By: Tomer Harel
Explore the California wine route, from San Francisco to Napa and Sonoma Valley.
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. Make sure to bring along 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 had their villages built 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!
TripWiser is a social trip planning service that leverages the collective wisdom of users and makes road trip planning interactive and enjoyable. http://www.TripWiser.com
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
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California Information
California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
The State of California (IPA: /ˌkʰæ.lɪˈfɔɹ.nʲʌ/) is a Western state in the U.S.A. and is the most populous state in the nation. Situated on the Pacific Ocean, it is bordered by the U.S states of Oregon, Nevada and Arizona and Baja California in Mexico. The state's four largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco. California is known for its diverse climate and ethnically diverse population. The state has 58 counties.
Alta California was first colonized by the Spanish Empire in 1769, and after Mexican independence in 1821, continued as part of Mexico. Following one brief week as the independent California Republic in 1846, and the conclusion of the Mexican-American war in 1848, California was annexed by the United States and was admitted to the Union as the thirty-first state on September 9, 1850.
California's diverse geography ranges from sandy and rocky beaches of the Pacific coast, to the rugged snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains in the east, to desert areas in the southeast. The central portion of the state is dominated by the Central Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. The Sierra Nevada contains Yosemite Valley, famous for its glacially-carved domes, and Sequoia National Park, home to the largest living organisms on Earth, the giant sequoia trees, and the highest point in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney.[2] The tallest living things on Earth, the ancient redwood trees, dot the coastline, mainly north of San Francisco. California is also home to the second lowest and hottest place in the Western Hemisphere, Death Valley. Bristlecone pines located in the White Mountains are the oldest known trees in the world; one has an age of 4,700 years.
The California Gold Rush, beginning in 1848, dramatically changed California with an influx of population and an economic boom, and San Francisco became a financial and cultural center. The early 20th century was marked by Los Angeles becoming the center of the entertainment industry, in addition to the growth of a large tourism sector in the state. The Central Valley is home to California's agricultural industry, the largest of any state. Other major industries include aerospace and petroleum, computer and information technology. California's ranks among the ten largest economies in the world, and 35th amongst the most populous countries behind Kenya.[3]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.
The State of California (IPA: /ˌkʰæ.lɪˈfɔɹ.nʲʌ/) is a Western state in the U.S.A. and is the most populous state in the nation. Situated on the Pacific Ocean, it is bordered by the U.S states of Oregon, Nevada and Arizona and Baja California in Mexico. The state's four largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco. California is known for its diverse climate and ethnically diverse population. The state has 58 counties.
Alta California was first colonized by the Spanish Empire in 1769, and after Mexican independence in 1821, continued as part of Mexico. Following one brief week as the independent California Republic in 1846, and the conclusion of the Mexican-American war in 1848, California was annexed by the United States and was admitted to the Union as the thirty-first state on September 9, 1850.
California's diverse geography ranges from sandy and rocky beaches of the Pacific coast, to the rugged snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains in the east, to desert areas in the southeast. The central portion of the state is dominated by the Central Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. The Sierra Nevada contains Yosemite Valley, famous for its glacially-carved domes, and Sequoia National Park, home to the largest living organisms on Earth, the giant sequoia trees, and the highest point in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney.[2] The tallest living things on Earth, the ancient redwood trees, dot the coastline, mainly north of San Francisco. California is also home to the second lowest and hottest place in the Western Hemisphere, Death Valley. Bristlecone pines located in the White Mountains are the oldest known trees in the world; one has an age of 4,700 years.
The California Gold Rush, beginning in 1848, dramatically changed California with an influx of population and an economic boom, and San Francisco became a financial and cultural center. The early 20th century was marked by Los Angeles becoming the center of the entertainment industry, in addition to the growth of a large tourism sector in the state. The Central Valley is home to California's agricultural industry, the largest of any state. Other major industries include aerospace and petroleum, computer and information technology. California's ranks among the ten largest economies in the world, and 35th amongst the most populous countries behind Kenya.[3]
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