Healdsburg, CA
We're almost tempted not to write about Healdsburg. It's such a sweet spot, and we don't want it flooded with more visitors - like us. Located 30 miles north of Sonoma in the Dry Creek Valley, we spent a full week in Healdsburg. It has everything we could ever want in a summer trip: lots to do outside, awe-inspiring sites, incredible food and drinks, amazing hot weather, good people and gorgeous hotels. Our days were spent biking to restaurants and wineries, visiting nearby towns like Sebastopol (such a cool spot built up in apple orchard warehouses), hiking among the redwoods, and kayaking down the Russian River. We also managed to squeeze in a couple jogs and yoga classes, not to mention a World Cup game at the Bergamot Alley bar - Campo Fina next door delivered an insane lunch to our table. At night, we indulged in incredible farm-fresh foods, wines and cocktails, walks and shopping in the tiny town. We ate up artisanal ice cream from Noble Folk, candy from the General Store and the people-watching scene in the Town Plaza - then crashed in our beautiful room on the top floor at the Hotel Healdsburg. Even watched the 4th of July fireworks from our balcony. We fell in love with The Shed (they serve Kombucha on tap and have tons of fresh local produce, a large larder counter and great cookware to whip up some healthy real food recipes at home) and let ourselves dream about living in Healdsburg one day. Yes, we even checked out some real estate. We arrived around July 4th, so the weather topped about 100º each day (just threw that in to scare a couple of you off!).
Hotels
Restaurants
Dry Creek General Store - lunch
Diavola Pizzeria and Salumeria - lunch
Zazu Kitchen+Farm - in Sebastopol
Cocktails
Sweets
Noble Folk Ice Cream and Pie Bar
Hikes
Day Trips
Yoga
Bike Shop
Bike Rides
To Geyserville: West Dry Creek Road-Dry Creek Rd-Canyon Road-Geyserville Ave. for lunch at Diavola-to Copolla Winery-to Healdsburg Ave.
To Dry Creek General Store: West Dry Creek Road-stop at Lambert Bridge Winery-Lambert Bridge Rd-stop at Dry Creek General Store for sandwiches (and flies)-Dry Creek Road-Healdsburg Ave.
Eye Candy
Wineries - hit them all on bike
Jogging Trail
Magnolia Drive Loop
Bike Ride. On our way to Dry Creek General Store.
Cool spot. Delicious food.
A big ass old tree!
Mark and a view
Outrageous baby octopus
Too pretty to slurp soup
Serious chicken of the sea
While it's wine city here, I went for the beer!
Our hearts ache a little when we think about how far away we are from The Shed! :(
Fireworks from our balcony!
Our sweet room!
While I wouldn't want anyone's moustache near my baked goods, I was willing to take a chance for this whoopie pie.
Oh, how we miss The Shed.
We made it to the lake!
Vineyard after vineyard, so beautiful in the ol' USA.