Healdsburg: Wine paradise found

A lot of travelers consider this Sonoma County town the ideal base for a wine country weekend. They may be right. Healdsburg lodging options run from the eco-chic (H2hotel, from $295; h2hotel.com)  to the contemporary rustic (Healdsburg Modern Cottages, from $275; healdsburgcottages.com), and dining here runs from the very high-end (Cyrus, $$$$; 707/433-3311) to the homey (Downtown Bakery & Creamery, $; 707/431-2719). Just to the west of town lies the Dry Creek Valley (pictured), which—shhh—may be the most beautiful wine region in California. Our favorites include Dry Creek Vineyard (drycreekvineyard.com) and Lambert Bridge Winery (lambertbridge.com).