Three Northern California appellations meet in this charming Sonoma County town, where you can indulge in a full wine-country weekend without getting back in the car.
1. Noble Folk Ice Cream & Pie
Pie, meet ice cream. The folks at Noble employ local ingredients and ample creativity for both treats. So go ahead and add a scoop of almond cardamom to that lemon blueberry thyme pie on a graham cracker crust. If cupcakes and dessert bars are more your style, visit the nearby sister shop, Moustache Baked Goods.
2. Banshee Wines
While some tasting rooms can be a bit sterile, Banshee makes you feel like you’re walking into a chic house party where your hosts are pouring tasty flights of Sonoma Pinot. Make a reservation, order a snack from The Jimtown Store (below), then sip, savor, and repeat.
3. Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Sonoma County may be known for its vino, but it’s not the only renowned beverage in the area. Head to this family-owned brewery that serves tasty pub grub and award-winning ales, including the iconic Racer 5 IPA. Saturday morning tours (by appointment only) offer a behind-the-scenes peek into the hop-fueled magic.
4. Healdsburg Plaza
The epicenter of town, this verdant park is surrounded by world-class tasting rooms and charming boutiques. In the summer, the plaza plays host to concerts every Tuesday night where you can BYO wine and blanket, then combine dancing with snacks from rotating food vendors.
5. h2 Hotel
Make this eco-friendly hotel your home base and spend downtime lounging by the pool, sipping something fresh at Spoonbar, or tooling around on one of the loaner bikes (the concierge staff has route recommendations at the ready).
6. Chalkboard
Pulling from nearby farms and the restaurant’s own three-acre garden, chef Shane McAnelly turns out decadent small plates, like pork belly biscuits and cocoa trifoglio pasta served with duck confit, Madeira, foie butter, and hazelnut.
7. The Jimtown Store
A combination café, old-timey country store, and boutique, The Jimtown Store has been an Alexander Valley meeting place since 1895. Stop by and rub shoulders with the locals as you enjoy a house-made sandwich and shop for Healdsburg-made goodies—perfect for gifts—to take home.
8. Baca Wines Tasting Room
At Baca, the winemaker-vintner team of Jennifer Brown and Alison Frichtl Hollister specialize in that most California of varietals, Zinfandel. Enjoy their award-winning vintages at their indoor-outdoor tasting room, which features world-class artwork and views of vineyards.
