Halfway through the year, it finally caught up to me: I needed a break.
Since the Eaton Fire, I had been running on all cylinders without a pause. I went to work every day (and too many weekends), fielded endless insurance calls, cleaned and remediated my house, and adjusted to a commute that was suddenly twice as long. Sleep wasn’t rest; it was simply a way to escape. By May, my body waved the white flag and I crashed hard.
For 48 hours, I was forced into stillness, flat on my back in bed. Between January and May, I had squeezed in two quick road trips (Joshua Tree and Death Valley), but nothing that allowed me to truly disconnect. I had been craving that kind of trip since last year, when my plans to revisit Zihuatanejo, Mexico this past February were derailed. So, there I was, stuck in bed with nothing but 90 Day Fiancé playing in the background, until something unexpected grabbed me.
A couple on the show was in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico. I barely paid attention to their storyline because I couldn’t take my eyes off the scenery. Desert stretches dotted with greenery, vast open land framed by mountains, and a pace of life that looked wonderfully unhurried. It was everything my fast-moving world was not.
I started digging deeper. Valle de Guadalupe (or simply Valle) is often called the “Santa Barbara of Mexico.” With its growing number of wineries, vineyards, and restaurants, it’s become a rising destination. I’m not even a big wine drinker, but that didn’t matter. I knew I had to go.
Fast forward a few months, and I finally made it there.
From the moment I arrived, I was hooked. The food was extraordinary, the wineries were stunning, and the hiking trails gave me the calm I had been chasing. After just a few days, I knew I’d be back. But it was during a spur-of-the-moment open house tour that I caught myself wondering: what if I lived here? Standing on a rooftop, staring out over Valle’s rolling vineyards and mountains, the idea didn’t feel so far-fetched.
This trip gave me the reset I desperately needed. I slept when my body told me to, wandered wherever gut led me, slowed down when I wanted to, and indulged in some of the best meals I’ve had in ages. I wouldn’t wish the exhaustion that led me to Valle on anyone, but I am grateful it brought me here. Because now, Valle isn’t just a place I visited. It’s a place that will stay with me for a long time.
