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A designated American Viticultural Area, the Russian River Valley has been a popular resort area since the 1920s and 30s, when wealthy socialites from San Francisco and Oakland began traveling there for summer rest and relaxation. Today, it's a premiere grape-growing area boasting dozens of award-winning vineyards and lots of small towns that are fun to visit.
The Russian River Valley is named, of course, for the river which flows through it - beginning in the coastal mountain ranges of Mendocino County, following Highway 101, and turning west at Healdsburg to empty into the mighty Pacific Ocean at the town of Jenner.
One of the most picturesque towns in the Russian River Valley is Guerneville, where guests can visit the giant trees at Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve and Austin Creek State Recreation Area. The two areas combined offer 7,000 acres to explore, with miles of hiking trails, wildflower preserves, and campsites. If you're lucky, you'll be in town for one of Guerneville's special events, including the Russian River Blues Festival, Jazz on the River, or the annual Russian River Food and Wine Fest.
The small city of Sebastopol, population 8,000, is an art lover's paradise. Both performing and visual arts are important here, as is evident in the activities of the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, the Sonoma County Repertory Company, and the Main Street Theater. For outdoor recreation, consider a trip to the Laguna de Santa Rosa Wetlands Preserve for a little birdwatching, or Ragle Ranch Regional Park, where you can enjoy picnic areas, hiking trails, and playgrounds.
The Russian River Valley town of Forestville, where "the wine country meets the redwoods," was once a flourishing logging community. Today, Forestville attracts artists, musicians, and small business owners who are looking for a peaceful enclave away from the city. Guests can go fishing at Steelhead Beach Regional Park, take a canoe tour, or camp by the banks of the Russian River.
Duncans Mills, once an abandoned railroad town, is yet another jewel in the Russian River Valley's crown. Enjoying a massive renovation and overall shot-in-the-arm throughout the last 30 years, Duncans Mills offers close proximity to the river, where guests can swim, boat, fish, kayak, and much more. Don't miss the charming little railroad museum located in the center of town, attesting to the rich history of the area.
Other Russian River Valley towns include artsy Occidental, with its community choir and chamber music ensemble, unique shops, and art galleries. Occidental is also known for its organic gardens and Christmas tree farms and for its colorful annual festivals, like the family-oriented Harvest Market Festival.
Several other small, unincorporated towns add to the charm and ambience of the wine-rich Russian River Valley. Check out Camp Meeker, an enclave of 350 homes nestled in the woods where guests can rent a vacation home for their stay in Sonoma County. Or consider a stop at Cazadero, the "Land of Redwoods and Rain", where you can explore the diverse flora and fauna of the Austin Creek region.
Other tiny towns include Rio Nido, Freestone, Monte Rio, and Graton, where a short drive takes you to some of the finest wineries in Northern California as well as to the waters of the gently flowing Russian River, where guests can participate in a variety of outdoor recreational watersports.
Russian River Valley lodging runs the gamut from charming Victorian bed and breakfast establishments to rustic campgrounds and RV parks. Restaurants are diverse as well, many offering the freshest of local seafood, home-grown organic produce, and fine Russian River Valley wines.
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