At first, this part of California may not seem to have much besides old oak trees, endless vineyards, and the serene beauty of the Russian River, but it is actually a rich area, with all kinds of wineries, friendly people, and a strong sense of place.

Before arriving in Cloverdale, I asked the Visitors Bureau for a suggestion for a sustainable winery (sustainable viticulture is a topic I’ve been interested in lately). They recommended only one: J Rickards Winery. I went there imagining a family-run winery that does sustainable viticulture and left thinking of it as a unique sustainable winery with a strong past and one heck of a storyteller as its owner.

Jim Rickards likes to tell stories about his past. He was raised in San Francisco, but no sign of city boy is left. After getting out of the military, he wanted to get back to the land and started raising cattle on these hills in 1976. There was nothing here except an old vineyard, and it was considered a terrible place to grow grapes.

He hired 8 hippies to build his house in what was then considered a new “eco” style. For a year, he and his family slept in a tent where the tasting room now is, and Jim worked as a nurse, as he still does in the ICU at a nearby hospital. Soon after, there was a bad drought that made it difficult to sustain cattle, leading him to study viticulture at the community college and grow grapes.

The winery now claims to grow some of the best grapes in all of Sonoma County and sells its grapes to major local winemakers. Besides the characteristics of this terroir, Jim’s hands-on approach in the vineyards and doing grafts himself to produce the best vines possible means his grapes are high-quality and unique.

On the property, there are 45 acres of grapes and 15 eco-corridors, or areas that are reserved for nature. The first vineyard, Brignole, was planted by the Brignole family in 1908. When Jim took over, he quickly realized he needed to change the way things were done because soil erosion in the old vineyard was polluting the nearby Russian River. The results are that he started practicing sustainable viticulture before it was even a term.

At that time, there were no guidelines for sustainable viticulture available, so he did some research about plants and decided to plant wild grass with legumes, clover, and wild radish in the rows of the vineyards. One benefit of using native grasses is that the vineyards don’t need to be plowed, resulting in what came to be known as “no till viticulture.” He made ponds that collect rain water, which is used to water the vineyards. The winery also uses solar power, as you can easily see with solar panels on the roof of his house and behind the tasting room.

One of the ponds that collects rain water

As Jim will explain to visitors, some features of sustainable viticulture are that it reduces environmental impact, reduces inputs (e.g. fertilizer, insecticides) so there’s little run off, reduces time spent in the fields, and reduces cost, all of which help the farm to be profitable. For example, by planting native grasses in the vineyards, time in the vineyard is reduced because the grasses help keep the nutrients in the ground, keep water, and prevent erosion. Sustainable farming affects everything, every aspect of farming and production.

Now J Rickards Winery uses technology to help with sustainability. Jim takes samples of grape leaves to a lab to find out exactly what they need so he can accurately fertilize them without wasting unnecessary fertilizer. He gets updates on his computer of water usage around the vineyards, ensuring that water is never wasted.

Jim Rickards hasn’t been making wine for very long, actually. Like many California vineyard owners, he grows grapes that are sold to wine makers, but in 2005, he also started making wine with a well-respected local wine maker. Now he shares his love of wine with visitors. All visitors get a tour of either the wine making facilities or the vineyards because he wants people to understand the history of these wines and where they come from.

The tasting room manager helps visitors understand what they’re tasting with tips, information, and food pairings. When we were there, the tasting room was full. Jim told stories of the horses that used to work the old Brignole vineyard and showed off his collection of horseshoes found in the vineyard. He offered an excellent local Portuguese cheese called St. Jorge to go with two of the wines (cheese + wine pairings are highly recommended!) and a dark chocolate to pair with the Cabernet.

Jim had us consider the importance of aromatics by pouring the same wine into two glasses, swirling one but not the other, and having us smell and taste them to see the difference. It’s these educational tips and personal touches that makes visiting J Rickards a delight. And how much is the tour and tasting? Free!

You get a real understanding of what it means to operate sustainable vineyards and what is behind sustainable viticulture. Instead of reading on a pamphlet or being told that the winery uses sustainable practices, maybe with a couple of mentions of “no till viticulture” or “rain run off,” being at J Rickards means that you actually understand what all that means and how it works. However, it’s not a quick experience, so don’t come if you’re in a hurry. You’ll need over an hour for the tour and tasting, complete with Jim’s stories. The winery is open Monday through Saturday, from 11 AM to 4 PM.

As you leave, ask how to get to the top of the property. You can park your car, take in the views of the surrounding hills, then walk up through one of the property’s eco-corridors.

I left J Rickards feeling like I had made new friends in the Alexander Valley wine country. I look forward to going back to experience the area during crush in the fall, and this winery will definitely be on my list because of its unpretentious, personalized approach and commitment to sustainability.

And you? Have you visited a sustainable winery before? What are your favorite off-the-beaten-path wine country destinations?

Have you visited a winery where family was front and center? Please share so we can go there!

1) Look for the use of line

Linear perspective was created during the early Renaissance in the first part of the 15th century. It was one way of making paintings look more realistic–it allowed artists to depict realistic, three-dimensional space. After that, artists showed off their command of perspective by using lines that converge in the background.

Annunciation by Botticelli, 1489-1490

Another way artists showed perspective was by depicting architectural details that recede into space.

Fra Filippo Lippi’s Annunciation in San Lorenzo, c. 1440

2) Realism was front and center

The main goal of the Renaissance was to reawaken an appreciation for man. Humanism took many forms, one of which was a celebration of the potential of humans, including the human body. Realistic representations of the human form became increasingly important, easily seen in Michelangelo’s work:

The human body is celebrated in this famous scene in the Sistine Chapel

For many artists, realism also meant depicting the familiar: clothing, decorations, and landscape typical of 15th century Florence, not from 1400+ years earlier when these religious scenes actually took place. This means that you can get a feeling for what Renaissance Florence looked like through the little details in the paintings. The fresco below provides a glimpse of the decoration, furniture, and clothing that were valued by the rich in Florence in the 15th century even though the painting depicts a completely different time period, the birth of the Virgin Mary.

The Birth of Mary in the Tornabuoni fresco cycle in Santa Maria Novella, Florence, by Ghirlandaio

Another way of introducing realism and the familiar into the painting was to include familiar landscapes. This Biblical scene takes place with a landscape based on the Dolomite mountains of Northern Italy.

Leonardo da Vinci’s The Virgin with Child and St. Anne

3) Who’s in the painting?

Pay attention to the faces you see in the painting. Do they all look the same, or did the artist depict people realistically, with unique features? Many paintings include self-portraits of the artist (usually the one looking out at the viewer instead of at the scene). This one is a self-portrait of the painter Ghirlandaio included among the many people in the painting.

Adoration of the Magi, 1488

It was also common to include the patrons in the painting. While the patrons may not be the most interesting people for you to think about, they were essential because they gave the artists work–commissions usually of religious scenes in an effort to secure a place in heaven. This early Renaissance fresco from the church of Santa Maria Novella shows the patrons kneeling at the bottom, one on either side of the scene.

Masaccio’s Trinity, 1425

A more interesting who’s who is the artist’s favorite model. In the case of Filippo Lippi, the young and beautiful Lucrezia Buti became his favorite model. Despite the fact that he was a monk and she was a nun, they had a 30-year love affair; in fact, their son Filippino Lippi became an artist of the High Renaissance.

4) Fine details

As the Renaissance progressed, artists became more adept at painting small details, such as the jewelry and headdresses that were fashionable at that time (see the above example as well). This gives you an opportunity to see what was considered beautiful, including hairstyles, accessories, and clothing, during the Renaissance.

Botticelli’s Simonetta Vespucci as a nymph, early to mid 1480s

Such attention to fine detail and an almost ethereal quality led to the delicate beauty in Da Vinci and Raphael’s paintings of the High Renaissance.

Detail from Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch, 1505-1506

5) Allusions to the Roman and Greek past

Humanism meant a strong connection to the philosophy and arts of ancient Greece and Rome. The Italian Renaissance aimed to resurrect these, as we can see not only in the style of the the architecture but also in the stories portrayed in painting. While religious themes were the most common subjects of the Renaissance, themes from ancient Greek and Rome, including mythology, became more popular with the support of Lorenzo de’ Medici in the late 15th century.

Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, 1486

School of Athens by Raphael, 1509-1510

If you’d like to learn more about Renaissance art, please visit these posts and stay tuned for updates about my future tours of art in Italy:

Reflections of the Renaissance in the Uffizi

Where to See the Beginning of the Renaissance in Italy

My Favorite Frescoes in Florence

Check out this month’s other ArtSmart posts all about painting:

The Tres Riches Heures Miniatures from Erin of A Sense of Place

Deciphering Dali’s The Hallucinogenic Toreador from Lesley of Culture Tripper

Vermeer’s “The Art of Painting” from Jeff of EuroTravelogue

Millasis’s Pre-Raphaelite Ophelia Up Close from Christina of Daydream Tourist

Andrew Wyeth’s Wind from the Sea from Kelly of Travellious

Leonor Fini: Painting Female Super-Heroines Before Their Time  from Murissa of The Wanderfull Traveler

What are some of your favorite animal encounters?

1. What was the travel experience that made you realize travel would be an important part of your life forever? 

I remember that moment very well. I was 16 when my parents took me to Mexico. I, like most 16-year-old kids, assumed the whole world lived like I did. A flame-thrower performing on a street corner taught me more about life than any other individual I’ve ever met. That flame-thrower, quite literally, changed my life – and I never even talked to him.

After seeing him gag on kerosene, Mexico no longer seemed quite so exotic. It didn’t seem so magical. It seemed poor and desperate. When I saw local artisans painstakingly cutting silver or potters churning out hundreds of clay figurines they sold for a pittance, I wondered if I could somehow make a difference. I was only one person; a child no less, but I was one.

Upon my return to the USA, I saw a commercial for the Peace Corps and made the decision right then and there that I would be become a Peace Corps Volunteer as soon as I could. I did exactly that, and travel has been central to my life ever since. Here is a blog post about that moment.

2. How have your travels changed over the years?

I’ve done it all! I did the Peace Corps Volunteer thing, then the backpacker thing for seven months in South America. I spent, all told, a total of five years traveling full-time on bicycles (one year with just the hubster, four years with him and our kids). We lived as expats for twelve years in four different countries.

I think it’s natural that travel will change as people change. 24 years ago when John and I flew to Pakistan to spend a year cycling in the area, we traveled rough and on an extreme budget. Once our kids were born, we spent more time hanging out on beaches and seeking out amusement centers in malls.

Now that our kids are older (and we are as well!) we’ve toned things down a bit.

3. In your experience, what is one way that people can make a positive difference in the world while traveling?

Talk to people! I am always amazed when I hear stories of people’s “travels” where they ran from one museum to the next, and never took time to just talk with local people. It’s the personal relationships that will change the world, not museums.

4. I write about “quality travel”—traveling mindfully to get more out of the experience and to help destinations stay sustainable. Have you noticed destinations paying more attention to sustainable travel, or have you changed your travel style to be more sustainable?

I don’t think I’ve noticed places that ARE working to remain sustainable, but I have definitely noticed the opposite! Two examples are Costa Rica and Machu Picchu.

As we cycled through Costa Rica, we were blown away by how over-touristed the country was. There was no way to get away from tourists or tourism. Even when we were cycling in what seemed like the middle of nowhere, we saw signs for ziplines or eco-tours. When we visited a national park, walking the path felt like being on a massive multi-lane divided highway. I have to wonder how long the country can manage that level of tourism before it collapses.

Machu Picchu was the other place that I seriously wonder about. The site is tucked away in a hidden place in the Andes Mountains that should be difficult to get to. However, droves of people are heading up there every day. I can’t help but think that too much of a good thing is just too much.

5. What are some travel lessons you have learned recently?

My big travel lesson is that sometimes, you don’t have to travel. Travel has been a HUGE part of my life for many, many years. I first moved overseas in 1984, and traveled pretty much constantly in one form or another until 2011. Amazingly, I realized after our bike trip from Alaska to Argentina, that I didn’t want to travel any more – never, ever saw that one coming!

In that realization, I understood that it’s not about the travel at all – it’s about living deliberately and making conscious decisions. It’s about waking up every morning and saying, “What I do with the next 24 hours is what I’ve chosen to do.” Too often, we reserve that kind of deliberate living for when we are traveling, but we can live that way at home as well. That’s what I’m doing, and am deliriously happy in my small house in Boise, Idaho!

6. Do you have a home base? If so, how did you choose it and what appeals to you about the place?  If not, are there any places you enjoy returning to over and over? Why?

I do now. For most of my adult life I didn’t have a home base at all – just traveled to where the job was and, when we tired of that country, we moved on. I suppose I did have Boise, Idaho as a base simply because that’s where I grew up and it’s where my parents were. We generally came back to Boise every summer for a few weeks.

Now, I think I will always maintain a house here in Boise, even if we do decide to take off and travel again. I can’t see myself traveling for longer than six months-ish, and will want to come back home after that.

When we arrived at the end of the world on our bicycles, we were in a position where we could have gone anywhere. Both my parents have now passed away, so there was no “reason” to come back to Boise. We could have lived in Argentina or Spain or Mexico or Thailand… In the end, we chose to return to Boise for our children.

Although we were living in Ethiopia when they were born, they were born in Boise, and have emotional ties to this city. I think because they were third-culture kids, that attachment was important to them, and we wanted to give our sons the chance to be part of a greater community and put down roots. Boise seemed like the best place to do that.

For me, a huge draw of “home” is my beads. I am a beadwork artist, and playing with beads is a huge part of my life. While traveling on my bike, I can’t carry many with me.

7. Three favorite travel destinations and why?

India: It was my first international experience on my own (summer of 1983) so will always hold fond memories. It was also one of the first countries I cycled in, and we had many amazing experiences there.

Honduras: My Peace Corps country – need I say more? It’s a beautiful country that many overlook.

Ethiopia: Amazing place. We were fortunate to live there for seven years and get to know the people and culture. It’s a country more people should experience.

8. Can you share one blogging tip or one tip about publishing an e-book with my readers?

Write what you are passionate about. Writing is a lot of work and, if you aren’t passionate about it, your enthusiasm will wane quickly.

9. Tell us about your book.

I am very excited about my book! Together with my husband and children, I cycled from Alaska to Argentina. It was a journey of 17,285 miles through fifteen countries that took us nearly three years. Changing Gears: A Family Odyssey to the End of the World is the story of my experiences on the road.

As a mother, I had the same concerns that mothers around the world had of my sons’ safety and well-being, but there were also amazing experiences where they grew up on the road. I look back on those three years now and wonder at the growth in all four of us.

After 21 years of classroom teaching, Nancy Sathre-Vogel made the decision to leave her teaching career behind to travel the world on a bicycle. Together with her husband and twin sons, she cycled 27,000 miles throughout the Americas, including traveling from Alaska to Argentina. Now she lives in Idaho, pursuing her passions of writing and beadwork. You can find her on Facebook  here and on Twitter @familyonbikes . She blogs at http://www.familyonbikes.org

When I moved to Northern California 11 years ago, I didn’t expect to fall so in love with the region. I actually had lived here as a young teenager, but I guess at that time, I wasn’t into nature and travel like I am now. When I moved back, I expected to enjoy Sacramento but didn’t think much of what lies all around the city. In fact, the opposite has come true–I am crazy about Northern California but not always about the city where I live.

First, I need to point out the region this post covers. Northern California is technically the whole northern half of the state, from Monterey Bay all the way up to the Oregon border. I decided not to include the Monterey area because I have a separate 30 things post coming. I have not been to the northern parts of the state. Instead, this covers the popular middle section of Northern California: Sonoma County to the north, Lake Tahoe to the east, Lodi to the south, and the Bay Area to the west, with Napa Valley and Sacramento in the center. Additional resources are listed at the bottom of this post.

The Coast

1. Bodega Head

Bodega Head, a dramatic cliff that juts out into the sea, is a gorgeous place to walk and, in the winter and early spring, even watch whales. There was a whale playing in the water the day that I was there, and it was one of the most beautiful walks I had ever taken. The volunteers on site will let you know if any whales have been spotted that day. Learn more about travel in Bodega Bay here.

2. Fresh seafood

One of the best things about being so close to the ocean is the fresh seafood. In Bodega Bay, crab is caught in small boats like this one, and fresh Dungeness crab is available at markets and seafood restaurants along the water. Oysters are widely available in the area as well.

3. Point Reyes

Point Reyes National Seashore is a peninsula that extends 10 miles out into the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. It is the best raw, rugged nature in this part of the state: dramatic cliffs, strong winds and crashing waves, elk and deer roaming the hills, and barking seals at the beaches.  The lighthouse sits precariously down a large staircase at the very tip of the peninsula. Learn more about travel in Point Reyes here.

Wine Country

4. Cornerstone Gardens

This eclectic outdoor space just outside Sonoma consists of plots that have been designed by some of the world’s leading landscape architects. What results is a lovely place to spend a couple of hours, a nice way to break up wine tasting time, and a family-friendly stop if  you have kids. For more about these unique gardens, click here.

5. The Meritage Resort & Spa

There are many excellent spas in Northern California; unfortunately, I have visited very few. The spa at the Meritage Resort, just outside of the city of Napa in the southern part of Napa Valley, is gorgeous. It’s built in a large cave (directly under the vineyards pictured above). The Meritage offers day-spa services plus great wine tasting at Trinitas, use of the hotel’s beautiful pool, and hiking in the hills above the spa.

Insider’s tip: If you stay at the resort, ask for a room that’s not above the bowling alley. Take the hotel shuttle into town to avoid driving after dinner and wine.

6. Alexander Valley

Alexander Valley lies in the northern part of Sonoma County. Its vine-covered hills, quirky towns, and off-the-radar wineries make this area very worth exploring. It’s a wilder version of Napa Valley–much less crowded, less expensive, but just as beautiful.

7. Road trip through wine country

Let yourself get lost on the small roads of Northern California wine country, especially in Sonoma, Napa, and Alexander Valleys. The hills and wineries provide the perfect scenery, which changes depending on the season. In winter, expect bright yellow mustard growing between bare vines; in spring, expect rolling green hills; in summer, expect dry brown hills and full green vines; and in fall, expect vibrant fall colors in the vineyards.

Insider’s tip: There are many beautiful back roads all over NorCal wine country, but beware of driving in Napa Valley. The traffic can be terrible on weekends. Avoid Highway 29 though Napa Valley because it can be slow. I prefer the Silverado Trail, but another good option is to take 29 north and then cut over to the Silverado Trail to head back south. In Alexander Valley, take Dry Creek Rd.

8. Hiking

The wine country has many great areas for hiking. Look for state parks, search for hiking suggestions online for the specific place you’ll be, or ask at the tourism offices for trail information.

9. Boutique wineries

Boutique wineries produce wine in small quantities. Most boutique wineries sell their wines only at the wineries or at a few local collectives or specialty shops. The wines are usually very good, and because there are only a few hundred to a few thousand cases of the wine, a certain feeling of experiencing something special comes along with the tasting. Boutique wineries are generally smaller, friendlier, and offer a more personalized experience. Three of my favorites are Rocca Vineyards in Napa (opening summer 2013), Envy Wines in Calistoga, and J Rickards Winery in Cloverdale.

10. Art in unexpected places

Several wineries in Napa Valley house art collections, and wineries and tasting rooms all over Northern California host art exhibits. Clos Pegase winery in Napa Valley has an impressive collection of art, especially sculpture by well-known artists of the 20th  century.

11. Napa Valley’s showstopping wineries

Even though these are already well-known, I felt that I had to include them. Napa Valley is known not just for its high quality wines, excellent food, and beautiful nature, but also for its beautiful wineries. Places like Castello di Amorosa, Chateau Montelana, Beringer, V. Sattui, Silverado, Robert Mondavi, and Sterling may lack the personal touch of the small wineries but have beautiful gardens, impressive architecture, and fun tours that make them popular among visitors to the valley.

Insider’s tip: These wineries can be crowded. Choose which one you want to visit based on the type of experience you are looking for. Get there early and then spend the rest of the day at smaller wineries that will be less crowded. A fun alternative is the tasting rooms and Vintner’s Collective in downtown Napa.

12. Napa Wine train

The Napa Valley Wine Train takes travelers part way up the valley with the chance to get off the train and tour wineries. Delicious meals are prepared in the train’s tiny kitchen. To me, the appeal of the wine train is the historic train cars. The restored original train cars reflect the glory days of American train travel from first half of the 20th century. I wouldn’t recommend taking the train over a slow drive or bike ride up the Silverado Trail, but it’s a good option for travelers with extra time in Napa Valley or who really love trains.

13. The food

Oh my Lord, the food in Northern California is just amazing, and the wine country has some of the region’s best restaurants. Try Catelli’s in Geyserville, All Seasons Bistro in Calistoga, The Girl and the Fig in Sonoma, and Oenotri, Tarla Grill, ZuZu, and Grace’s Table in downtown Napa. Less expensive options include Ca’ Momi Enoteca and other purveyors in the Oxbow Public Market and Bistro Sabor in Napa.

The Bay Area

14. UC Berkeley Botanical Garden

The UC Berkeley Botanical Garden is one of my favorite places in Northern California. Its 34 acres of plants from around the world, including rare and endangered plant species, are beautifully displayed among the hills above Berkeley. It’s also a wonderful place for children to run and explore nature. Find out more about it here.

15. Ferry Building

The Ferry Building is not only the place where commuters get on and off the ferry; it’s also an indoor food market that showcases the best local food products from the San Francisco area. Stop in here to browse and grab a quick lunch or sit down for a meal–you can even take a spot outside overlooking the water. Depending on your schedule, take a ferry to Sausalito or around the Bay, or cross the street and check out the huge fountain sculpture. You can read the 5 reasons I love the Ferry Building here.

16. Museums

The de Young Museum in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Photo from wikimedia

I am a firm believer in spending as much time outside in a destination as possible, which means that even though I love art and museums, I often skip them in lieu of a long walk or slow afternoon in a cafe. Many visitors to San Francisco might not realize what they’re missing in the museums because the city has so much to see outdoors. The world-class exhibitions at the de Young, MOMA, Legion of Honor, and Asian Art Museum, plus the insanely cool kid-friendly exhibits in the new California Academy of Sciences and Exploratorium are definitely worth looking into.

The Sacramento area

17. Davis Arboretum

University of California at Davis is known around the world for its programs with plants, agriculture, and now wine and even beer making. The university’s campus in the cute college town of Davis sits about 20 minutes west of Sacramento.

The arboretum’s 100 acres of gardens include plants from all over the world, divided into collections, such as Australia, the Desert, and East Asia. Because the weather is nice here most of the year, you can spend an easy day in Davis soaking up the town’s quirky atmosphere and walking the arboretum with a picnic stop along the way.

Insider’s tip: Find out which the areas you want to visit first because unless you have a bike, you probably won’t want to walk the whole 3.5 mile loop. Visitor parking is available along the route (get a map here). The Desert areas and Redwood Grove are must-sees.

18. Sacramento restaurants

Sacramento has been called the Farm-to-Fork capital of the United States. This means that the food here tends to be very fresh, coming from all the farmland that surrounds the city, and that restaurants prepare menus from what’s seasonal and local. There are many good places to eat, especially in Midtown, including Biba, The Red Rabbit (above), Centro, Cafe Bernardo, Magpie, and Thai Basil.

19. Vietnamese food

Sacramento is home to a huge Vietnamese population (many of whom I am fortunate to have as my students), so this is a great place to try their food. Little Saigon is the center of the Vietnamese community, but you can find pho places all over town. Because I don’t eat much meat, my favorite Vietnamese place is a vegan restaurant on Broadway, alongside many good ethnic restaurants. The owner is a Buddhist and takes great care in serving cruelty-free, fresh food that honors Vietnamese traditions and health at the same time. (Read more about it here).

20. Capitol Park

Capitol Park, in the center of Downtown Sacramento, is one of the city’s nicer outdoor spaces. Go inside the large capitol building to see the dome and the historic rooms. Then spend time walking the park and admiring the variety of trees from all over the world as well as the rose garden and war memorials.

21. Farmers’ Markets

Most of California’s cities and towns have frequent farmers’ markets, especially in the summer when the variety of local produce will make your head spin. Sacramento has a market just about every day; the largest is on Sundays 8-12 under the freeway at 8th and W. There are nice smaller ones in Downtown/Midtown Sacramento during the week–get the schedule here.

The farmers’ market in Davis is quite an event, complete with musicians, food stalls, art, and many different food products from the region, including great organic produce, local cheeses, and olive oil. While the Sacramento markets have a similar variety of products, the Davis market stands out because it’s a community event that is fun for the whole family. It’s open Saturdays and, in the summer, Wednesday evenings.

22. Biking

The Sacramento area is perfect for biking because it’s flat and has good bike trails. The best trail is the American River Bike Trail that runs 32 miles from downtown Sacramento to Folsom. There are many points where you can get on the trail and, if you don’t have a bike, you can rent one. The Nimbus Fish Hatchery makes a fun stop along the way, especially if you have kids. Visit the bike trail website here.

23. Breakfast in the outdoor garden of Tower Cafe

Tower Cafe is a fixture in Sacramento, especially loved for its lush outdoor garden and fun food. The restaurant serves an always-changing mix of globally-inspired dishes in a casual atmosphere. My favorite way to experience Tower is to come in the morning and have a slow breakfast outdoors. The seasonal French toast is famous–custard-filled baguettes with a compote of beautiful seasonal fruits.

Insider’s tip: If you go on a weekend, get there early to avoid a long wait for a table outside.

East and South of Sacramento

24. The wines of Clarksburg

Just south of Sacramento is a quiet wine country nestled in farmland along the Sacramento River. The Old Sugar Mill is an old building where you can taste wine from 10 local wineries. Tasting fees are about $5 per person, and it’s open 11-5 every day. Bogle Winery is hidden down small winding roads. The atmosphere is casual and friendly, tastings are free, and the property has a nice outdoor picnic area. Open 11-5 daily.

25. Lodi

If you like wine country where tasting costs next to nothing and comes without pretension, Lodi is for you. It’s the home of Zinfandel and many of its wineries are making very good wines now. This is a good area to experience harvest and crush (without the crowds and prices of Napa Valley). The town is a real slice of rural California valley and has several good restaurants. (Check back soon for an in-depth look at Lodi wine country!)

26. Go birding

The valley of California is a haven for migrating birds. In late fall and winter, enormous sandhill cranes and other birds from far north settle here. Places to see birds include the Isenberg Crane Reserve near Lodi and the Cosumnes River Preserve between Sacramento and Lodi.

27. Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay

If you haven’t been to Lake Tahoe, it’s reason enough to come to Northern California. It really is stunning, especially in the winter and spring when the mountains are covered in snow, contrasting with the deep blue of the lake. Emerald Bay (pictured above) is gorgeous any time of the year.

Insider’s tip: Avoid the casino hotels; instead, rent a house near the lake or try one of the area’s elegant hotels or inns.

28. Spending the Day Outdoors in the Sierra Nevadas

There is something for everyone in the Sierra Nevadas, especially around Lake Tahoe. Most of the year, you can hike the state parks, bike the flat trails near Lake Tahoe, or go boating. In the winter and spring, you can snowshoe in the state parks, ski, and take in the spectacular views.

29. Amador County

Image credit: J Stephen Conn on Flickr

Amador County is the old Gold Country east of Sacramento. In the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Amador County includes beautiful scenery, growing wine production, and gold country history in towns like Plymouth and Jackson. This is a side of California that many don’t expect: rugged, rural, and totally fun.

30. Roadside fruit stands

Little stands selling just-picked fruit and other products like vegetables and eggs are all over Northern California. You can find them in rural areas around Lodi, Sacramento, Napa Valley, Sonoma, Davis, and other areas near farms. Some, like this one, simply have a box for you to put your money in. Others sell fruit that is pesticide-free even if the farm is not certified organic.

Insider’s tip: Summer is the best season for fruit in Northern California. Early summer brings apricots, cherries, and strawberries, while mid-summer brings nectarines, peaches, pluots, plums, raspberries, and blueberries. Late summer and fall are good times for figs and persimmons.

What would you like to do in Northern California? If you’ve spent time here, what are your suggestions?

Additional resources:

A Romantic Getaway in Napa Valley

Winter in the Wine Country

“Hella” Fun Things to Do in Northern California

30 Things to Do in Napa Valley

Summer in Northern California

The Perfect Day in Berkeley

Because I was a passionate student of art history as an undergrad, I get excited about architecture, including beautiful religious architecture. Santa Maria Novella is one of my favorite churches in Florence. The two famous churches actually have façades that were added much later, but this one has an original façade begun in the 15th century. When standing in front of it, it can be difficult to focus on small details, but it’s worth the effort. The elaborate designs made from marble.

The sun is a symbol of the neighborhood and of the convent of Santa Maria Novella.

Here is a view of the whole façade. You can see how easy it would be to miss some of the exquisite details.

The inside of the church is one of my favorite places to see art in Florence. You can learn more about the interior in my post and on the church’s website.

This means that lately, I’ve forgotten about my hometown. I’ve missed out on local festivals, yoga classes, trying new ethnic foods, visiting the new restaurants, and much more. Fortunately, I was recently approached to write about some of Sacramento’s best restaurants, and even though it wasn’t exactly convenient timing, I’m so glad it happened! In fact, last week was totally insane–the last week of instruction of the semester, meaning little sleep and lots to do, but we managed to escape…A whole other world was waiting for us, and let me tell you, it was really refreshing!

My favorite stop in Midtown Sacramento’s Sutter District was The Red Rabbit. Cool name, right? Cool place, too.

This restaurant and bar has been part of Sacramento’s growing scene for just over a year, but it seems to have attracted a good crowd and developed a strong sense of itself. It pulls off a quirky combination of opposites–casual, upscale, progressive, diverse–that actually reminds me of the city itself.

Sacramento is like the rebellious little brother of the California family. With Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego as the other big cities in this glorious state, Sacramento just can’t compete. Add to that Sacramento’s slightly grungy, relaxed vibe and eclectic mix of people, and you get a city that is a bit of an oddball. However, if you look at Sacramento without comparing it to its bigger and better siblings, it definitely holds its own, especially when it comes to food.

By the way, Sacramento is the self-proclaimed Farm-to-Fork capital of the U.S. It’s surrounded by farmland, but this is not just any farmland. This is Northern California valley…sunny and warm, where just about everything thrives–from walnuts, almonds, and olives to wine grapes and all kinds of vegetables and gorgeous fruits. It’s no wonder more and more Sac area restaurants are utilizing local bounty, creating seasonal dishes with flavors that just pop from the freshness of the ingredients.

The menu at The Red Rabbit uses ingredients from local farms, some very close by and some a bit further away in the region. All ingredients come from farms, ranches, and fisheries that support sustainability. Two great examples of local, seasonal dishes are the Del Rio Salad (above). The lettuces tasted so…green, I suppose because they was grown just 12 miles away. The special (below) showcased two fruits that have just made their appearance for summer–apricots and sweet cherries.

My husband and I commented that the flavors at The Red Rabbit were “unusual,” meaning bold and different from what we usually eat. A delicious smoky flavor enhanced this BLB (Bacon Lettuce Beet) with a side of grilled romaine lettuce.

Another bold treat was the Delta Frites, tempura battered local asparagus, lemon wheels (yes), and a chili aioli. Wow. I wanted to eat the whole basket.

The Red Rabbit not only makes really good and interesting food; it also makes really good and interesting cocktails. I’m not much of a cocktail drinker, but the cocktails at this place are one reason I can’t wait to go back. Their approach to cocktails is purist–all housemade syrups and freshly-squeezed juices are used.

I ordered the Mai Kai (pineapple-infused rum, Curaçao, simple syrup, orgeat syrup, and lime) and absolutely loved it. My husband had the smoky Paloma, a tequila and mezcal-based cocktail.

Another reason I look forward to hanging out at The Red Rabbit is the staff and the ambiance. To me, it was perfect. The staff were all friendly and seemed to be having fun. The music was fantastic and not too loud. The raised booth we sat in was comfy and made for great people watching. The funky decor all fit together cohesively, and the back patio invites slow meals with friends.

Lesson learned from this evening out: try something different today. Make discoveries in your own backyard. We would normally never go out on a worknight, but this was actually the best part of last week. We did something to shake up our reality and feel renewed love for our hometown, and it was exactly what we needed.

If you come to Sacramento, this is one place you should make time for, but what about your hometown? Are there new restaurants worth checking out? Places that support sustainable food and local farms?

Alexander Valley is one of Northern California‘s best kept secrets. It’s a beautiful area of hills, vineyards, farms, and quirky towns where craft beers and excellent wines are served alongside local food. I’ll post much more about it after our trip, but here’s an image from last year and the great hike we took one evening. The twisting branches of this oak tree almost appear to be dancing.

Where do you like to go to get away from your daily routine?