Best of Healdsburg, California
“Today’s forecast: Sunny with a chance of wine”
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Background
Healdsburg, located in the heart of Sonoma County, is a hidden gem in California's Wine Country. This charming small town (population around 11,000) is located in the prime wine-growing Russian River Valley region. The town grew when an Ohio businessman named Harmon Heald built a general store and post office. As more people settled in the city, Harmon planned to build a central plaza, which is still the town's focal point.
Oddly enough, due to prohibition in the United States (1920-1933), wine crops were pulled up to make way for prunes. Yep, that's right, prunes (French prunes to be exact!). Prunes were the main crop until about the 1970s when the prune crops were pulled and vineyards began to plant grapes once more.
Now
Healdsburg is known for its idyllic appeal. If you like wine, then there is undoubtedly a winery here that has a wine for you. However, if you want excellent food, then this culinary mecca will absolutely make you happy. A total of 8 Michelin star restaurants to choose from and farm to fork eateries to enjoy after a day of exploring the town. Finally, if you are a foodie, then this area will be paradise!
Where is Healdsburg
Healdsburg is located north of the San Francisco Bay Area, making it a short drive from the city (about 70 miles). Once you are in town, you have various neighboring towns to explore, play and visit for the day (see next section). Depending on your mood, chose the stunning views of wine country or spend some time in a coastal city with incredible ocean views, tidal pools, beaches, and cliffs.
Weather in Wine Country
During the summer (and early fall) months, look for beautiful sunny, warm, and dry weather. Daytime temps average in the 80's. The evenings become cooler as the sun goes down, with temps dipping into the 50's overnight. Rainfall is more common in the winter and spring months, with temps ranging from 50's-70's during the day with cold evenings in the 30's and 40's.
Best Things To Do In (And Around) Healdsburg
Take A Road Trip!
Healdsburg is centrally located to many, many stunning destinations in California. I highly recommend taking the extra time to make a road trip to one (or more) of these unique and marvelous sites in California. Here is just a sampling of nearby towns:
Napa is about 55 miles from Healdsburg. A world-renowned wine region in the heart of Sonoma County. Plenty of activities to experience as well as incredible fresh food, vistas and of course superb wines.
Sonoma is 36 miles away and known for its beautiful colonial-era Sonoma Plaza (a National Historic Landmark). Along the square, enjoy shopping, art galleries, book stores, boutiques, and restaurants. Bonus, Mission San Francisco Solano was the last and northernmost mission in California. Built in 1823, take a building tour, which is part of the Sonoma State Historic Park.
Santa Rosa is 15 miles and is known for its wineries. Did you also know that it is home to Snoopy and Charlie Brown? The Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center is located here and is a great family-friendly place to visit (more on this below).
Bodega Bay is 37 miles away. If you are interested in checking out the rocky California coastline, then this town is for you! Famous for being where Alfred Hitchcock filmed The Birds. Walk around the city and snap some pics in front of the iconic buildings made famous in the movie. Another popular thing to do is whale watching. Gray whales migrate from October to February (southbound) and reverse course from February to April.
Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society
This free museum is a great way to start your visit to Healdsburg. Located in the former library, built in 1910, this museum features exhibits on the history of the town and Sonoma County. Here you will find artifacts from the Western Wappo tribes that occupied the territory before the European settlers.
Historic Healdsburg Plaza and Farmers Market
The plaza is the center of the downtown area. Enjoy the beautiful green open space in the center of the square. Lining the square are locally-owned shops, galleries, restaurants, sweet shops, and tasting rooms. Enjoy the laid-back atmosphere as you stroll through the square.
A few blocks away is the Healdsburg Farmers Market. Open from 8:30-noon on Saturdays in November. Here is where you can enjoy farm-fresh produce of the region. Looks for seasonal items to enjoy!
Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach
Relish swimming and sunbathing on this sandy beach in the Russian River. Then, have a picnic with tasty fresh food from one of the many restaurants or shops in the square. Paddling is available on the beach. Come here early. Parking is available; however, the parking lot gets full pretty fast.
Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve
Looking for more outdoor pursuits? Then this is for you! This park is located north of the downtown area. Easy to moderate hiking trails offer gorgeous views of the Russian River, Fitch Mountain, and the Mayacama Mountains.
Charles M. Schulz Museum
Located in nearby Santa Rosa, experience the joy of Peanuts. Housed in this museum is the most extensive collection of original Peanuts artwork in the world. From original comic strips to the art of cartooning, this is a great family-friendly excursion. The cost of admission is $12 per adult, seniors (62 and over) are $8, students and kids ages 4 and up are $5, kids age 3 and under are free.
Let's get to the good stuff...Wineries and Tasting Rooms!
Healdsburg is a terrific location for any getaway. Whether it's a girl's trip or a romantic getaway, there is something for everyone here! There are over 30 wineries and tasting rooms in the Healdsburg area (and many more in the valley!). Since COVID wineries and tasting rooms are taking extra precautions to keep wine tasting safe and fun. Most (if not all) now require making a reservation for tastings in advance. Reservations can be made online or with a phone call.
There really are too many wineries that are wonderful to enjoy a glass of wine with picturesque vineyards as your backdrop. These are just a few award-winning wineries to visit:
MacRostie Winery - stunning views, excellent service, and a variety of red and white wines.
Dry Creek Vineyard - taste test the varietals from the Fume Blanc to the Old Vine Zinfandel.
Alexander Valley Vineyard - take a vineyard hike and tour to learn about the winemaking process.
Davis Family Vineyards - winner of the Sunset International Wine Competition in 2021. Enjoy a tasting in their Organic Garden Lounge and try your hand on the bocce court.
Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery - come here for tastings, but stay for the 5-acre gardens! In addition, they offer free-of-charge winery tours with an appointment.
Distillery Tasting and Tour
If you are not into wine (or want to try something new), try a spirits distillery in the area. Distilleries are a great change of pace and have some tasty whiskeys, vodkas, and other distilled spirits to try:
Young & Yonder, this establishment is a fun place to visit. Try one of their signature cocktails (yum!) and/or try a flight of spirits. I totally enjoyed my flight of tastings with two types of whiskey, lime vodka, and absinthe! Delish. They have a wide selection of spirits to try, from gin to their award-winning vodka.
alley6, a small batch, craft distillery with whiskey and gin tastings. If you are a whiskey enthusiast, then make sure to give this a go. Make reservations to sample their whiskey, gin, brandy, and bitters. They also offer a distillery tour.
Foodie Alert
Don't let this quaint little town fool you. Healdsburg has some of the best dining experiences with locally sourced ingredients. Dine at Michelin-rated eateries to delicious pizza-Healdsburg restaurants have it all! Some worth checking out:
Barndiva - make reservations for this unique dining spot, farm to fork seasonal dishes in a lively and colorful atmosphere. Try the delicious goat cheese croquettes or one of their delicious cocktails.
Valette - from cocktails to dessert, this Michelin-rated 100 Best Wine Restaurants (2019) will not disappoint. Serving American fare at its very freshest with a twist.
Baci Cafe & Wine Bar - Italian cuisine from a family-owned restaurant. Enjoy authentic Italian dishes and excellent service. Consistently a diner's choice award winner.
Guiso Latin Fusion - experience delicious Latin and Central American cuisine and superb service.
Pizzando - perfect location on the square, stop and get a pizza or salad.
Costeaux French Bakery - a local tradition since 1923! Come early; otherwise, you will absolutely find a long line to get in. In addition to the yummy desserts and bread, they offer a cafe and Sunday brunch menu.
Where To Stay
In town, you will find several hotels, inns, and rentals to meet your lodging needs. For example, I visited the area on a girls' trip with a party of six. The VRBO home that I booked was perfect for our needs-spacious, clean, comfortable, and close to everything. I recommend booking through VRBO here if you are wanting a homey feel for a memorable trip and/or occasion,
Looking for a more traditional lodging? There are plenty of hotels in Healdsburg and the surrounding area. To book a hotel, click here to book your stay.
Did someone say girls trip? Yes, please!
