Oscar Barron is a frequent visitor to Wine Country and a big fan of the Wine Road Podcast. He finds ideas of what to do from the podcast. “Every time I listen to the show I find myself reminiscing about my previous visits,” says Oscar. When we asked podcast listeners to tell us about their perfect day in wine country—Oscar was one of the first to respond! Here is Oscar’s Perfect Day along the Wine Road.

Mustard covered vineyard with WInter Wineland written on the photo
Winter Wineland – one of the favorite Wine Road Events

My wife and I have attended Winter Wineland several times and we love it. We also have two beautiful girls and we don’t usually travel without them so our perfect day in wine country will include our children.

Best Western Dry Creek Inn
Best Western Dry Creek Inn

We wake up in Healdsburg, around 7-7:30 and have a good breakfast. We usually stay at the Best Western Dry Creek Inn.

Large redwood stump along the trail at Armstrong Woods
Large redwood stump along the trail at Armstrong Woods

Then we head out to do some hiking in Armstrong Woods. We can spend several hours walking around the giant redwoods and hiking  with the girls. After the hike, we head in to Guerneville and stop at Stumptown Brewery for a bite to eat and some refreshment (I really enjoy the beer here).

Ivy covered walls at Korbel Winery
Ivy covered walls at Korbel Winery

On the way back to Healdsburg we stop at Korbel. Korbel has a great tour, very educational and even my 5 and 7 year old girls were in to it. We do the complimentary tasting and enjoy the beautiful grounds. The wines at Korbel are good but the experience is amazing.

KINSmoke Pulled Pork sandwich and beverages
KINSmoke Pulled Pork sandwich and beverages

Afterwards we head back to the hotel and wash up, maybe enjoy the pool for a bit and get ready for dinner. We walk back in to town (Healdsburg Town Square) and we find a spot for dinner. As you know there are many options and it all depends what the kids are in the mood for. We have enjoyed Bear Republic Brewing*, KINSmoke BBQ, Saké O, and Healdsburg Bar and Grill, all good options in my opinion. There are also many tasting rooms where you can stop and enjoy some wine. This is my perfect day in wine country.

Oscar’s Travel Tip—Listen to the Wine Road Podcast for insider tips and wonderful information to plan your visit. (Thanks Oscar!)

*Editor’s note: Bear Republic Brewing moved their restaurant from Healdsburg to Rohnert Park since this blog was first published.

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Posted by Marcy Gordon

Marcy Gordon is a freelance wine and travel writer. Her work has appeared in a variety of publications including Wine Enthusiast, San Francisco Chronicle, Sonoma Magazine, The California Travel Guide, and Forbes Travel Guide. In 2017 she was awarded a fellowship to the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers. She is the co-host of the award winning Wine Road Podcast.

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