FUN TIMES IN THE VALLEY

The Anderson Valley is a beautiful and quiet place, but there is a lot to do if you want to be out and about. The area is known for great wine tasting, good beer, and a variety of outdoor activities. If you are feeling adventurous or sporty, you can go hiking in Hendy Woods State Park, have a swim in the Navarro River, or head up the coast on Route 1. You may also like to visit the local vineyards, shops and restaurants.

Eats

On Saturday morning, there is a farmer’s market from 9:45 am to noon in the parking lot of the Boonville Hotel.

There are two great places for lunch right near the hotel. One is the Boonville General Store across the road on Hwy. 128 in the white building. They have delicious breakfast snacks, sandwiches, salads, and soup. There is also the excellent new Mosswood Café, which is also across the road from the hotel and slightly east. It sells breakfast pastries, good sandwiches and salads, and desserts. You could go to either of these places to pick up a little lunch to go, which you could eat at picnic tables overlooking the Navarro vineyard, if you were so inclined. There is a tiny ice cream parlor right opposite the hotel, too, and the owner has several guitars hanging on the walls for you to play when you are finished with your cone. The Highpockety Ox, also across the street, has lunch, but it recently opened, and we haven’t checked it out. For diner fare, try the Redwood Café drive-in, just west of the hotel and on the same side of the road. Breakfast is served at the Redwood until 11 am. Also nearby and just west on Hwy. 128 in Philo is Libby’s Mexican. It gets good reviews and is open for lunch 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and dinner 5 pm – 8:30 pm.

The Apple Farm is not really a place for lunch, but it is a great local and organic roadside food stand. It is run by the Schmidt family, the owners of the Boonville Hotel, and they sell items from their organic farm. Naturally it is all apple related; they have sixty varieties. They carry fruit, fruit compote, juice, cider, vinegars, and other apple things. Just leave money in the box; it is all on the honor system. There is culinary school here, too, and over the weekend the students will be in session making pastry in the house next door. Consider peeking your head around into the garden to see a beautiful fruit arbor and a great orchard. Take Hwy. 128 west of Boonville, three miles past the town of Philo, turn left on the Elk-Hendy Woods State Park road. The Apple Farm is just off the turn at the bridge. Turn left into the farm.

Another good roadside spot in Gowan’s Oak Tree, which is 2.5 miles west of Philo. This stand has been selling conventionally grown local produce for 120 years, and they have sixty varieties of apples and thirty-eight varieties of peaches. They also have pears, berries, cherries, and more.

Drink

There are a number of local vineyards to visit along Hwy. 128. Here’s a link to the Anderson Valley Winegrowers association. See this funny little map for a list of vineyards . If you like sparkling wine, you should check out Scharfenberger Cellars, as well as Roederer Estates. We especially like the wine and the tasting rooms at Husch (open daily 10-6) and Navarro (open daily 10-5). Lazy Creek Vineyards is a small vineyard with really great wine. You have to call ahead to set up an appointment for this place, but we think it is worth it (707 895 3623). They are the only vineyard producing a pinot noir rose. You can also drink wine from several Anderson Valley wineries without traveling very far by visiting Boonville’s new wine bar. It is right across the street from the hotel. If you need more to know more about the wine in the Anderson Valley, here is an article from Saveur a few years ago.

If you are not in the mood for wine, but are feeling a little thirst coming on, beer drinkers can go to the Anderson Valley Brewing Company for beer tasting. Amazingly, this brewery has solar powered production. The tasting room is odd and vacuous, but the beer is good, especially the Boont Amber Ale. From the hotel drive east on hwy 128 past the edge of town. At the intersection of hwy 253 turn left and look for the brewery on the left. For the very thisty, spirits are available at the local bar, called Bar, in Boonville across the street from the Hotel. By the by, “Bahl Hornin’” is good drinking.