Napa and Sonoma are so much greater than the grape. These Northern California valleys are quite simply some of the most beautiful places in America. This is country where you spend a morning strolling in sunny hills that might as well be in Tuscany. But just over the next crest, you’ll find yourself in a quiet redwood grove…or walking the Pacific headlands where the surf is thunderous and views are thrilling. From Bodega Bay (where Hitchcock filmed “The Birds”) to 19th century Calistoga and the lively streets of Yountville and Sonoma, you’ll have plenteous time to explore the centers of local life. You’ll visit Jack London’s Beauty ranch and even walk the Golden Gate Bridge. You’ll meet a family of olive growers, chat with a cheese maker extraordinaire, and cook with a celebrated chef. And yes, yes, yes – of course you’ll taste a parade of wonderful wines at leading vineyards. Yet, if they’d never grown a single grape in Napa and Sonoma, we’d still be happy to while away a week here, strolling a botanical garden or stretching out a dinner to watch the hills turn gold at sunset. California living has never been better!

DAYS 1-2 - SAN FRANCISCO / NAPA
On our Napa and Sonoma walking tours, we meet in San Francisco and head north. In the Carneros region, we start our week with a picnic at a small winery. Our inn is in the Napa town of Yountville (1 night). In the morning, we go for a countryside walk before cooking with a chef in a professional kitchen. We’ll also stroll and shop in historic Calistoga and meet a family of olive growers to taste their oils.

DAYS 3-4 - HEALDSBURG / BODEGA BAY
Up next is Healdsburg (2 nights), one of the Sonoma Valley’s liveliest towns. At nearby Bodega Bay we’ll get amazing views of its craggy coastline and secluded coves on a memorable walk. Healdsburg is a foodie favorite—as you’ll learn on a leisurely progressive food and wine tasting tour of restaurants, wineries and bakeries. We’ll also meet a local cheese maker and visit The House of Happy Walls, set in an oak grove on the author Jack London’s Beauty Ranch.

DAYS 5-6 - SONOMA / SAN FRANCISCO
In the town of Sonoma (2 nights), our hotel is nestled in a seven-acre garden and it has a terrific spa. We’ll see some of the valley’s best views on a walk from the town center. And a docent will treat us to a ramble through the Quarryhill Botanical Garden, inspired by wild Asian woodlands and containing more than 1,500 species of plants. The 1821 Sonoma Mission is a fascinating look at California’s colonial past, and our friend invites us for a private visit.

From the northern Marin end of the Golden Gate Bride, we take the walkway for a truly breathtaking walk back into San Francisco. We’ll see the Pacific Heights and Russian Hill neighborhoods. Then prepare for some happy sensory overload as we browse the Ferry Building Marketplace, a collection of growers’ stands, food counters, specialty shops and restaurants.