San Francisco to Sea Ranch

Fuel up (and get gas nearby) for the road trip north at Toast. Head straight for the patio — it's a hot spot with locals — and enjoy the sounds of the waterfalls while noshing on a breakfast burrito with just the right ratio of eggs and beans to salsa and ranchero sauce.

The town of Valley Ford is often overlooked by tourists but it is one of those places that feels like time has not touched. It's a little rough around the edges, but this small Sonoma County town serves up local flavor without a fuss. Valley Ford Cheese and Creamery is a good spot to browse local cheese, olive oil, honey, and other "made local" goods. The family that runs the shop and restaurant is a longtime ranching family with a history of dairying. Try the Valley Ford grilled cheese with house-smoked pastrami, kimchi, and the family's Highway One fontina. You'll never go back to Kraft.

Get your ya-ya's out zipping through the trees before you walk through them (and sip some wine next to them afterwards). Soar through the trees to see the redwoods from multiple vantage points 200 feet above the ground in the Forest Flight Tour.

If you even have GPS amidst the trees and you cannot pull up Armstrong Redwoods State Park, try to find the coordinates – or use a paper map – to locate the visitor center. The parking lot is right next to it.
If you can handle the windy roads, drive straight north to Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. The redwoods (Sequoia sempervierns) here are not as tall as their inland cousins but are impressive for their stately grandeur and seem to be impervious to the wonders of the modern world (hint: your cell phone will not work here so a paper map may be a good idea). Check out the Colonel Armstrong tree, a 1,400-foot wonder which escaped a lumberman's axe in the 1870s. It is accessible on an easy loop from the parking lot.

Situated on an estuary at the mouth of the Russian River, Jenner is an outdoorsman's paradise with access to the sheltered waters and quick access to the ocean. This small cafe is set right on the water with plentiful outdoor seating, perfect for watching the creatures and birds of the natural world go by. Everything is made in house and the oysters are pulled from nearby waters. Have them as an appetizer with a glass of champagne.

The sea lions left San Francisco for cooler waters a few years ago. This is a chance to see and hear them once again at their easy-to-access resting place in Jenner.

Inside the Timber Cove Resort is a restaurant dedicated to the seasonal and local ethos. It is destination-worthy for elevated versions of familiar fare — chowder re-imagined with smoked trout and micro celery, heritage pork chop with smoked carrot-ginger puree and toasted grains — and impressive views of the Pacific. Stay for the berry cobbler with caramel sauce.

Yes, you are having a drink at the bar in a hotel designed by a famous husband and wife architecture team, The Novogratz. Built into The Great Room which serves as the hotel's main living space, the bar is all rustic woods and furnishings that feature modern and retro pieces, with 1920s décor, tribal textiles, colorful fabrics, worn leather, and preppy plaids to complement the intimate spaces. An antler chandelier serves as a reminder of the lodge's history as a hunting lodge. Rooms have a boutique vibe with natural log nightstands, SMEG refrigerators and record players for spinning vinyl and chilling. Aaaaaah. In the morning, take a walk around the property and snap a few pictures by the awe-inspiring totem pole.