February marks the countdown to Valentine’s Day, when couples express their unconditional love for their significant other.

After a dozen-plus trips to Sonoma Valley, I have a list of my absolute favorite hotels. It’s a part of California that feels like a second home and always love to revisit it.

While many head to the Golden State for a summertime escape, now is Northern California's magic time of year. From the coastal beaches to the lakeside and mountains, the most unique destinations wake up in the winter.

Former Disney child star Dylan Sprouse paid homage to his supermodel wife Barbara Palvin in a

Sonoma is a small but beautiful Spanish colonial town, backdropped by redwoods and rolling hills, nestled at the end of the crescent-shaped Sonoma Valley. Its bucolic charm is nurtured through a sprinkling of world-famous vineyards which offer down-to-earth rustic vibes, and a plethora of distinguished wine-tasting excursions.

It’s all about location. For a traveler, I can think of no truer axiom, especially when it comes to hotels. We want to stay close to the food, the shopping, and the fun. For proof, look no further than the Cottage Inn and Spa in Sonoma, California.

Book one of these healing retreats located between the Santa Barbara coast and the Sierra Nevada mountains to experience authentic California soul. Yoga-meditation, trekking, and plant-based foods are available to soothe your mind and body. It’s motivating and appropriate because religious retreats in California provide everything from plant-based nutrition and meditation to mountain treks and other fun activities.

After the festive season is over, the best way to keep your spirits high is with the prospect of future travel. The first few weeks of January also happen to be a great time to score some major travel deals, as most tourists have headed home post-New Year’s Day.

With international travel all but forbidden right now, and local health officials gradually loosening restrictions on dining and attractions, now’s as good a time as any to focus on Northern California’s easy-to-access scenic allures.

Are you looking forward to a romantic holiday full of good wine and food? Sonoma is a place that delivers these in spades. It is a wine region in California, bordering both the Pacific Ocean and another popular wine area, Napa Valley.

erhaps more than any other year, most would-be travelers are in need of a vacation to soothe frayed nerves and recharge their souls. The California Association of Boutique & Breakfast Inns (CABBI) has compiled a list of tranquil inns to escape to this year for a well-needed wellness retreat.

On a recent trip to investigate Sonoma wine country–more on that coming soon—we found ourselves with the inevitable, unenviable task of making travel arrangements to facilitate our visit. This involved, initially, flying into San Francisco for one night, and rather than choosing the easiest option, we decided to make it a memorable one.