What is your favorite winery?
Where should we eat lunch or dinner?
What else is there to do besides wine tasting?

In answer to these FAQs, we have compiled a basic list of our favorites to assist you in planning your wine country vacation! There is a lot more, though, so please just ask about what you are interested in and we will help you however we can.

Let's begin with our favorite seasons. Although "our" summer (May through October) is the most popular season to visit the wine country, our two favorite seasons are late autumn and early spring, particularly November, March and April.

In November, the leaves on the grapevines are changing color, the mornings are crisp and the crowds are gone. Nights are cool enough for a cozy fire and the days are warm enough for exploring the outdoors. Whether on vacation or visiting friends/family in the area, the Glenelly Inn is also the perfect spot for the Thanksgiving holiday and we have room enough for everyone!

Spring is beautiful here in the Sonoma Valley. The vineyards are sparkling with rows of bright yellow mustard and the hills are bright green and splashed with purple lupine and California poppies. Fruit trees and grapevines are in bud and bulbs are popping up everywhere. The days are often warm and the nights are cool. Two favorite local events during early Spring are the "Heart of Sonoma Valley Barrel Tasting", the third weekend in March, and "April in Carneros" which is typically the third weekend in April.

During these “shoulder” seasons wineries, shops and restaurants are less crowded. In other words, you can visit the Valley without being on a rigid schedule and you will get a lot of personal attention!!! Restaurant reservations are usually not necessary and everything is open rain or shine. You will find some good off-season rates at the inn and our vacation properties as well.

• Click here for detailed CALENDAR OF EVENTS in the Sonoma Wine Country.

• Click here for additional ideas for HAVING FUN in the Sonoma Valley.

• Earth Travel Reviews: Read what critics say about Sonoma hotels, resorts, activities!

• For customized limousine tours and all your transportation needs while in the Wine Country, we recommend Beau Wine Tours. We would be more than happy to book your tour for you as well! www.beauwinetours.com :: 1.800.387.2328

The girl and fig….also a wonderful and nationally acclaimed restaurant with country French food and Rhone style wines, in the old Sonoma Hotel on the Plaza. Its “sister” restaurant, the fig café, is here in Glen Ellen. It features more casual bistro style food that is quite delicious, no reservations, friendly and knowledgeable staff!

Saffron…another intimate little restaurant just down the road from the inn features wine country cuisine with a French influence. The cassoulet, when they have it, is to die for!

Della Santina…my favorite Italian restaurant in Sonoma with homemade pastas, spit roasted meats, incredible desserts and charming setting.

Saddles…a great steakhouse and great martinis too, at MacArthur Place in Sonoma!

Kenwood Restaurant…Chef Max is a classic continental chef. Everything in his restaurant is always impeccable!!! Great tartare, meats, specials all beautifully presented.

Vineyards Inn .... a Bar & Grill! A casual, local favorite in Kenwood, featuring Spanish style tapas and incredible fresh local & Hawaiian seafood among the extensive Spanish offerings of steaks, sautees, Paellas & pastas. You must give Chef Steve's weekly specials a try. One of the valley's best hidden secrets! The staff is friendly, and there is a great bar, always populated by interesting people, where they turn out delicious margaritas with a full bar & local wine list. Enjoy dining under the grape arbor in the large covered patio as well as by roaring fire in the winter. Large groups can be accommodated. (website)

Garden Court Café…their slogan is “If you leave hungry, it’s your own fault!” and that is true. Excellent breakfast and lunches with an occasional Friday night special dinners.

The Wolf House, the restaurant has a nice creekside setting and a nice menu for lunch or dinner, attached to the historic Jack London Lodge, Glen Ellen's own funky local bar, which TVs tuned to all the sports games, good bar menu and a great pool table!

In the Jack London Village…Olive & Vine, great for catering needs and wonderful lunches & picnics; Unwind, a new tapas bar by the owner of Olive & Vine. Also in Jack London Village for mid-day sampling or goodies to take home, stop by Raymond & Co. Cheesemonger for unusual artisan cheeses raymondcheesemongers.com/; Figone Olive Oil (their lemon olive oil is wonderful, I use it all the time!) figoneoliveoil.com; and Wine Country Chocolates for out of this world truffles! winecountrychocolates.com

Just across the street is Eric Ross Winery's tasting room as well. And, just opened, the Bluegrass Bar & Grill, with good BBQ, great sides, a full bar, warm & friendly staff and outdoor creekside patio for dining when the weather is warm. bluegrassbarandgrill.com and Yeti Restaurant, Indian and Nepalese cuisine, for something a little different in wine country - haven't tried it yet, but the menu and decor look great!

Glen Ellen Village Market is THE place to go for picnic supplies. They have everything, including a great deli & cheese selections. Nice wine assortment also.

Mary’s Pizza Shack…has good home-made old fashioned pastas, pizzas, and salads, in a comfortable setting. Great people who make you feel right a home. Very kid friendly!

There are many other good restaurants in the area-the menus are in the basket in the Common Room. It’s hard to find bad food here!

NEED MORE IDEAS?

If you would like a spa experience away from the inn, there are several to choose from in the area, all offering different experiences. My favorite is the Beauty Sanctuary Day Spa right here in Glen Ellen. Denise offers manicures, pedicures, massage and skin care. The products they use are all natural and organic - they were recently featured in Organic Spa magazine. Visit www.beautysanctuary.net for more information!

Jack London State Park: the author's home in the last years of his life; fascinating museum, the ruins of Wolf House, his grave site, and great hiking trails on the Beauty Ranch side of the park.

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park: more serious hiking trails, offering incredible open vistas of the valleys.

Quarryhill Botanical Garden: The garden hosts a rich diversity of Asian Flora in an effort to fully represent the endangered habitats of eastern Asia and has walking paths and picnic areas throughout. www.quarryhillbg.org

Sonoma Plaza: for history from General Vallejo's time, including a walking tour of the Plaza led by the General himself; delicious restaurants, like Maya, Della Santina, Swiss Hotel, El Dorado Kitchen, Café La Haye, Meritage, Deuce (OOPS! There goes that food thing again); cheese sampling at Vella Cheese and Sonoma Cheese Factory; art galleries; and "boutique" shopping, the "Plaza" area offers it all. The Tuesday night Farmer's Market (April through October) offers all of the Valley's bounty and often, good music.

Morton's Warm Springs Resort is a wonderful spot to spend the day basking in the sun, picnicking and cooling off in one of the spring-fed swimming pools or in the swimming hole in Sonoma Creek. They are open every day during the summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day and sometimes beyond) except Monday and is ideal for corporate retreats and family parties. www.mortonswarmsprings.com

Biking is a popular mode of transportation here in the Valley. Goodtime Touring Company will deliver bikes to the inn for you, along with everything else you need. Visit www.goodtimetouring.com for information. If you prefer to pick up the bike yourself and tool around in the town of Sonoma, on the bike path, you could visit Sonoma Valley Cyclery on Broadway/Highway 12. For a unique alternative, take a Segway tour of Sonoma. www.sonomasegway.com

We have just discovered a fun tour company – a fun and affordable way to visit a selection of smaller wineries, enjoy a picnic and meet fellow wine country visitors.
www.platypustours.com

For the young and young at heart - Sonoma's Train Town - a miniature railroad (with cars large enough for adults to ride in too) and village, petting zoo, rides, including an old fashioned carousel and Ferris wheel, among others, in 10 acre "park" - a place from days gone by to while away a morning or afternoon. There is a very good pizza/pasta/salad/sandwich restaurant, Pizzeria Capri (owned by a Norwegian family!) right next door!

For an incredible selection of country arts & crafts, furnishings, quilts, bath products, garden decorations and schmaltz, you must visit Kenwood Farmhouse and Swede's Feeds on Highway 12 in Kenwood. For elegant consignment furnishings, local art and gift ideas visit Vita Bella, also in Kenwood. www.vitabellahome.com

Sonoma Valley is home to a plethors of talented artists including Linus Maurer (Charles Schultz’ friend and the inspiration for the Peanuts character, Linus). His art along with many others can be found in the charming, eclectic Showcase Gallery in Glen Ellen. www.ShowcaseGalleryGlenEllen.com

Other partners of ours include:

Atwood Ranch/Sonoma Catering – The best site and event planners for your wedding or other very special party, at their site or yours – www.sonomacatering.com

Need a personal chef, or the ultimate caterer? Maria Vieages, a transplant from New Orleans, offers multi-regional cuisine – something for every taste! www.mariasmrc.com

For additional help in making your trip extra special and unique, call on Mary at Wine Country Excursions and Wine Country Trekking
www.winecountryexcursions.com; www.winecountrytrekking.com

Looking for a Sonoma Valley getaway to call your own? Let Sandrew and Kat Montgomery help you. www.SandKatTeam.com

For more information on all the fun things to do here, visit www.sonomavalley.com, www.valleyofthemoonvillages.com and www.bestinsonoma.com. Or, call or e.mail us at the Glenelly and we’ll help you plan the best trip ever!