Budget a full morning visit here and take the three-mile self-guided hike that winds through first and second growth redwood forest, to the Yu-ki Vineyard. You'll enjoy Pacific Ocean views and a full picnic lunch of local cheeses, charcuterie and breads paired with a silky, complex Freeman pinot noir.

Other local wineries utilize the nuanced grapes from the Sonoma Coast. Among them are: MacPhail, Littorai, Paul Hobbs, Halleck Vineyards, Martinelli and Freeman Winery. In fact the Freeman Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir delivers the quintessential flavor of this area – elegant, mysterious, contemplative and simply a stunner in a glass. If visiting, the Timber Cove Inn poses a welcoming retreat overlooking the Pacific Ocean.