|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Blink your eyes and it’s February – time for early travels while others still struggle with the dregs of holiday decor. It’s also time for deals. Compared to summer rates, February flights can run 15 percent less and rooms 45 percent less, according to Expedia.
We took a Secret Season trip to Mendocino via Anderson Valley and back down the Sonoma coast recently – and every time I do, it reminds me why I’ve lived so long in northern California. It’s absolutely gorgeous!
Destination Mendocino via Anderson Valley
Drive 101 to 126 west through Anderson Valley – an area of breathtaking landscapes, rolling hills, and vineyards. Shielded from the crowds, somehow the region feels down-homier than Napa or Sonoma. The valley’s climate and soils make it ideal for growing Bordeaux varietals such as Pinot Noir and Merlot, as well as bold Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs. With 30+ wineries, there’s a lot to explore. We really enjoyed Food Partying! with Fathers + Daughters Cellar back in 2023.
This time we stopped at Lula Cellars, which thank goodness still offers walk in tastings based on availability, Thursday – Monday ($15 fee waved with purchase). Road trip drop-by’s have been hard since covid, so keep Lula in mind for an impromptu get-away. Proprietor Ken Avery and Winemaker Matt Parish pair their prized Pinot Noir and other varietals with yummy recipes to cook with at home. BYOP (bring your own picnic) and plan an outdoor tasting overlooking the vineyard. Fido’s welcome too; Lula is 100% pet friendly.
The area hosts the International White Wine Festival: Feb 15 – 16, 2025
AVwines.com
Less than an hour’s drive, we arrive at MacCallum House – a Mendocino boutique hotel with a rich history. Built in 1882 as a wedding gift from William and Eliza Kelly to their daughter Daisy, it was a John D. Johnson design, the architect behind Mendocino’s many postcard-perfect Victorian homes. The home was moved in 1909 to its current location near the coast, and maintained by the family until 1974 when it became the Bed and Breakfast Inn.
Surrounded by lush gardens, the property houses nineteen unique stays – cottages and barn rooms with options including hot tubs and ocean views. Heated granite bathroom with a fire and robe to cozy up to – it’s a fun place to play for a weekend get away, smack-dab in the middle of town and walking distance to everywhere.
The MacCallum House Restaurant – rated best on The Coast, is one of California’s original farm-to-table experiences. Closed for the new year, it reopens Valentines Day weekend. In part two of this post, we’ll look at their delicious menu options, and stop by other eatery hotspots, plus take a local bike tour and walk to Secret Beach for boogie boarding. I see an adventurous weekend away with sweetie, or a solo Secret Season escape coming your way very soon.
– photos courtesy of LSIC
