Mount Tamalpais State Park OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES The mild climate, easy access to the beach and several state parks make Napa and Sonoma ideal for outdoor lovers. A scenic drive will deliver you to the Russian River region of Sonoma County. Enjoy hiking on redwood-lined trails, camping, canoeing and rafting on the river’s gentle waters. If you prefer two-wheel transport, flat roads and gorgeous scenery make biking a memorable excursion, and you’ll find charming towns and plenty of wineries to visit along the way. Bike rentals are available in towns including St. Helena, yountville, Healdsburg and Sebastopol. For an unforgettable experience, float in a hot air balloon over the lush wineries of Napa Valley. FESTIVALS With gorgeous surroundings and rich culture, Napa and Sonoma attract an exciting array of annual celebrations. Napa Valley’s Culinary Crawl in February is a food and wine walking tour among downtown Napa’s finest culinary destinations. In May, experience the first taste of summer at Napa’s famed, three-day BottleRock music festival, which draws top musical acts from Mumford and Sons to Cypress Hill. If you prefer craft brews, Sonoma County is home to an Annual Beerfest each June called The Good One. Although the region might best be known for its grape varietals, you can celebrate local apple farming at the Gravenstein Apple Fair in August or the Sebastopol Apple Blossom Festival in April. The Napa Valley Film Festival includes film screenings and hosts celebrities from all over the world each November, and the Sonoma International Film Festival in March features more than 100 curated film selections. SHOPPING Shopping is a popular pastime in wine country. In St. Helena, one-of-a-kind shops line Highway 29. In Napa, the Napa Premium Outlets offer great savings on luxury brands such as Coach and Michael Kors. In Sonoma County, check out Santa Rosa’s Fourth St. area, which is home to locally-owned shops, or drop by Railroad Square for a mix of antique shops and restaurants. In Healdsburg, SHED is a must-visit for specialty ingredients and kitchenware. Oxbow Public Market in Napa is a marvelous source for artisan cheeses, breads, produce and local olive oil. DINING Napa and Sonoma are epicenters for fine dining and have a wealth of Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand award-winning eateries. you’ll need reservations well in advance to secure a table at the Restaurant at Meadowood or the legendary French laundry, but the experiences are unforgettable. To sample local flavors in Sonoma County, head to The Girl and The Fig in downtown Sonoma, where you’ll find artful uses of cheeses, meats, fruits and veggies, all produced nearby. Or, grab a table at la Salette for modern takes on Portuguese cuisine. If you love to cook, try a class at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone for a day of delicious learning. SPAS Built on natural hot springs, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa delivers the quintessential spa experience — dry sauna, private baths and two mineral soaking pools — while Forestville’s Farmhouse Inn has made local produce harvested on-site the cornerstone of their spa treatments. Spa luxury meets wine country extravagance at Auberge du Soleil, where temperate springs overlook vineyards and the resort’s own olive grove. Treatments include floral oils from the garden and a refreshing grapeseed scrub. Finally, Calistoga Spa Hot Springs is world-famous for its traditional volcanic ash mud baths. credits here Al Fresco Dining TOWERING TREES Northern California’s wine country is one of the few places on earth where you can experience the incredible feeling of standing in a redwood forest. These are the tallest trees in the world, growing as high as 350 feet and surviving upward of 2,000 years, making them some of Earth’s oldest inhabitants. Many redwood forests were chopped down for lumber during the Gold Rush and relatively few groves remain. The Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Sonoma County offers 805 acres of trails, campgrounds and much more. Visiting, hiking and picnicking in these magical forests is a singular experience for visitors. Save the Redwoods offers insider information, park maps and travel guides. Beyond . 65
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