Experience the wild beauty and rich agricultural lands of the Northern California coast and Oregon’s south, Willamette Valley and Hood River regions. On this tour you’ll meet the farmers, foragers, fishermen and artisanal purveyors that make these states famous for fine cuisine. From oyster shacks and dairy farms to wineries and breweries, this hands-on flavorful journey is all about meeting the makers and savoring local flavors right at the source.
Day 1
- Start in San Francisco.
- Sample freshly baked artisan bread at Tartine Manufactory.
- Visit the bustling Ferry Building Marketplace to shop for gourmet finds.
- Overnight in San Francisco.
Day 2
San Francisco to Healdsburg (151 kilometers/ 3 hours).
- Take the iconic Golden Gate Bridge through the charming Marin County hamlets of Mill Valley, Tiburon and Sausalito.
- Stop in Point Reyes Station for fresh bread at Bovine Bakery and handcrafted cheeses at Cowgirl Creamery.
- Visit Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company for a tasting tour of the family-owned farm.
- Dine on fresh catch at Nick’s Cove, Hog Island Oyster Company or The Marshall Store.
- Visit The Barlow in Sebastopol to experience the food and drink scene and shop unique boutiques.
- Overnight in Healdsburg. Choose from various lodging options, including Hotel Healdsburg, h2hotel or Healdsburg Inn.
Day 3
Healdsburg to Mendocino (136 kilometers/2 hours).
- Visit Healdsburg’s family-owned Journeyman Meat Company for handcrafted salami and sausages and seasonal farm-fresh fare paired with local wines.
- Stop in petite Geyserville for a bite at Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria or Catelli’s and wine tasting at Mercury Geyserville.
- Explore more than two dozen world-class wineries in the Alexander Valley.
- Stroll Cloverdale’s Main Street and tip a pint at Cloverdale Ale Company.
- Small town Boonville is big on charm and handcrafted delights like cheese at Penny Royal Farm and sweet treats at Paysanne.
- Travel the Highway 128 Wine Road to classic wineries like Navarro Vineyards and Roederer Estate.
- Book well in advance to enjoy a one-of-a-kind culinary experience at SingleThread Farms.
- Overnight in Mendocino. Choose from various lodging options, including MacCallum House, Brewery Gulch Inn or The Stanford Inn by the Sea.
Day 4
Mendocino to Eureka (230 kilometers/3 hours).
- Take a horseback ride along the coast or through the forest with Ross Ranch.
- Taste the region’s signature Dungeness crab and abalone at Wild Fish in Little River and MacCallum House in Mendocino.
- Book a seasonal tour with Mendo Insider Tours to forage in the region that’s home to 3,000 types of mushrooms.
- Visit Fort Bragg’s North Coast Brewing Company for craft beer made sustainably.
- Cowlick’s Ice Cream has dozens of small-batch specialty flavors to choose from.
- Visit Leggett’s Drive-Thru Tree Park to drive through a magnificent Redwood tree.
- Stroll Ferndale’s Victorian Main Street and sample handmade chocolates at Sweetness & Light.
- Overnight in Eureka. Choose from various lodging options, including Carter House Inns.
Day 5
Eureka to Ashland, Oregon via Crescent City (136 kilometers/ 1.5 hours).
- Feast on fresh oysters and try locally made kombucha, beer, wine and ciders at Eureka’s Humboldt Bay Provisions.
- Sample local brews at Lost Coast Brewery, Humboldt Cider Co., Seaquake Brewing, and Port O’ Pints Brewing along the way.
- Dine on locally raised grass-fed beef at Café Phoenix or Folie Douce in Arcata.
- Book a tour with Humboldt Bay Oyster Tours to learn about mollusk farming and harvesting.
- Stop in Redwood National and State Parks for a walk among the towering redwoods.
- Take an ocean kayak tour with Redwood Rides or a fishing excursion out of Crescent City Harbor with Hardcore Sportsfishing.
- Sample organic cheese at Rumiano Cheese Company— California’s oldest family-run cheese company established in 1919.
- Choose from various lodging options, including Willow Witt Ranch or Ashland Springs Hotel.
Day 6
Ashland to Alsea (379 kilometers / 4 hours).
- Visit the farm store at Fry Family Farm in Medford for a selection of organic produce, pantry items and baked goods.
- Travel the Artisan Corridor in Medford to sample specialty blue and cheddar cheeses at Central Point’s Rogue Creamery cheese shop and handmade artisan chocolates at Lillie Belle Farms.
- In Grants Pass, try berry jams and old-fashioned baked goods Pennington Farms’ country bakery and farm market.
- Tour Leaping Lamb Farm in Alsea to learn about organic farming, lamb rearing, and sustainable land management while meeting the resident farm animals.
- Overnight in Alsea at Leaping Lamb Farm or overnight in neighboring Corvallis at the Courtyard by Marriott Corvallis.
Day 7
Alsea to Carlton (132 kilometers/1.75 hours).
- Stop at Gathering Together Farms outside of Corvallis for a seasonal farm-fresh lunch and organic produce.
- Meet the alpacas at Marquam Hill Ranch in Molalla.
- Explore the Molalla Country Farm Loop for U-pick berries, fresh produce, lavender fields and winetasting.
- The family-owned TMK Creamery in Canby offers tours on Saturdays, seasonal activities and cheese-making classes.
- Visit the vineyards at Youngberg Hill or Stoller Family Estate to taste the region’s signature wines.
- Overnight in the Willamette Valley. Choose from various lodging options, including Abbey Road Farm, Youngberg Hill and Stoller Family Estate.
Day 8
Carlton to Hood River (158 kilometers/2.25 hours).
- Take a cooking class at The Kitchen at Middleground Farms in Wilsonville.
- Travel the 35-mile Hood River County Fruit Loop to explore 29 stops of orchards, wineries, berry fields, farm stands and lavender fields.
- Stop at Kiyokawa Family Orchards for dozens of varieties of heirloom apples.
- Visit the historic Gorge White House for hard ciders, wine, fresh fruit and more than 50 varieties of dahlias in season.
- Overnight in Hood River. Choose from various lodging options, including Sakura Ridge.
Day 9
Hood River to Portland (100 kilometers/1 hour) and fly out of PDX
