Kenwood

Wine enthusiasts and nature lovers alike will find a great base of operations in the town of Kenwood (pop. 1,028), located in eastern Sonoma County at the north end of the picturesque Sonoma Valley. Wine tasting — and more — is available at in-town tasting rooms or in the world-renowned wineries along the outskirts of town. Shop for hand-made folk art, artisan wine racks, and garden and pet supplies at Swede's Feeds. You'll recognize it by the colorful metal-welded animal sculptures standing in the store's front yard: at times the metal menagerie has included a 10-foot-tall dinosaur or 12-foot-tall giraffe. Explore the outdoors at nearby Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, home to miles of trails, a waterfall, and Bald Mountain. It's also home to the Robert Ferguson Observatory.

South of town, Wildwood Nursery features sculptures scattered on trails throughout five lushly-forested acres. The nursery showcases more than 250 varieties of Japanese maples, many of them rare, as well as dogwoods, ginkgos, conifers, edible plant starts, and bonsai-style beech, maple, and evergreen trees. Kenwood offers a range of lodging options, including bed and breakfast inns, vacation rentals, and winery cottages. The Kenwood Inn and Spa, a Mediterranean villa-style resort, consistently receives awards from Conde Nast Traveler and other travel publications. When dining out, enjoy burgers, barbecue, pizza, and other New American cuisine at Palooza Brewery & Gastropub, or the global California eatery and oyster bar, Salt & Stone. Find details about Kenwood hotels and lodging.