Food & Wine Pairings with Coyote Sonoma

There are lots of great reasons to plan a Sonoma County getaway at our Healdsburg inn and we’ve just added another! One of the newest things to indulge in when you visit Healdsburg is Coyote Sonoma’s Food and Wine Pairings. Casual and fun these parings are the perfect spot to start your Wilson Artisan Wines journey. Walking distance from the Inn, our Coyote Sonoma wine tasting room offers a lovely outside patio, and enjoy a flight of wine paired is an exclusive wine and food paring event with Williamson Wines!

If wine is not your thing, check out all of the wonderful local beer on tap at Coyote Sonoma!

Healdsburg Antique Stores – Vintage Treasures & Upcycle Chic

If searching for vintage treasures is one of your favorite pastimes, you’ll be happy to learn that there are a number of excellent Healdsburg antique stores – and all within easy walking distance of Camellia Inn!

There’s nothing quite like antique shopping.

With most other stores, you have a good idea of what’s inside before you enter. When it comes to antique stores and vintage shops, however, you never know what you’ll find. Every visit is like an exciting archeological dig: what fantastic treasures will you discover today?

Healdsburg is home to a variety of antique shops and, like the rest of downtown, getting to them from our Healdsburg inn is a snap.

So go ahead: grab your hat and sunglasses, put on those comfy walking shoes, and follow me to fun!

Healdsburg Antique Stores

Antique Harvest – 225 Healdsburg Ave
Over 7,000 square feet of antiques, jewelry, art and more. Antique Harvest is an antique, itself. As Healdsburg’s oldest store, it has been in business for over 45 years!

Mill Street Antiques – 44 Mill St
More than 30 vendors in 15,000 square feet offering traditional, contemporary, and mid-century items as well as shabby chic furniture, and decor.

Modern Antiquarium – 452 Healdsburg Ave
30-plus vendors offering an ever-changing array of incredible and often one-of-a-kind vintage and antique items.

Shoffeitt’s Off The Square – 208 Healdsburg Ave
Shoffeitt’s offers an eclectic mix of vintage, antique, and hand-made treasures, including upcycled items and repurposed pieces.

Ærena Galleries & Gardens – 115 Plaza St
Ærena Galleries is mainly a high-end boutique for contemporary art, design, and furnishings. Their offerings also include a variety of vintage objects and curiosities, however.

And So Much More

Antiques aren’t the only thing within easy walking distance of Camellia Inn. Our convenient location puts you within a ten minute walk of most of the best of Healdsburg. This includes the historic Healdsburg Plaza shops, galleries, restaurants, and park area with benches and a gazebo.

It is very relaxing to spend the day visiting all the wonderful shops in downtown Healdsburg, knowing the comfort and privacy of your Camellia Inn guest room is just steps or minutes away. So convenient!

A Taste of Healdsburg at the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market

There’s nothing like a farmers market for delivering a quite literal taste of both a region’s produce and its character. That’s certainly true of the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market. Even better, the market is an easy, 5 minute stroll from Camellia Inn!

Farmers markets have really been making a comeback as more people learn about the benefits of locally grown, healthy, whole, and raw foods. Beyond all the fresh, local produce, farmers markets help to promote local economic health and are more sustainable than big box grocery stores.

They’re also a great way to get to know both your neighbors and your food producers better. When traveling, visiting a local farmers market is a great way to get a feel for and help support a community.

These facts are well known in Healdsburg because our farmers market has been a local institution since 1978! In fact the Healdsburg market is one of California’s original, twenty-two Certified farmers markets!

Healdsburg Farmers’ Market

The market is home to over 60 different vendors offering a wide variety of fresh produce – but that’s not all! You’ll also find flowers, cheeses, honey, olive oil, fresh eggs, wild caught fish, pasture-finished meat, and more. The market also offers baked goods, precooked foods, packaged foods, and hand-crafted goods.

Always a bit of a celebration, each market day features live entertainment another regional musician or band whose talents always enliven the day.

The market also puts on several special and seasonal events throughout the season. Special guests, cooking demos, zucchini races, pumpkin carving contests, and the upcoming Craft Market.

October/November Craft Market

Saturday, October 10th, 2020, 8:30am to 12pm at the Heraldsburg Farmers’ Market.

If you’re a fan of handcrafted goods – and a really good time – you do not want to miss the October/November Craft Market.

Each week, the farmers market will feature 30 or more artisans selling their handcrafted goods. Ceramics, fiber art, glass, carvings, jewelry, paper goods, and much more. The mix will change from week to week, so you never know what treasures you’ll discover. Exciting!

What a great way to find a truly unique and special gift.

2020 Season Market Hours

The Healdsburg Farmer’s Market is held two days a week.

Saturdays, until November 28, 2020, the market goes from 8:30am to noon in the West Plaza Parking Lot, one block west of the Healdsburg Plaza on North and Vine.

Tuesdays, until October 27, 2020, the market is open from 9am to 12:30pm at the Healdsburg Plaza.

Both locations are an easy and pleasant, three-and-a-half block stroll from our Healdsburg inn.

So go ahead, start off one of your Sonoma Wine Country getaway days at the Healdsburg Farmer’s Market. Fresh air, fresh food, and friendly folk – there may be no better way to wake up!

Learn more at the market website. You can also visit the market on Facebook.

Discover Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve

Sometimes you just want to get out into the great outdoors. Not too far out but somewhere to clear your head and draw in those big, rejuvenating breaths of fresh country air. Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve is a 155 acre park less than ten minutes from downtown Healdsburg and our Healdsburg inn.

Nothing clears the head and sets your mood like a nice traipse in the countryside. Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve is just one of many places in or near Healdsburg that offers just that.

The Preserve, located just north of downtown near Simi Winery, contains a network of more than 3 miles of hiking trails. Don’t expect a big workout, however. The trails run from easy to moderate, making them perfect for a relaxing stroll or an invigorating run or bike ride.

The network of trails passes through grasslands, oak woodlands, wetlands, and chaparral. These diverse habitats support a wide array of plants and wildlife. Deer, rabbits, bobcats, river otters, over 40 species of birds, and more call the Preserve home.

Visitors to the Preserve are also rewarded with expansive views of Fitch Mountain, the Mayacama Mountains, and the Russian River. Be sure to bring your camera as you never know what eye-popping beauty you’ll be presented with.

Exploring Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve

The Preserve address is Arabian Way, Healdsburg, CA 95448.

Don’t get too confused when you end up in a subdivision hunting down the Preserve. If the street is called “Arabian Way” you’re doing just fine. Head to the end of the street, park at the trailhead, and head on up. Soon you’ll be surrounded by the beautiful oak woodlands that flourished here before the time of vineyards and subdivisions.

Trails in the Preserve are loop trails or connect with another in the network to circle back around. Most also lead past a scenic overlook to stop and take in. Mayacama Overlook, Russian River Overlook, and Serpentine Overlook are some of the standouts.

Be sure to look over a Preserve trail map before you set off.

If hitting the trail on two wheels is more your style, Spoke Folk Cyclery and Wine Country Bikes can help get you geared up, so to speak.

Whatever your chosen method of travel, just be sure to take along some water so you don’t get dehydrated. It’s warm and dry here most of the year, even winter. You’ll also want to prepare and watch out or some of the Preserve’s less friendly natural residents, ticks and the occasional rattler.

Let us know what kinds of things you’d like to do during your Sonoma County Wine vacation and we’ll help get you pointed in the right direction. There’s no end to the fun and sun in Healdsburg!

Explore Riverfront Regional Park

Looking to get out and do a little communing with nature? Riverfront Regional Park, a Sonoma County public park on the banks of the Russian River, offers hiking, biking, paddling, and more.

Best of all, it’s just minutes from our Healdsburg bed and breakfast, Camellia Inn!

There are lots of lovely areas in Sonoma County to get out into nature. One of the more popular ones here in Healdsburg is Riverfront Regional Park.

Riverfront Regional Park is around 300 acres of reclaimed river lands along the Russian River, just west of Windsor, CA.

What was once scarred with gravel pits now features a lovely redwood grove and two beautiful lakes surrounded by classic Wine Country scenery.

Hiking, Biking, Fishing, Boating & More

Riverfront Regional Park is a beautiful park and excellent for dogs, kids, or just yourself!

One of the first things you’ll see at the park is a redwood grove at the park entrance. This graceful stand of lovely trees is home to a wonderful picnic area with tables, a large barbecue, volleyball, and a horseshoe pit. Nearby facilities include flush toilets and a drinking fountain.

The park’s main attractions Lake Benoist and Lake Wilson; two former gravel pits now reclaimed as lakes. Both are popular for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. Swimming is prohibited.

The park also offers two nature trails.

Lake Trail (2.18 mile / 3.5km) leads from the parking lot, past Lake Wilson, to loop around Lake Benoist. This trail also features a short spur to a small gravel beach on the Russian River. Horseback riding is allowed on the Lake Trail, which includes equestrian parking and hitching posts.

Redwood Hill Trail (.5 mile / .805km) passes through the redwood grove near the parking lot. It then leads up over a forested ridge to connect to the Lake Trail.

Both walking trails are unpaved but mostly flat and easy to traverse. During wetter weather, a northwest section of the Lake Trail may become impassable.

View a map of the park and trails here.

Riverfront Regional Park

7821 Eastside Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Open daily, 7am to Sunset.

Visit the park website for more information. You can also find the park on Facebook.

The park is an easy 10 minute drive south on Eastside Road from our Healdsburg inn. The drive is usually free of traffic and features lots of scenic vineyard vistas, including J Vineyards, Rodney Strong, and Foppiano Vineyards.

In fact, you could (should!) even pick up some wine from one of them for your picnic. Yum!

Things To Do In Healdsburg

Healdsburg, California is well known for its tasting rooms and vineyards but you would be mistaken to think that sipping wine is all there is to do here. Far from it. In fact, there are so many fun things to do in Healdsburg it may be hard to choose what to do first!

Once upon a time, Healdsburg was just a sleepy little town on the Russian River in north Sonoma County – but those days are long gone. While we still exude small town warmth and friendliness, our location has us at the center of over 100 different wineries, many of them award-winning.

With the wine came fame, growth, and fun. Now Healdsburg is continually named one of America’s top 10 small towns – and not just because of the wineries.

So Many Things To Do In Healdsburg

Lucky for you, the location of our Healdsburg inn puts you within easy walking distance of Zagat and Michelin-rated restaurants, fine antique stores, art galleries, chic boutiques, and more.

Historic Healdsburg Town Plaza is just two blocks away and a downtown nexus of excellent shops, galleries, and dining opportunities. The lawn at the center of the plaza includes benches, a gazebo, and is the site of summer events and festivals. The Healdsburg plaza is both a window-shoppers paradise and a lovely place to simply relax and people-watch.

Shopping

Speaking of shopping, Healdsburg is filled with little boutiques, independent bookstores, local art galleries, and antique stores. If you’re the kind who can spend the whole day shopping, rest assured that Healdsburg can keep up with you – and then some.

A few standouts include the sleek Gallery Lulo for high end housewares and jewelry, Ereloom menswear boutique, Antique Harvest, Healdsburg’s oldest merchant, and Copperfield’s unbelievable bookstore. And much more.

Museums and Galleries

History buffs interested in the area will enjoy a visit to the Healdsburg Museum. You’ll also want to stop by the very unique Healdsburg Hand Fan Museum. How unique? It’s the only museum of its kind in the country!

Healdsburg is home a numerous fine art galleries, too. Art enthusiasts should be sure to stop by the Paul Mahder Gallery, the Father/Son Harris Gallery, and Erickson Fine Art Gallery, just to start.

Outdoor Recreation

Looking to get out into all that fresh air and sunshine? Great idea! Healdsburg offers plenty for the outdoor enthusiast, including many parks to explore and enjoy.

Biking – We have some of the best cycling terrain in the world. It is also home to plenty of bike rentals, like Wine Country Bikes and Spoke Folk Cyclery.

Hiking – The Healdsburg area isn’t exactly hikeable but there are some nice opportunities all around us. If window shopping and wine tours aren’t enough, try the nearby trails at Riverfront Regional Park and the Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve.

Paddling and Rafting – Get another view of Sonoma County Wine Country with a paddling trip down the friendly waters of the Russian River. There are a number of outfitters offering boat rentals nearby our Healdsburg bed and breakfast.

Tours and Experiences

You’re in wine country, so a wine tour of some kind is most likely on your schedule. Lucky for you they come in such a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

There are your expected winery and vineyard tours and the not so expected ones, like hot air balloon winery tours.

Wine Country Walking Tours offers a variety of walking tours (natch) and the aforementioned Wine Country Bikes is just one of many outfitters offering wine country bike tours along with rentals.

And That’s Just For Starters

We could go on. And on. There are just so many great and worthy things to do in Healdsburg that we couldn’t possibly list them all. If there’s something special you’d like to do during your stay at Camellia Inn, or are looking for suggestions, just let us know. We’ll do what we can to help make your Sonoma Wine Country vacation the very best it can be.

See you soon!

Visit Sonoma County Breweries

It may be hard to believe but, once upon a time, the cash crop in Sonoma County was hops, not grapes. While this is definitely wine country now, Sonoma County breweries are thriving and producing some of the best craft beers in the world.

In fact, Sonoma County is considered one of the world’s beer capitals. Neighboring Santa Rosa still holds the title of the Microbrew Capital of the United States – and has for years. Why, some even point to our area as the progenitor of the current craft beer movement.

New Albion Brewing Company, considered by many to be the first, modern craft brewery, opened its doors in Sonoma, CA in 1976. The scene has exploded since then, of course, both across the nation and right here in Sonoma County. There are currently more than two dozen breweries in county, with more opening all the time.

While Bear Republic closed the doors of its local brewpub in 2019, there are still many excellent, Sonoma County breweries and brew pubs near our Healdsburg inn. The short list below details some of the best and most popular breweries near Healdsburg.

Sonoma County Breweries

Russian River Brewing Company – 725 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Easily one of the most famous and popular brewers in the area. Their beer, Pliny the Younger, is consistently rated as one of the top 6 beers in the world.

Fogbelt Brewing Company – 1305 Cleveland Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401

Fogbelt Brewing serves their selection of beers in a casual, gastro-pub atmosphere. The business prides itself in using locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible. Why, their hops are grown right here in Healdsburg.

HenHouse Brewing Company – 322 Bellevue Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95407

HenHouse Brewing is one of those fun places you look forward to going to whenever you’re not there. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the beers are fantastic and often very creative.

Cooperage Brewing Company – 981 Airway Ct g, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Cooperage offers a rotating selection of small-batch, hoppy and Belgian-style ales, with barrel-aged sours as their specialty. Deliciously different, every time.

Stumptown Brewery – 15045 River Rd, Guerneville, CA 95446

This laid-back, wood-paneled brewpub offers seasonal in-house beers along with a collection of local taps and a full pub menu. Enjoy a beer and a bite on their deck overlooking the Russian River.

St Florian’s Brewery – 7704 Bell Rd, Windsor, CA 95492

The Windsor Fire Captain and full-time firefighter started this brewery named after the patron saint of firefighters that donates at least five percent of its profits to community-based organizations. Their excellent beers are understandably popular with first responders.

Healdsburg Beer

You may have noticed by now that, though all of the above are 20 minutes of less from our Sonoma County bed and breakfast, none are in Healdsburg. While we don’t have a craft brewery in town, we wouldn’t want you to think there is no beer in Healdsburg. Quite to the contrary!

There are a number of restaurants and lounges in town, most of which have a good selection of beers on tap or bottle. For a better than average and local selection of good craft beers, however, we recommend:

Healdsburg Bar and Grill – 245 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, CA
HBG has a HUGE beer list, both on tap and in bottle, along with wine, spirits, and a full menu from the grill. Stop in and see how long it takes you to choose a beer.

The Wurst – 22 Matheson St, Healdsburg, CA
The Wurst also offers another good (if not quite as large) selection of taps and bottles – along with some seriously delicious sausages, burgers, and more.