The oldest lake in North America is 2.5 hours from SF, and you should visit

As they say in these parts, “Lake County puts the country in wine country.”

When you tell San Franciscans you’re taking a trip to Clear Lake, they sometimes look at you funny. But here’s a secret: Many of the high-quality grapes from around here ultimately land in cases with Napa labels. The cabernets and sauvignon blancs from seven appellations around the lake are superior, yet tastings and bottles cost a fraction of what they do in neighboring, fancy-pants Napa. Also, reservations are easy to come by, and unlike in Napa, most of the vineyards remain owned and operated by the families who started them.

There’s something undeniably appealing about an off-the-radar wine country, and from what people had told me, Lake County had more to offer than just wine. They were right. 

Ashley Harrell, SFGATE Associate Editor, recently spent time in Lake County and outlined all the reasons to visit for a Clearly Different getaway.

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