A taste of Northern California's Lake County

Evan Halper, Los Angeles Times
12:00 AM PDT, October 29, 2006

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GETTING THERE:

From LAX, Southwest and United have nonstop flights to Sacramento. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $98.

Nice is about a two-hour drive from Sacramento.

WHERE TO STAY:

The Tallman Hotel, 9550 Main St., Upper Lake; (707) 275-2244, www.tallmanhotel.com. A lovely boutique hotel with 17 beautifully decorated rooms and suites; some have private patios with deep Japanese soaking tubs and outdoor showers. Doubles from $129.

The Lakeport English Inn, 675 N. Main St., Lakeport; (707) 263-4317, www.lakeportenglishinn.com, is a British-type bed-and-breakfast in downtown Lakeport. It has five Victorian-style doubles, a tearoom, a game room and an English garden. Doubles from $185, including full English breakfast.

WHERE TO EAT:

The Blue Wing Saloon and Café, 9550 Main St., Upper Lake; (707) 275-2233, www.bluewingsaloon.com" target="_blank">vwww.bluewingsaloon.com. An ideal place for high-end comfort food. Grab a table on the porch, which overlooks the peaceful gardens of the Tallman Hotel. Entrees $11-$18.

Studabakers Coffee and Deli, 3928 Main St., Kelseyville; (707) 279-8809. Has fantastic gourmet sandwiches in a hip coffee shop setting. Pick up provisions for a picnic at one of the area's wineries. Open for lunch. Sandwiches $5.50 to $8.

TNT on the Lake, 1 First St., Lakeport; (707) 263-4868, serves Mexican standards on a porch right on the lake. Open for lunch and dinner. Entrees $5-$12.

WHAT TO DO:

Taste wines: Start with the Fetzer family's Ceago Del Lago, where the tasting room is in an impressive Mediterranean-style lakeside hacienda; 5115 E. Highway 20, Nice, (707) 274-1462, vwww.ceago.com. Tasting fee: $5. Then head to the Langtry Estate & Vineyards (formerly Guenoc), on a gorgeous 22,000-acre property that once belonged to theater actress Lillie Langtry; 21000 Butts Canyon Road, Middletown, (707) 987-2385, vwww.langtryestate.com. Tasting free ($4 for reserve tasting). A little less scenic, but offering fine reds and whites nonetheless is Steele Wines; 4350 Thomas Drive, Kelseyville, (707) 279-9475, www.steelewines.com. Tastings $5 each.

Go hiking: Bureau of Land Management trails off California Highway 20 offer fine hikes. Look for the trail parking area where the highway crosses the northern fork of Cache Creek. A great source of information on area hikes is www.yolohiker.org" target="_blank">vwww.yolohiker.org.

Take a guided tour of Mt. Konocti volcano with Top of Konocti Trails; (707) 245-7322, www.topofkonocti.com. $20 per person.

TO LEARN MORE:

Lake County Visitor Information Center, 6110 E. Highway 20, Lucerne, CA 95458; (800) 525-3743, www.lakecounty.com" target="_blank">vwww.lakecounty.com.

— Evan Halper