California Wine Country Vacation

Oh I think I made a joke, get it - whine not. What I’m trying to say is that both our hotels are in the wine country of Sonoma County, Northern CA, but there is a whole lot of other non-winery, family, group, couple, dog kind of stuff to do. If you just came from one of our websites, winecountryqi.com or winecountryfi.com and you didn’t notice all the recommendations for things to do and see - then go back, yes go back and read the site carefully.

Oh, and then try this - visit www.costtodrive.com or www.fuelcostcalculator.com and figure out how much gas and the cost of that gas to get to us and back home. So, you’ll not only have the info on what to do where but you’ll know how much to pay to get here.

Let me know if any of this works for you because it’s summer time and you know and I know you want to go some where and not just stay in your zip code until August.

The weather this morning sucked - drizzle and a howling wind - but I ran any way and it felt good. But most people cringe if they thought they had to run or even worse, run in the rain. So here’s a little tidbit on what to do this Sunday that has nothing to do with rain - hopefully it doesn’t - and nothing to do with drinking - maybe afterwards.

Point Reyes. Over Valentines/President’s weekend that’s where the nature lovers went. It wasn’t too crowded but people were out because it was very “spring-like” weather. We started at the Visitors Center and walked the Earthquake Trail. It was beautifully quiet and educational at the same time.  Then we drove over to the beach, sat and watched the waves crash. It was so misty from the churning water but it wasn’t too cold. By then we were hungry and stopped in Inverness at Pricilla’s Pizza and Cafe for a tasty lunch before driving off to our last stop, what use to be Johnson’s Oyster Farm, and we bought two dozen medium, briny, bivalve molluscs - yum, yum.

Sometimes we forget what we have in our own backyard.  

The waves were churning and spray was every where.

We were driving back from Guerneville last Friday early evening and decided to try out the Willow Wood Cafe in Graton. If you can believe it, over the years a few people have stayed at our Sebastopol hotel and have asked specifically where this place was.

Willow Wood started out as a market way back when, so it has retained its provincial charm. The food is as good as any california-centric, whats-in-season restaurant in the Bay Area with prices in the not too shabby area. 

Graton is a one-horse town, similiar to Penngrove, but it seems that great food can be found in small, charming out of the way places.  They have a website, http://www.willowwoodgraton.com/

hey you, this weekend is NASCAR at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. I bet you still can get tickets to the race. The best thing is the weather will be perfect and even if you didn’t go to the race Petaluma has some quirky little places to visit, like the Farmer’s Market at Walnut Park on Sat at 2pm and Lala Creamery, a cute little ice cream place downtown on Petaluma Blvd. North that just opened. It use to be Deaf Dog Coffee, the greatest place to get a Mocha, but that’s another story.

Recognized as one of the best Thai restaurants in the Petaluma area, Sea Modern Thai Cuisine features an extensive menu of traditional Thai dishes and modern adaptations. Best of Petaluma voters have named Sea Modern Thai Cuisine the Best Asian Restaurant in Petaluma.

Volpi’s Ristorante & Bar has been satisfying hungry appetites in downtown Petaluma since 1925. This family-run Italian restaurant serves up piping hot, hearty dishes made from age-old recipes. Full bar and live music.

Della Fattoria in downtown Petaluma is the quintessential corner bakery whose aroma of fresh-baked breads pulled warm from the oven wafts down the street. Savor delicious homemade breads, artful cakes, gourmet sandwiches, and more.

French Garden Restaurant and Bistro in Sebastopol is noted for its artful cuisine paired with farm-fresh ingredients pulled directly from the restaurant’s own farm. The menu changes seasonally based on the local harvest.