California Wine Tours – top road trips
Posted June 16, 2008 by:
Comments(0)A Breathtaking California Road Trip
White, red, sparkling, flavored, there’s sure something
more to add to the list. When someone talks about wine,
California always comes to mind.
Indeed, a California trip wouldn’t be complete without
having a sip of its world famous wines. And what could be
more fitting than a personalized visit to the Northern part
of Sunny California, where the divine wine will prove to be
just the icing on the cake.
Excited? There is every reason to be. But before you trek
any further, it’s time for some trip planning for there are
many things to explore along the way.
Located 35 miles north of San Francisco is the charming
Napa and Sonoma Valley, home to the world-famous California
wines. Punctuated with the romantic meeting of the Russian
River and Pacific Coastline, the famous wine tour is a
complete experience of revisiting olden times. Aside from
the rolling hills bereft with vineyards, a long line of
redwoods, historic towns and lush gardens abound.
Plan your trip with friends. Don’t forget your digital
camera. Picture perfect scenery is part of the journey.
Heading up north, Calistoga and St. Helena will readily
greet you with vineyards and lovely farmlands. Calistoga,
also known as the “hot springs” of the West offers more
than mud baths. You will also enjoy Sharpsteen Museum,
Faithful Geyser and hot air balloon rides. St. Helena on
the other hand is nestled in the heart of Napa Valley. The
things do here are easy to remember: eat, drink and be
merry! Famous for its sumptuous menu, St. Helena was part
of General Vallejo’s land grant which was settled in 1834.
And the tradition of cheerful way of life lives on to this
day.
Relaxing treats beckon the moment you set foot in Santa
Rosa, Sonoma’s largest city entrenched right smack in the
Sonoma Wine County. Your social trip planner will suggest
indulging in Santa Rosa’s art and culture or may even
challenge you to a cycling tour. Whether you choose one or
both, you will definitely enjoy the city’s old brand of
hospitality combined with urban art, recreation and wine.
Passing through Sonoma and into the Bodega Bay, you’ll
reach the old settlement of Miwok and Pomo Indians. Up
until the fall of 1775, this hilly terrain was home to
hunting and gathering lifestyle as well as harvesting the
seas and rivers. When Captain Smith reached the place a
little over a hundred years after the Indians, he built
California’s first steam powered saw mill. Rich with wood
resources, Bodega Bay’s population is now under 100 after
attracting settlers at the turn of century to its peak. It
is now better known as the setting for Alfred Hitchcock’s
The Bird.
Moving on to the rest of the journey, Healdsburg welcomes
one in a big way. It is located in the center of three
valleys and houses 60 wineries. Pomo Indians built their
villages here along the Russian River. Other settlers
reached this place when the Gold Rush was at its peak and
formed farming communities. Healdsburg is now known as the
heart of wine country. A trip along the West Dry Creek Road
will unravel more wineries. Check out Lambert Bridge,
Quivira, and Preston and have a much-deserved sip. Cheers!
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Tags: california, wine tours
