Winters, California, is a small and charming enclave in the Western Sacramento Valley.
Founded in 1875, it retains its rural community vibe and historic charm, with architecture reminiscent of its history.
It is also the center of Sacramento’s agriculture, with abundant farms and wineries lining its vicinity.
It’s a great hidden gem in Northern California for a quiet, peaceful but exciting visit.
Here are the best things to do in Winters, CA:
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Right next to the Putah Creek on the outskirts of Winters is Lake Solano County Park, an idyllic nature retreat in Yolo County.
The park is popular with locals in the area who love the great outdoors.
It’s the perfect destination for visitors looking for a relaxing time in a beautiful natural landscape.
There are so many outdoor activities in the area, from picnicking and camping on the grounds to hiking and angling on the different trails and treks.
There’s also a Nature Center on the grounds and opportunities to find wildlife for those who want to explore a bit more of Lake Solano.
On the waters, visitors can kayak, canoe, and fish along Putah Creek.
In the summers, you can also swim in the park, perfect for cooling off in the Californian sun.
The Lake Solano County Park is the perfect place to bring family and friends to enjoy nature out in Winters.
Further north of famed Napa Valley is Turkovich Family Wines, a proud Winters establishment brewing fine Northern Californian wines.
In 2007, winemaker Christopher Turkovich established the vineyard, realizing the farmland in Winters was a hidden gem for growing high-quality grapes for winemaking.
Visitors can come to the vineyard to see the production of their different varietals, such as their Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Rousanne.
Head down to their tasting room in Downtown Winters to try a flight of their finest varietals paired with small bites to elevate their taste.
Napa Valley isn’t the only place for great California wines.
A visit to Turkovich Family Wines should introduce you to your next favorite bottle.
Downtown on Russell Street is the Winters Museum, a site commemorating the rich history of Winters, California.
The Historical Society of Winters manages the museum, offering free admission to anyone.
The museum hosts permanent and rotating exhibits showcasing moments in the history of Winters.
Some shows include “Remembering Montecillo,” which showcases the area’s history as a thriving cultural town in Sacramento Valley until the end of the 1950s.
The museum also displays countless photographs, documents and memorabilia of old town Winters.
With the city’s rich history dating back hundreds of years, the Winters Museum is an excellent stop for visitors to know more about the city and its influence on Sacramento Valley.
Right along the CA-128 Highway is the entry to the Putah Creek Trailhead, a popular trail for locals in the Winters area.
This gem of a hike runs along a portion of the 85-mile long Putah Creek, offering gorgeous views of both the waters and mountains in Western Sacramento.
Visitors can enjoy the scenic hike spanning over six miles.
Walk among the native fauna of Yolo County and wade in the cool waters of the adjacent creek.
Within the hike is the Putah Creek Boulders, where you can try climbing the rocky boulders.
Some portions allow for a quick swim in the creek.
The Putah Creek Trailhead is a beautiful gem you should explore in Winters.
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The Berryessa Gap Vineyards is another proud Winters winery.
Berryessa produces award-winning wines that bring pride to Winters’ reputation as an agricultural hub.
Visitors can sample their various red and white varietals, such as their Petite Sirah, Tempranillo, Zinfandel, Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc.
Visitors can do this on their gorgeous estate winery next to their Cobble Ranch vineyard or in their outpost in Downtown Winters on Main Street.
Sip your wine while enjoying the beautiful Northern California landscapes on your visit to the Berryessa Gap Vineyards.
The family-owned Buckhorn Steakhouse has served Winters locals since 1980.
Formerly a hotel, the owners turned it into a premier steakhouse where locals can enjoy good food and company in a lovely location.
You definitely can’t miss their signature char-roasted tri-tip, Mentik-style prime rib and Angus beef steaks.
Even though it’s a steak house, they also cater to those with various diets, offering vegan and vegetarian options on the menu.
Buckhorn Steakhouse serves only the finest food Winters has to offer.
It’s also a hub for the local community, donating funds, time, meals and even a location for various worthy causes.
Have a bite of steak, drink a glass of wine and have a great time on your visit to the Buckhorn Steakhouse.
The Yolo 365 Tours is your all-in-one solution in Winters.
Friends Lynda Hinds and Lori Vidales own the service, offering different activities and experiences around Yolo County.
The tours are curated experiences to fit the interests of visitors to the activities and places around Winters and Yolo County.
Join the Winters Wine Tours to discover all the big and small wineries in the area, or maybe try the Beer and Bars Tours for those who want a bit more of a party.
If you enjoy a mix of great food and drink, join the Spirits, Porches and Patios tour.
This tour is a perfect route, enjoying the best craft cocktails and good eats that Winters offers.
They also offer private and customized tours if you want to host an experience with a big group of friends.
Get than all-in-one experience when you visit Winters on the Yolo 365 Tours!
Steady Eddy’s Coffee House is a go-to destination for locals to hang out and get their daily cup of joe.
Husband-and-wife tandem Jamell and Carla Wroten own the coffee shop, acclaimed as Yolo County’s Small Business of the Year.
Their vision is to be a community hub for fresh coffee and locally-sourced food.
Likewise, they have continually served the people of Winters even through several challenges.
Grab a cup or two of their espresso to get your day going, paired with their sandwich selections made fresh daily.
Try their Breakfast Wrap or Turkey Bacon Avocado sandwich paired with Iced Monticello Mocha or a Hot Nut-n-Honey Latte.
Steady Eddy’s also hosts a Coffee Club for coffee enthusiasts.
Their roastery also offers beans you can brew in your house for your own home.
Hotel Winters is a stone’s throw away from the city’s shopping and dining experiences.
You’ll gain a new understanding of luxury with small-town charm.
The hotel prides itself as a boutique spa hotel, with the luxurious ZenTerra Spa providing every service to pamper you and help you relax.
Get a full-body massage or a Hydrafacial to make you look and feel your best while you explore around Winters.
The rooms at Hotel Winters are simple but spacious, offering modern amenities amidst the old-world architecture.
Make your stay memorable as you book a room at the Hotel Winters today.
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The Winters Putah Creek Nature Park is a great place to visit and learn about nature and wildlife.
Students and volunteers work together to plant trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses along the edge of the creek.
Visitors can hike the nature park’s trails, seeing the hard work of the community to maintain the area’s lush greenery.
Visitors can also reach out to the Putah Creek Council to volunteer their time and help maintain this project.
The Winters Putah Creek Nature Park is a great place to relax and wind down when in Winters.
Winters Fruit Tree began selling cherries and apricots in the Santa Clara Valley in the 1920s.
Since then, it has grown to become a local purveyor of fresh fruit and produce in Sacramento.
The family relocated their farm to Winters in 1967 as Santa Clara became an urban hub.
Today, the family’s 4th and 5th generations run the place.
Shop their outpost on Grant Avenue for fresh fruit and produce, locally sourced nuts, jams, and other pantry staples.
Take home some of their popular Mimosa Orange Jellies or June Honey Yellow Peach Jam.
Also, try their yummy, homemade nut butter like pistachio, snickerdoodle almond butter or cocoa nut butter.
Besides their outpost in Winters, they also do Farmer’s Markets in the Bay Area for those who want their fix.
Hooby’s Brewing is a local Winters favorite to get your next pint of beer!
Sample unique labels like the Wrong Way Pilsner, Tread Lightly Blonde Ale, or the Seeing Double IPA, in their tap room downtown.
Pair these brews with hearty bites like their waffle sandwiches, which come with fillings like buffalo chicken and pulled pork.
Grab a beer and a bite at Hooby’s Brewing!
The 20-acre Rainwater Ranch produces some of the juiciest oranges and fresh produce for the people of Yolo County.
A husband-and-wife tandem owns the place.
They chose to leave their university desk jobs to lead a life of tranquility as stewards of the Rainwater Ranch.
The farm is best known for its navel oranges.
Through the years, they have also cultivated various specimens of native flora.
Bring home a bouquet or two of their fresh flowers, perfect to perk up any tabletop or corner of your home.
You can also interact with some of their farm pets while roaming around and enjoying the beautiful views.
Don’t forget to add the Rainwater Ranch as a pitstop on your visit to Winters.
Enjoy a unique gastronomical experience at Park Winters with their Farm Dinners, bringing the best local food from farm to table.
The menu changes with the season, with the chefs serving the freshest catch elegantly cooked and plated.
The courses highlight ingredients sourced from nearby Winters farms, including carrots, sweet corn, and navel oranges.
The courses also come with wine pairings bottled by local winemakers.
Enjoy the finest taste of Winters at the Farm Dinners at Park Winters.
Visit the Emerald Hills Ranch to bring out your inner equestrian.
Emerald Hills Ranch is a horse boarding facility that takes care of local horses.
Visitors can see these gentle animals on the farmlands and ride them on the 15,000-square-foot open space.
The ranch is a scenic destination for both horse lovers and casual enthusiasts.
For a different kind of experience, take time to tour theBondolio Olive Oil Farm on Campbell Road.
Owned by Karen and Malcolm Bond, the business is a certified organic olive oil producer, applying only sustainable farming to their 10-acre Sicilian estate.
Olive varieties particularly Biancolilla, Nocellara, and Cerasuola olives are grown and milled onsite; their artisan blends have also garnered several awards, including the Good Food Award and the New York International Olive Oil Competition among others.
Take a tour of the farm and see the lovely olive trees at the groves, the farm mill, and their indoor tasting room; do make sure that you book a month ahead to reserve.
Have samplings of the Bondolio Estate Blend or Organic EVOO, the award-winning Bondolio Mandarin Orange Olive Oil, and the Bondolio Estate Blend Olio Nuovo or Organic EVOO.
You can also go for a Tour and Pizza where you’ll enjoy wood-fired pizza cooked in a Tuscan clay wood oven.
More so, come over on the second Sunday of December and join the Annual Olio Nuovo Celebration and experience harvesting olives at the groves.
Aside from their olive oil brands, they also carry other products like Saporoso’s Dark Balsamic and Prelibato’s White Balsamic, along with one-pound packages of Parmigiano Reggiano.
You can also bring home exclusive items by Bondolio Olive Oil Farm like the lovely dipping bowl and olive oil vase.
If you want to spend the day for art appreciation or just want to bring out the artistic side in you, go visit Anona Gallery right on Main Street.
This work studio and art gallery are housed inside one of Downtown Winter’s historic buildings and are open from Thursday to Saturday in the first and third week of the month.
Drop by and you’ll likely meet Anona, sharing about her artworks or busy working on a piece.
She’s a self-taught artist who uses her life experiences as an inspiration to create her masterpieces.
You’ll see her various works in abstract realism and acrylic pours, along with her small, medium, and large collections on display at the gallery.
Join one of her abstract art classes and you’re sure to have fun with family and friends.
Get inspired and express yourself through art at Anona Gallery.
Bring the family and get to watch entertaining stage productions by the Winters Theatre Company.
The theater company is the oldest drama group in the county and was established in 1980.
They have presented over a hundred theatrical plays to the local community including musicals like Peter Pan and The Wizard of Oz, the comedy Sylvia, mysteries like Ravenscroft, dramas like Collected Stories, and so much more.
You can check their website for upcoming theater shows, venues, and time slots.
You’re most likely to catch their stage performances at the Winters Community Center or under the stars at the Winters Community Center Amphitheater.
Enjoy the stage presentations featuring talented local actors of Yolo County at different venues.
What’s notable about the theatre company is its contribution to several local non-profit organizations like Winters PTA and hosting fundraiser nights for different organizations like Winters Fortnightly Club, Empower Yolo, and others.
Winters Theatre Company is also a member of the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance.
For a place to shop for local quality items, drop by Winters Collective located on Main Street.
The shop houses several independent vendors and local artists which you can check out from Tuesday to Sunday.
Find some trendy outfits and fashionable accessories and browse through assorted baby clothing, children’s wear, and toys.
You’ll also find good deals on beauty and body essentials like fragrances and skincare products.
For your home, you can pick from an array of art and home decor, home scents, and kitchen wares; there are also dried and faux plants and flowers, and garden accessories you might like.
You can also sign up and join workshops hosted by Winters Collective like Floral Design and Floral Wreath Workshops.
Treat yourself to a relaxing massage at ZenTerra Spa after all the day’s activities.
You’ll find this premier spa inside Hotel Winters and avail of their services on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Local owners Sherean and Sam Maynard offer customers nothing less than a relaxing escape and rejuvenating experience for their guests.
You’ll only be pampered using natural, quality products like Image and doTERRA’s Lavender, Lemongrass, and Peppermint essential oils, bringing out the best in your health and beauty.
Try the Zen Zero Gravity Experience or let out all the stress with a Zen Luxury Massage or Grounding Zen Foot Bath; otherwise, stimulate your circulation with the Himalayan Heaven and melt away the tension from your body.
If you’re booking with a loved one, you can avail of the Couples Massage; likewise, there are other excellent spa packages and facials you can try.
Enjoy an invigorating experience at ZenTerra Spa.
Winters is a nondescript hidden gem in the Sacramento Valley.
It presents a bevy of experiences such as lush nature, abundant farmland and wineries and locally produced food and drinks.
It’s the perfect place to unwind with a glass of wine landscaped by beautiful waters and mountains.
Pack your bags now and plan your trip to Winters today!
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