Winters, California located in YOLO County is a town of a little over 7,000 people. It features delicious locally sourced food, plenty of outdoor activities, and all sorts of fresh air! I recently had the opportunity to visit for the weekend with the YOLO tourism board. I was shocked by the openness and kindness of the residents – I felt more at home than I do in my hometown. Looking for a quaint and relaxing weekend trip? Keep reading for a Weekend in Winters, California: Bay Area Weekend Getaway.
GETTING TO WINTERS
As previously mentioned, Winters is located within YOLO County in Northern California. It is a short drive from Sacramento and Winters. Looking to visit from the Bay Area? From:
- San Francisco: ~1 hour
- San Jose: ~1 hour & 45 minutes
- Oakland: ~1 hour
WHERE TO STAY IN WINTERS
We stayed at the Abbey House Inn which was built in 1905 and is known for being a “home away from home” in Winters. This historic home was turned into a bed & breakfast and updated with some modern spins. There are 6 different rooms, each with their own unique style. We stayed in the Ophelia Suite.
Growing up, I was a big fan of Anne of Green Gables. And this felt like a home straight out of the book! I loved the wrap around porch and the old-fashioned vibe. Innkeeper Annette was watering the plants when we arrived and made us feel as if we were visiting family members. The kitchen is fully stocked with all the breakfast essentials – eggs, toast, oatmeal, cereal, coffee and more!
My favorite part? It was a tie between the fluffy bed, the hospitality, and the fact that the Inn is located less than a 5 minute walk to the heart of town.
- Address: 101 Abbey Street, Winters CA 95694
- Price: from $150 / night
- Pro Tip: Start your day with breakfast at the inn before heading out to explore. Pick up a coffee at Steady Eddy’s if you’re on the go!
WHAT TO DO IN WINTERS
Exploring Winters was interesting – there was so much to see and do, but everything operates at a leisurely pace. It reminded me that I needed to slow down and just enjoy the surroundings.
Go honey tasting & tour an apiary at Henry’s Bullfrog Bees & Pure Honey
Our first stop was to Henry’s Bullfrog Bees & Pure Honey for a private tour and tasting. This was a great way to start as Doniece, daughter of the owners greeted us with some good old Winters charm! We had the opportunity to learn about the history of the farm, do a tasting, and learn more about bees. At the end of our tour Doniece cut us some fresh flowers to take home with us from her mother’s garden. The Zenias featured below may be my new favorite flower!
About the farm: The apiary was founded by Doneice’s father Henry (Henry is the beekeeper) over a decade ago. However, their family has been a farming family in Winters for generations. In 2009, Doneice and her mother branched out to create boutique brand “Pure Honey.”
About Pure Honey: This mother-daughter company features honey from Henry’s Bullfrog Bees and includes different varieties of honey, including my favorite – the caramel honey! The wildflower is a crowd favorite. They sell all over Northern California, but you can order online here.
Go Cheese & Wine Tasting at Turkovich Family Wines
Have you ever watched a Hallmark Christmas Movie? In every one there is that restaurants or shop that is the central meeting point where people come together. That’s Turkovich Wines in downtown Winters. It’s the spot where locals and tourists alike go to enjoy a glass of wine and some local cheese.
About Turkovich Family Wines: Third-generation farmer Christopher Turkovich started the business in 2007 with his wife (and winemaker) Luciana. Linked to the family wine business is the Winters Cheese Company started by Christopher’s brother Danny. Their cheese is sold in the building and is served in the tasting room.
Tastings: The tastings include 5 1oz pours for $10, and include any of the wines on the menu (including the reserves!). The cheese tasting includes their 5 signature cheeses.
About the Wine Club: I was so impressed by both their wine and cheese clubs that I HAD to talk about it. First of all, when you’re a member of the wine club, you get as many free cheese & wine tastings as you’d like (including up to 6 guests). They also host pick up parties 4 times a year that turns into a whole event! I got the inside scoop, and turns out they’re planning to move their parties to their vineyard outside of town.
- Address: 304 Railroad Ave, Winters, CA 95694
- Hours: Monday – Wednesday 10 AM – 5 PM, Thursday – Saturday 10 AM – 9 PM
- Popular items: Most popular cheeses include the tinto and the gouda. Most popular wine is “the boss” (their red wine) and the Albariño (white wine).
Go Shopping on Main Street
Winters Collective
Historic Main Street makes for a perfect stroll. Pop into the boutiques lining the street to check out unique and local wares. A few of my favorites:
- Winters Collective
- Address: 41 Main Street
- About: Featuring local items from various vendors including flowers, clothing, home décor, & more!
- The Flying Pig Marketplace
- Address: 7 E Main Street, Suite 7B
- About: Home decor and accessories.
Check out the historic Winters Railroad Bridge
The Winters Railroad Bridge was built in 1906 as a functioning railroad track. It was later converted to a walking and biking path in 2006. Pro tip: go early morning to get the bridge to yourself!
Day trip to Capay Valley & go wine tasting at Seka Hills
Looking for a little day trip? The Capay Valley is located a short 20 minutes away from Winters. I recently wrote an article all about spending a day in the Capay Valley which you can find here. While in the Capay Valley, stop by the Seka Hills Olive Mill & Tasting Room for some wine and olive oil.
- Address: 19326 Rd 78, Brooks, CA 95606
Tasting Room Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 11AM – 5:00PM
Pick up fresh produce at Winters Fruit Tree
There are plenty of roadside markets that you’ll stumble across while driving around Winters. Founded in 1968, Winters Fruit Tree started as a seller/ grower of royal apricots, and later expanded to sell other local farmers’ produce.
- Address: 415 Grant Ave, Winters, CA 95694
- Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 AM – 6 PM, Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM
WHERE TO EAT IN WINTERS, CA
Putah Creek Café
When I travel, I have a rule never to eat at the same restaurant twice – mainly because I don’t want to miss out on all the different stops. Well, I broke my rule with the Putah Creek Cafe. We started with weekend brunch and ended up returning the next day because we had to try the outdoor pizza oven!
- Address: 1 Main Street, Winters, CA 95694
- Hours: Daily 6AM-3PM, Dinner Saturday 5-9PM & Sunday 4:30-8:30PM
- Popular dishes: The Davis sandwich, eggs benedict, corn pie
Steady Eddy’s
Steady Eddy’s was our go-to for a quick and light breakfast early in the morning. You’ll find that Winters is sleepy in the morning, and this is one of the only spots open early! They serve artisan coffee and light breakfast items like oatmeal, bagels, and waffles.
- Address: 5 E Main Street, Suite A, Winters, CA 95694
- Hours: Sunday – Friday 6 AM – 3 PM, Saturday 6 AM – 5 PM
Preserve Public House:
Preserve feels like a hip bar/restaurant dropped out of trendy San Francisco. Their menu feels like upscale Americana, and locals claim that the Sunday brunch is a must-try!
- Address: 200 Railroad Ave, Winters, CA 95694
- Hours: Sunday Brunch 10 AM – 2 PM, Monday – Thursday 11:30 AM – 9 PM, Friday – Saturday 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM
- Popular dishes: anything on the Brunch menu, Berryessa burger, ribeye steak
Berryessa Gap Tasting Room & Winery
The Berryessa Gap Tasting Room has two locations – one located in the heart of downtown Winters, and the other a couple of miles away in the country. During the summer the winery is the place to be! The winery offers tours (by appointment only) and tastings. They also hae
- Winery:
- Address: 27260 Hwy. 128, Winters
- Hours: Thursday & Friday 10 AM – 8 PM, Saturday & Sunday 12 – 6PM
- Downtown Tasting Room:
- Address: 15 Main St., Winters, CA 95694
- Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 11:30 AM – 8:30 PM
YOLO Traders Bistro
Yolo Traders Bistro features Mexican-inspired taps with all organic and sustainable ingredients. You can really taste the freshness in each ingredient. This is the perfect stop if you’re looking for a light meal and wanting to share a variety of small plates between friends and family.
- Address: 30 Main St.,Winters, CA 95694
- Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 4 – 9 PM
Disclaimer: this post was created in collaboration with “Visit YOLO” but all thoughts are my own.
Looking for more Yolo County travel ideas? Check out our day trip to Capay Valley, Davis Sunflower fields, and our Sacramento Weekend Guide!
