too soon. One bloody Mary and a bag of pretzels later, my heart rate had returned to normal, and we were there. So if you do find yourself enjoying a long weekend with your girlfriends in Sonoma, where should you indulge? Here are some of the highlights of our girls trip to wine country. greenlivingaz.com
