Picture it. You, standing in the Sonoma sunshine, looking fabulous in your Ralph Lauren sundress and wide-brimmed hat, holding a glass of Le Crema Pinot Noir while chatting with the producer of Adam and Dog about how he should have won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film, not the silly cartoon about a paper airplane. And, why yes, I will have another of those savory little artichoke tartlets. This is just one of four fabulous reasons to open your day-planner and sign yourself up for a weekend getaway to Sonoma County’s Wine Country. Keep reading and you’ll see what I mean.
We’ve all been there: You’re at work on Monday morning, listening to your co-worker tell you what an awesome time she had at the Cheese Festival in Petaluma on Sunday and how you would have loved it. Okay, so now you wish you had gone, but A) you didn’t know about it or B) you forgot to add it to your calendar. Well, now there’s no excuse. Below are my four favorite events taking place this spring in Sonoma County’s Wine Country and four great excuses to hop in the car for a fun weekend road trip. So open the calendar on your smart phone and start typing.
I’m always amazed at how few Californians have spent time exploring the Sonoma Coast, or even knew that Sonoma County has 76 miles of gorgeous, pristine coastline. If you’re one of those people, then it’s high time you spent a long weekend exploring one of the prettiest regions of the state, brimming with golden beaches, wine tasting, romantic lodgings, hiking trails, horseback riding, and fantastic coastal cafes, crab shacks, and restaurants. I’ve been writing about this region for more than 20 years, and if I took four days explore the best of Sonoma County’s coastline, this would be my dream itinerary…
Creamy chevres. Sharp cheddars. Herbaceous triple crèmes. Lucky for us Californians, more and more “swoonable” cheeses (as I like to refer to them) are made right in our own backyards, particularly in and around Petaluma. In between nibbles of fresh burrata and tantalizing sheeps milk fetas, discover some of the Wine Country’s other culinary artisans, including a honey farm, award winning bread makers, and pioneering olive oil makers. Combined with a little wine tasting, it’s all the right ingredients for a wonderful weekend getaway.
When I was a kid someone gave me a Venus Flytrap as a gift and I was utterly fascinated with it. That a plant could trap flies and slowly devour them was beyond cool. I spent the next month running around the house trying to capture flies (alive, which ain’t easy) and feed them to the plant. So if you want to give a kid, like, the coolest gift ever, swing by 
When I was a kid someone (I think it was my hippie aunt) gave me a packet of sunflower seeds for a Christmas present. What I thought was the lamest gift ever turned out to be one of the best, because I became utterly fascinated as I watched these tiny seeds sprout and grow into gigantic flowers just by adding dirt and water. In this age of electronic gadgets I think you’d be surprised at how a single packet of seeds can turn app-addicted kids into little gardeners. And the best place to shop for seeds in California is the 
Surely there’s somebody you know who has always wanted to be an amateur bee keeper. Well, here’s a great way to get them started. The 
Another great place to load up on thoughtful gifts is 
Have you always dreamed of riding naked on the back of a white stallion, crashing through waves burned orange by the glimmering sunset? Well, keep dreaming, because Laura and Jonathan Ayers, who run 
If you’re over 30 you’re going to buy the wrong clothes for your kid. It’s not your fault. It’s just that your old and you don’t get it. So do this: Book an ocean-view room and spa treatment at the 
If you really want to give someone a unique gift, send them to 
Say Cheese! I know, it’s a tired phrase, but so many of us here in the Bay Area are food-obsessed and can’t get enough of the creamy chevres, sharp cheddars, and herbaceous triple crèmes produced in the region. Lucky for us, more and more “swoonable” cheeses (as I like to refer to them) are made right in our own backyards, particularly in and around Petaluma. In between nibbles of fresh burrata and tantalizing sheeps milk fetas, discover some of Sonoma County’s other culinary artisans, including a honey farm, award winning bread makers, and pioneering olive oil makers from McEvoy Ranch. Combined with a little wine tasting, it’s all the right ingredients for a wonderful weekend getaway. 
Sign up for our FREE 
Questions? Comments? 
