Experience the freedom of Northern California in an area which is only two hours from either Sacramento or the Bay Area. Get out and have new experiences. The scenery is great.  Hike the mountain, bike the mountain. The Middletown and Lake County areas have all the outdoor activities, wine tasting and feelings of expansiveness that Napa and Sonoma Counties used to have.

The views from the top of Mt St Helena are nothing short of spectacular. There are two hiking trails at Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. One gently rises up the mountain, a five-mile hike to the top of the mountain with views from the Pacific Ocean to Mt Shasta and Mt Diablo. The other trail is rocky and made for a more experienced hiker, following a ridge overlooking the Napa Valley.

If you are up for a leisurely hike, you can visit the EcoArts Sculpture Walk, at Middletown’s 102 acre Trailside Park, in the heart of Middletown and surrounded by vineyards.

Touch and feel the great outdoors, listen to the birds and animals, breathe the cleanest air in the State and then end your day with a great meal at a local restaurant, like the highly acclaimed Boar's Breath Restaurant.

This area is ideal for bird-watching and small animal watching. The population of people is small enough that they can live in relative harmony with the natural fauna and flora of the area.

Crazy Creek Air Adventures offers some amazing experiences: soaring in a glider, on wings of air; taking the ultimate plunge of skydiving with tandem jumps; and reliving the barnstorming days of old in a bi-plane. They also offer Glider lessons, from basic to advanced instruction.

The wineries of Lake County are getting the recognition and reward that they deserve. Visit some of our unique, beautiful, award-winning wineries in an atmosphere without tour buses and crowds.    Lake County now boasts 30 wineries and has the tasting rooms and wine events to complement them. It is what Napa and Sonoma were 30 years ago … quaint, easy going, welcoming and not crowded. The countryside is beautiful, as it has been throughout since this area was settled in the 1860’s.

The Lake County Wine Adventure will be held On the weekend of July 25-26..  Taste wines from five of Lake County's six distinct viticulture areas.  Details are available at (800) 595-WINE or visit www.lakecountywineries.org.

Concerts and Dining are available at Konocti Harbor Classic Concerts by the Lake. Originally built by the Plumbers’ Union from San Francisco, this venue is a small and comfortable Gambling and live music on weekends is available at the newly opened and expanded Twin Pine Casino, which is owned and operated by the Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians.

Konocti is located on Clear Lake, which is the largest natural lake in California and arguably the oldest lake in the United States. Boating and Water Skiing are popular sports here on a lake which is not crowded and affords the boater the feeling of connection with nature. Clear Lake boasts some of the best bass fishing in the State.

Smith’s Trout Farm is a privately owned lake which has stocked rainbow trout and provides a great opportunity for families. They have all the fishing gear and bait you might need and picnic areas to cook your catch. There’s no license needed and no limit on your catch. Call (707) 987-3651 for more information.

One of Middletown’s most popular destinations is Harbin Hot Springs where one can get an all over tan, meditate, soak in the healing waters and enjoy a great massage or Watsu with some of the best practitioners around. Harbin’s newly finished Temple is a great attraction for visitors. Of course, children are not permitted in overnight facilities, making it necessary to find lodgings in the neighborhood.

The nearby geyser field is located between Middletown and Healdsburg. It hosts 23 generators, whose wells have recently been reactivated by the injection of waste water from the surrounding Lake and Sonoma Counties. This is a wonderful example of renewable energy at its finest….solving two ecological problems at once … finding a safe place to put waste water and generating clean, renewable energy.

Most of these generators are owned by Calpine Corp. Calpine also owns and operates the Calpine Visitor Center in Middletown which hosts a museum dedicated to geothermal energy production. This geyser field is the largest and produces the most electricity of any geothermal facility in the country.

While you’re staying here to enjoy the wealth of attractions in the Middletown and Lake County area, visit Middletown’s only Bed and Breakfast Inn, The Backyard Garden Oasis. This lovely location is only ten minutes away from Harbin Hot Springs and can accommodate children and welcomes workshop participants, at special workshop rates.

You couldn't ask for a cozier place to enjoy an escape, than in your own private cottage at the Oasis.  The Inn has king sized beds in cozy cottages on a rural property in a park-like setting. The skylight over the bed brings the outside inside and expands the feeling of space as well as consciousness. They can host outdoor weddings and commitment ceremonies.