With the appearance of a gothic castle, Ledson Winery and Vineyards has great wines in a striking setting in the Kenwood area in California wine country. Choose a tasting from more than a dozen varietals, from light sauvignon blanc to a late harvest zinfandel. Purchase a sandwich to enjoy with a glass of wine on-site or buy olive oils, mustards or luscious wine dessert sauces to bring home. Take photos of the French Normandy architecture that looks mysterious and inviting in the heart of Sonoma Valley. Stop at some of the other two dozen vineyards within a few miles of Kenwood, including Chateau St. John, Kenwood, Kunde Family Winery, Landmark and St. Francis.
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is in the Mayacamas mountains between Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley. The park has 25 miles (40 kilometers) of hiking trails, including paths past a 25-foot (8-meter) waterfall. Try horseback riding in this peaceful setting.
Climb to the top of Bald Mountain to enjoy views as far away as San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge on clear days. Attend astronomy education and night sky public viewing sessions in the Robert Ferguson Observatorywithin the park.
Southeast of Kenwood in Glen Ellen is Jack London State Historic Park. Enjoy the mix of history and nature in this 1,400-acre (570-hectare) setting that formerly belonged to one of America’s most revered 19th-century writers and conservationists. Along one hiking trail, see the ruins of the 15,000-square-foot (1,400-square-meter) Wolf House that London nearly completed as his dream house. It was destroyed by fire before he could occupy it. Look for the experimental cactus patch that London planted hoping to develop an environmentally friendly crop to feed cattle. Walk amid the bright orange California poppies just as Jack London did more than a century ago.
Kenwood is just a 15-minute drive north of the town of Sonoma. Plan a trip here to experience a fascinating town in California’s Sonoma County. Rent bikes to explore the countryside.
