Sea to Summit, A 1-Minute Part 3 + 4 Preview
Part 3 - North Coast | Water & Wine, The California of Old
Lodging - For this leg of the journey, I highly recommend basing in Healdsburg - what I believe to be the true heart of California Wine Country. You'll have easy access to Napa (through the incredible northern entrance) but more importantly, the expansive beauty of Sonoma County.
Destination : San Francisco to Healdsburg (And Beyond)
Miles: 315 (From San Francisco)
Days Needed: 3–4 Days (or the rest of your life)
Best Time of Year: Yes (Prob Summer or Fall)
Adventure Factor 1-5: 3-4 (cliff-side driving on Highway 1)
Hidden Gems: Point Reyes Station (Cowgirl Creamery), Kehoe Beach Pt Reyes Ntl. Seashore, Timber Cove Resort (Enjoy wine, cocktails, and coastal views by fire pit), Fort Ross Tasting Room (Must Do), Boonville, CA (The next big Wine Hub).
Bonus Stops Near Healdsburg: MacRostie Winery, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Region Wine Bar (Sebastopol), Catelli's Italian Restaurant (Geyserville), Noble Folk Ice Cream
Shortcut - Fly Into: San Francisco or Santa Rosa (best option)
San Francisco (Stop A)
One of the world's most geographically stunning cities.
Our first stop is in one of the most beautiful metropolitan locations on earth, the San Francisco Bay with the iconic Golden Gate Bridge connecting Marin County to the city of San Francisco. Baker and Marshall Beaches offer stunning views looking north and west across the water in evening light.
Golden Hour Marshall Beach and the Golden Gate Bridge in evening light, San Francisco, California
Pacific Splendor Sunset over San Francisco Bay viewed from Baker Beach
Mt. Tamalpais (Stop B)
Where the Boundary between Heaven & Earth Disappears
Head north across the Golden Gate and climb (via car) through golden hills and Pacific views to one of the higher points along the north coast.
Sunset and a Bottle of Wine Looking out over the Pacific atop Mt. Tamalpais
Cloud Break (New Release) Mt. Tamalpais State Park, California - Light lingers above the marine layer nearly 2500 feet above the Pacific.
Point Reyes (Stop C + D)
California Once Upon A Time
Perhaps the most beautiful beach in California, the side trip from the windswept sea town of Point Reyes Station out to Point Reyes National Seashore (Especially Kehoe Beach) is the closest you'll ever get to California as it would have been 200 years ago.
Bobby and Haley celebrating their 20th anniversary walking the shores of Kehoe Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore.
Transcendent Point Reyes National Seashore, California - A double exposure on 4x5 film shows the sunset over the Pacific in the outline of a windswept cypress tree. No computer tricks to create this image. Just an old 4x5 camera and some outside-the-box thinking on Bobby’s part.
White Sands Everything about Point Reyes National Seashore seems untouched and infinite from white sand beaches to elevated views of the Pacific. It’s a place of beauty beyond description. Image via iPhone at Point Reyes Beach North.
Sebastopol (Stop E)
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in the Most Posh Place You’ve Never Heard Of
Sebastopol is perhaps the best place to eat and drink in all of Sonoma County- Think a small-town-sized Eataly with boutique shops and craft breweries, and home to some of the greatest boutique wineries on earth, Raen and Pax Wines. Also home to one of my favorite tasting experiences in wine country - Region, self served from an incredible selection of the greatest local wines.
California Cabernet Sonoma County, California - An aerial view (via drone camera) of evening light on the vines of Sonoma County.
Healdsburg (Stop G)
The Wild West True Heart of Wine Country
Healdsburg gives us the perfect home base in the heart of wine country with easy access to the expanse of Sonoma County as well as the back door to the best part of Napa Valley from the north. Don't miss Silver Oak Winery Alexander Valley, MacRostie Winery, and the multitude of great restaurants in the town square.
Vines & Branches Alexander Valley, California - the setting sun casts long shadows over the cabernet vines of the Alexander Valley.
Shades of Cabernet Grapes reach “veraison” (the onset of ripening) in late July gaining their true colors as the harvest grows nearer by the day. Alexander Valley, California.
Fort Ross and the North Sonoma Coast (Stop H + I)
Coastal Meadows in the Sky and the World's Greatest Wine Tasting Venue (Fort Ross Vineyards)
Drive along the Russian river until it meets the coast and head north with a stop at the Ft. Ross Vineyard tasting room atop the coastal range, and a stop for lunch and another round at Timber Cove. Salt Point State Park offers incredible solitude and afternoon hiking with what feels like the entire coast to yourself. Head up to Mendocino for a full day of coastal beauty before turning back inland towards Healdsburg. End the day with dinner at Catelli's in Geyserville.
Salt Air (New Release) Salt Point State Park, California - Evening light shines on the sandstone formations of the rugged and remote north Sonoma Coast.
Radiant Beauty
Eisley soaking up the last rays of sunlight on Sonoma’s remote north coast.
Miles and miles of hiking (and some epic bouldering) with the entire coast all to yourself.
Safe Harbor Point Arena, California - The Point Arena Lighthouse stands above the rugged coast just south of Mendocino.
Napa Valley (Bonus Stop)
And of course, you can't leave out THE Napa Valley
From Healdsburg, drive through the beautiful Alexander and Knights Valleys and drop into Napa from the north. Visit the Calistoga Resort and Spa, cruise down to St. Helena for a tasting at Hall Winery, and if you’re up for more, Hess winery in the mountains above the valley offers exquisite wines and an art museum with one of the most incredible private collections of iconic art on earth.
When In Napa
My wife, Haley, at the entrance to Silver Oak (Napa Valley) on our first visit to Napa years ago.
Napa Road Napa Valley, California - Morning light shines on the vines in the "coolest" spot in Napa, the Carneros region.
Napa Rouge Behind the Scenes at Hall Winery where winemaking meets modern art.
Vintage (Less than 5 Remaining) Napa Valley, California - Cabernet ages silently in the cellar at Hess Winery in the higher elevations of Napa's Mount Veeder AVA.
UP NEXT : PART 4
THE SIERRA NEVADA
1-Minute Recap | North Coast + Sierra Nevada
Bobby Wheat Gallery | Downtown Summerlin
1825 Festival Plaza Dr. Suite 160
Las Vegas, NV 89135
United States
T: 702.569.7080