northern california coast and wine country - overview

Wild, windswept beaches and charming clapboard cottages. Vineyards that seem to have been plucked from the hills of Tuscany. And weathered wooden barns in the shadow of ancient oaks.

It’s hard to imagine any place that offers more opportunities to enjoy the good life than Northern California.

The scenery, which ranges from craggy coastline to vine-covered hills, is simply spectacular. And readily accessible, whether you’re gliding along the coast in a kayak, soaring above Sonoma in a hot air balloon, hiking through a redwood forest, or biking legendary California Highway 1.

Wildlife is abundant. And there’s plenty to interest architecture buffs -- including Mendocino’s perfectly preserved New-England style structures, three 19th-century lighthouses, and the last Franciscan mission in California.

But the real draw here is the food and the wine. After all, where else can you sample BV, Opus One, Niebaum-Coppola, or Clos du Bois in absolutely unforgettable surroundings -- fragrant fields of lavender, the formal gardens of a historic chateau, or the vintage dining car of a luxury train.

Accommodations range from cozy arts and crafts lodges to sybaritic spas. And driving here is a pleasure. So start packing.

Wine Country

Sonoma Valley