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WHATS NEW IN HEALDSBURG, CA FOR SPRING 2021, Luxury Travel Advisor
Less than two hours from the San Francisco Bay Area, Healdsburg is located in the heart of Sonoma County and home to more than 80 vineyards throughout the destination and 40 tasting rooms in the historic downtown plaza. Among new food and wine experiences this spring, the destination is blooming with seasonal and VIP wine tasting events, and new programming at lodging properties.
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IT LIST 2021: Our Editors’ Picks of the Best New Hotels in the World , Travel + Leisure
Sonoma County's most significant hotel opening in years faithfully embodies the area's unspoiled, agricultural setting. Woods and plots of hillside vines blanket its 258 acres, while the Modernist, earth-toned guest suites seem to disappear into the landscape. Immersion in nature is a big theme: there are miles of hiking trails on the grounds, most rooms have outdoor showers, and the spacious decks seem to hover amid the towering oaks. Outdoor yoga classes take place in a garden framed by vineyards, and e-bikes are available to stop by roadside markets and to see the region's rural beauty up close, without having to get in a car. Nature informs the property's main restaurant, too. At Hazel Hill, chef de cuisine Jason Pringle uses the surrounding fields and nearby Pacific to full advantage—the best dishes I ate all year were a poached lobster tail with organic root vegetables from the kitchen garden and salmon, caught off the Sonoma coast, with sunchokes and wild mushrooms.
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THE 12 MOST CHARMING SMALL TOWNS IN CALIFORNIA, Pure Wow
Napa Valley is a must for wine lovers but don’t skip neighboring Sonoma County near the roaring Russian River. Your starting point should be Healdsburg and the charming town square.
You will be spoilt for choice with tasting rooms and cute shops selling everything from kitchen gadgets to clothing. Adding even more excitement to this rolling hill pocket of the wine country, the Montage recently opened a 258-acre resort here, where visitors can enjoy private tasting tours to Aperture Cellars winery, the zero-edge pool overlooking the vines or simply lounging in the massive spa adjacent to a Zen yoga garden.
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RENDEZVOUS: European-Inspired Honeymoon Destinations, Cake
Nestled amongst the hills of the Russian River Valley, Hotel Les Mars, a member of Relais & Chateaux, brings the romance of French living to Northern California. Hotel Les Mars is dedicated to the tradition of old world luxury, as evidenced throughout the property with traditional 17th and 18th century antiques that complement the Parisian-style charm.
A piece of Paris in California wine country, the Costeaux French Bakery has been family-owned and serving guests pastries, artisan breads, French café classics like omelets with mixed greens and quiche, and signature desserts since 1923.
Listen to French music drift in the air while you enjoy classic Parisian bistro fare with a California twist as part of Jordan Vineyard and Winery‘s new “Paris on the Terrace,” experience. For a taste of the Bordeaux Countryside, visit the newly opened Aperture Cellars winery.
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REFUNDABLE SPRING BREAK PACKAGES THAT FAMILIES WILL LOVE, Red Tricycle
Yes, it’s hard to believe but spring break 2021 is right around the corner. Things are a little different this year so hotels and resorts are offering some of the most flexible spring break packages for families that we’ve ever seen.
Hotel Trio by Marriott is located just steps from charming restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, and boutiques in downtown Healdsburg. The family-friendly hotel features amenities like complimentary bicycle rentals for exploring the town, trails, and vineyards on wheels, a heated outdoor pool, outdoor BBQ patio area and bocce court.
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Christian Horan Photography
21 BEST PLACES TO GO IN 2021, Condé Nast Traveler
In putting together our list of the best places to go in 2021, we were faced with factors we’d never had to consider before. After a year marked by grounded planes, closed borders, and mandatory quarantines, it felt key to have a 2021 list that is equal parts realistic and inspirational. Without knowing how much freedom we’ll have to move around in the upcoming year, we sought out destinations that are close to home with new reasons to visit, such as Tulsa, which is commemorating 100 years since the race massacre, or Nova Scotia, which is making its legendary coastline more accessible to visitors. At the same time, we’re aware that many big trips were put off this year, and fervent travelers are looking to scratch that itch in a major way in the months to come, whether that means going on the first safari in Angola or taking a new train through southern Vietnam. We’re also spotlighting places hit particularly hard this year, from New York City and Healdsburg, California, to the whole of Italy. No matter where you're dreaming of, one thing’s for sure: We may not have jetted around much in 2020, but our appetite for travel—and eagerness to get back on the road—hasn’t waned a bit.
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6 NEW VENUES IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR FALL 2020 MEETINGS AND EVENTS, BizBash
Here's a look at San Francisco's new spaces open for events this fall. The new and renovated San Francisco venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
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25 BEST WINE REGIONS TO VISIT IN THE US, Travel Pulse
This Northern California wine destination is almost as famous as Napa, though it tends to have a more relaxed atmosphere than the former. Sonoma has a variety of wine regions within the county like the Russian River Valley, Dry Creek and Alexander Valley. Stay in Healdsburg, a small town that sits at the intersection of some of these valleys, to explore the best that Sonoma Wine Country has to offer, like Ramey Wine Cellars and Longboard Vineyards.
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UNWIND IN SONOMA, 425 Magazine
It was a rare cloudy day as we wound our way along Highway 116 in Sonoma County, mimicking the Russian River’s gentle twist toward the Pacific Ocean. Sunlight occasionally broke through the cloud cover, spotlighting redwood and Douglas fir trees on one side and leafy maples near the river’s edge. Tiny towns flashed by — Guerneville, Duncan Mills — and I made a mental note to plan ample perusing time into our return drive two days later.
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14 BEST SOCIALLY DISTANCED WEEKEND TRIPS FOR FALL, Reader’s Digest
Fall brings comfortable weather and gorgeous autumn foliage, so planning a weekend trip or two to take advantage of the season sounds like a great idea. But how will the COVID-19 pandemic affect fall travel? The good news is that there are many wide, open spaces to visit safely, although just like everything else this year, your fall getaway may be a little bit different. First of all, instead of flying, now is the time to take a road trip, staying local or choosing spots within driving distance. If you leave your state, follow all ordinances regarding quarantining before and after your trip, as well as wearing masks and social distancing while you’re there.
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HOW TO TRAVEL LUXURIOUSLY IN THE SUMMER OF COVID-19, FROM PRIVATE JETS TO HOTEL BUYOUTS, The Wall Street Journal
NOW THAT Covid-19 has made extroverts into agoraphobes and sent even the most social of butterflies back into the cocoon, the loonily extravagant world of private jets, cliff-side villas and ultraexclusive hotels has begun to seem…strangely sensible.
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MONTAGE TO OPEN LUXURY HOTEL AND RESIDENCES IN HEART OF SONOMA WINE COUNTRY, Forbes
Montage Hotels & Resorts, the luxury hotel and resort management company, is opening a new resort with a hotel and residences in Healdsburg, California. Located in the heart of Sonoma’s wine country, Montage Healdsburg will be ideal for a vacation or a second home while its spectacular vineyard setting is a perfect location for weddings and other special events.
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PERFECT ROAD TRIPS FOR WHEN YOU NEED TO ESCAPE SAN FRANCISCO, Thrillist
Cabin fever has taken on new meaning during these times of COVID-19. Though California is still very much in the midst of this pandemic, state guidelines have been put in place to allow hotels, restaurants, state parks, and wineries to open safely so that we can try to save what semblance of summer we have left. And since nothing says summer like a road trip, we’ve put together a guide of our favorite NorCal road trip destinations, with details about where to stay, what to eat, and how to have the best time (yes, even now), all while keeping your safety top of mind.
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A LA CARTE: FOOD AND WINE HAPPENINGS DURING THE HEIGHT OF SUMMER, Press Democrat
Longboard Vineyards offers picnic bundles
For the al fresco summer weather, Longboard Vineyards is putting together Curbside Picnic Bundles that include two wines and a choice of one cheese, one meat and crackers.
The picnics include the Longboard Vineyards’ 2019 Sauvignon Blanc and the 2017 Pinot Noir RRV. Cost is $75.
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THIS HOTEL’S WINE DELIVERY ROBOT IS NOW ITS OFFICIAL SOCIAL DISTANCING AMBASSADOR, Lonely Planet
Allowing for physical social distancing, Rosé is a three-foot robot that delivers everything from pillows and pet treats to towels and groceries at Hotel Trio Healdsburg. The robot has been entertaining guests of all ages since the Sonoma County hotel opened in 2018, but in March 2020 she transitioned to her new role to promote safety.
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HEALDSBURG TRAVEL GUIDE, Travel & Leisure
Healdsburg is a small town in Sonoma Valley, California. The name Sonoma is synonymous with Northern California wine country, and Healdsburg is no exception. The city is charming and quaint, occupying less than five square miles. It holds an incredibly important geographical location as the spot where three of Sonoma’s major viticulture areas — Russian River, Alexander Valley, and Dry Creek — meet, which makes Healdsburg travel the perfect vacation for California wine lovers.
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A TINY TOWN NEIGHBORING NAPA IS THE NEXT CALIFORNIA CULINARY DESTINATION, Vogue
Roughly an hour from Napa and 60 miles north of San Francisco, lies a tiny town in Sonoma County bustling with creative culinary energy. The lesser-talked about locale in wine country, Healdsburg is having a hot streak with an array of impressive new restaurants taking the food scene by storm. Most notably, Single Thread (recently named “One to Watch” on the esteemed “World’s 50 Best Restaurants List”) offers up a California-based, authentic Japanese ryokan dining experience—farm to table, no less.
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CHARM CITY, Bohemian.com
Moms love Healdsburg. And why not? The town centering Northern Sonoma County’s wine and tourism industry is as quaint as they come, with galleries, tasting rooms and all manner of gift shops lining a plaza so picturesque it feels like it could reside on Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A.
It wouldn’t hurt the rest of us to see Healdsburg through mom’s eyes; to slow at the shop windows, stroll through the park and take time selecting samples at the ice cream parlor. That’s just what this reporter did last weekend, and found all manner of art and fun for any age.
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WHAT TO DO IN HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA, TravelPulse
When people think of wine country, they typically think of Napa Valley. Napa and Sonoma are collectively known as California wine country, but despite being close to each other—only separated by a mountain range—both wine capitals are very different from each other. Sonoma’s wineries are more laid-back, less crowded and commercialized than Napa.
Located at the north end of Sonoma County is the town of Healdsburg, where it’s possible for wine lovers to successfully enjoy an entire day of wine tasting without having to worry about driving. With a population of just over 11,000, Healdsburg is a small town that has gone through quite the makeover, filled with chic hotels, upscale restaurants and a very walkable downtown with 30+ wine tasting rooms. It's also become a popular foodie destination with plenty of farm-to-table restaurants, vineyards, wine tasting rooms and cafes.
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HOW TO VISIT WINE COUNTRY LIKE A LOCAL, SFGate
When most people think of Wine Country, they think of Napa. But any local, like Duskie Estes, knows there's much more to the region than what she calls the "four-letter word." In fact, Napa County's oft-forgotten Wine Country sibling, Sonoma County, might be... dare we say... better?
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HEALDSBURG OFFERS A LUXURIOUS FALL ESCAPE, The Bay Area Reporter
Sonoma is one of my favorite getaways anytime of the year, but in the fall, wine country truly comes alive with the harvest and crush season.
The vines neatly lining the rolling hills between the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east — that divide Sonoma and Napa valleys — are quite picturesque and awash with green, gold, and burnt red.
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EXPERIENCING THE WONDERS OF HARVEST SEASON IN SONOMA COUNTY, Houstonia
Armed with gloves, shears, and a rectangular plastic basket, I was hunched over a row of vines, removing bunches of fruit. Nervous about mangling the grapes, I worked slowly, eventually falling into a rhythm. Before long a peaceful feeling began to descend as I stood in the dirt. I was visiting the Sangiacomo Family Vineyards in the Carneros region of Sonoma, and the only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the snip-snip of shears. When my bucket was full, I dumped the bounty into a large collection crate mounted on a tractor, then started again, this time feeling more confident. As I worked up a sweat, I realized that the strange sensation I was feeling was a kind of oneness with the land.
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DESTINATION HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA: THE HOSPITALITY HEART OF SONOMA COUNTY WINE COUNTRY, The Design Tourist
In the latest episode of The Design Tourist, I travel to Healdsburg California, the Hospitality Heart of Sonoma County Wine Country. We’ll tour several Sonoma County vineyards as we sip and savor this epicurean Eden with its earth-friendly ethos and learn about the county’s efforts to have all its vineyards certified sustainable in just a few years.
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HELLO, HEALDSBURG!, The Bay Area Reporter
We heard Healdsburg calling us. That's the charming Sonoma County small town stocked full with wineries, luxurious accommodations and destination bars and restaurants. The town bureau invited us up there for an overnight stay.
Lunch the first day was a cooking demo and interactive experience at cooking school Relish Culinary Adventures with Relish founder Donna del Ray. The fare included crostini with glazed beets, chevre & herbs; a spring green salad; roast chicken with herb pistou; faro with kale, mushrooms and cheese; honey-roasted carrots with fennel pollen; and almond cake with strawberry-rhubarb sauce for dessert.
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WHY HEALDSBURG SHOULD BE YOUR NEW FAVORITE WINE COUNTRY GETAWAY, Red Tricycle
Healdsburg, a beautiful town nestled between small wineries and green rolling hills is just an hour and a half north of San Francisco, but feels like a world away. You and your family will fall in love with the quaint and picturesque downtown, filled with farm-to-table restaurants, family-owned shop, and of course tasting rooms of locally-produced wine. Here are a few of our favorite Healdsburg destinations, hope you like them as much as we do!
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TOP 10 WEEKEND GETAWAYS IN CALIFORNIA, Trips to Discover
California is an ideal place to be if you often find yourself living for the weekends. This is a massive state that’s so diverse in terms of landscapes and what you can see and do. But it’s also a great state for road trips because you can experience different sides of California in just a two- or three-day trip. Whether you’re looking for a beach, local wine, or to get off the beaten path, here are 10 weekend getaways to experience in California.
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FOUR GREAT WEST COAST FOOD TOURS IN THE USA, The Traveling Gourmet
If you love touring, and you love food, what could be a better way to explore a new destination than a food tour? These guided gourmet expeditions are attracting a devoted core of fans (when one of my groups was asked whether it was their first food tour, not one person in the six-member group responded “yes”). I’ve chosen four food tours in the Western US because I love the inventiveness and diversity that seem to be hallmarks of this region, but you can find great culinary excursions in just about any city you visit. Most tours rotate a variety of establishments, so the places I’ve visited might be slightly different from the ones you actually encounter, but these people know their stuff, and I guarantee a great (and filling) afternoon or evening!
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17 BEAUTIFUL SMALL TOWNS TO VISIT IN THE UNITED STATES, TripAdvisor
Sometimes a small town getaway is just what you need to slow down and hit refresh. These 17 beautiful small towns deliver relaxation and recreation with a heavy dose of charm, proving that bigger isn’t always better. From the beaches of Florida to the mountains of Alaska, this roundup has a place for everyone.
For an extra helping of small-town charm, consider choosing a vacation rental as your accommodation. Whether you want to stay in peace and seclusion in a rural cabin, or closer to a lively town center in a downtown condo, you can find what you’re looking for with a vacation rental. Plus, you’ll get homey amenities like a full kitchen, laundry, and perhaps even a porch or a private pool. Once you’ve settled on one of these beautiful small towns, you can book your rental property, tours, activities, and other travel experiences right on TripAdvisor!
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GALLERY-HOPPING IN HEALDSBURG, Napa Sonoma Magazine
HEALDSBURG HAS LONG BEEN A FAVORITE DESTINATION for wine lovers, foodies, and those who simply want to spend a day or two enjoying this improbably picturesque getaway. But in-the-know visitors also appreciate how this once-rural town has become an artistic hot spot. Take a stroll around the leafy central plaza and you’ll see how Healdsburg teems with galleries featuring both internationally renowned and local artists.
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FOODIE CHAP TRAVELS TO HEALDSBURG FOR YOUNG & YONDER SPIRITS, KCBS Radio
Sarah Opatz took a leap of faith, leaving a great job and a promising career (including a one-time career as proprietor of a greeting card company), but decided to put that on hold to focus 100% on building her own business and follow her passion of distilling together with her husband, Josh Opatz.
“I don’t regret it one second, but it was hard going from having a steady income and benefits to solely surviving from the growth and profitability of the business.”
From grain to shelf, Sarah and Josh belabor every detail for quality and continually strive to innovate, trying out new, novel techniques, flavors and experimentations to create exceptional distilled products for all to enjoy.
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CULINARY SUMMER IN CALIFORNIA, Global Traveler
If California wine country is on your radar this summer, the small, beautiful town of Healdsburg, in Sonoma County, has plenty of reasons to build a culinary getaway. Take a jam-making class at Dry Creek Peach and pick nectarines, plums, pluots, figs, persimmons, Meyer lemons and both white and yellow peaches directly from the ranch’s trees.
Set off on the historic streets with a private 5-star gourmet food tour, hosted by Savor Healdsburg, where the route includes top wineries, star chefs and local food artisans.
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IN CALIFORNIA, A VISIT TO HEALDSBURG IS A GATEWAY TO SIPPING SEVERAL WONDERFUL SONOMA COUNTY EXPERIENCES, The News-Herald
The most visible damage from fires that lit up Napa Valley hillsides in October is random black in the treeline, most of it miles from wineries. To the west in Sonoma County, nothing is visible from the fall’s two weeks of post-harvest smoke. While some homeowners are rebuilding, tourists see nearly nothing but a vibrant, welcoming scene in The Wine Country, 50 miles north of San Francisco. We proved it to ourselves in the late winter — a time of lower prices — visit a visit to Healdsburg, the cultural hub of Sonoma County.
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MUST-SEE SPOTS IN NORCAL WINE COUNTRY’S HIDDEN GEM, livingly
Located a mere hour and a half's drive north of San Francisco (that's about 65 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge), the charming town of Healdsburg, CA, is the perfect wine country weekend getaway. For busy city dwellers and Bay Area visitors alike, the town is still fairly under-the-radar — which, if you ask me, is ideal for those accustomed to the chaos fueled by Napa and Sonoma during the summertime months.
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HOTEL LES MARS IN HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA, Peter Greenberg Worldwide
This week, Peter Greenberg Worldwide broadcasts from Hotel Les Mars in Healdsburg, California. Veteran airline pilot Patrick Smith, (askthepilot.com), joins the program to discuss airline safety and the Southwest Airlines incident (the first fatality in the history of this carrier). George Hobica, Founder of airfarewatchdog.com, also weighs in on the Southwest aftermath and the history (and importance) of onboard safety videos and briefings. Also joining Peter will be Ray Holley, Managing Editor at Sonoma West Publishers, on his 30 years in Sonoma and dealing with growth management and the preservation of Healdsburg. And Julie Pedroncelli, third-generation owner of her family’s Pedroncelli winery, on the history of winemaking in the region as well as her favorite hidden gems in Healdsburg. And Will Seppi, CEO of Costeaux French Bakery, talks all things butter–and how–not surprisingly–he uses more butter than anyone else in town. There’s all of this and more as Peter Greenberg Worldwide broadcasts from the Hotel Les Mars in Healdsburg, California.
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ART CITY FOCUS: HEALDSBURG, Art City Focus
When it comes to describing Healdsburg, California, the encapsulating word that comes to mind is “taste.” Located 65 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge in the heart of Sonoma Valley wine country, Healdsburg is a charming yet chic getaway for Bay Area locals and tourists alike. The city, whose population is less than 12,000, has organically evolved and is largely homegrown by locals who have migrated from San Francisco over the past 20 to 30 years. Drawn to its natural visual beauty, relaxed pace and small town charm, Healdsburg residents and business owners are committed to preserving the agricultural roots of their town while adding an evolving air of sophistication. A blend of fine wine, farm to table food, arts and culture characterize the city, as tastemakers from each industry carefully curate their offerings with a commitment to quality, creativity and distinct sense of place.
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A TRIO OF GOURMET INDULGENCES IN HEALDSBURG, Luxe Getaways
Great food abounds in California, but Healdsburg features a trio of exceptional establishments serving scrumptious gourmet treats. Whether you choose to leave your dinner in the capable hands of Chef Valette by ordering his “Trust Me” tasting menu at his namesake restaurant, treat yourself to delectable dishes in a neighborly atmosphere at Baci Café & Wine Bar or enjoy exciting yet familiar small plates at Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar, you cannot go wrong.
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THE 20 MOST CHARMING TOWNS AND SMALL CITIES IN CALIFORNIA, TravelMag
Charming might not be the first word that comes to mind when thinking of California. More likely are the Hollywood images of its famed metropolises – Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego – coupled with dreamy thoughts of perpetually warm, sunny weather and palm-tree lined beach promenades. But there is much more to Cali than sun and surf, glitzy cityscapes and epic traffic jams.
The third largest state in the U.S. is also home to snow-crested mountain ranges, fertile farmlands and vineyards, and long stretches of sparse, thirsty desert. Though mostly lacking the cobblestoned, antiquated aesthetic of Colonial towns on the opposite coast, California can also be charming in its own varied ways.
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