Itinerary: Enjoy The Good Life in Wine Country

Sebastopol, California

The diverse community of Sebastopol boasts a rich agricultural history, small-town charm, farm-to-table organic food and wine, creative artists and healers, and access to an array of outdoor recreation.

Explore the Laguna de Santa Rosa, the largest freshwater wetlands on the northern California coast, with a trailhead just an easy seven-minute walk from the downtown plaza.

Browse the charming downtown area with its diverse mix of local shops and galleries. Visit one of the many massage therapists, day spas, yoga studios, and other destinations for health and healing right here in Sebastopol.

Slightly northeast of downtown, The Barlow offers unique shops, restaurants, boutique wineries, craft breweries, and art galleries across 12.5 acres of industrial-chic buildings situated for pleasant strolling.

Eat mouthwatering Mexican-style street food with a gourmet flair and a paper plate casualness at Osito Style Tacos. Try British-style cheese made on-site at William Cofield Cheesemakers. Sample craft beers at Crooked Goat Brewing. Or sip handcrafted wines in one of The Barlow’s three boutique wine-tasting rooms. 

Five miles northwest of Sebastopol, the main street of the tiny community of Graton is not much more than a block long but boasts nationally acclaimed restaurants, delightful local wineries, and an impressive artistic array of galleries and shops.

Six miles southwest of Sebastopol, the hamlet of Freestone is home to Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary, the only day spa nationwide that offers the cedar enzyme bath, a rejuvenating heat treatment from Japan. With its Japanese décor and meditation garden, Osmosis is a wonderful wellness retreat, offering massage, organic facials, skincare, and other wellness and relaxation services. 

Don’t miss the wonderful baked goods at nearby Wild Flour Bread; fans drive miles out of their way for the bread and scones, including delicious gluten-free options, all cooked in a wood-fired brick oven.

If you have time to explore, Freestone is the southern end of the highly scenic 10-mile-long Bohemian Highway. Plus, Freestone is only about 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean and Sonoma County’s stunning coastline.

Healdsburg, California

The Sonoma County town of Healdsburg is a wine and foodie haven. The charming, walkable downtown area features a variety of art galleries, antique stores, boutiques, restaurants, and wine-tasting rooms.

Stop by The Taste of Tea, Japanese Restaurant, Spa, and Tasting Bar for a unique bit of relaxation and renewal. Eat traditional Japanese dishes while sipping a tasting flight of classic teas, then unwind with a green tea foot soak or an aromatic herbal neck wrap.

Three prime winegrowing regions meet near Healdsburg — the Russian River  Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley wine appellations. That means more than 100 world-class wineries and tasting rooms are reachable by a short drive or a fun bicycle ride.

Explore on two wheels on the Sip ‘N Cycle Tour by Getaway Adventures or the Healdsburg Wine Country Cycling Tour with Ace It Bike Tours.

From Healdsburg, you can head north to the charming communities of Geyserville and Cloverdale.

Or explore the Russian River area all the way to the coast. For a wonderful river experience, take a standup paddleboard yoga class with Rubicon Adventures.

Sonoma Valley, California

In eastern Sonoma County, the lush Sonoma Valley offers a delightful blend of wine, history, arts, fine food, and scenic views. Jack London State Historic Park, the former ranch home of acclaimed author and adventurer Jack London includes more than 26 miles of trails across 1,400 acres in Glen Ellen. Visit the simple cottage where London and his wife lived, pay your respects at their gravesites, and learn more at the recently updated House of Happy Walls Museum.

The park’s extensive trail system offers amazing views and connects to part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Ride one of the gentle, well-cared-for horses from Triple Creek Horse Outfit and let a knowledgeable guide lead you on a trail ride suited to your abilities, past vineyards and through oak woodlands and shady redwood groves.

In the village of Glen Ellen, visit chef Pascal Merle and his wife Pascale at Les Pascals pâtisserie for their delicious coffee, pastries, bread, sandwiches, and soup. Go ahead and stand in line like the locals — this popular place is worth it.

A little farther south, wander around the eight-acre central plaza in the town of Sonoma. Explore the shops, galleries, tasting rooms, and delicious eateries. History is everywhere you look, from the statues in the plaza to the neighboring Sonoma State Historic Park, which contains a number of sites, including the last and northernmost of California’s missions.

Greet the dawn on a coastal bluff with a Sun Salutation pose, meditate in the stillness of a redwood forest, or start a day of wine tasting with a yoga session in a serene and beautiful vineyard. Several companies offer yoga, breathwork, meditation, and other healthy experiences for your Sonoma County getaway.

Body Flows founder Sally Mitchell organizes and leads day or weekend yoga, mindfulness, and wellness events that can include wine tasting. Mitchell also works as a massage therapist and Reiki energy practitioner, helping people move their bodies with greater ease and less effort.

At Benziger Family Winery the resident sheep are not only cute, they play a vital role in removing overgrown cover crops. These “wooly weeders” are one the most eco-responsible farming methods available, eliminating the need for intrusive mowing, disking, or herbicides.

Every wine in Benziger’s award-winning portfolio is certified for green farming practices. Some are also certified organic, and others are Biodynamic. Ride through the vineyards on a tractor-pulled tram, explore the winemaking facilities and wine cave, and then taste Benziger’s authentic and memorable wines.

Visit with owner and winemaker Luke Bass at Porter Bass Winery, located between two ridges above the Russian River Valley. The tasting bar is a slab of wood atop two barrels under a walnut tree with breathtaking views of vineyards and forest. Bass handcrafts his 1,000-case winery’s highly acclaimed Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel wines and personally leads the hour-long tasting tours (by appointment only).

Certified Biodynamic, DaVero Farms and Winery in the Dry Creek Valley is home to vineyards, olive groves, fruit trees, and bountiful produce, as well as chickens, sheep, and pigs. They focus on rare Italian varietals, and tastings are by appointment. On the “Discover the Farm” tour, explore the vineyards and gardens and meet the farm animals before sitting down to a focused tasting of DaVero’s wines, estate olive oils, and imported 15-year-aged balsamic vinegar. Each wine is complemented with seasonal food pairings.

Immerse yourself in the ultimate Sonoma Wine Country oasis at the historic Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. It offers beautifully appointed guestrooms and suites, an award-winning restaurant, a pampering spa, and world-class golf. Go on a free docent-led hike or take a free yoga or fitness class and then relax at the daily wine tasting in the lobby.

Experience Sonoma Wine Country with Asian flair at Gaige House. Built as a private home in the late 1800s, Gaige House offers décor and services inspired by the traditional Japanese ryokan inns. This secluded hideaway includes 23 guest rooms plus nine Zen suites with authentic Japanese accents, including granite soaking tubs and private gardens.

Relax in Mediterranean-style luxury at the Kenwood Inn & Spa, a tranquil hideaway on two-and-a-half meticulously landscaped acres. Extensively remodeled, each of the 29 rooms is different, yet all are posh palace retreats, with a fireplace sitting area and baths that are nearly large enough to swim in.

Enjoy rustic luxury where attention is paid to every detail at the Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant in the Russian River Valley. Owned by siblings and fifth-generation Sonoma County farmers Catherine and Joe Bartolomei, the inn offers 25 luxurious accommodations, country-chic décor, and outstanding services. The onsite restaurant has earned a Michelin Star every year for more than a dozen years for its farm-to-table Cal-Mediterranean menu. The grounds include a luxury spa, a pool and hot tub, outdoor fire pits for s’mores, and beautiful gardens.

Tucked into the beautiful redwood-forested hills above the Russian River Valley in western Sonoma County, Ratna Ling Retreat Center offers private luxury cottages and organic farm-to-table vegetarian meals, as well as classes in relaxation, meditation, Qigong, and yoga. The onsite wellness center provides a range of massage and body treatments. Somewhat remote, Ratna Ling is a perfect place to escape from the busyness of life, connect with nature, and find your peaceful center.