Top 10 Babymoon Activities in Sonoma County

By Shana Bull

For many expecting parents, the last few months before the baby is born are usually devoted to planning and a variety of obligations: doctor’s appointments, parenting classes and baby showers – not to mention getting everything ready at home while dealing with the last stages of pregnancy.

Many couples might feel a little overwhelmed during this busy period, and this is when a babymoon – the latest “trend” for moms and dads to be – can come in handy. Like a honeymoon, this type of vacation offers couples a chance to relax, spend quality time together and have some fun – and Sonoma County makes for a great babymoon destination (and is very kid-friendly, too!)

We talked to local babymoon expert Cindy Scott-Fuchs, founder of Mellow Mommy (a company dedicated to babymoon retreats and other wellness-related getaways in Sonoma County). Click through the gallery for some of Cindy’s top suggestions, as well as a few of our own, and have a happy and relaxing babymoon! 

Pattern Play: Fabric and Paper to Dress up Your Home

By Karen Kizer

We love white walls and subtle-toned accents for creating peaceful spaces, but there’s a lot happening in pattern and color right now, and minimalism is giving way to the aesthetic of “more.” Even if color on color isn’t your thing, touches of rich-hued pattern create nice surprise elements in white spaces, too. A new look can be easily achieved using  just fabric or paper. Sonoma stores have lots of offerings to give a home a quick change of attitude—click through the above gallery for details.

Time for Style: 5 Great Analog Clocks from Sonoma Stores

By Karen Kizer

Life with smart phones and computers galore might have pushed away the need for a clock in every room. In fact, it’s reached the point where no one knows what time it is when there’s no phone around. But with people looking to unplug more and more, it’s time to reintroduce a familiar face: the analog clock. Sonoma has lots of good-looking timepieces to keep you stylishly on track—click through the above gallery for details.

Popeyes vs Chick-fil-A: We Picked the Best Chicken Sandwich

By Heather Irwin
A chicken sandwich is seen at a Popeyes, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, in Kyle, Texas. After Popeyes added a crispy chicken sandwich to their fast-fast menu, the hierarchy of chicken sandwiches in America was rattled, and the supremacy of Chick-fil-A and others was threatened. It’s been a trending topic on social media, fans have weighed in with YouTube analyses and memes, and some have reported long lines just to get a taste of the new sandwich. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

In a battle royale in the fast-food Twitter-sphere this week, Chik-fil-A and Popeyes have been duking it out over who actually has the best chicken sandwich…ever.

Popeyes introduced their fried chicken sando with a brioche bun, pickles, mayo and tolerance this week. Chik-fil-a promptly asserted it’s rank as America’s number one chicken sandwich. War ensued.

Of course, food media can’t resist a snackdown, so many of us ditched whatever deadlines we had and headed out to do a taste-test. The results were pretty resounding, but I’ll let you watch the video to actually see where I landed:

The catnip to all of this argument, of course, is the well-known anti-LGBTQ agenda of Chick-fil-A — which made every chicken sandwich purchase a political statement. Plus, they’re closed on Sunday, which is super irritating when you want a freaking chicken sandwich with waffle fries.

Popeyes, according to reports, isn’t especially political, but apparently tends to lean left.

Will the country be further torn apart by the great chicken sandwich debate? Probably not, but if only we could all come to the table together and solve our differences so deliciously.

Three Sonoma Winemakers Named Among Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers in the US

By Sonoma Magazine Staff
Wine tasting at Imagery Estate Winery in Glen Ellen. (Imagery Estate Winery)

Wine Enthusiast Magazine announced today its annual  “40 under 40” list, recognizing “the next generation of innovators” in the world of wine, spirits, cider and beer. Among the 40 are three local winemakers, who, according to Wine Enthusiast, represent “some of the best talent in the country.” Click through the gallery to see who made the list.

Shana Bull contributed to this article. 

Best Sonoma Restaurants for First-Time Visitors

By Heather Irwin
11/24/2013:D3: The Porkchop of Awe and Wonder PC: The Porkchop of Awe and Wonder at Wishbone restaurant in Petaluma, Calif., on November 18, 2013. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)

The most important part of any trip, aside from where to stay, is where to eat.

While adventuring through the cities, towns and burgs of Wine Country, amazing meal opportunities are literally around almost every bend. If you’re like us, though, doing a little research beforehand on iconic local dining destinations can make your visit far more delicious — and less likely to end up at a drive-thru just because everyone’s starving.

Click through the gallery for some of the best Sonoma restaurants for first-time visitors.

Weekend Getaway: 12 Things to Do in Healdsburg

By Sarah Stierch

 

 

Your Guide To a SoCal Beach Getaway, An Easy Flight from Sonoma County Airport STS

By Dana Rebmann

When you’re dreaming of the kind of beach vacation the Sonoma Coast is unable to supply (like wearing a swimsuit to the beach and taking a dip in the ocean), Southern California’s Dana Point is a great option. An easy flight from Charles M. Schulz, Sonoma County Airport (STS), this family-friendly Orange County destination serves up surf lessons, stand-up paddle boarding, whale watching and more. Click through the gallery for getaway inspiration.

More getaway ideas from Charles M. Schulz, Sonoma County Airport (STS): Downtown Los Angeles, Vail, Colorado; and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Take a Peek Inside Sonoma’s Most Sustainable Winery

By Dana Rebmann
The Silver Oak Alexander Valley tasting room in Healdsburg. (Silver Oak)

The pace of climate change and what we need to be doing to protect the planet are issues that, for many, have become part of our daily lives. But figuring out how one person can make a difference can sometimes seem an overwhelming task.

Inspiration can be found in our own Sonoma County backyard where many local businesses are stepping up their sustainability efforts, providing not only hope, but proof, that together we can create positive change.

Silver Oak’s Alexander Valley winery is leading the eco-friendly charge in wine country. Click through the gallery above for a motivating taste of how the winery is conserving natural resources.

If you know of a business in Sonoma County that is going above and beyond to be sustainable, let us know in the comments below.