Healdsburg is an ideal vacation town--remote enough from the city (about an hour north of San Francisco), but close enough to the valley's great and emerging wineries. Centered around a square plaza and park, the town of Healdsburg is easily walkable and packed with great restaurants, shops (clothing, interior design, candy) and some chic hotels an... Mored B&Bs.

Preview of great eating spots (more details below):
- Flying Goat Coffee: for your morning joe
- Dry Creek Kitchen: featuring locally grown produce and meats and famed chef Charlie Palmer
- Cyrus Restaurant: upscale and very popular
- Barndiva: fun bar scene (wine and cocktails), outdoor seating, local ingredients and original items like pumpkin omelettes and filet mignon with onion rings
- Oakville Grocery: ideal for take-along picnic fare for wine tasting

Shopping:
- For home and garden, T+L recommends (a) 21 Arrondissement (309 Healdsburg Ave.) for "French flea-market and estate-sale finds"; (b) Baksheesh (106B Matheson St.), which "focuses on fair-trade, handcrafted gifts from the developing world, including carved beechwood bowls from Haiti and djembe drums from Burkina Faso"; and (c) Lime Stone (315 Healdsburg Ave.), which "sells restaurant-quality dining furniture and tabletop accessories (durable slip-covered chairs, affordable crystal stemware) alongside a global assortment of antiques."
- For women's clothes, locals love Susan Graf for great, wearable, luxury brands like Bogner (100 Matheson St. at Healdsburg Avenue). T+L likes M Clothing (381 Healdsburg Ave.).

Sleeping (many nightly rates include breakfast):
- Hotel Healdsburg: facing the plaza, it is co-owned by chef Charlie Palmer (of Dry Creek Kitchen) and features a relaxing green lobby, 55 guest rooms and a terrific on-site spa.
- Les Mars Hôtel: was called "over the top" by T+L and reportedly was "modeled after a French château, decked out with four-poster canopy beds and 17th and 18th century antiques."
- Duchamp: may be the opposite of Les Mars in its minimalist design. A major perk is that guests can eat their breakfast poolside in the shade of olive trees.
- Healdsburg Inn on the Plaza: is a relative newcomer and features rooms with "high ceilings, bay windows, fireplaces, and claw-foot bathtubs," says T+L. "For maximum privacy, [T+L] likes the carriage house, which comes with a full kitchen and its own patio."

The town is also a perfect spot to begin your afternoon or day of wine tasting. In this guide, you will explore the Dry Creek region of Northern Sonoma Valley. While there are 13 appelations in Sonoma County, the two other most popular ones in the north are Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley.

According to Travel + Leisure, "high season runs from May through September; better deals are available midweek, or in October, when grape crushing is winding down."Less

Locals and tourists love the Flying Goat. It gets 4.5 out of 5 stars on Yelp. With its high ceilings, wood plank floors and edgy, but not intimidating vibe, "the Goat" is simply the best way to start your day in Healdsburg.
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Just off the main square: 324 Center St., Healdsburg
707-433-3599
Hours
Daily 7am-7pm
... More---
Second location
419 Center St.
707-433-8003
Hours
Monday-Friday 6am-Noon
Saturday 7am-NoonLess

Travel + Leisure reports, "at Dry Creek Kitchen, chef Palmer serves only Sonoma County wines--650 of them--and spotlights regional purveyors in dishes like chestnut-glazed squab."
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317 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg
707-431-0330
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Cost
Dinner for two $110

Two-Michelin-star-rated Cyrus is a relatively young restaurant (opened in 2005), but it quickly grabbed the attention of the world's food and wine editors. Co-owners Douglas Keane and Nick Peyton have roots at the world-famous Gary Danko in San Francisco and own three restaurants in Healdsburg (Cyrus, Healdsburg Bar & Grill and Shimo Modern Steak).... More

Food & Wine magazine called Cyrus "The Wine Country's Best New Restaurant" in 2006, just a year after it opened. And Travel + Leisure tells readers that Cyrus "amps up the glamour with dramatic vaulted ceilings and a theatrical reception: the maître d' phones the chef to announce your arrival, cueing the tableside champagne-and-caviar cart. Warm, intuitive service and exquisite dishes (truffled red-wine risotto, Thai marinated lobster) by rising chef [Keane] save the place from feeling pretentious."
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29 North St., Healdsburg
707-433-3311
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Cost
Dinner for two $116Less

T+L: "Light-flooded and tranquil by day, Barndiva roars to life at night, when locals and in-the-know visitors descend on the big red barn for late-night meals, creative cocktails, and the hippest scene in town."
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231 Center St., Healdsburg
707-431-0100
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Cost
Dinner for two $70

Oakville Grocery has locations in Sonoma and Napa Valleys and has become the de facto stop for wine tasters who want to pack unbeatable picnics. You can drop in and hand pick your breads, cheeses, meats, olives, etc., or call ahead for help in having the friendly staff prepare an assortment for you. The shop is charming in an old-world, rustic way,... More with open bins, tons of jars, freedom to taste before you buy and unexpected finds. Give yourself 5-10 extra minutes before hitting the wine-tasting road to browse, breathe and enjoy.
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124 Matheson St., Healdsburg
707-433-3200Less

So close to town you could walk, Seghesio Winery was founded and is still run by one of the oldest families in Healdsburg. Locals love the family for their kind, personal touch and frequent use of organic grapes. The family's grandmother was named Angela, and there is a table at the winery called Angela's table, where guests can sit and enjoy their... More wines and picnic.
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14730 Grove St., Healdsburg
866-734-4374
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Hours
Tasting room, picnic grounds, bocce courts
Daily 10am-5pmLess

This joint is jumpin'. If you are biking or forgot to pack a picnic, it is well worth a stop at the Dry Creek General Store, where you will find bikers, walkers, tourists and locals all day long.

Established in 1881, the shop sells food and local wines, and features a bar and several tiers of shaded, outdoor seating where people seem ... Moreall too happy to cool their heels, relax, eat and drink while watching the cars go by and the grapes grow in the sprawling vineyards all around.
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3495 Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg
707-433-4171
Hours: Monday through Saturday 6:30am - 5:30p; Sunday 7am - 5:30pmLess

The next winery on our tour is Dry Creek, where we enjoyed our picnic in a peaceful garden under shaddy umbrellas and next to a flowered wall covered in enormous orange dahlias. We bought a bottle of the Sauvignon Blanc for $16, which was nice.
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3770 Lambert Bridge Rd., Healdsburg
707-433-1000 or 800-864-9463
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Ho... Moreurs
Tasting room
Daily 10:30am-4:30pmLess

Our local hostess loves this small winery, which is known for its Bordeaux varieties.

The estate was founded and established in 1979 by Swiss native Jean-Jacques Michel. In 1991, Jacques Schlumberger joined Michel and his partner Ridgely Bullock in the venture, and two years later Schlumberger took over as the president, breathing new... More life into the label.
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4155 Wine Creek Rd., Healdsburg
707-433-7427 or 800-447-3060
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Hours
Wine tasting and tours by appointment at 11am and 2pm dailyLess

Preston is an organic, family-run winery that produces the following: Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Old Vine Zinfandel, Barbera, "plus proprietary blends to honor local history and tradition." Preston also grows/makes and sells olives, olive oil, bread and organic vegetables.
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9282 W. Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg
707-433-3372
---<... Morebr /> Hours
Tasting room
Daily 11am-4:30pm
(The winery requests more more than eight in a group.)
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Cost
$5 tasting fee, refundable with wine purchaseLess

It is fair to say that Bella was our primary destination the afternoon of our wine country tour. By far, this winery--and the stunning site and wonderful family and staff that go along with it--were the favorite of our hostess, and we were easily convinced. She is a wine club member, which granted us access to a special tasting room reserved just f... Moreor club members.

The Grounds
When you arrive at Bella, you edge up a respectable incline with vineyards planted up the hill to your left and lavender and olive trees alongside the driveway. When you start walking toward to main building, you smell the aroma of the lavender, which is subtle and lulls you into the magic serenity of the location. The main building is new but made to look like an old barn. There are adirondack chairs scattered thoughtfully on the grassy knoll in the front, all shaded by mature olive trees. A mellow guitarist entertains families, couples and groups picnicing on the lawn, the tables or the chairs. (Bella even provides grass mats for the lawn in case there is not enough seating.)

As you approach the main building, you will spot incredible view to your right, a nifty food shack to your left, which flanks the entrance to the caves.

The Caves
Burrowed in the side of the mountain on which the winery's precious grapes grow are the warmly lit caves that welcome wine tasters, diners (there is a special cave for special occasions) and curious visitors.

At the end of the main tunnel is the tasting bar for most visitors. To the right of that is the room reserved for wine club members. Because our host was a member, we were welcome inside the more dimly lit, but very cool cave, which was the front room for the endless giant barrels of happily fermenting wine.
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9711 W. Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg
866-572-3552
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Hours
Tasting room
Daily 11am-4:30pm
(Except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter)
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Cost
Tasting is $5-$10 per person, except on event weekends (please see website for more details.)Less

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The first thing you notice about Ferrari-Carano when you arrive through the main gates is the amazing estate that you pass by before continuing on through another set of impressive gates.

After parking and walking through a secret garden-like entrance, the next thing you notice are the opulent gardens and lush lawns, reminiscent of Dis... Moreneyland or maybe Liberace's version of Las Vegas.

The connection to Las Vegas isn't all that suprising when one looks at the history of the founders, Don and Rhonda Carano. Don is originally from Reno, Nevada, and, after establishing a legal career in corporate business and gaming law, he decided to start his own hotel and casino in 1973, the Eldorado. He later helped create the Silver Legacy, a mega resort in Nevada. Don and Rhonda began visiting Sonoma Valley in the early 1980s to buy wine for the Eldorado. They decided to purchase a winery and established Ferrari-Carano in 1981. Their first vintage was produced in 1985. Today the winery is extremely prolific, with a reported 1,400 acres and 1.1 million vines producing more than 24 different wines. In recent years, the Fumé Blanc seems to have garnered the most press attention.

As over-the-top as the grounds and buildings are, the winery's Villa Fiore Tasting Room and Wine Shop (just inside the red awning) is quite welcoming and approachable. It's a fun, buzzing place, where young hipsters are taste wine near the window overlooking the fountain to the right and older women are browse the cheese boards and cute aprons to the left near the cashier.
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8761 Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg
707-433-6700
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Hours
Daily 10am-5pmLess

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In 2006, the Sbragia family bought Lake Sonoma Winery and opened its tasting room in November of that year. Prior to establishing his own winery, Ed Sbragia was the winemaster at the world-renowned Beringer Vineyards, where he worked for more than 30 years, developing a reputation as one of the most acclaimed winemakers in the business.

... More> The main building is two stories, and guests climb the stairs to overlook incredible views of the vineyards, valley and the dam of Lake Sonoma to the right. The building itself is not spectacular, but it is comfortable and the views, warm service and good wine provide a comfortable last stop on your tour.
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9990 Dry Creek Rd., Geyserville
707-473-2992
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Hours
Tastings
Daily 11am-5pm in the main shop
Tours
Available by appointmentLess

About a five-minute drive from Sbragia, the treetop-height lookout is worth the extra effort for the view of the lake and valley.

25 Matheson St., Healdsburg
800-889-7188 or 707-431-2800

27 North St., Healdsburg
877-431-1700 or 707-433-4211

421 Foss St., Healdsburg
800-431-9341 or 707-431-1300

112 Matheson St., Healdsburg
800-431-8663 or 707-433-6991