What’s New in Sonoma County December 2020

Mine + Farm, the Inn at Guerneville

December in Sonoma County is particularly magical, when the brightly-lit town squares and twinkling lights floating over the al fresco spaces of restaurants, tasting rooms, and breweries invite guests to enjoy life’s little luxuries. Excitement awaits thanks to restaurants featuring the bounty of crab season, cozy fireplaces in luxurious and boutique hotels, intimate and personalized experiences, holiday displays, and seasonal deals. Take in the fresh air and end-of-season fall colors as you cozy up for the lovely California winter. This month, Sonoma County celebrates new festive products, restaurant openings with indulgent dishes for the locavore, and exciting new ways to entertain with wine, art and adventure.

Note: Visitors and residents are asked to continue to wear face coverings in public and practice physical distancing. Please be sure to make reservations (same-day reservations available) and review The Safe Travels Promise before visiting.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Stay at a fresh and modern B&Bs with Mine + Farm, the Inn at Guerneville
Escape to a modern bed and breakfast in the heart of the Russian River Valley, set on two and a half acres of natural landscapes. Mine + Farm, the Inn at Guerneville, is a restored 1906 farmhouse curated with modern design, fresh amenities and welcomes four-legged guests with its expansive outdoor spaces. Included in your stay is a locally-driven, full organic breakfast complete with house-made juices.

This charmingly rustic property is buried in towering redwoods near river waters and unique eateries. Using enhanced cleaning standards and proudly complying with the California Hotel and Lodging’s Clean and Safe standards for Covid-19, the inn places guest wellbeing at the top of their priorities. Formerly the Sonoma Orchid Inn, this property has been re-branded to Mine + Farm, the Inn at Guerneville, under new ownership with trendy new updates. Located near Korbel Winery and minutes away from downtown Guerneville, guests are invited to enjoy the Russian River Valley experience of a lifetime.

Mine + Farm, the Inn at Guerneville
12850 River Road
Guerneville, CA 95446
707-869-4466
https://mineandfarminn.com/

SHOPPING & ACTIVITIES

Wild Honey Mercantile comes to Montgomery Village
Peruse through the new mecca of all things Sonoma County cool at Montgomery Village’s newest boutique, Wild Honey Mercantile, where the shop is buzzing with products created by local designers alongside popular labels all displayed thoughtfully in a wonderful home-like setting. This serene style hub offers refined goods spanning the categories of fashion, home, beauty, and art. Score some sartorial gems like locally sourced handmade jewelry, trendy clothing pieces, and cozy lightweight scarves donning beautiful ombre colors. Shop for brands whose values align with yours and bring home purposefully crafted products like Poppy & Pout’s cruelty free flower-powered lip balms, woman-owned Rosmarino Candle’s nontoxic hand-poured scents, or wild harvested organic teas.

Woman-owned and operated, this boutique store showcases a love for neutrals and timeworn pieces, complimented by fresh finds to make your home and personal style feel relaxed, comfortable, and most of all, pretty.

Wild Honey Mercantile
2332 Magowan Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
707-483-1345
https://www.facebook.com/wildhoneymercantile/

New El Mercadito Farmers’ Market in Roseland
Gather locally grown produce, freshly made food from vendors, and beautiful seasonal florals at this new farmers’ market next to Mitote Food Park in Roseland. Experience the vibrant culture at El Mercadito, and savor some fresh crepes, hot churros, and sweet crunchy kettle corn while shopping for unique seasonal produce freshly plucked from nearby farms. Find a variety of different mushrooms, persimmons, peaches, squashes, tomatillos, papayas, and much more.

Vendors include Fidel’s Gourmet Growers, Rojas Family Farm, Myriad Coffee, Camacho Family Farms, Ortiz Brothers Farm, Crepe du Jour, Churroteka, Lucky Pop Kettle Corn, and more.

Visit Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

El Mercadito Farmer’s Market
777 Sebastopol Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95407
https://www.facebook.com/Mercadito-Market-at-Roseland-Village-103434601521829/

Getaway Adventures gets a new storefront in Healdsburg
Take an adventurous trip and explore the beauty of Sonoma County Wine Country through the lens of Getaway Adventures by bike, kayak, hike, or van. Stop by the new storefront in Healdsburg and explore an array of experiences that can be fully customized to include any combination of activities, including carefully curated wine tastings and delicious picnic lunches under towering redwood trees.

Choose your adventure and embark on full-day or half-day excursions. Getaway Adventures is the ideal place to start when planning thrilling adventures on the Russian River, in the redwoods, by the Sonoma Coast, or through rolling vineyard views. With a new merger between Getaway Adventures and Wine Country Bikes, visitors can do it all with bike rentals, multi-day vacation tours and multi-sport night tours, guiding any adventure seeker and wine lover through truly memorable escapes.

Getaway Adventures
61 Front Street
Healdsburg, CA
800-499-2453
https://getawayadventures.com/

Creative Sonoma’s “Creative ReOpening” livens up Sonoma County with public art displays
Experience the bold new expressions of public art that are popping up around Sonoma County’s shopping, eating, and drinking destinations. Funded by Creative Sonoma,

Creative ReOpening projects have transformed community spaces with interactive murals, tiny galleries, labyrinths, light installations, sculptures and poetry.

“This project has been a great way to support our artists, our businesses and our community. We are using the arts to enliven pop-up and repurposed spaces that businesses need in order to accommodate patrons at distances that keep them safe”, said Kristen Madsen, director of Creative Sonoma. “The artists have helped make these new spaces more comfortable, interesting and engaging.”

Gold Mailbox

Sonoma Valley’s Plaza-area restaurants received one of the first treatments, expanding public dining areas with canopies and parklets that is expected to continue until October 2021 or longer. In downtown Santa Rosa, where 4th Street at the Historic Railroad Square has been transformed into European-style outdoor dining, the most recent installment is a festive gold mailbox inviting letters of love, grievances, and questions to the past or future. It even has its own Instagram page that posts the anonymous submissions.

Those visiting the Russian River corridor will find an installation spanning over 5 miles, created by world-renowned artist Jim Iserman. In Healdsburg, artist Jessica Martin is curating a program titled “Voices,” including light installations, video art, murals, and interactive art projects. The Windsor Town Green is decorated with artwork that celebrates the community’s global cuisine, where diners can traverse the globe in 20 blocks. And Petaluma’s dining scene is reimagined with parklet programs across the town, creating charming shared environments for entertainment.

Sonoma County

Experience Sonoma County, where Life Opens Up. Just as wine “opens up” when it’s allowed to breathe, Sonoma County inspires visitors to open up to new experiences.

Just 30 miles north of San Francisco, Sonoma County is one of California’s top food and wine destinations, home to more than 425 wineries ranging from rustic to regal. Hike among towering redwoods, cruise along rugged Pacific coastline, and get to know inviting small towns. Or, just sit back and take it all in. Because here, you’re free to go your own way.  

Sonoma County was named Wine Enthusiast magazine’s Wine Region of the Year. Discover why by visiting it yourself. Start planning today at www.sonomacounty.com or call 707-522-5800.

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.sonomacounty.com