Despite being shaped by the dramatic natural wonders of a volcano and mineral hot springs, 莱克县 exudes a lot of pastoral bliss. Spend a few days in this inland stretch of the North Coast region, north of the Napa Valley and east of Mendocino County, and you’ll encounter great wines, 布满星星的天空, and plenty of fresh-air fun.
Anchored by towns including Clearlake Oaks, Kelseyville, 米德尔顿, 和湖畔港埠, 莱克县 regularly ranks on lists for the best air quality in America, and its hot springs have attracted health-conscious vacationers since the 19th century. Today the county has the largest geothermal field complex in the world—see it when touring 的间歇泉—as well as charming museums detailing the area’s long history. 请查看 Historic Courthouse Museum, which delves into the area’s Native American heritage, and houses one of the world’s largest collections of Eastern Pomo basketry, 和 Ely Stage Stop & 国家博物馆, with its stagecoach and other relics. For fun nostalgia fix, browse the retro treasures at Clarke’s Collectibles and Lunch Box Museum.
说到午餐, farm-to-table dining thrives in 莱克县, given its abundant farmland, and pears often make their way onto the menu. Try the local produce–fueled comfort food at Saw Shop Public House, including a brisket braised in the stout from Kelsey Creek Brewing Company; the local-pear-and-gorgonzola pizzas at lakefront 公园的地方; 和 barbecue at Lower Lake’s Danny’s Roadside Kitchen. For a sweet treat, stop in for a mocha and pastry made at 马塞尔的面包店, with locations in Clearlake Oaks 和湖畔港埠. Or, come in September for the Kelseyville Pear Festival, with tastings, pear-packing contests, and mule-drawn wagon rides.
Set aside plenty of time to explore 莱克县’s under-the-radar wine scene—更多的 than 40 wineries strong—that takes full advantage of the Mediterranean-like climate and volcanic ash –rich soil. Wine lovers increasingly head here for the combination of excellent wines and a scene that’s both laid-back and affordable.
在克利尔莱克奥克斯 Cache Creek Vineyards, taste Chardonnay with hints of pear while watching wild turkeys and tule elk amble by. At 香农脊, sip Sauvignon Blanc next to Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, with its Pomo-era archeological sites. 在Kelseyville, Fore Family Vineyards creates an acclaimed Mourvedre while 劳约庄园酒庄 provides both excellent Petite Sirahs and big views of hollow volcano Mt. Konocti. And if you like Cabernet Sauvignon, don’t miss 六西格玛牧场, where you will love their world-class Cabs 和 Tempranillo, made with grapes grown at the winery’s Diamond Mine Vineyard, named after glittering bits of volcanic quartz in the soil. Explore the former ranch on an ATV tour, or enjoy a picnic under the century-old oak trees next to the ranch’s cabin-turned-tasting room. (Feel like a glamping adventure? Since 2023, the vineyard has also been home to “prêt-a-camper” outdoor resort company Huttopia’s second Golden State location, which has been dubbed Huttopia Wine Country.)
This rich terrain offers plenty of ways to play, too. Thanks to spots such as 清晰的湖—California’s largest freshwater lake—this is a prime region for 钓鱼 还有水上运动. Or head to the 27,000-acre Cache Creek Wilderness Area, with hiking trails and seasonal whitewater rafting on Cache Creek (and keep an eye out for bald eagles). 莱克县’s clear skies make for great stargazing, too, whether you’re looking from Kelseyville’s 泰勒天文台, with its research-grade telescope and planetarium, or from a campsite at 清晰的湖 State Park.
Beyond the campground, you can stay in a range of brand-name or independent 酒店—such as the historic Tallman酒店 in downtown Upper Lake, which originally served travelers along 19th-century stagecoach lines, and today offers geo-thermally heated soaking tubs. 或者，呆在 复古的农舍 ,邻居 Chacewater酒厂 & 橄榄油厂, sleep in one of the nine antique railroad cabooses at Featherbed Railroad B&B，或在 松树林—a forest retreat next to Kelsey Creek that has mineral springs-fed swimming pools.
