Winner of an Outside Magazine Trip of the Year award, this tour explores northern California's most scenic and inspiring routes.

We meet in Santa Rosa on a Sunday morning and cycle north through the vineyards of Sonoma Country’s Dry Creek Valley past Healdsburg to Hopland, where we spend the night at a country inn.

Monday we leave the vineyards and climb oak-covered hills over the Coast Range to Mendocino. We’ll enjoy lunch in the redwoods and fern forest of Montgomery Woods State Reserve before cycling onward to the oceanfront Mendocino Hotel, voted “Best Hotel in Wine Country” by readers of the San Francisco Chronicle. We’ll spend two nights here to give us a chance to enjoy a massage and explore this charming coastal town with its many fine shops and art galleries, and walk along the bluff overlooking the sea.

On Tuesday we offer a choice of several phenomenal bike routes in the Mendocino region, including a stunningly beautiful 51-mile loop ride. We also have several choices of hiking options for those who wish them.

Wednesday we cycle south along the Pacific Coast with the rocky shoreline to our right, the hills of the Coast Range to our left, and a helpful breeze at our back. We spend the night near Gualala at the Sea Ranch Lodge, a serene eco-resort overlooking the ocean. Its restaurant has won awards from both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast for the wine-friendly menu offerings.

Thursday we’ll climb the Coast Range over the iconic Skaggs Springs Road. This delightful route meanders through oaks and redwoods and ultimately drops us down to Lake Sonoma and the vineyards of Dry Creek Valley. We spend two nights in Healdsburg at the Hotel Healdsburg, which features upscale rooms and a full service spa, and is right on the town plaza.

Friday you’ll have a choice of staying in town to explore the excellent shops, restaurants, art galleries, and wine tasting rooms near our hotel, or go for a ride. The roads through the vineyards of Alexander Valley are perfect for an easier ride, while winding roads into the Mayacamas Mountains serve up several challenging loops with fantastic vistas. It’s your choice!

Saturday’s ride is the big day that takes us past vineyards and redwoods along the Russian River. Then we head uphill to the small town of Cazadero and King Ridge Road. This road has sweeping views of the hills and coast as it climbs over the Coast Range. You’ll see why some riders call it the most beautiful road they’ve ever ridden. Levi Leipheimer, the professional cyclist from Santa Rosa, winner of the 2008 and 2009 Tours of California (and the 2007 Tour de France’s third place winner) described King Ridge to the editors of Bicycling Magazine as his favorite local ride: “One ride stands a little bit apart from the rest. The highlight is King Ridge Road, a narrow winding stretch past grass-covered mountains, redwood forests, oak trees, small vineyards, ranches and old barns. There are no people, no cars.” Our ride ends with a fun, twisty descent to the coast, then goes south along the coast to Bodega Bay, where we spend our final night at gorgeous Bodega Bay Lodge.

On Sunday we climb over the hills one more time on Coleman Valley Road, crossing high open ranchland with more panoramic ocean views. We ride into the Santa Rosa area from Occidental, past fruit orchards and farmland, finishing with lunch at Korbel Champagne Cellars and Winery.