Three ways to holiday in Lake County

When you hear  “holiday season,” you probably think of trees, tinsel, gifts, and  snow. Lots and lots of snow.  But how about a wine tour? Or a fun-filled, small-town festival? Or even an invigorating hike up a 10,000-year-old volcano?

Hey, we’ve got no problem with snow (we get some of it ourselves), but we do things Clearly Different here in Lake County, California. That goes for the holidays too.

Make no mistake, we offer everything you expect from a classic Christmas, New Years, and holiday season. Just think of it like a traditional holiday season  – with a twist.

If you’re looking for a holiday hidden gem, you’ve found it! Here’s how to holiday your way in fa-la-la-Lake County!

Sip and savor wines this holiday season!

“Here we go a-wassailing, among the leaves so green.” More like: “here we take a wine tour, while enjoying the great outdoors!” Lake County is the fastest-growing region in wine country, which means we’re also one of the best places for wine in the world! We’re not bragging, because we happily welcome one and all to enjoy our wonderful wines, majestic scenery, and even better company. The way we figure, our scrumptious grapes and beautiful views are a gift from Mother Nature. We’re just lucky enough to live here, so we’re more than happy to share both.

There’s certainly no shortage of places to experience the best of both. But if you’re looking for a “holiday wish list” to make your trip easier, we recommend checking out our North County Wine Trail  and our South County Wine Trail itineraries. Both boast a variety of varietals for you to sip and savor this holiday season.

Fill your calendar with the best fests!

What’s more enchanting than seeing a lake-and-mountain town transform its main street into a magical gathering for the holiday season? Honestly, we can’t think of anything. What can we say? We like to go big for the holidays. Kick off the season on Friday, December 5 with ”Kelseyville Christmas in the Country,” highlighted by a picture-perfect parade, plus an entire downtown that’s lit up like a  Christmas tree. Keep the festivities going on Saturday, December 6 with the “Festival of Trees” at the Konocti Event Center. This exquisite evening benefits Hospice Services of Lake County, with a live auction of beautiful holiday trees. The following Saturday, December 13, magic comes to Middletown for “Christmas In Middletown,” a lovely loop through downtown that features Who-ville inspired decorations, vendors, arts and crafts, holiday displays, and of course, a chance to meet St. Nick himself (plus it’s free!). Grownups won’t want to miss “Christmas at the Ranch and Syrah Release” at Six Sigma Ranch & Winery on Saturday, December 20. Please your palate with the perfect food pairing with a newly released wine flight. Good news grownups: kids can come too, with family friendly activities like hay rides, cookies, cocoa, and more! There are more holiday events than we can mention here, so your best bet is to check out our events page.

Embrace the magic of Mother Nature!

Maybe we’re old-fashioned romantics (okay, we definitely are), but there’s nothing more magical during the holiday season – or any season – than the majesty of Mother Nature. We certainly have a lot of it in Lake County; more than 1,300 square miles, in fact. And with California’s clearest skies and more than 265 days of sunshine, chances are good you’ll get to enjoy the great outdoors during a beautiful day too. There’s so much to see and do that we can’t mention it all, but here are some of our favorites. Hike to the summit of Mt. Konocti, a 10,000-year-old volcano that boasts panoramic views second only to what Santa sees in his sleigh. Fill your sleigh (a.k.a. your fishing boat) at “The Bass Capital of the West,” Clear Lake, home to big mouths, striped bass, trout, catfish, and your next trophy. Or keep it simple, and just sit on the porch of your cabin with a cocoa or cider in hand, listening to the forest sing carols. Simply put, if you love being outside, there’s no better place to be than Lake County.

The holidays are almost here, and the greatest gift for us is seeing friends old and new like you.  So whether you’re looking for a place to spend your holiday vacay, or just want a weekend getaway a short drive away, experience the magic of the holiday season in Lake County. We’ll see ya when ya get here!

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