If the scent of garlic has you running to see what’s cookin’…then you must trek south to Gilroy (the Garlic Capitol of the World) and the San Martin vicinity for a real tasty trip to indulge your cravings and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. And, if your summer doesn’t entail a 747, then you should make a weekend around the 31st Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, complete with a luxury resort stay, a round of golf amongst gorgeous scenery, wine tasting, and a trip to a theme park for the kids, all driving distance within.

Taking place at the Christmas Hill Park, just 30 miles south of San Jose off of Highway 101, the legendary Gilroy Garlic Festival, a garlic bonanza, takes place this year July 24-26, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. With a price tag of only 12 bucks for adults, and six bucks for the kiddies, you really can’t beat the deal that gives you incredible food, arts and crafts, live entertainment, and cooking demonstrations daily.

If the kids need a little break from the festival to expend some energy, explore the Gilroy Gardens, a park that includes the Monarch Garden (inside a greenhouse so large that a river runs through it); a roller coaster, a boat ride through gardens of annual color; and an antique car ride. Plus, one of the main attractions are some very unusual 50-plus-year-old Circus trees…check out www.gilroygardens.org to take a peek!

After all that fun, the adults in your crew can wash down the garlic and relax with a little wine tasting at the wineries of Santa Clara Valley. Of those wineries – take a look at a complete list and map at www.gilroyvisitor.com – try the Creekview Vineyards and Clos LaChance Winery in San Martin, both of which offer some great whites to cool you down in the summer heat.

After you’ve had enough sipping, head back to your room, or should I say bungalow, at the the CordeValle Resort, also located in San Martin, and unwind with luxury accommodations such as goose-down comforters, flat screen TVs, and breathtaking views. The bungalows overlook the ninth fairway of the centerpiece of the resort – a 7,169-yard championship golf course – and offer 750 square feet of space to do absolutely nothing! If you need more room, upgrade to a villa or fairway home for the weekend...www.cordevalle.com.

If golf’s not on your to-do list to relax, don’t worry, Sense the spa at CordeValle has plenty of de-stressing treatments to offer, my favorite (and their most requested) is the classic massage, or for real mind-body healing go for the Valley Hot Stone Massage.

On your way out of town, be sure to stop back by Gilroy to pick up some garlic-infused gifts at one of the many specialty food shops to take home to your friends, or be selfish and savor the weekend memories at home with an encore dinner prepared with your souvenirs!