Located in California's wine country, the Sonoma Raceway hosts a series of nationally televised events such as the NASCAR Nextel Cup and the American Motorcycle Association's Super-bike tour. Featuring a number of motor-sport events throughout year, this 1600-acre (647-hectare) raceway is where pro-racers from around the world, assemble to compete in some of the most popular races. Head down to this track to catch some of your favorite racers and teams in action, or enroll yourself in one of the local events and test your nerves on the racetrack.
The Petaluma Wildlife & Natural Science Museum has a huge collection of taxidermied animals as well as live animals, and is open to the public every Saturday. The property also includes an aviary, dioramas, and a fossil and mineral collection.
If you want wine made out of your choice of grapes in small quantities—like maybe just a barrel, then Judd's Hill is the place you need to visit. The winery is owned and managed by Finkelstein family on the principle of 'small is beautiful.' They are quite happy to make wines on a made-to-order basis and according to customer specifications. They have a wine club where members have additional benefits and are invited to Judd's Hill events in Napa Valley. A combination of art, heritage, finest grapes and hand crafted wines is what Judd's Hill is all about. Picturesque and sunny, a visit to this winery is a great way to spend a lovely afternoon.
This is considered by many to be the most beautiful 18th-century chateau in North America. The chateau also has one of the most prominent vineyards. Domaine Carneros produces award winning sparking and Pinot Noir wines. You'll feel just like a king in the Louis XV-style salon with gracious service to match. Snuggle up to a warm fire during the cold winter months or enjoy the summer air from the terrace. Check out the in-house store, where you can pick up a number of vintages for friends and family. The tasting tours are offered daily.
Take an unforgettable hot air balloon ride over the Napa Valley. A typical adventure includes an hour-long balloon ride with your pilot narrating the sights, followed by a garden champagne-brunch. Launches begin at sunrise. Enjoy incredible aerial views of Napa vineyards. Rates vary, call for details.
Robert Louis Stevenson Museum hosts an exhibit of Robert Louis Stevenson ephemera such as 8000 manuscripts, photos, letters and the like. It is, in fact, one of the largest collections of Robert Louis Stevenson's works outside of Scotland and a must-see for fans of his work. Virtually all of his first editions are here. Stevenson spent his honeymoon in the area and wrote The Silverado Squatters.
A small winery located in the Bennett Valley, Sable Ridge introduces a minimum of four new wines in the market every year, and has been the proud recipient of several awards since 1998. Grapes grown in Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley, and Sonoma Valley are bottled to produce a number of varietals, including "rich and balanced Zinfandels" that top the list of Sable Ridge's hand-crafted wines. You can buy their wines both online and from various restaurants and retail shops in California.
Organic farming and wine-making is the hallmark of Helena View Johnston Vineyards. What started off as just appreciation for good wine has grown into a winery of exceptional Bordeaux Red varieties. The winery and tasting rooms are tucked into full grown trees with a cave built in for the storage and maturing of wines. The winery also buys top quality fruits from the neighboring farms to make its signature wines. You'll need to call ahead for a tour.
1998 Stony Hill White Riesling leaves a distinct tang of melon and apricot with each sip. Another vintage treasure of Stony Hill Vineyard is the 1996 Stony Hill Chardonnay that imparts a unique toasty taste with every sip mingled with a bit of apple and pear. Their wines are produced by crushing the grapes in oak cooperage and then left to age in oak barrels. This is something that helps in producing fine and aptly flavored wines. They say 'balanced' is the way to be.
This winery, situated in the rolling hills of Napa Valley, believes in environmentally-friendly farming habits. The wine estates are on Big Ranch Road in Oak Knoll and Los Carneros. This 50-acre (20-hectare) estate is famous for producing classy wines of the finest qualities like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. This winery won the 'Estate Winery of the Year' award in 2000 by the Wine and Spirits magazine. One can take a tour of the estate and sample the wines by booking an appointment.
Moss Creek Winery produces some fine wines like Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. This winery is owned by the Moskowite family who started grape farming in the serene Napa Valley in 1917. Made of old stone, the winery has vintage charm and hillside caves running beneath it. The winery also has a picnic area for visitors, which is an enchanting spot nestled amongst oak groves. Please book an appointment to visit this fantastic place.
Michael Leu Fine Arts Gallery is owned and operated by artist Michael Leu. Michael won accolades at an early age and tends to paint on any subject including cats, woman, street scenes, etc. The gallery showcases different types of art styles and is also the venue for art festivals. The collection here includes paintings, serigraphs and prints.