Category — Family Fun

The 64th annual Sebastopol Apple Blossom Festival is this Saturday and Sunday the 24th and 25th.  There’s a lot to see and do and it is family friendly.    We still have rooms and are offering the third night free.  Check our Creekside Inn website to reserve.

If you would prefer to experience some fabulous food and wine pairing, this weekend is the 2010 Passport to Dry Creek Valley wine growers  event, and there are still tickets available.  Also, don’t forget our 3rd night is free and we still have rooms.

If booking online is not your preference feel free to call us at 1-800-776-6586.

February can be beautiful month in Sonoma County.  The days are getting longer and the wild iris and daffodils are starting to bloom on the coast.  One of the best ways to enjoy these subtle and not so subtle changes is from a bicycle.  A couple of days ago I took a great bike ride along the coast and thought I would share it with you.  It’s not a hard route but it’s not something you should try without training first.  There are, however, ways to vary the route that will make it a very easy ride that almost anyone could enjoy.  And there are ways to tweak the route that will satisfy even the most hardcore cyclists.  The following link takes you to the intermediate route.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/30341

This route follows the river out to the coast and takes you down the coast to Bodega Bay.  There are sections of this route that have little if any shoulder (both hwy 116 & hwy 1).  While they lack a good shoulder, they do have pretty good visibility so it does help make it easier for traffic to pass you.  I prefer to do this route in the morning on weekdays.  In the morning you are less likely to encounter wind, and the traffic is lighter during the week.  This route also contains a short out-and-back along Bodega Bay.  This part of the route takes you out to Spud Point Crab Company to get some lunch. I’ve had  the clam chowder and the crab roll and I like them both.  The chowder is creamy and very peppery.  The crab roll is a very simple sandwich on a soft roll with a quarter pound of crab and a mild sauce that lets you taste the crab.  Now, that’s my kind of quarter pounder!

If you want a very easy place to ride at the coast I would recommend driving out to Bodega Bay and riding along the harbor.  This is a place that’s good for younger riders and novices.  The traffic is mellow and the shoulders are better than Hwy 1.  There are also a lot of places to park.  The following route starts near a spot that many use to park their trucks with horse trailer.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/30295

And if you don’t want to bring your bikes with you, you can rent them at the local bike shop.

There are several ways to make this ride more challenging.  The following route gives you a few more miles near Bodega Bay and a couple of more challenging climbs.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/30331

And if you are a real glutton for punishment and that route isn’t hard enough, shoot me an email to stay@creeksideinn.com and I would be happy to make some additions.

All these rides are self serve.  If you would rather ride with well stocked rest stops, route markings and SAG vehicle support, you should checkout The Wine Country Century (WCC).  Don’t let the century scare you; they do have a short option.  This is a very popular event and will sell out fast.

http://srcc.memberlodge.com/WCC

This is a great event!  If you would like to participate, we would like to help!

We are offering a 25% discount for our guests who participate.  The discount is for the weekend of May 1.

http://www.creeksideinn.com/reserve.html

Mention this post when you make your reservation

When the weather outside is cold and wet, a hot bowl of soup hits the spot.  We have been on a search for the best clam chowder nearby.   It all started because of a local food blog in the Press Democrat’s Bite Club.  We tried Henweigh Cafe first and found it to be very authentic, good and satisfying.  We also tried the corn chowder which we thought was super.    Later in the week we tried the chowder at Spud Point Crab Company.  This chowder has been voted best in Bodega Bay and did not disappoint.  We believe that it is less traditional, creamier and more highly seasoned than Henweigh’s.   Since it is crab season, we tried the crab sandwich too. Wow, very simple, lots of crab, a soft roll and super tasty.

Nearer to Creekside is the ever popular Garden Grill. We had a very good bowl of chowder there too.

Creekside is offering an extended stay at our expense.  Come in on Thursday the 3rd of September and stay until Tuesday the 8th.  Avoid the traffic and enjoy an evening at the Occidental Farmers Market. Book your stay on the Creekside website.

The pool is open the river beaches are hopping and our new hot tub is up and running.

Here on the Wildside of the Wine Country on the Russian River, we’ve had some rain and everything is in bloom.   The Press Democrat just ran a story called   “Five Undiscovered Spring Hikes” .  Some of the wild Iris at the coast have begun to bloom.  In April the drive out Coleman Valley Road from Occidental to the Coast should be through beautiful hills enhanced with the blue of the blooming wild iris.  If you have never seen it before then try to get here for it this year. 

Let us know you saw this here and stay any 2 nights through this April 18th for the price of  just 1 night. 

It’s important to keep up with family and friends! Who knows when you might need a spare room for you, your spouse and the seven critters (kids, ferrets or alligators) to crash in for the next six months, a perfect kidney match or someone to borrow money from?  If you are thinking of getting a close or extended group together, Creekside Inn & Resort is becoming Reunion Central. We think it’s the combination of great location in the Redwoods and on the river, great prices and great reunion planning services through our concierge.  We have had reunion weddings, family reunions, class reunions, military reunions, girl friend reunions, guy reunions – and we are open to more. If you have people you would like to reconnect with for fun or possible ulterior motives here’s what we offer: 

•     Accommodations for up to 90 people (okay, this is using every available bed and futon and there will be some close togetherness but a good chance to get that hair strand for DNA testing

•        Great prices. For example: 
  •     Book 7 nights - the two-day weekend is free (No limitations!)
  •        Book the whole inn and depending on the time of year, we can work with you on rates (But, not June through mid-Oct.)
•     All but our inn rooms come with fully-equipped kitchens so it is easy to share expenses by cooking memorable favorites and eat communally potluck style or the famous taco truck featured in Gourmet magazine will come by and groups can order separately or all on one bill.
•     Concierge to help plan and book recreation in the area including kayaking, canoeing, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, picnicking, wine tasting, tours, caterers (licensed and Lynn approved can use our large commercial kitchen) Pee Wee golf, etc. Recreation for all ages, activity levels and interests are nearby. 
•     Inn amenities include: Swimming pool, WiFi, close to the river beach, family games, use of common area, picnic tables, BBQ grills

Most people think of New England when they think of beautiful fall colors, but West Sonoma County has plenty of fall colors on display. Where in New England the colors change mostly on the trees, here it is the grape vines as well that turn lovely combinations of gold, orange, plum and brown.  Check out the article in the local paper by clicking  on this link http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20081112/NEWS/811120278/1349?Title=Who_needs_New_England_ 

Some of our favorite fall drives:

·        River Road out to the coast at Jenner (you follow the Russian River) bucolic pictures of cows and sheep on the hills and peeks of the Russian River in between our glorious redwoods

·        Westside Road past wineries and vineyards in full fall color to lunch in Healdsburg

·        Bohemian Highway is a wonderful 10-mile drive through towering redwoods, gorgeous pastures, rocky ravines, and three charming towns Freestone, Occidental and Monte Rio.

Wineries having Open Houses Thanksgiving Weekend:

·        Paradise Ridge is offering wine for sale and holiday snacks.

·        Acorn Winery will have festive snacks and wine tasting.

·        Alexander Valley Wineries are seven wineries open after Thanksgiving for a Holiday Party. Visit Fieldstone, Hanna, Alexander Valley Vineyards, Johnson’s Alexander Valley, Sausal, White Oak, and Stryker Sonoma for award winning wines, discounts, and festive fare. Visit all wineries for a chance to win a gift basket. Fee: $5.00 per person, includes a glass

·        Kendall-Jackson Holiday Open House 
Holiday, Celebration: Reception, Wine Tasting and Hors d’oeuvres. Art show and sale. Taste limited release wines, tour the gardens, and shop for holiday gifts. 


·        Thanksgiving Celebration at Pedroncelli
Holiday will have great wines, holiday cheer and snacks.

·        Dry Creek Vineyards’ Holiday Open House
Holiday Celebration has become a local favorite during the long holiday weekend as guests enjoy tasty tidbits paired with an outstanding array of single vineyard wines and live music.

We hope you will have a pleasant Thanksgiving wherever you are,

Lynn

      On the Russian River and in a cottage high up in the redwoods, with views of nature through the treetops, can you think of a better way to create a new Thanksgiving holiday tradition? Think of lying in bed with a lovely fire burning in the your bedroom fireplace and out your window a view of trees.  After a leisurely breakfast on your private balcony, you spend the day foraging for your Thanksgiving menu from some of the best of the local suppliers. Farms, bakeries and artisans that supply what they grow to the best restaurants in Napa, Sonoma and San Francisco surround us. For example, there is Willie Bird Turkeys, a family-owned business who has been raising fresh free-range turkeys for more than 75 years. (www.williebird.com). Gourmet bakeries, organic vegetables, artisan cheese and chocolate makers, organic meat and seafood suppliers and, of course, a number of fabulous wineries are all within driving distance. We will be happy to provide you with a list of how to create your own gourmet dinner by visiting local suppliers and sampling the wares.  Much rather spend the day, visiting a couple of wineries, taking a walk in the redwoods, and having an in-cottage massage? But want to enjoy the privacy of eating in your cottage and just cooking the turkey or tofurky? The local Safeway has a number of side-dishes already prepared from pumpkin soup to mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. For a higher-end option ZaZu restaurant & farm, the Zagat, Wine Spectator and Food Channel darlings, are just up the road (http://www.zazurestaurant.com/). On the gourmet side-dish menu this year are a number of choices including: bacon wrapped dates with harissa; maple and browned butter yams; quinoa and squash stuffing with pine nuts and currants or gingerbread stuffing with squash, apples, celery and shallots. For dessert, they are preparing pumpkin gelato pie with gingersnap crust and caramel sauce (they make all their own gelato in the Italian way) or Laura Chenel goat cheesecake with a brown sugar crust. Orders for their side-dishes must be in by November 19^th! We will be happy to send you the whole list of what they are offering.   We also have a number of restaurants in the area, offering full Thanksgiving dinners with several different price points. Our favorite for creativity, fabulous fresh ingredients and ambiance is Mosaic Restaurant. Information on their menu and their reservation system is available at (www.mosaiceats.com/reservations.htm). Another good option for Thanksgiving is Applewood Restaurant. Their menu this year includes: celery root soup with white truffle crema and cinnamon porcini; oven roasted turkey served with apple sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, garnet yam sofrito, gravy and cranberry relish; and pumpkin crème brule with vanilla marshmallows and brown butter shortbread. They have other menu choices available as well. The price is $65.00 per person and beverages, tax and gratuity are additional. Reservations are available at 800.555.8509. The Village Inn Restaurant in Monte Rio is offering a menu for $53.00 per adult and $30 per child eleven and under plus tax and gratuity. Their menu includes a choice of three starters, four entrees and two desserts. Some of the menu choices are fresh roasted young turkey with a cornbread Italian sausage, nut, caramelized apples and onion stuffing, natural pan gravy and cranberry compote. All their entrees are served with Yukon gold mashed potatoes, maple chunk sweet potatoes, fresh green beans almandine and warm dinner rolls. Reservations are available at 800.303.2303.  Check back next week when we have information available on Christmas Tree Farms and wineries and other attractions open on Thanksgiving Day.      

We have a collection of beautiful antique and vintage glassware and china, some silver flatware and vintage furniture. Some are furnishings we are no longer using, others are inherited pieces from a mother and grandmother. All are priced to sell and will be insured and packed carefully and shipped to you.

In addition to these treasures, we also have the work of talented artists and crafts people, some local, in our inventory.

Should you want to know what is cooking at Creekside and other Bed and Breakfast Inns, we are selling cookbooks.

To visit the rest of the click here.

Or click here to just start shopping. 

It’s too cold to go swimming in the pool and not cold enough to ice-skate on it but you can still get outside and have some fun.

Western Sonoma County is a great place to find the perfect Christmas tree. Along with some great wineries, berry farms, cheese makers and…..we also have a number of small farms that grow Christmas trees. Most of these farms let you come out and hike around to find cut down your perfect tree. This can be a great family outing on your way home from a weekend at Creekside.

It can put Scrooge in the mood for Christmas! If you want to pick your tree early and cut it on the way home, Buddy’s Christmas Trees lets you tag a tree as sold but they can’t guarantee it will be there later. Tags can fall off. To get the freshest tree you could cut it on your way home or you can also bring it back to the resort, cut a 1” slice off the bottom of the tree and stick it in a bucket of water. We can help you and provide the saw, bucket & water. If you keep it watered and cool, they will last a long time like this too. Buddy’s has a great model train setup that the kids will love. The Victorian Christmas Tree Ranch is fun too. In addition to friendly folks and nice trees, they also have a petting zoo that appeals to children of all ages.