What's New in Sonoma County…from Luxurious Lodgings to Acres of Adventure and Sensational Spas

New deals and delights start the New Year off right in Sonoma County, the Bay Area's big backyard. Stay and play in four-star resorts or quaint B&Bs; select wines from more than 200 wineries; enjoy fine cuisine from world-famous chefs; and take in ongoing events, attractions and the cultural arts.

Here's a quick look at what's new in 2005.

Luxurious Lodgings
Sleep in the lap of luxury at the new Les Mars Hotel in Healdsburg. This elegant European-style country house has 16 rooms furnished with 18th and 19th century antiques.

Guests enjoy highly personalized service, including cozy bathrobes, luxury bath products, and the latest entertainment and communications equipment. Spa services include a variety of therapeutic massages. Call (877) 431-1700; or visit www.lesmarshotel.com.

Experience Japan in Sonoma! The Gaige House Inn in historic Glen Ellen now offers eight new private Japanese-style spa suites inspired by the ancient Japanese Ryokan inns in Kyoto. Granite soaking tubs for two overlook Calabasas Creek; floor to ceiling sliding glass walls line each suite's private garden.

Enjoy treatments in the privacy of the suite, poolside, or in the new spa room with an indoor and outdoor couples massage area. For reservations call 800-935-0237 or visit www.gaige.com.

New Wine and Spa Packages at Glenelly Inn & Cottages in Glen Ellen pamper guests with massage, facials and aromatherapy body scrubs in a full service spa. Cuddle down with Norwegian down comforters and relax with a chilled bottle of wine in your intimate guest room, suite or cottage. For reservations call 707-996-6720 or visit www.glenelly.com.

Sensational Spas
Blush, a new eclectic day spa in Sonoma, combines European-based theories for long-lasting beauty and Eastern philosophies for balancing mind and spirit with oxygen facials, massages, sweet treat pedicures or color therapy.

A large selection of products includes candles, unique jewelry, paintings and gift items from local artists. Owner Dolores De Alba is an internationally-trained esthetician whose clientele has included celebrities Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Call (707) 935-0116, or visit www.blushspasonoma.com.

Main Street Day Spa in Cloverdale creates a serene and relaxing environment in which to experience the latest in massage and therapeutic techniques, facial and body wax treatments, and natural nail care. Offering services and amenities suitable for women, men and teens, the spa offers group appointments and packages. A gift boutique offers one-of-a-kind items. Call (707) 894-4800 or visit www.mainstreetspa.net.

Wonderful Wine
Taste rare wines in a private atmosphere - very private. Guests at the Grape Leaf Inn in Healdsburg, or small pre-arranged groups can steal away from reality and join owner Richard Rosenberg in a small old-fashioned speakeasy concealed down a staircase, hidden behind bookshelves in the dining room of this 1900 Queen Anne Victorian.

Cloak and dagger and Elliott Ness withstanding, Richard opens hard-to-find boutique wines, serves a good local cheese and bread from nearby Costeaux Bakery, and for music, plays lusty blues, not light jazz! A self-proclaimed "Pinotphile," Rosenberg's cellar contains treasures that are available by the bottle or case, right at the inn. Call (707) 433-8140 or visit www.grapeleafinn.com.

No more belly-up-to-the bar. Relax with friends and enjoy really great wine in the new tasting lounge at Thumbprint Cellars. This must-see spot in Healdsburg, which sports a beautiful custom-made bar and seating area adorned with luxurious fabrics, is the brainchild of Owner/Winemaker Scott Lindstrom-Dake and co-owner Erica Lindstrom-Dake who make and serve handcrafted small-lot wines. Visit www.thumbprintcellars.com or call (707) 433-2393.

Picturesque as a page from Under the Tuscan Sun, a new tasting room is the centerpiece of Forchini Vineyards and Winery in Dry Creek Valley. Situated on a knoll surrounded by magnificent oak trees, it's reminiscent of Cortona, Italy. Open Saturdays from 11am to 4pm and other days by appointment. Visit www.forchini.com or call (707) 431-8886.

Wonderful art is now paired with wonderful wines at Rosenblum Cellars tasting room and gallery. The new art gallery with Indian art, including masks and ceremonial rattles from the Northwestern states and Canada, plus colorful Italian ceramic plates, bowls, vases, platters, urns and more complements the selection of wines. Open Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (707) 431-1169 or visit www.rosenblumcellars.com.

The first cooperative tasting room in Dry Creek Valley, Family Wineries Tasting Room, opens March 1 and includes wineries: Collier Falls, Duxoup, Forth Vineyards, Lago di Merlo, Chateau Felice, and Dashe Cellars. The wine club allows visitors to sample estate-bottled American and Italian Varietals throughout the year. Designed to resemble an Old California General Store, the tasting room will be located at the home of Timber Crest Farms, whose exceptional line of organic, dried fruits and tomatoes can be purchased in the tasting room. Picnic grounds offer a beautiful view of the valley. Contact Barry Collier (707) 433-7373 or wine@collierfalls.com.

The new tasting room at Little Vineyards Winery is a small but elegant renovation of an old tractor warehouse. The crowning glory is an old wood bar from a saloon in Glen Ellen - the very one that famed author Jack London and Hazen Cowan used to set their glasses on when telling tall tales. The winery plans to stay small; meaning no more than 2,500 cases a year. Purchase the wine from select local markets or at www.littlevineyards.com. Visits are by appointment. Call (707) 996-2750.

Montemaggiore produces exceptional red wines and olive oil. Vincent and Lise Ciolino grow ten acres of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon along with 800 olive trees on steep hillsides high above Dry Creek Valley. They use the most natural, sustainable methods, reflecting the traditions of their ancestral home in Italy, the small hillside village of Montemaggiore. Their first release, a 2002 Paolo's Vineyard Syrah, is available now at www.montemaggiore.com. Guests can visit the winery by appointment. Call (707) 433-9499

Fabulous Feasts
A feast awaits gourmands who enroll in one to four-day cooking classes with Cooksonoma. Classes are taught in gorgeous kitchens at private homes and boutique wineries throughout Sonoma County. Devotion to seasonal California ingredients is the mantra. The four-day classes are a movable feast, including wine-pairing seminars at Sonoma County restaurants. Prices range from $120 to $1,000. Call (707) 473-9624 or visit www.cooksonoma.com.

Say cheese, and more of it! Expansion at Redwood Hill Farm Creamery enables the company to develop and add new products to their artisan line of award-winning cheeses and all-natural yogurt. The farm is fun to visit not just for the cheese but for the 400 goats, 200 of which are milked and are among four breeds of registered purebred goats that go back six generations. There are scheduled tours in the spring when guests can learn how to milk a goat or just bring a picnic and relax on the grounds. Visit www.redwoodhill.com or call (707) 823-8250.

Enjoy fresh air and fresh food at the Schellville Grille on Broadway, just three miles from the Sonoma Plaza. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, a small bandstand, and even a sandbox for younger guests. The emphasis is on grilled meats and chicken, but the salmon selection indicates there is something special going on in the kitchen. Breakfast and lunch are served seven days a week with dinner Thursday through Sunday. Call (707) 996-5151.

Nonna's Eastside Market in Sonoma is a combination of classic deli/grocery, gift shop and cottages, offering an historic feel of traditional Sonoma County. It's a one-stop shop for convenience items and a full array of natural and organic health and beauty products. The deli features sandwiches, salads, soups, stews and daily entrees.

Nestled behind the market are the Cottages of Old Sonoma, available for weekly and weekend rental. The four cottages are equipped with full kitchens, Direct TV, private picnic tables, and two bicycles. For market information, call (707) 933-3000 or www.nonnaseastsidemarket.com. For the cottages, call (707) 933-0340 or visit www.cottagesofoldsonoma.com.

The Spud Point Crab Company, adjacent to the docks in Bodega Bay, serves the many fishermen and visitors exploring the harbor. Breakfast starts at 6am in the summer, 8am in the winter; with soup and sandwiches available all day.

Both smoked and fresh-off-the-boats fish is for sale until 6pm, 5pm off-season. It's an old style family operation run by former fisherman and volunteer fireman Tony Anello and his family, who catch and smoke their own "Wild King Salmon." Enjoy your seafood right by the bay at picnic tables overlooking the boats. In the tradition of Italian hospitality, they make you feel like part of the family. Call (707) 875-9472

Taste Thailand in Rohnert Park, without the jet lag! Bangkok Boulevard is a new upscale hot spot serving fine Thai cuisine in an atmosphere of authentic Thai artifacts and cultural exhibits. On Monday nights, guests are treated to traditional and colorful Thai dance performances. The unique dinnerware and table decorations can also be purchased in a small retail outlet. Lunch and dinner are served seven days a week.

Highlights at lunch include several wonderful curries and noodle dishes. At dinnertime, seasonal and regional specialties add dimension and variety to the menu. Experience the charm of Thailand, its warm and friendly people, and the beauty of its rich cultural history. Call (707) 584-5091.

Take a glimpse into the fascinating world of coffee and tea at the Taylor Maid Farms Organic Tea and Coffee's new outlet location at 7190 Keating Avenue in Sebastopol. The store carries the complete line of coffees and teas, brewing accessories, local pottery, and flavor complements to the coffee and tea, including organic chocolate. On site espresso trainings and tours will be available by June of 2005 with an appointment. Call (707) 824-9110 or e-mail sales@taylormaidfarms.com.

Nifty Night Life
Petaluma's new nightspot, Infusions, is urban chic with a Manhattan ambience. It boasts a perpetually changing light wall over the bar, intimate conversation areas, ample bar room, and a dance floor. A dress code of no hats, t-shirts, sneakers or sandals gives an upscale feel and sense of occasion. A $5 cover charge kicks in after 9pm, Friday through Sunday, when a DJ plays music and folks hit the dance floor. For reservations call (707) 778-8543 or visit www.infusionsbar.com.

Awesome Art
One of the finest art collections found anywhere in the United States can be seen at Swanson Gallery in Sonoma. Owner Eileen Ruggeri Swanson is a premium provider of paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and antiques. She offers personal property appraisals specializing in fine art, private and corporate art sales and consultation, and real estate staging for the enhancement and sale of upscale estates.

The gallery presents a wide array of themes from classic pastoral images, delightful still lifes, and striking iconic portraits to intricate mosaics, Japanese etchings, antique paintings, and impressive artifacts from early California art. Open most afternoons Monday through Friday from 12-5 pm. Call for appointments at (707) 280-4494 or visit www.swanson-gallery.com.

Acres of Adventure
Explore rural Sonoma County on Cooper's Grove, a 226-acre ranch which is now part of a vast greenbelt on the northern slope of Sonoma Mountain. The land includes a 48-acre redwood grove, oak woodlands and the headwaters of Matanzas Creek. It will connect several open space properties on Sonoma Mountain to Jack London State Park, opening up more than 500 acres of the scenic hillside for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.

Until a permanent park plan is in place, the district will work with LandPaths, a nonprofit land management group, to arrange docent-led hikes. For information call (707) 473-9622.

Windsor's Town Green continues to be one of the fastest growing, great gathering places for friends, family and community events. The newest amenity is free public access to the Internet through Wi-Fi, or wireless fidelity. Those with Wi-Fi-capable, battery-powered notebook computers, handheld computers, or mobile telephones can log onto the Internet while enjoying a picnic on the Town Green or dining on the patio of one of the restaurants.

Newly-opened shops include: Windsor News & Views, carrying more than 2,800 U.S. and international magazine and newspaper titles; Gallery on the Green, a contemporary art gallery, showcasing hand blown glass, fine art, sculpture and lithographs; Health First! Pharmacy, a unique pharmacy specializing in integrative compounding; The Regal Rabbit, a counted thread and needlepoint shop with a comprehensive stock of high quality items, supplies and accessories for the serious and beginning crafter; Memories Worth Scrapping, stocks everything the scrapbook enthusiast needs to create beautiful memento albums; West Coast Boardwear, stocked with all-weather clothing, accessories and skateboards for all ages. For more information visit www.townofwindsor.com or call (707) 838-7285.

A new History & Visitors Center at Hanna Boys Center in Sonoma showcases the legacy of the successful residential program that has changed the lives of over 3,200 boys from families in crisis who are struggling in school or from lack self-esteem. The walls of the transformed cottage are covered with hundreds of black & white photos of the first boys, clergy and staff who called Hanna their home. The History & Visitors Center is open for guided tours. Call (877) 994-2662 to arrange a visit, or visit www.hannacenter.org.

Only half an hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sonoma County is the perfect getaway any time of the year. Be among the first to discover what's new for 2005.

More information is available at www.SonomaCounty.com, the official travel Web site for Sonoma County. For a copy of The Official Sonoma County Visitors Guide, call (800) 576-6662.

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