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Napa / Sonoma |
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Napa / Sonoma
North America’s most acclaimed wine producing area isn’t only for oneophiles. California’s pleasure center has something for anyone who likes the finer things in life. With fine wine you’ll find fine cuisine—some of the best restaurants in the country, in fact. You can also go spa-hopping, shop, even take a hot-air balloon ride over the vineyards. Whatever it takes to relax you, you can probably do it in Napa or Sonoma Counties.
Activities and Attractions:
Which area, Napa or Sonoma, is the best? That depends on your style. In general, Napa is the more developed of the two counties, and you’ll be sharing the narrow roads with more of your fellow travelers. You’ll also find more hotels and restaurants, and bigger towns. Coastal Sonoma is more open and more rustic. It’s less touristy, but you’ll also drive further between attractions.
The beautiful thing is that, because Napa and Sonoma counties are separated by such a short drive, you don’t have to choose between them. Pick out the vineyards you want to see, and chances are you’ll be able to hit them all, regardless of which side of the Mayacamas mountains they’re on. If you aren’t sure which wines you want to taste, you can just drive around until you find a vineyard that strikes your fancy. In Napa, wineries are clustered around Route 29. In Sonoma, Route 128 is the main drag. With literally hundreds of vineyards producing innumerable varieties of red, white, and sparkling wine, you’ll find one that works for you.
For variety, try driving around tasting olive oils produced by several dozen makers. Or do a cheese tour. It’s one of those “only in Northern California” things, and you won’t need a designated driver.
Make sure you rent a car, though. The California wine country is the kind of place that rewards aimless driving. The sight of rolling vineyards, and of fields of yellow mustard plants meeting clear blue sky, never gets old. Plus you’ll encounter plenty of charming cities and towns. The hamlet of Sonoma offers a beautiful town square and an 1821 mission full of history. Petaluma’s deco-flavored downtown is a great place to shop for antiques. In Napa, there is big-city shopping at the Napa Premium Outlets. Yountville has boutique shopping. It’s also home to the French Laundry, Northern California’s only restaurant with three Michelin stars.
One other thing you’ll notice is that you almost can’t turn around without someone offering to rub you down or wrap you in something exotic. You’ll find a wide variety of spas scattered all over Sonoma, from 40,000 square-foot palaces of pleasure to rough-hewn retreats where you’ll sweat out toxins in a Japanese-style cedar-chip sauna. In Napa, the town of Calistoga has built up around natural mineral springs, and the scent of relaxation hangs in the air over half a dozen different Lincoln-street spas.
Insider Tip:
Thomas Keller's French Laundry is consistently rated one of the top restaurants in America. Not surprisingly, it’s extremely hard to get a reservation. If you are unsuccessful, go to plan B. “B” in this case stands for Bouchon, a Yountville bistro also owned by Keller. Bouchon has one Michelin star to the French Laundry’s three, so the competition for reservations is slightly less fierce. The bar is seated on a first-come, first served basis, and they’ve been known to take walk-ins at tables as well. Plan C: Bouchon has a bakery attached to the restaurant, and nobody ever gets turned away there.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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