Early each Friday and Saturday morning in summer, Lana Mcintire rolls a cute-as-a-button, Barbie-pink cart in front of her Bodega Bay home and plants signs along Highway 1, pointing beachgoers and coastal cruisers to her summertime-only sweet stop. “I feel like people see pink and think dessert,” says Mcintire.

The mom of two launched her Nom Nom Cakes bakery cart last summer to supplement her year-round custom cake business. It was an instant success. It also happens to be Bodega Bay’s only bakery.

Laden with cookies, tarts, and Mcintire’s signature cake jars, the sweet car is just a short detour into a residential neighborhood a few minutes’ drive north of town. The clientele is a mix of neighbors, day-trippers and tourists staying in nearby vacation rentals, who pull up, browse the shelves, and peek into the cart’s two refrigerated coolers in search of the perfect dessert.

The Nom Nom cart operates on a self-serve, honor-based payment system, accepting cash or Venmo. Since cell service in the area can be spotty, Mcintire posts her Wi-Fi password to help customers pay online. She is usually nearby in her home — happily baking, and ready to bring in sweet reinforcements when supplies run low. Mcintire notes that the cart often sells out on busy holiday weekends.

Mcintire, a Los Angeles culinary school graduate with experience in high-end restaurants in L.A. and Las Vegas, moved to Sonoma County in 2014. Here she draws inspiration from seasonal fruits and rotates her cart menu each weekend. Her summer cake jars feature flavors like brown sugar peach, vanilla blackberry, and strawberry crunch. “I make my own strawberry crunch with Golden Oreos and freeze-dried strawberries,” she says. “It’s like that strawberry ice cream bar on a stick.”

That dessert is one of her most popular along with peanut butter cheesecake and a treat called the millionaire bar — a buttery shortbread crust layered with rich salted caramel, chocolate ganache, and a light sprinkling of sea salt. “It’s almost Twix on steroids,” says Mcintire.

This summer, Mcintire has added charcuterie boxes as a savory option, perfect for a beach picnic. Packages of homemade pancake mix are another new addition, tailored for travelers staying in the many Airbnbs in her neighborhood. Those temporary guests inspire some of the little extras she includes on the cart, like gift bags, candles and cake toppers — an instant party for those celebrating a special occasion. There are also s’mores kits and reusable marshmallow roasting sticks. As of June, the cart carries copies of her new, self-published cookbook, “Sweet Creations: Crafting Your Dream Desserts.”

Mcintire has become a bit of a celebrity in her seaside town. On a trip to the post office just before opening for the season, three different people recognized her as “the dessert cart lady” and shared stories about their favorite treats. “To have three people at the same time recognize me, I was like, wow,” she says. “I’m thankful that people support my small business and the good things we’re trying to do.”

Nom Nom Cakes, 390 Calle Del Sol, Bodega Bay, 805-350-0680, nomnombaking.com

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From dramatic waterfalls that tumble onto the beach to peaceful redwood groves hidden along fern-lined trails, Northern California offers some of the most stunning places in the country to pitch a tent. That’s according to a recent article from travel website Matador Network, which highlighted 60 of the most scenic campsites across the United States. Among them, two standout destinations — Wildcat Campground in Point Reyes and Van Damme State Park in Little River — represent the rugged natural beauty of California’s north coast.

Both campgrounds made the cut in the site’s West Coast roundup for offering more than just a place to stay. With striking landscapes and immersive access to the wilderness, they’re ideal for campers looking to unplug and reconnect with nature.

Marin County

Wildcat Campground, Point Reyes

Perched on windswept coastal bluffs with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Wildcat Campground offers an unforgettable backcountry camping experience. It’s one of the few places where campers can hike to a secluded beach and watch a waterfall, Alamere Falls, plunge directly onto the sand. Accessible only by foot, Wildcat features eight walk-in sites spaced apart for solitude, surrounded by rolling meadows that burst with wildflowers in spring and early summer. During migration season, lucky visitors may spot gray whales breaching offshore.

Hiking distances to the campground vary depending on trailhead, but expect to trek at least 5.5 miles one way. There are vault toilets and water access on site, but no campfires are allowed. Advance reservations are required year-round. 1 Bear Valley Road, 415-464-5100, nps.gov

Mendocino County

Van Damme State Park, Little River

Nestled in a quiet canyon just south of Mendocino, Van Damme State Park blends coastal access with ancient forest immersion. While the main campground offers drive-in sites, the best experience is found along the Fern Canyon Scenic Trail, where five walk-in campsites sit beside a babbling brook in dense redwood forest. It’s only a 2-mile hike to reach them, but the atmosphere feels far removed from the modern world — perfect for campers seeking peace and quiet without a long backcountry trek.

Van Damme is also home to pygmy forests, tidepools and beach access. Amenities are available at walk-in sites and reservations — especially in peak season — can fill quickly. 8001 Highway 1, 707-937-5804, parks.ca.gov

For something a little closer to home, we found the best springtime camping spots in Sonoma County.

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When you live in Sonoma County, you’re never lonely for out-of-town visitors. Family, friends, college roommates, even casual acquaintances are all eager to catch up with you and take in all that the region offers.

Now through New Year’s is high season for house guests, with the number of invading out-of-towners larger than the kids’ gift lists. For local hosts, it can be a challenge deciding where to take restless visitors, especially those on a budget. Farm-to-table restaurants and taquerias are a given. Winery tasting rooms? Natch.

Go any direction in Sonoma County, and you will wind up somewhere intriguing. You’re never far from good food, natural beauty and wine tasting. But with so many choices, we’ve creamed off a few foolproof excursions that will fill up a day and make your guests’ stay in Sonoma County more memorable.

Click through the gallery for a four-day itinerary that includes some not-so-obvious explorations of Sonoma County, guaranteed to please your guests as much as you.

Meg McConahey contributed to this article. 

Day 1: Into the Armstrong Woods and to the coast

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Guerneville is a great place to introduce visitors to the natural superlatives of Sonoma County. Magnificent, 1,200-year-old Sequoia sempervirens, commonly known as coastal redwoods, tower in a way that makes humans feel very small and very serene. Redwoods are among the natural wonders of the world and among the planet’s oldest living organisms. And they’re an easy drive from anywhere in the county.

The Armstrong reserve features a 1½-mile, ADA-accessible trail, making this an easy outdoors experience for everyone in your group. Arrive early and with jackets to combat the marine chill. At 7:45 a.m., you’ll find an empty parking lot and the quiet woods, sans Segways and smartphone selfie-taking hordes. By contrast, visitors to Marin’s Muir Woods have to make a reservation.

After an hour among the gentle giants, depart as the parking lot begins to fill. Those arriving have had their breakfast, so now it’s time for yours. Coffee Bazaar in Guerneville provides house-roasted coffee and pastries. Or drive a little farther west, along the Russian River, to Duncans Mills’ Gold Coast Coffee and Bakery.

Founded in 1877, Duncans Mills is a quaint station on the way to the coast from the river towns, with a charming general store and a depot museum next to where the Northwestern Pacific Railroad once ran. If you still have Christmas shopping to do, then Duncans Mills is a good place to browse. Don’t miss Jim Raidl’s Jim and Willies, a real curiosity shop of quirky antiques and curios with a friendly proprietor.

On the road again, continue west. For some sea air and wide-open ocean views to amaze visitors from land-locked places, stop at the Vista Trail in Jenner at the mouth of the Russian River. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot some harbor seals.

After watching waves crash in the fresh sea air, you’ll be ready for the drive south on Highway 1 to Bodega Bay. This is the classic Sonoma Coast scene of crashing waves, and trails along the bluff are accessible to most people. Check out the whimsical wind spinners at Candy & Kites, the colorful array of saltwater taffy at Patrick’s and the Japanese prints at Ren Brown Collection Fine Art Gallery.

Start heading inland for a hit of Alfred Hitchcock in the tiny town of Bodega. Snap a “The Birds” selfie outside the old Potter School, immortalized in the scene where schoolchildren run screaming and flailing from their classroom. It’s a private residence, so stay on the road. Then swing by the nearby Saint Teresa of Avila Church, also featured in the film.

You’ll be hungry by now. For lunch, consider the Estero Cafe in Valley Ford just a few minutes’ drive away. The restaurant pays homage to local farmers with its hand-lettered chalkboard menus and homestyle food. Its inventive brunches, sandwiches and salads make it one of the county’s top foodie destinations.

Day 2: Healdsburg for the holidays

Start your day by taking in one of the most spectacular gems of Sonoma County — Lake Sonoma. Then head to Healdsburg (a 10-minute drive) for a leisurely breakfast at Costeaux French Bakery.

Costeaux French Bakery is a frequent winner in baking competitions, and its fresh breads are served in Sonoma restaurants. But not many people know that Costeaux serves great breakfasts and lunches.

After breakfast, let the bookworms and audiophiles in the group browse the fiction, vinyl and CD selection at Levin & Company. Take the stairs to the mezzanine for its collection of local art, jewelry and crafts. Next, visit the antique markets — like Shoffeitt’s Off the Square and Antique Harvest — all within easy walking distance of the plaza.

No Healdsburg visit is complete without a winery stop, or two. Lambert Bridge boasts a tasting room with a large fireplace, making it a cozy place for sipping wines in colder months. The Healdsburg Bubble Bar, nestled in a quaint 1906 Queen Anne Victorian near the plaza, offers a wide assortment of sparkling wines.

As the sun goes down, head to Barndiva for a craft cocktail and dinner, and watch the outdoor lights twinkle over the quirky art on the patio. Don’t miss the eclectic collection of British Cigarette Cards at the Gallery Bar.

Day 3: In search of lost time, and more wine, in Sonoma Valley

Winter is a good time to check out the new museum exhibit in Jack London State Historic Park. Even if it’s too cold or wet to hike, you can take cover in the House of Happy Walls museum dedicated to the great writer and his wife, Charmian.

Right outside the park gate, Benziger Family Winery offers vineyard tram tours that will get you out of the tasting room and among the vines, which have their own sculpted beauty in winter.

Make it an outdoorsy day at Sonoma Botanical Garden, one of Sonoma County’s secret spots. Few travel writers have discovered it, meaning you may have this 20-acre garden of rare Asian plants all to yourself. Easy paths wind past ponds and through dense plantings of trees and shrubs with something of interest in every season. There is a nice gift shop for garden lovers as well as golf cart tours by arrangement for those with mobility problems.

In the town of Sonoma, the walkable square offers places to sip, shop and dine. For celebratory sparkles during the holidays, there’s SIGH Champagne bar. No reservations needed, and they always offer three flights of French, Californian and other tantalizing sparklers. If you have teetotalers or beer drinkers in your party, this is a great tasting room option. They also offer draft beer, regular wine and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as snack-sized bites, both savory and sweet.

Sonoma Plaza offers holiday cheer and attractions for history buffs, from the Sonoma Mission to the barracks and Toscano Hotel, all within two blocks. There’s a big parking lot behind the barracks on First Street East.

When you’re ready for a bite to eat, consider Tasca Tasca (TT Tapas). Tasca stands for tavern or pub in Portugal. Chef Manuel Azevedo offers updated Portuguese tapas with a fresh Sonoma spin. They’re also open late. Or head down Broadway to HopMonk Tavern for bar bites and beer, washed down with live music on the weekends.

Day 4: Petaluma, Sebastopol and a farm-to-table finale in Forestville

The age of Petaluma, settled in the 1850s, might not impress visitors from Europe, but the downtown’s quaint storefronts, heritage homes and retro memorabilia will make even your English uncle or Swedish aunt melt. But first, start with breakfast at Della Fattoria, one of the country’s finest bread bakers, famous for its Meyer lemon rosemary boule. Try the breakfast toast with ricotta cheese, banana slices, toasted pecans and honey.

Downtown, check out the vintage guitars and mandolins at Tall Toad Music and the 1,800 varieties of heirloom seeds at The Seed Bank, owned by Baker Creek, one of the country’s leading purveyors of heirloom seed.

For the afternoon, get behind the wheel and drive the 17 miles to Sebastopol’s The Barlow. Designed to look like old farm industrial buildings — without the dirt and rust — this marketplace is good for browsing. Watch local makers in action at restaurants, wineries, breweries and cideries, and art, jewelry, glass, crafts, design and clothing studios.

If you want to arrange for a farm-to-table grand finale, you could make reservations at Farmhouse Inn’s upscale but surprisingly low-key Michelin-starred restaurant in Forestville. For a more affordable but still delicious option, Farmhouse Inn’s casual eatery Farmstand serves woodfired dishes and pizza.

The post Holiday Guests Coming? Here Are 4 Perfect Sonoma County Day Trips appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

As a symbol of renewal, fresh eggs get a lot of attention this time of year. Their sunny yolks and over-easy dispositions make them inescapable breakfast workhorses. Here are our favorite egg breakfasts. Click through the above gallery for more.

The Log Lifter

Buttermilk Biscuits and Gravy with Scrambled Eggs
Baker & Cook

Originating in 19th century lumberjack camps, this gut-stuffing breakfast warms the heart and fills the belly for a long day of timbering—or couch surfing. $18.

18812 Highway 12, Sonoma. 707-938-7329, bakerandcooksonoma.com

Greet the Meat

Midtown Corned Beef Hash
J&M’s Midtown Cafe

House-cured corned beef, crisp hash browns, and melted cheese lay a tasty base for gooey poached egg yolks that slowly drizzle over the beautiful mess. Chef’s kiss. $16.

1422 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707-545-2233, jm-midtowncafe.com

Bling Your Benedict

Lox and Latke Benedict with Caviar
Grossman’s Noshery & Bar

This bougie breakfast substitutes crisp potato latkes and luxurious lox for the usual Benedict players. A schmaltz Hollandaise and caviar pile on the posh. $32.

308 Wilson St., Santa Rosa. 707-595-7707, grossmanssr.com

Hugs and Quiches

Deep Dish Quiche
Costeaux Bakery Cafe

The Godzilla of quiches, this mighty mountain of eggs, ham, bacon, cheese, and crust at this local institution absolutely crushes the competition. $15.

417 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707-433-1913, costeaux.com

Morning Nachos

Chilaquiles
La Texanita

Somewhere between crispy and soggy is the perfect texture of tortilla chips smothered in salsa rojo, cotija cheese, and onions, and topped with scrambled or poached eggs. Add carnitas if you’re feeling sassy. $20.

1667 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa. 707-527-7331, latexanita.com

The Mix Don’t Lie

Shakshuka
Pearl

The Arabic origins of this roiling red dish mean “mixed up,” but the piquant (not hot) combination of paprika, chickpeas, tomatoes, peppers, grilled Halloumi cheese, and baked eggs is more beauty than beast. $25.

500 First St., Petaluma. 707-559-5187, pearlpetaluma.com

Morning Motivator

Breakfast Sandwich
Americana

Greet the day with this easy, handheld traveler of a sando. Two overhard eggs, Estero Gold cheese, spinach, and housemade aioli on buttery toasted sourdough.

$15. 162 N. Main St., Sebastopol and 205 Fifth St., Santa Rosa. 707-827-3309, americanasr.com

Très Français

French Folded Eggs
Willow Wood Market Cafe

Velvety curds of steamed egg stippled with fontina cheese and basil will leave you wondering why Americans insist on overcooking and overstuffing this breakfast classic.

$16.75. 9020 Graton Rd., Graton. 707-823-0233, willowwoodgraton.com

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Dreaming of a coastal getaway? Check into these gorgeous hotels along Highway 1 in Sonoma, Marin and Mendocino counties. Take a walk on the beach, go surfing, eat oysters or just relax with a tasty glass of wine and someone special by your side. Click through the gallery above for eight favorite places to stay on the coast.

Sofia Englund, Maci Martell and Sarah Stierch contributed to this article. 

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There was a time when kids and wine country was not a great pairing. But that is changing. A new breed of family-friendly wineries are now welcoming wine-loving parents and their (well-behaved) offspring for some fun in the vineyard — children sipping grape juice while parents relax, wine in hand. Click through the gallery to discover the most kid-friendly wineries in Sonoma and Napa.

Grace Yarrow contributed to this article. 

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Need a reset? If you’re not a fan of snow, traffic, and crowds, skip the trip to Tahoe this winter and try a restorative weekend by the Pacific Ocean. My husband and I recently spent two nights split between the Sonoma and Mendocino coasts. It was everything we needed: a chance to unplug, relax, and spend quality time together. Here’s how we spent our weekend – click through the above gallery for photos. 

DAY 1: SONOMA COAST

Friday afternoon

We called ahead and requested an early check-in at Timber Cove Resort in order to maximize daylight time. The weather couldn’t have been better: high 60s without a cloud in the December sky. 

[Enter our contest to win a weekend at Timber Cove Resort]

The oceanside resort, located in Jenner, was originally built in 1963 as a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired A-frame with redwood beams. In the early days, it was a shagadelic party pad that attracted all sorts of characters—including Hugh Hefner and his bunnies—but the place lost its luster over the years. In 2016, renovations were completed and the new Timber Cove has a cozy, modern hippy vibe with chic, mid-century accents.

After quickly settling into our suite, making note of the fireplace and soaking tub, we hurried out to catch the day’s remaining rays. The resort has roughly two miles of coastal trails to stroll, just steps from the lobby. During our excursion, we discovered a lover’s cove, where dozens of couples had carved their initials inside hearts in the bluff. I imagine at least a few proposals going down here. Back at home base, we hopped on the outdoor ping pong table (they also have billiards and foosball), battling back and forth until it was time to catch the sunset.

Our suite’s private deck looked straight out at the ocean, providing a perfect sunset viewing spot. Not all of Timber Cove’s rooms have an ocean view but, even though it will cost you more, I highly recommend splurging on booking one. After all, the view is the amenity here; it’s the reason for your visit. 

To set the sunset mood, we put some vinyl on the Crosley LP record player (every room has one) and picked a bottle of wine from our stash (the best part about a local getaway is that you can pack as much wine as you want in the car). Once the sun had disappeared into the ocean, we brought the rest of the bottle to the communal fire pit, a great place for chatting with resort guests and making new friends.

Friday evening

Unlike the coastal towns of Bodega Bay or Mendocino, there are no restaurants or bars or markets nearby Timber Cove. And that’s why I love it here. This is the ultimate staycation; a place that encourages you to sit back, relax, connect, and unplug.

Around 6 p.m., the once-empty lobby (officially named the Great Room) began to fill up, transforming into a lively gathering place for resort guests – a mix of families, couples, even a few well-behaved pups. Wanting to keep things casual, we opted for a seat at the bar instead of a table at the onsite restaurant Coast Kitchen. We were still able to pick from the full menu and we both ordered a burger and cocktail.

The Great Room has a myriad of small lounge areas, so after finishing our dinner we posted up for some old-fashioned fun with classic board games. From Backgammon to Chess to Battleship, everyone around us was busy playing games and it was truly refreshing to see people engaged in such a simple pleasure, instead of being attached to their phones.

Saturday morning

I woke up just in time to catch the 9 a.m. yoga class. Every Saturday through January 26 (it’s possible they will extend it), local company Unbeaten Yoga comes to teach a free class to resort guests. This wasn’t your average flow class: the instructor announced that we’d be doing Kundalini Yoga, which combines mantras, flow movements, intense breathing exercises, and sound therapy. I left feeling incredibly refreshed and energized.

Coast Kitchen serves breakfast, which you can order to your room, but we settled for a coffee on the deck after my yoga session and sadly bid adieu to our view.

Timber Cove offseason rates start at $239 mid-week and $299 on weekends. 

[Enter our contest to win a weekend at Timber Cove Resort]

DAY 2: MENDOCINO COAST

Saturday afternoon

Back on the road and headed north to the Mendocino Coast, we were eager to reach our next destination: Harbor House Inn in Elk.

Harbor House was built in 1916. Once owned by the Goodyear company, who used the home to showcase their lumber, the inn has changed hands many times over the years. It was recently remodeled under current ownership and reopened last spring. Like Timber Cove, Harbor House is situated right on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. As a centerpiece of their panoramic view is a unique sea stack formation named Wharf Rock.

Our suite, the Oceansong, certainly lived up to its name. We could see the ocean from every room: the sitting room, the bedroom, even the bathroom, which had a window over the clawfoot tub. A pair of french doors opened onto a private terrace.

There was one thing noticeably missing from our room – a TV – and we had to dig through the welcome manual to locate the WiFi password. But that’s all part of what makes Harbor House a place for romance. 

Once again, we wanted to make the most of the daylight and so we set about exploring the inn’s grounds, which features gardens where the chef grows fresh produce, chickens, a hammock, and Adirondacks for taking in the view. My favorite feature, by far, was the private cove. Walking down several steep flights of steps, we reached a beach that was ours alone. We climbed through caves, hunted for abalone shells, and wrote our names in the sand.

Saturday evening

We took in another perfect sunset from another ocean-view deck. Afterwards, we got ready for dinner at the inn, which was the main reason we chose to stay here.

Mendocino County isn’t known for its fine dining. Most places are so casual you could wear sweatpants to dinner and no one would blink an eye. But Harbor House is changing that, and I’ll call it right now: I think they could nab Mendocino County’s first Michelin star.

I counted just eight tables in the ocean-view dining room and the first thing I noticed when we sat down was that there were chopsticks in place of traditional flatware. Before us was a 10-course tasting menu and we opted for the wine pairings, delighted to find that three of those pairings would be sake. We even got to pick our own locally-made ceramic cup to sip it from.  

The majority of courses featured seafood and rightly so (we’re on the coast, after all), running the gamut from albacore and Dungeness crab three ways—including a Dungeness crab tea—to sea urchin, abalone stew, and a toasted seaweed ice cream for dessert. There was one red meat course, Potter Valley lamb and lamb belly (one of my favorites), and several vegetarian dishes. It was not only one of the best meals we’ve ever had, but also the most creative.

Sunday morning

I was still full when I woke up on Sunday morning, but when the breakfast tray arrived to our room, I knew I couldn’t pass it up. We enjoyed our coffee with a colorful spread of pastries, a thick slice of prosciutto with cheese, and a phenomenal hot egg dish before another sad goodbye to a million-dollar ocean view. 

After two perfectly clear days, the drive home was gloomy and gray, matching how we felt about leaving the coast.

Harbor House offseason rates start at $339 mid-week and range up to $709 on weekends. 

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We love any excuse to escape to the coast — from Marin to Mendocino — and, of course, Sonoma! Whether it is to reward ourselves with a local beer after a long day of hiking or biking, or toast to a special occasion as the sun sets, a cocktail with a coastal view never gets old. Click through the gallery above to discover our favorite coastal bars.

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