The years following the pandemic have seen incredible change in the culinary scene. There have been Several Michelin-starred restaurants dropped off this year’s list due to permanent closures. However, others thrived as we see 13 exciting new additions in this year’s 2024 California Michelin Guide.

What started as a marketing gimmick to sell tires to the first wave of French road trippers has grown to the most respected name in fine dining criticism, yet the Michelin Guide still retains its roots as the original road trip guide. There are 13 of incredible, newly-starred restaurants on the 2024 guide, many of which All Roads North has been recommending to our clients for years. As part of our 24/7 concierge service, we’ll recommend the perfect Michelin-starred restaurant to pair with your custom-designed luxury road trip, work our magic to secure a table at the most elusive and exclusive restaurants, and handle all reservations and logistics. All you’ll need to do is arrive and dine. With so many great restaurants to choose from, here are the ones to keep on your radar as you begin to plan your luxury California road trip.

North to South, 5 California Michelin-Starred Restaurants Profiled

Harbor House (Mendocino)

Drive past sloping vineyards, apple orchards and sun-dappled redwood trees to arrive at this serene sanctuary set atop a cliff overlooking the mighty Pacific. This historic property dates back to 1916, but thanks to an extensive renovation, it is now the very picture of laid-back luxury. The redwood-clad room’s windows frame postcard-perfect views of the gardens and crashing waves, while a fireplace adds to an already luring mien. Good looks aside, it is the highly original cuisine here that is worth savoring, so revel in the easy pace.

As one of the steadiest and consistent name on the Michelin-starred restaurants in California list, Chef Matthew Kammerer is devout when it comes to hyper-local and foraged ingredients, so much so that the fisherman’s name may casually be dropped into conversation or the apple orchard owner is likely seated next to you. Diners are bound to be smitten from the get-go, thanks to the chef’s compelling creations—replete with purity and grace. (2 Stars)

 

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Lazy Bear (San Francisco)

Head chef David Barzelay found his entre into the world of fine-dining by hosting elaborate dinner parties, and he’s kept that atmosphere through the first and second of Lazy Bear’s Michelin stars. Dining at the restaurant is treated like an event, and their long, communal table and ticketing system will certainly make your meal feel like one. Sit next to new friends at one of the two American elm tables feet away from the open kitchen. Courses and dishes are kept under lock-and-key, decided on before-hand, and consist of expertly executed new American cuisine. The entire experience is designed to transport diners and their tastebuds to a world all of Barzelay’s imagining, and though the menu may change, one thing is certain; you’ll remember your experience at Lazy Bear for a long time to come. (2 Stars)

 

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Californios (San Francisco)

Californios earned it’s two stars in 2017, and as one of the only Michelin starred Mexican restaurant in North America, it deserves special attention by all travelers wishing for a full culinary experience of California. Though originally from Texas, head chef Val M Cantu takes inspiration from the Spanish and Mexican roots of the city and state he now calls home to craft unparalleled cuisine in the Mission District of San Francisco, and an unyielding attention to quality and ingredients elevates his 16-course tasting menu. Using Mexican ingredients and flavors, yet focusing on new combinations and presentations, at Californios Cantu pleasantly surprises all familiar with Mexican fare. (2 Stars)

 

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Aubergine (Carmel-by-the-Sea)

A mainstay on the central Californian coast, the small dining room at the L’Auberge Carmel takes inspiration from the nearby sea. Fresh, local seafood is presented simply and elaborately, representing the perfect marriage of the subtle and robust flavors present in their dishes, and accentuated by deeply thought-out wine pairings. Under Aubergine’s current head-chef Justin Cogley the already exquisite dining experience has consistently elevated their Michelin guide status, and their newly-awarded two stars is well-deserved. (2 Star)

 

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Bell’s (Los Alamos)

This invitingly rustic dining room is nestled within a historic structure—a former bank—with a blue door flanked by potted palms. Inside, the furnishings exude a vintage vibe, as evidenced by weathered tile floors, whitewashed brick walls, and metal signs. An open window offers a peek into the kitchen, buzzing with casually dressed but attentive servers.

After cutting their teeth at top NYC kitchens, Daisy and Greg Ryan set sail for the west coast—settling into the confines of the Santa Ynez Valley. Dubbed as “Franch” (French with Californian accents), their particular skill lies in blending phenomenal product with focused flavors and methods. This is cooking that tastes as good as it looks, shining a spotlight on local purveyors. (1 Star)

 

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2024 Michelin 3-Star Restaurants in California

While 2019 was the first year for a dedicated California guide, the critics from Michelin have been coming to the state to review restaurants in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area as part of the larger United States Guide long before. Five years on, although we’ve seen many changes, there is a clear steadfastness to California culinary. There is a pedigree of incredible 3-star restaurants throughout the state, and any one would make an outstanding part of your trip.

Addison

Chef William Bradley has been the driving force behind Addison since 2006, transforming this Southern California gem into a world-renowned dining destination. His culinary approach blends global influences with a deep appreciation for Californian flavors. A standout dish, Koshihikari rice with sesame seasoning, applewood-smoked sabayon, and Regiis Ova reserve caviar, perfectly exemplifies this fusion. From inventive bites like chicken liver churros to finely crafted dishes like Kumamoto oysters with pickled green strawberry, the menu is a harmonious balance of playful creativity and refined precision.

 

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Atelier Crenn

It wouldn’t be a Michelin guide without a fair showing of French restaurants, the home of fine dining as we know it, and Dominique Crenn has done her heritage proud with one of the best restaurants in the entire United States, tucked unassumingly along the San Francisco Bay. Since opening the doors in 2011, Atelier Crenn has continued to dazzle diners with it’s unique take on cuisine. In lieu of a menu, diners receive an original poem, loosely linked to the natural ingredients that make up the multi-course tasting.

 

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Benu

Artistry is the word on the lips of Benu’s lucky diners, and an impeccable and uncluttered dining room allows full focus to fall on the masterpieces that Chef Corey Lee consistently crafts on any given night in his San Francisco restaurant. Taking from his Korean roots and refining everything from ingredients to process, Lee’s discipline has made Benu a San Francisco mainstay and a 3-star restaurant since 2014. Tasting menus are available, as is a full a la carte menu. The “shark” fin soup, a cruelty free take on the Chinese classic, is a must try. 

 

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The French Laundry

Chef Thomas Keller’s world renowned restaurant is the king amongst kings in the Michelin star-studded Napa Valley. Every element, from the height of the counter to the individually inspected, locally sourced ingredients, has been meticulously prepared to elevate the dining experience to once-in-a-lifetime heights. American-inspired French cuisine is perfected each night in two tasting menus with unique ingredients (vegetarian friendly!), and incredible wines from the region make great pairings for a much-welcome meal after a day at the vineyards.

 

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Quince

Contemporary cuisine presented in one of the Bay Area’s most upscale restaurants put Quince on the map, but it’s the quality and execution of Chef Michael Tusk’s cooking that brought the restaurant its coveted 3-stars. Flavor is the number one factor in Tusk’s Italian-French cooking, and his attention to the intricacies of his dishes and ingredients pays off-tenfold in the final presentation of the meal.

 

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SingleThread

The newest addition to the 3-star club, SingleThread burst onto the scene in December 2016 and has been the talk of the region ever since. Trained for years in Japan, Chef Kyle Connaughton has perfected traditional and inspired Japanese dishes cooked in Japanese earthenware (donabe). Extending past sushi and going above and beyond his peers, Connaughton has created one of the finest Japanese dining experiences in the country. What elevates SingleThread to 3-star heights is their impeccable service standards. The kitchen and waitstaff have adopted neighboring Silicon Valley technologies to increase communication and efficiency without losing a personal touch, and your meal will certainly become the benchmark of service all future meals will be compared to.

 

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Full List of  California’s Michelin Starred Restaurants 2024

Three Michelin Stars in California 2024

Addison (Sam Diego)

Atelier Crenn (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Benu (Bay Area & Wine Country)

The French Laundry (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Quince (Bay Area & Wine Country)

SingleThread (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Two Michelin Stars in California 2024

Acquerello (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Aubergine (Carmel-by-the-Sea)

Birdsong (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Californios (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Commis (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Harbor House (Mendocino)

Hayato (Los Angeles)

Lazy Bear (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Mélisse (Santa Monica)

Providence (Los Angeles)

Saison (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Sons & Daughter (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Vespertine (Los Angeles)

New California Michelin Two Star Restaurants in 2024:

Sons & Daughter (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Vespertine (Los Angeles)

Mélisse (Santa Monica)

Providence (Los Angeles)

One Michelin Star in California 2024

715 (Los Angeles)

Angler (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Aphotic (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Auberge du Soleil (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Auro (Calistoga)

Bell’s (Los Alamos)

Camphor (Los Angeles)

Caruso’s (Montecito)

Chez Noir (Carmel-by-the-Sea)

Chez TJ (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Citrin (Santa Monica)

Cyrus (Geyserville)

Gucci Osteria de Massimo Bottura (Beverly Hills)

Gwen (Los Angeles)

Hana re (Los Angeles)

Heritage (Long Beach)

Hilda and Jesse (San Francisco)

Holbox (Los Angeles)

Jeune et Jolie (Carlsbad)

Kali (Los Angeles)

Kato (Los Angeles)

Kenzo (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Kiln (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Kin Khao (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Knife Pleat (Costa Mesa)

Le Comptoir at Bar Creen (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Localis (Sacramento)

Madcap (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Meteora (Los Angeles)

Mister Jiu’s (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Morihiro (Los Angeles)

n/naka (Los Angeles)

Nari (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Niku Steakhouse (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Nisei (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Nozawa Bar (Beverly Hills)

O’ by Claude Le Tohic (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Orsa & Winston (Los Angeles) 

Osito (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Osteria Mozza (Los Angeles)

Pasta | Bar (Encino)

Plumed Horse (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Press (Sant Helena)

Protégé (Bay Area & Wine Country)

R|O-Rebel Omakase (Laguna Beach)

San Ho Won (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Selby’s (Atherton)

Shibumi (Los Angeles)

Shin Sushi (Los Angeles)

Six Test Kitchen (Paso Robles)

Soichi (San Diego)

Sorrel (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Ssal (Bay Area & Wine Country)

State Bird Provisions (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Sushi Bird Provisions (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Sushi Ginza Onodera (West Hollywood)

Sushi Inaba (Torrance)

Sushi Kaneyoshi (Los Angeles)

The Kitchen (Sacramento)

The Progress (Bay Area & Wine Country)

The Restaurant at JUSTIN (Paso Robles)

The Shota (San Francisco)

Taco María (Los Angeles)

The Village Pub (Bay Area & Wine Country)

Uka (Los Angeles)

Valle (Oceanside)

Wakuriya (Bay Area & Wine Country)

The post Michelin-Starred Restaurants in California – The New 2024 Guide appeared first on All Roads North.

Pairing our insider access to high end EVs with our on-the-ground knowledge of the best routes and charging-friendly hotels, these are some of the luxe electric journeys we are dreaming up right now:

1. Drive a Rivian R1S from LA to the Santa Ynez Valley

Known for its impressive range, off-road capability, and sleek aesthetics, the Rivian R1S is the definition of cool. Take this innovative EV on the road with an expedition along Southern California’s coastal stretch of Pacific Coast Highway. From your starting point in Los Angeles, soak in the sunny city with private surf lessons, a cruise along Mulholland highway, and an evening viewing the starry night sky through powerful telescopes at Griffith Observatory with an astronomer. 

Turning north, your route up PCH meanders shoulder-to-shoulder with the Pacific Ocean until you reach the whitewashed walls and terracotta roofs of Santa Barbara. A private, sunset sail is on order, before you turn your Rivian to the Santa Ynez mountains inland from the coastal city on your way to Mattei’s Tavern. This luxury base in one of our favorite underrated areas of California was a stagecoach stop in the 1880’s and a sneaky speakeasy during the Prohibition era. It’s the perfect place from which to enjoy the blossoming fine dining scene in the area (check out the newly Michelin-starred Bells restaurant), go wine-tasting, and ride horseback through the mountains and valleys of Santa Ynez. Plus, the hotel has an onsite charger with adaptors that will suit any EV.

More Journey Inspiration: Couples California: Refined Luxury Road Trip

2. Discover Upstate New York and the Berkshires in a Porsche Taycan

In the pure luxury of a Porsche Taycan, explore the bucolic backroads of Upstate New York and the Berkshires. This region of the country has long been known as a retreat for both artists and New York City’s well-to-do city set. From your starting point in Boston, make your way into the Massachusetts Berkshires, a rapidly flourishing haven for the arts in New England. As the home of MASS MOCA art museum, the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the summer, endless art galleries, and various renowned dance and music festivals, you’ll never lack for cultural events to attend no matter what time of year you visit. With All Roads North, you can be sure of insider’s access and front row seats to all the action.

Storm King Art Center

Your stay at Troutbeck is the epitome of the area’s long-standing reputation as a place of art and nature, as several of America’s most iconic writers and poets stayed at and were inspired by this very property. Think: Ernest Hemingway, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. The beautiful 250-acre estate is outfitted with a wood-paneled library (complete with crackling fire to read by), three trout pools for fly-fishing and surrounded by 5,000 acres of accessible wilderness. And of course, two Tesla chargers with universal converters available at the front desk. Further afield, explore New York’s Hudson Valley and Catskills Mountains for a treasure trove of farm to table fare (like Blue Hill at Stone Barns) and more acclaimed art institutions (like Storm King Art Center).  

More Journey Inspiration: New York to Montreal: Where Past Meets Present

3. Explore the California desert in a GMC Hummer EV 

What better electric vehicle to take into the California desert than GMC’s rugged Hummer EV? 

Joshua Tree National Park, although just a short drive outside of Palm Springs, transports you to an alternate universe of characterful yucca trees and piles of lumpy boulders. You’ll get a closer look at the unique rock formations with an afternoon of rock climbing with an expert climber and Wilderness First Responder. Check in to The Rowan and enjoy the hotel’s iconic rooftop pool with a cold drink in hand– quintessential Palm Springs. Electric vehicle charging stations are available for guests who valet with the hotel, so your Hummer can recharge at the same time you do. 

Rowan Hotel Rooftop

Further south, you’ll pass through Temecula, a new wine hotspot and the perfect stop for lunch. San Diego is a city known for its beautiful, sandy beaches and laid-back lifestyle, and we’ll be sure that you enjoy both with a s’mores bonfire and movie screening on the beach. 

More Journey Inspiration: A Guide to Mid-Century Modern Design in Palm Springs

4. Taste the best of wine country in a Mercedes Benz EQS

Mercedes Benz’s EQS, its flagship electric sedan, is decked out with the brand’s usual lavish luxury– perfect for a sophisticated journey through wine country in Northern California. Starting in the renowned Napa and Sonoma Valley, you’ll zip along the backroads with a private guide and 3rd generation wine country insider, who will introduce you to select, limited production operations and boutique wineries typically closed to the public. You’ll meet the winemakers, taste their vintages and share a private lunch amidst the vines. End the day enjoying a Michelin-starred tasting experience at the French Laundry or SingleThread Farm.

Next, strike north, weaving along the rocky, mist-laden coast and through towering redwood forests until you reach your homebase at The Inn at Newport Ranch. The intimate 15-room lodge is located on a sprawling 2,000 acres, which spreads from the main lodge’s setting perched on a coastal cliff to inland redwood forests. Guests gather in front of a crackling fire for happy hour drinks, followed by an indulgent dinner of locally-sourced and daily foraged ingredients. The Inn at Newport Ranch has three universal electric chargers onsite, so you can wander all the Mendocino coast has to offer, from tranquil paddle out amongst wildlife in a handmade outrigger canoe or boutique shopping in the picturesque town of Mendocino.

More Journey Inspiration: Sonoma and Mendocino: A Farm to Table Road Trip

5. Cruise PCH from San Francisco to Big Sur in a Tesla Model X Plaid

Big Sur’s iconic Pacific Coast Highway is renowned as one of the most spectacular roadways in the United States– a perfect match for a road trip in Tesla’s ultra-high-performance Model X Plaid. Start with the urban diversions of San Francisco before setting south down the California coast. Mavericks Beach in Half Moon Bay is renowned for its colossal waves, which can reach heights of up to 60 feet during the winter season. It’s the ideal spot to witness experienced surfers gracefully mastering these enormous swells. A lineup of charming towns await you further down the coast. Go whale watching with a marine biologist in Monterey and golfing at the matchless Pebble Beach Golf Links in Carmel-by-the-Sea. 

Post Ranch Inn

Set on the stunning cliffs of Big Sur, Post Ranch Inn was built to blend into the surrounding environment. Each of the 39 suites and private cottages are unique, some offering Pacific Ocean views and others are tucked away in groves of coastal redwoods, Monterey pines and live oaks. There are Tesla chargers onsite for your Model X while you enjoy the relaxation– the spa is renowned for their holistic treatments and some rooms even have their own outdoor soaking tubs.

More Journey Inspiration: Classic West Coast Road Trip

The post Custom Journeys in High Performance EV’s appeared first on All Roads North.

The Legacy of the Redwoods

Photo courtesy of The Inn at Newport Ranch

Traveling throughout the Mendocino region of Northern California, the California redwood legacy can be seen and felt intimately everywhere you go. For thousands of years, the trees were an important part of the cultural and spiritual identity of local Indigenous communities. For example, some tribes believed that the trees had the power to heal and protect them, while others saw them as the dwelling places of powerful spirits or deities. Generations of wisdom passed down in these Indigenous communities resulting in an intimate connection to the land and a deep understanding of the redwood forest ecology. 

Redwoods also fueled the beginnings of Western development in the area, through logging communities. At one point, redwoods covered over two million acres of California, but logging and development have reduced their range to less than 113,000 acres. However, conservation efforts in recent decades have helped protect and preserve many of the remaining redwood forests. Save the Redwoods League is one of the most prominent non-profits you can support in pursuit of this cause. Since 1918, the league has worked to protect and restore redwood forests, as well as connect people to their peace and beauty. If not for this organization’s advocacy, it is likely that several protected redwoods forests that we enjoy today would have been fully logged.

The Inn at Newport Ranch, a boutique accommodation perched on the Mendocino cliffs, is a beautiful picture of this transformation in redwood stewardship. Before The Inn at Newport Ranch, there was Newport– a small town that sprouted around a logging community in 1865. Ships would brashly navigate the rocks and pounding waves against the cliff to empty new residents onto the shores and load timber for trading. The logging industry left town two decades later, and farmers took their place. Now, the bones of an old farmhouse form the core of the main lodge at this newly-constructed inn. The property, comprising 2,000 acres, plants redwood seedlings daily to do their part in restoring the redwood forests. In fact, guests are offered the unique opportunity to plant their own baby tree for generations to come during any excursion into the redwoods. 

Unique Ways to Experience the Redwoods

Photo courtesy of Harbor House Inn

Ever present in these northern regions, All Roads North can curate several unique ways to experience the California redwoods during your journey. For foodies, we’d recommend enjoying a Michelin-starred fine dining experience in a former redwood showroom at The Harbor House Inn. Inhabiting an enchanting cove of the Mendocino coast, the dining room of the 11-room boutique inn is paneled with redwood. The house was built in 1916 by the Goodyear Redwood Company as a place to entertain buyers and showcase their product. The menu invites guests to experience the region through local flavors, with all of the produce sourced either from the on-site garden or a farm just 25 minutes away. 

For those more prone to active adventure, we’ll arrange a private guide to lead an excursion snowshoeing through the redwoods. The contrast of the red bark and white snow and the added layer of wintery quiet only amplify the forest’s awe-inspiring timelessness. If you’d rather get out on the water during more temperate months, we’ll arrange a paddle on Big River in a redwood outrigger canoe, made by a local artisan who has been handcrafting the outriggers for 30 years. You’ll likely share the tranquil, misty morning with not a soul but the local wildlife: river otters, harbor seals, and a variety of birds from ospreys to herons.

You can also further tap into the healing aura of the California redwoods and focus on your wellness with Shinrin-Yoku, or a privately guided forest bathing experience. Shinrin Yoku is the Japanese practice of healing and wellness through immersion in nature, leading to reconnection with our environments and ourselves. For this experience you will be guided into the forest, using walking, visual and breath meditation to activate your senses. Not only is the experience calming and restoring, forest bathing has been shown to boost immunity and reduce stress.

Whether you are interested in experiencing the iconic California redwoods through the lens of history, fine dining, wellness or adventure, there are endless personalized experiences our Travel Specialists can dream up to create a truly special experience suited to your interests. Reach out today to start planning your dream journey to the Mendocino coast.

Mendocino Itinerary Inspiration: Sonoma and Mendocino: A Farm to Table Road Trip

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Donum

Richard Hudson – Love Me, 2016, Photo by Gregory Gorman

No list of the most beautiful wineries in California would be complete without the Donum Estate. The winery was born out of two of founder Anne Moller-Racke’s greatest passions: art and wine. The estate is filled with incredible art and sculptures by world-renowned artists such as Ai Wei Wei and Keith Haring, Richard Hudson, Zhan Wang and Yue Minjun. Strolling the picturesque vineyard of this famous California winery is sure to stoke your passion for both.

thedonumestate.com

Promontory

Promontory Winery, Photography by Olaf Beckmann and Matt Morris

Gorgeous natural views? Check. A sprawling, pastoral estate? Check. Warm, wooden interiors, inviting tasting spaces and the world-class wine to make it all worth it? Check, check and check. Nestled in wooded foothills with less than 10% of the land under vine, the rugged Promontory sits amongst rocky outcroppings secluded in the Oakville canyon. Enjoy one of Promontory’s famous Cabernet blends while gazing out at the rolling hills of Napa Valley that stretch out below you, and soak in the flavors of wine shaped by the whims of the land. 

promontory.wine

Fantesca

Fantesca Wine Cave

Fantesca may be best known for it’s superstar cult winemaker Heidi Barrett, but one thing visitors are sure to remember is the idyllic backdrop of their wine-tasting. Set atop a ridge line above the valley, Fantesca is quintessential Napa in private style. The rolling vineyards drop off to views of the nearby Napa hills, yet secluded atop the property you’ll feel in a world all to yourself. A tasting here, coupled with a visit to their iconic cliffside cellar, will stand as a highlight of any Napa Valley road trip.

fantesca.com

Kenzo Estate

Kenzo Estate

Only 150 of Kenzo Estate’s 3,800 acres are planted, protecting the serene natural elements of the undisturbed landscape surrounding the vineyard. Spring fed reservoirs, untouched forests, and roaming wildlife just beyond sight infuse the property with a sense of Yūgen, a Japanese concept on the profundity and subtlety of natural beauty. This Japanese sensibility is present all over the estate, founded by business mogul Kenzo Tsujimoto. With impeccable wine by Heidi Barrett, and the 1-star Michelin restaurant in downtown Napa, Tsujimoto spared no expense or effort to make Kenzo Estate one of the region’s best names in wine.

kenzoestate.com

Scribe

Scribe Winery, Photo by Stephanie Rudy

Brothers Andrew and Adam Mariani place a great emphasis on their Sonoma vineyard’s natural beauty. Scribe focuses on getting visitors out of the traditional tasting room and into the environment that produces their incredible wines. Tastes are held in the gardens and picnics are held beneath the boughs of trees, both with great views of the vines and palms that line the property. The brothers’ philosophy is a connection between people and place, and their wines the agent for that connective experience. With such an outstanding location, Scribe is certainly a place worth connecting to.

scribewinery.com

Flowers

Flowers Winery, Photo by Douglas Friedman

Flowers Winery embraces the beauty of the far west Sonoma Coast and creates wine with a true sense of place. Located less than two miles away from the Pacific Ocean, yet standing at high levels of elevation, the drastic contrasts of the Flowers location makes it more than scenically stunning… it’s also what impresses their wine with its unique character. The stark hillside exposures, fog-filled mornings and sunny days combine to create risky, yet rewarding, conditions for vineyards. The winery uses biodynamic and organic practices, working with the elements rather than against them. 

flowerswinery.com

Belden Barns

Belden Barns Estate, Photo by Adam Decker

This family-friendly, small-batch vineyard in the Sonoma Hills is the perfect spot for those who’d like to appreciate some outstanding wine without leaving the kids behind. Beyond the yearly excitement of the annual Grape Stomp event, there’s corn hole and even a scavenger hunt available for the kids (acorns and corks being a few items on the hunt list). The property, with its valley-wide vistas and 1870s-era agricultural buildings carries a sense of history. It’s been home to many different ventures, from a dairy farm to a prune orchard to a rural retreat with a stagecoach stop. Based on the belief that wine is best enjoyed with good food, Belden Barns has always closely partnered with Kibo Farm, a small, family farm that supplies many of the premier restaurants in the area.

beldenbarns.com

Itineraries

Let us plan your dream California wine country trip. For more inspiration, check out these sample itineraries:

Napa and Sonoma In Style

Couple’s California: A Refined Luxury Road Trip

Sonoma and Mendocino: A Farm to Table Road Trip

For more luxury California road trip ideas, click here.

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Take this opportunity to do a little armchair traveling to get inspired for your next adventure. 

Desert Solitaire

by Edward Abbey

This iconic piece of nature writing, based on Abbey’s summer stints as an Arches National Park ranger in the late 1950s, remains as relevant now as it was when published in 1968. While on a quest to experience nature in its purest form, Abbey explores the paradox of existing as a solitary, independent man in the desert, while still participating as a member of the greater ecosystem. Readers will find a lot to think on and to anticipate with Abbey’s vivid descriptions of the harsh Southwestern landscapes near Moab woven into his message of conservation. 

Goes Well With:  An Odyssey Through Utah’s National Parks and The Life of a Backcountry Guide in Utah’s Remote Escalante Canyons

My First Summer in the Sierra

by John Muir

This account of John Muir’s first encounters with the Yosemite Valley has been luring visitors to California since this book was published in 1911. Follow along as “The Father of the National Parks” and founder of the Sierra Club spends the summer of 1869 working as a shepherd in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 

The budding naturalist’s notes are flush with detailed descriptions of the Sierra’s flora and fauna, tales of explorations of now-famous landmarks, and several life lessons Muir gleaned from four months of sheep observation. This is a must-read before exploring any of the areas Muir later worked to conserve. 

Goes Well With: Stunning Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks 

American Serengeti

by Dan Flores

Bison, pronghorn antelope, wild horses, grey wolves and grizzly bears are species that Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park visitors count themselves lucky to see today. According to environmental historian Dan Flores,  just 200 years ago these same species were roaming the American plains in numbers we can’t fathom. 

Flores follows the sagas of six different species over thousands of years until their respective declines at the hands of pioneers, hunters, ranchers and federal killing programs in the 19th and 20th centuries. This, combined with the “Big History” of the grassland ecosystems we encounter in the American West, will give readers a deeper appreciation for the vistas and wildlife encounters in the Western states. 

Goes Well With: Zapata Ranch: Shirkers Need Not Apply

The Lobster Chronicles: Life on a Very Small Island

by Linda Greenlaw

Travel to the Isle au Haut, a tiny island in Maine’s Acadia National Park with 70 year-round residents, 30 of whom are related to author Linda Greenlaw.  After a lengthy and high-risk career as a sword-fisherman (which landed her a role in the famous The Perfect Storm), Greenlaw returns to rural island life.  

The account balances the lighter sides of rediscovering her family and home with the darker aspects of island life, including boating accidents and conflicts that can rock small communities.  If the descriptions of Acadia’s landscapes aren’t enough to get you excited about coastal Maine, the description of the seafood certainly will.

Goes Well With: Luxury Holiday to New England

American Wolf

by Nate Blakeslee

The grey wolf’s presence has been one of the most polarizing issues of the American West since populations were reintroduced in the 1990s. In American Wolf, Blakeslee uses O-Six, a grey alpha matriarch with a rabid social media following, to illustrate the wolf’s struggle to reclaim its place and restore balance in Yellowstone National Park.  

Blakeslee collaborates with park ranger Rick McIntyre, who spent 15 years carefully following the wolf’s return to the park.  Together, they follow O-Six’s pack and observe the pressures they face from ranchers, hunters, politicians and well-meaning tourists, all of whom affect where and how wolves can live.

Goes Well With: Wolves, Wildfire and Water

Undaunted Courage

by Steven E. Ambrose

Follow the Corps of Discovery’s epic adventure across the Great Plains, over the Rocky Mountains, and down the Columbia River from the perspective of Captain Meriwether Lewis. Lewis and Clark may be household names, but Undaunted Courage supplies a wealth of previously unknown information, while capturing the suspense, political drama, romance, tragedy and danger that accompanied the 8,000 mile journey.  Ambrose provides context for the expedition within the Jefferson Presidency, early Native American policies, and the opening of the West to the nation. 

Goes Well With: Yellowstone and Grand Teton Road Trip 

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Dallas-raised photographer Gray Malin caught the art world’s attention with his now iconic Prada Marfa series. He’s since gone on to shoot around the globe, from the slopes of St. Moritz to the deserts of Namibia. Despite his globetrotting, he still finds plenty to capture his imagination right at home. Here, he shares with All Roads North some of his favorite images from his travels throughout the United States:

Central Park, New York City

GM: Like with all of my aerial shots, I flew high above the city in a doorless helicopter to capture Manhattan from above. Central Park is exquisite on foot but being in a helicopter and getting the full scope of how much land it spans and how much greenery is in the middle of one of the most bustling cities in the world is unforgettable.  

Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club, Santa Barbara

The Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club is such a glamorous, exclusive place tucked away within the Four Seasons Resort the Biltmore Santa Barbara. It has such a rich history and upon visiting it for the first time, I was immediately transported to a different time, convinced I needed to create a series that both paid tribute to a vintage and extremely luxurious period of the club’s history as well as put a modern spin on the project. For this image,  I used vintage costumes, evoking a feeling of the “Golden Age,” and played with elements like the umbrellas, stripes and colors to create an effortlessly relaxed yet aesthetically structured image. 

East Hampton, NY

Shooting every location is thrilling, but from the beginning I’ve been drawn to shooting beach aerials. The vantage point is unlike any other. I love seeing the patterns and colors below, how the coastal terrain looks up against the water and the shapes that umbrellas and structures become while looking at them from above. This image perfectly sums up the Hamptons: laid back yet chic. 

Hole 10, Pebble Beach

The success of my aerial images from my Pebble Beach and Big Sur series was such a great surprise.  I wanted to shoot these images for a while, but logistics were very hard to work out. Finally, last year, my team and I coordinated this shoot and I could not be more pleased with the results. I think this image, especially, captures the entire feel and incredible scenery of Pebble Beach, with the greenery of famous golf courses right up against the beautiful cliffs and rocky shores in this area. These images are perfect and nostalgic for any golf lover who has visited or hopes to visit this part of the California coast. 

Poolside at La Follia, Palm Beach

I shot this image at a private residence in Palm Beach that is an unbelievable property unlike any I have ever experienced before.  For this image, I wanted to celebrate the glamour of the property as well as create a vintage moment that makes the viewer feel like they are experiencing this day at this pool as well. This image, in many ways, was an homage to the famous Slim Aarons photo “Poolside Glamour ” which depicts two women in glorious 1960’s attire enjoying their cocktails by the pool. 

Rainbow Cowboy Hats, Marfa

Marfa is a very unique place. It’s located in the middle of nowhere Texas, and the Prada installation by Elmgreen and Dragset creates a very whimsical feel, especially with the background of this empty desert. Growing up in Dallas, I knew about the installation and about the tiny but prosperous art community in Marfa. The first time I visited this installation I was immediately inspired and I knew I needed to create something just as whimsical to pay tribute to it. The series was based off of the idea of the Prada installation being an actual functioning Prada store. I imagined who would shop at this store. Would their selection of merchandise be more geared to cowboys? 

Two Cowboys, Marfa

This shot was actually not planned. It was one of those in-the-moment images that ended up being a favorite of mine. We were setting up for a day of shooting and two local cowboys came to bring a mule for the project. It was sunrise and I noticed how incredible these two individuals in traditional Western garb looked against the layered sky and Prada building in the background. I said, “don’t move,” and got a few shots with this composition. I think so many people resonate with this image as it is a juxtaposition of high fashion with a desert environment and unexpected subjects, allowing the image to feel whimsical and evoke humor.  

Beverly Hills Hotel, CA

I’ve lived in Los Angeles for over ten years, yet I am still so giddy every time I visit The Beverly Hills Hotel. The property’s history and legendary guests really made my project at this property extremely special. The red-carpet entry represents all things that the Beverly Hills Hotel is associated with —celebrities and high-profile guests that have steadily visited since the hotel’s opening, high-end amenities and service, and an experience unlike any other. This series was focused on reimagining the hotel in a vintage framework, and this image evokes the feeling of when you’ve just arrived at an incredible destination, knowing you are about to spend your day relaxing by the pool.

You’re Always Welcome at The Parker, Palm Springs

Many of the images from this series, Gray Malin at the Parker, are actually in my children’s book Be Our Guest! My entire vision for this series was creating a world where the exotic animals were guests and employees of The Parker hotel, giving the images a fun and playful vibe which lend themselves to imagining a whole story surrounding them. This shot is at the entrance of the hotel and is a perfect combination of colorful props, beautiful design and, of course, the marvelous elephant. We worked with experienced animal trainers for this shoot, so this took some of the pressure off of working with the animals, however it was still challenging and took a lot of patience to get this shot.

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As a result of a legal tussle between the National Park Service and outgoing concessionaire, Delaware North, it was announced on Thursday that the Ahwahnee Hotel would now be called the Majestic Yosemite Hotel. No joke.

Delaware North, who won the contract to run Yosemite’s facilities in 1993, is demanding $51 million for the trademarks to not just the Ahwahnee Hotel name but several other iconic Yosemite hotels.

Yosemite Lodge at the Falls is to become Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village is now Half Dome Village, and perhaps the blandest of them all is the historic Wawona Hotel, which now faces its future as Big Trees Lodge.

Related Article: 5 Winning Tactics for Visiting U.S. National Parks

The new names will go into effect on March 1 but Yosemite National Park spokesman Scott Gediman said that the park service is still fighting for the right to keep the original names.

“We are clearly in disagreement with Delaware North,” he said. “We’re taking this action to ensure the seamless transition.”

Amazingly, the name ‘Yosemite National Park’ is also under dispute but will not be changed at the moment.
Let’s hope we’re not facing a future with America’s most iconic National Park as ‘Wonderful Valley National Park’ and its centerpiece, the Majestic Yosemite Hotel. We for one like misspelling Ahawnee and will continue to use it!

(All Roads North works with the very best guides and has access to a range of accommodation options that allows us to craft a truly unique and tailored national park experience. Get in touch to speak with one of our area specialists or get a little inspiration from our Epic Road Trip to Sequoia and Yosemite)

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We caught up with Ted Bennett, founder of Navarro Vineyards, whose family has been producing wine in the Anderson Valley since 1974.

Thanks so much for taking the time to chat Ted, you must be busy with start of the harvest?

Well the hot spell in early August drove up the sugars in the grapes and I know some people have already started but the acids are still a problem. We’ve already harvested for some grape juice, which was 20 degrees Brix. We’re looking for between 20 and 22.5. The seeds are still a little green but if the weather holds, we’ll be starting in earnest next week.

Lines of Gewurztraminer at Navarro Vineyard

Is this your favorite time of the year or do you prefer it when things quieten down?

One thing I have discovered in life is that I really enjoy crushing grapes. The whole process of using the crusher and stemmer, the smells, it’s hard not to be intoxicated by this time of the year. All of your hard work over the last twelve months is put into those casks.

How did you end up in the Anderson Valley?

Deborah and I were living in Berkeley in the late 60s and we’d got caught up in the food movement that was happening at the time. I’ve always loved the wines of Alsace, particularly Gewurztraminer, so we started looking for some land to buy. We went as far south as Santa Barbara, looked in the Santa Cruz mountains which we liked a lot but couldn’t find the right parcel, and also looked in Napa but soon gave that up. One October we ended up in Mendocino picking grapes in the rain across the road from what’s now Navarro Winery. The grapes had this beautiful russet color like they do in Alsace and tasted great. Several months later three parcels of an old sheep ranch came up for sale and that was that. We started by planting some Gewurztraminer as well as some Pinot Noir, which was the logical grape to grow alongside it.

Fog sitting in the Anderson Valley at sunset

I imagine the valley was pretty different back then. Were there even any other wineries?

Not really. There were two small operations when we arrived. The earliest of the new wave was Donald Edmeades, a doctor from Southern California. He ripped up an old prune orchard and planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Colombard, a pretty strange combination I thought. The son took over and added a plot of Gewurztraminer. Up the street was us, back when Tony and Gretchen Husch were managing it. They had ten or so acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. We arrived in ‘73, bought the ranch, and started to prepare the soil and build ponds. In ‘75 we planted the first sixteen acres of Gewurztraminer and five of Pinot Noir.

Driving through wine country it is clear that Mendocino has a distinct geography from Napa and even nearby Sonoma. How does this influence the wines from the Anderson Valley?

The valley is unique in that it is oriented to the northwest and this funnels the air off the Humboldt Current straight down the valley. We get a lot of fog in the morning and then cooling ocean breezes in the afternoon. It’s also a very narrow valley and this shortens the length of the days, particularly at the end of the season. It creates a situation where we have longer nights and therefore more time for the temperature to drop. We can have 15 degree swings everyday throughout the harvest. This stops the acidity from dropping out, so we have grapes with a high acidity but they are mature, perfect for the whites and sparkling wines we produce here.

View of Anderson Valley from Middle Ridge Vineyard

It’s amazing how many factors are involved. Do you feel that you’ve at all mastered things after all these years?

Ha…I can tell you a story about mastering things! We got very interested in Pinot Noir in the 80s. We planted several different clones and after a decade of doing this we had a pretty good knowledge of which ones did best. We planted in rows of four, each block with a different clone, so it’s fairly easy to see the differences between them. At the time Phylloxera was threatening the valley, so we decided to move further up into the hills where it was cooler. We soon realized that while we thought we understood the clones, we didn’t know a thing about the different rootstocks. It turned out that the rootstock had much more of an impact on the flavor of the wine than the clone. Mother nature surprises you like that. It is so complex and we’ll never master it. That’s the beauty of it.

Most of our international clients and I’m sure a few U.S. travelers will have heard of Napa and Sonoma but probably not Mendocino and the Anderson Valley. Is that starting to change?

When we first moved here downtown Boonville was pretty much deserted and most of the young people were escaping to the city. Now people are moving back and the population of the valley has probably doubled in the last 20 to 30 years. But the reality of the Anderson Valley and Mendocino County as a whole is that people are, how shall I put it…independent. Most residents like it the way it is and are not that keen for it to change. There are still no large hotels or big home developments and it is beautiful because of that. We have an Anderson Valley Plan and part of it says that any farm under 160 acres can’t be sold and split up. In many ways the valley looks much like it did in 1974.

The pumphouse and pond at Navarro

I often associate Mendocino with a strong counter-culture or hippie movement, is that accurate?

Yes, it’s still very active. A great example was the GMO ban that was put on the ballot ten years ago. Monsanto spend $800,000 to defeat it, in a county of only 80,000 people. It passed by 60 to 40 with the support of what’s been called the hippie-redneck coalition.

(Mendocino was the first U.S. jurisdiction to ban GMOs)

Before I let you go, what lesser-known spots would you recommend people visit on their way through the valley?

Across the road from us is Hendy Woods, one of the last remaining stands of virgin redwood forest in Mendocino. If you thought Muir Woods was beautiful, these trees will blow your mind.

My daughter is also involved in an interesting project near Boonville, called Pennyroyal Farm. It is a sheep and goat creamery with vineyards as well. They take a totally biodynamic approach by using the animals to weed the vineyards and then fertilizing the crops with their waste. It’s solar run and zero waste. The animals make it a great option for families.

Boonville itself is an interesting place and home to its own dialect called Boontling. A few old timers still ‘harp’ Boontling, they all seem to hang out at the drive-in for whatever reason! Up until the 60s it was still taught as a second language in the local school. When we had telephone booths, they were known as a ‘Buckey Walter’. It’s a combination of Buckey (a nickel) and Walter, the first man to own a pay phone in the valley who charged everyone a nickel to use it.

(All Roads North works with the very best wineries, big and small, and has access to a range of accommodation options that allows us to craft a truly unique and tailored wine country experience. Get in touch to speak with one of our area specialists.)

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