One of the best things about living in the Bay Area is the ability to escape the city by driving a couple hours in almost any direction. During the summer, we decided to take a quick, one-night trip while testing out a new dog-sitter. Since it had been a few years since we last visited, we decided to head North to Healdsburg. Our 24-hour trip was just enough time to feel like a getaway.
Stay
We stayed at the h2hotel, where everything is within walking distance. This is like the hipper, younger sister to the adjacent Hotel Healdsburg. A junior suite comfortably fit our foursome for the night and we also enjoyed the (included) breakfast buffet. We hadn’t anticipated the nearly 100 degree heat, but luckily, were able to take refuge and a cool dip in their lovely pool.
Eat
After dropping our bags in our room, we headed straight for the Noble Folk Pie & Ice Cream Bar. It offers deliciously unique flavors using seasonal ingredients and was the perfect first stop for our quick trip, especially given the heat. The pies were tempting, as well, so we’ll have to try them on our next trip when the weather is cooler.
Dinner at Chalkboard was a must; the restaurant had been recommended to us by many friends. It is also in the space of the former Cyrus Restaurant, where we celebrated an anniversary on our last trip (without the kids). The more family-friendly Chalkboard offered delicious California cuisine in a more casual setting. Both kids couldn’t resist the Cacio e Pepe, having fallen in love with this dish in Rome.
To tide us over between meals, we stopped at the Oakville Grocery for bread and cheese, our favorite snack when heading North.
eXPLORe
The Square is small enough to walk around in one day and we took our time exploring all the nooks and crannies. One must-stop on my list was the Shed (above), which did not disappoint. I could’ve spent half a day in this combination of eatery, shop and workshop (which is conveniently located next door to Chalkboard). Other memorable stops included antique shops, Gathered, One World Fair Trade, Saint Dizier Home, and the Healdsburg Center for the Arts.
