Living in the Bay Area, we tend to be a little spoiled by the weather, water and most importantly wine. Driving just under 70 miles from San Francisco, there is a gem of a city nestled along the Russian River in Sonoma County wine country known as Healdsburg.
Here, you will experience unforgettable hospitality and luxury within the city and the surrounding Sonoma County wine country, which is home to restaurant concepts ranging from casual dine-in or out to fine dining and more than 400 wineries.
“Healdsburg reminds me of a wild strawberry, fraise de bois. A typical strawberry has great flavor and is wonderful – but a fraise de bois is smaller and has more flavor packed into that smaller package. Healdsburg is brimming with fantastic restaurants, wineries, art and shopping. It’s small but packed with culture and things to do,” shares executive chef David Lawrence, who joined the team at Goodnight’s Prime Steak + Spirits in Healdsburg last year.
The restaurant is just one of many dining experiences waiting for you during your Sonoma County Wine Country getaway.
Relax, Relate and Release
If there is one state worth road tripping through, it’s California and all the cities in between. Highway 101 is your gateway into Healdsburg, whether you are coming from the north or south. As you enter downtown, you’ll instantly notice a restful pace that allows for living in the moment.
People strolling down the street as they shop, eat and sip around Healdsburg Plaza is your sign to relax as you reset during the coming days. Even if you are local to the area, a few hours will do the mind and body some good.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as you spend your day noshing around on small bites, breads and cured meats, beignets and po’boys, Italian and Japanese, which is just a sampling. And on Saturdays, act like a local at the weekly seasonal farmers markets where you can curate your own agriculture favorites such as honey, cheeses and olive oils.
Tasting rooms offer an opportunity to taste some of the best wines in Sonoma County wine country. Red, white and sparkling wine enthusiasts will be thoroughly satisfied as tasting rooms give a glimpse of wines produced thanks to Sonoma County’s diverse microclimates within its appellations.
By V Sheree Williams
