Getaway to Healdsburg, California

Easy to get to right off US Hwy 101 in northern Sonoma County, Healdsburg is a cute little town with a tree-shaded central square, reminiscent of and old-fashioned country town, but with an upscale selection of shops, restaurants and places to stay. It has just enough to do to for a relaxed weekend, but is also a great day trip from the San Francisco area.

You can plan your Healdsburg day trip or weekend getaway in a jiffy using the resources below.

Why Should You Go? Will You Like Healdsburg?

• Healdsburg is popular with foodies, wine lovers and bicyclists. It's also a great place to go for wine tasting if you're on a limited budget, with lot of places offering free wine tasting.

Best Time to Go to Healdsburg

Healdsburg weather is best in spring and fall. In summer, the weather is more like California's Central Valley than its coast, with temperatures easily soaring over 100 degrees.

5 Great Things to Do in Healdsburg

• Wine Tasting: Healdsburg sits between the Dry Creek and Anderson Valley wine-growing areas, best-known for Zinfandel and Pinot Noir varietals, along with others. Many wineries here offer free tasting and the experience tends to be laid back and unpretentious. For a fun day out at a place with a new concept in wineries, try Francis Ford Coppola Winery.

• Food: On Saturday mornings from May to November local chefs are often found foraging at the farmers market. Start learning to cook like them; take a cooking class at the Relish Culinary Center.

• Take a Tour: Segway of Healdsburg offers the added fun of no only checking the place out, but also zipping around town on a "personal transporter."

• Smell the Roses: We mean it literally. During spring and early summer at Russian River Rose Company, you can help harvest roses specially grown for their fragrance, then learn about the history of perfume while they're distilled into rose oil. The rest of the year, you can buy their rose oil and rose water products or shop for a new rose bush for your garden.

• Ride a Bike: The Healdsburg area is popular with bicyclists, who enjoy pedaling along the country roads. Best roads are the main part of Dry Creek Road, Hwy 128 and Anderson Valley Road. West Dry Creek, is scenic but very narrow, with lots of curves and traffic, making for a somewhat dangerous ride. If you'd like someone to show you around, Getaway Adventures offers one-day Sip 'N Cycle tours.

Annual Events You Should Know About

Healdsburg Jazz Festival, late May-early June

Tips for Visiting Healdsburg

• Healdsburg is a very popular weekend destination with not enough lodging to handle all the people who want to visit. Especially during summer, you may need to reserve a place to stay several weeks in advance.

Best Bites

You'll find plenty of great places to eat in Healdsburg. Michelin two-star-rated Cyrus may be one of the most famous, along with Madrona Manor's dining room. Both require advance reservations to avoid disappointment, but other spots in town are easier to get into.

To pick up picnic supplies, try the Cheese Shop in downtown Healdsburg, Jimtown Store north of town in Anderson Valley or the Dry Creek Store at 3495 Dry Creek Rd.

From what we hear, Flying Goat Coffee at 324 Center Street has the best brew in town.

Where to Stay

We haven't stayed in all the hotels in the area, but you can read our review to find out what we thought of our stay at Madrona Manor.

You'll find quite a few options in this popular tourist area. Lean how we find the best places to stay and the best tricks for getting a good rate, then go straight to Tripadvisor's reviews and price comparisons for hotels in Healdsburg

For something really different, how about staying in a remodeled stable that sleeps 17?

Where Is Healdsburg?

Driving? Healdsburg is located just off US Hwy 101 north of San Francisco and Santa Rosa. It's 70 miles from San Francisco, 115 from San Jose and 118 from Sacramento.