Travel Buzz

Indulge and Unwind

Small-town charm meets big-city talent up Highway 101. KASIA PAWLOWSKA

DESTINATION Healdsburg DISTANCE FROM MARIN 60 miles north

LET’S FACE IT: the bounty of the Bay Area spoils us. Miles of coastline, rolling hills for days, an abundance of produce and a never-ending stream of motivated people making the most of it all. A few places deserve extra-special designation, however, and Healdsburg is at the top of that list. Here visitors TANK OF GAS can find world-class hospitality, innovative dining and fine wine galore, all situated around a 19th-century plaza that anchors the town. Unscathed by last November’s fires, Healdsburg is open for business and ready for your next adventure. RIDE Skip the car and take in the surrounding natural beauty with all your senses from atop a new hybrid Giant bike. Cruising down country roads, you can go anywhere from 8 to 17 miles through the Dry Creek Valley and check out small and family-owned wineries including Lambert Bridge, Bella, Dry Creek and Rued Family Winery. Get a close-up of the grapes and vines, learn about the growing process, taste the goods and round out the journey with an alfresco lunch. Prices start at $175. winecountrycyclingtours.com DINE Attention to detail is everywhere apparent at SingleThread, Kyle and Katina Connaughton’s restaurant, farm and inn. The 55-seat dining space features mesquite wood floors, an open kitchen stocked with Japanese clay donabe ceramics and a layout that feels more like a house than a restaurant. The decor, cuisine and omotenashi concept — spirit of selfless hospitality — all point to the years the duo lived in Japan. Example: every menu has a personal note from Katina and all guests receive a small packet of seeds that relate to something they enjoyed in the meal. A nightly tasting menu, which can be customized to fit dietary preferences and restrictions, starts at $295. singlethreadfarms.com STAY For the best night’s sleep in town no place beats Hotel Les Mars. The 16-room hotel got a nod from Relais & Chateaux and comes replete with all the luxe amenities one could imagine, including Givenchy toiletries, bath salts for every mood, complimentary French breakfasts, and daily wine and cheese receptions. Guest rooms have antique furniture and four-poster beds featuring the hotel’s signature feature — customized mattresses only available through the hotel (yes, you can buy them) and linen from Versai, one of the largest manufacturers of Egyptian-cotton bedding from Italy. Your dreams will never be sweeter. hotellesmars.com SOCAL CANNES In spite of our professed regional loyalty to Marin, there’s no denying the allure of Orange County. With palm trees, tons of swimmable beaches, world-class shopping and balmy weather, life behind the Orange Curtain doesn’t seem too shabby. But now there is a different set of curtains that’s garnering the county a lot of attention — movie theater curtains. The Newport Beach Film Festival, now in its 19th year, has become the fastest growing film festival in the nation, drawing over 55,000 attendees. The festival shows bigscreen features as well as action sports film debuts and, much like the Mill Valley Film Festival, hosts galas and awards ceremonies. Beyond film, the fest also holds an in-depth architecture and design series focused on the United Kingdom. Catch some flicks while you nab some rays; the fun begins on April 26 and goes through May 3. newportbeachfilmfest.com K.P.

Travel Light

With so many variables affecting travel these days, many opt to keep their belongings close for convenience and speed. Here are three of our favorite carry-ons that really pack a punch. LEELA LINDNER

• BRIGGS & RILEY

INTERNATIONAL CARRY-ON If stuffing your bag to the max, then sitting on it while you squeeze the zipper shut defines your usual packing routine, this bag is for you. Though it may not be the most fashionable, this carry-on offers maximum packing capacity with CX (expansion-compression) technology that expands the bag up to 34 percent, then compresses it back to its original size, proving it’s what’s inside that counts. 9.3 pounds, $499, briggs-riley.com

• GENIUS PACK G3

A-place-for-everything is the mindset behind the Genius Pack, which features built-in compartments, exterior pockets for your water bottle and umbrella, a portable device charger (sold separately), packing checklist and the brand’s signature laundry compression technology. Complete with compression air valve and a laundry chute, this bag goes to extra lengths to ensure your dirty clothes won’t soil your clean ones. 7.8 pounds, $238, geniuspack.com

• INCASE EO TRAVEL

HARDSHELL ROLLER This stylish futuristic bag with a pop of neon flair is perfect for long weekends and those who can’t leave home without

their iStuff. A polycarbonate hard-shell front protects a tech compartment that fits a MacBook as big as 17 inches. The bag opens easily for TSA screening, meaning you don’t have to place your laptop into another bin. 8.1 pounds, $300, incase.com

GOING MY WAY? A new app focused on transporting things instead of people has hit the Bay Area. Roadie, a courier service that allows you to send “stuff” like bikes, boxes or that new turntable you bought, connects you with people driving in the right direction. Simply post your delivery wish list and get matched with a driver who can transport your goods from A to B, thus saving on gas and shipping fees. Or better yet, be the courier and make some cash yourself. roadie.com L.L.

1

What’s New in Portland

Portland’s economy is booming. According to one estimate, the Oregon city will see a 40 percent increase in hotel rooms by 2020, and new businesses are popping up faster than you can say “Where have all the lumberjacks gone?” Here are some spots worth visiting on your next trip north. DAWN MARGOLIS DENBERG

1 EAT For French food fans, a stop at Bistro Agnes is a must. The restaurant, owned by celebrity chefs Greg Denton and Gabrielle Quiñonez, focuses on Parisian classics, including cassoulet, beef short rib bourguignon and mussels marinière.

2 STAY Be among the first to stay at the Porter Hotel, opening next month. The 297-room four-star facility has an expansive library, an indoor pool, a meditation spa and a fitness center. Even if you can’t spend the night, swing by the rooftop restaurant, Xport Bar and Lounge. It’s too early to review the food, but the expansive outdoor dining deck with panoramic views of the skyline and mountains won’t disappoint.

3 PLAY While not technically new, The Portland Japanese Garden has undergone a $33.5 million expansion. This now-12-acre exhibit is considered one of the most authentic examples of a traditional Japanese garden outside that island nation. The massive undertaking includes a hand-chiseled and stacked-stone wall, which serves as the gateway to the garden’s new Cultural Village. Inside you’ll find three architecturally stunning buildings by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, along with the new Umami Cafe, where visitors cap garden tours with a traditional tea service.

2

3