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When I think about easy getaways, my mind usually goes straight to Napa, Sonoma, or the coast. But tucked away just over an hour from San Francisco is a tiny town that completely surprised me, and I can't believe more people aren't talking about it.
I discovered the tiny agricultural town of Winters, and honestly wasn't expecting much more than a nice dinner and maybe a glass of wine. Instead, we spent the day wandering historic streets, finding charming shops, eating really good food, and discovering that Winters has that rare small-town magic. Here's exactly how we spent one day in Winters.
Morning: Breakfast, Flowers & Small-Town Charm
There's one thing I almost always do when I arrive in a new town: I find out where the locals eat breakfast. In Winters, that place is , a casual, family-owned restaurant where the welcome feels genuine and the portions are definitely not designed for people counting bites. When we walked in, servers greeted regulars by name, coffee cups were constantly being refilled, and nearly every table seemed to have a plate of comfort food that made me rethink my own breakfast order.
I kept things light with the Greek yogurt parfait, which came loaded with fresh fruit and crunchy granola, while Pete ordered the enormous huevos rancheros. Everything tasted homemade, fresh, and exactly what we needed before spending the day exploring. If you're visiting on a weekend, expect a bit of a wait—it seems everyone in town knows this is the place to start the day. If you're in more of a coffee-and-pastry mood, Steady Eddy's just across the street is another great option.
I went with the Greek yogurt parfait, piled with fresh fruit and crunchy granola, while Pete ordered the enormous huevos rancheros. Everything tasted fresh and homemade, which is exactly what I want from a small-town breakfast.
After breakfast, hop back in the car for the short drive to , a beautiful country estate surrounded by farmland just outside downtown. The property has a completely different feel from Main Street, with gardens, open fields, a historic Victorian farmhouse, and pretty views of the countryside. We happened to visit on a day when the property wasn't open to the public, but we could still see enough of the gardens to know I wanted to come back and experience it properly.
If you're planning your visit for a weekend, check the Park Winters schedule before you go because this is one stop where timing matters. Depending on the season, you can wander through the U-Pick Flower Farm and create your own bouquet, enjoy weekend brunch, attend an afternoon tea or sign up for a seasonal workshop. There's also a charming Cottage Shop, and if you want to make the trip an overnight experience, the restored 1865 Victorian farmhouse has just four guest suites.
Afternoon: Great Food, Local Shops & Wine Tasting
By lunchtime, we'd worked up a serious appetite, so we headed back downtown to . My original plan was to order something sensible and light, but then I spotted the Fried Chicken Bánh Mì on the menu, and suddenly my healthy intentions were nowhere to be found. The crispy chicken was tucked into a soft baguette with fresh, crunchy toppings, and it was delicious.
Don't overlook the salad, either. I know that sounds like an odd thing to say after recommending fried chicken, but Preserve's house salad was genuinely delicious, with crisp greens, apples, feta, radishes, and a fresh dressing that made it feel like an actual dish instead of something added to the menu because restaurants are supposed to have a salad.
Once you've eaten, take a walk over to the Historic Trestle Bridge, which is close enough to downtown that you can easily fit it into your afternoon. Originally built in 1906 to carry trains over Putah Creek, the bridge was later converted into a pedestrian walkway, so you're literally walking through a piece of Winters' railroad history. Look down as you cross and you'll notice thin red strips in the concrete marking where the original railroad tracks once sat. It's an easy walk with peaceful creek views, and you don't need hiking boots, special gear, or a huge block of time to enjoy it.
Next, we spend time shopping and strolling through the very walkable downtown. was my favorite shopping stop, and I could have easily spent an hour browsing its mix of home décor, plants, candles, clothing, accessories, skincare, and gifts from independent vendors and local artists. Of course, I didn't need another candle, but traveling has a funny way of making perfectly unnecessary purchases seem like excellent ideas. Their sister store, The Shoppe, is another downtown stop worth popping into if you're looking for gifts or something fun to take home.
As you stroll, make a point of looking up from the storefronts every once in a while. Winters has colorful murals tucked throughout downtown, and finding them became a little scavenger hunt for us. The heart mural was my favorite!
Then it's time for wine, and this is where Winters really won me over. has a downtown tasting room that's casual and welcoming, which I appreciated because I'm not exactly the person who wants to spend an afternoon pretending I can taste seventeen different varieties of oak. I'm also a red wine girl, so a tasting menu filled with sparkling, white, and rosé wines usually isn't my idea of a good time.
Turkovich completely solved that problem for me. Tastings were just $15 for five wines, and we could choose the wines we actually wanted to taste rather than being locked into a preset flight. I filled mine with reds, and we liked the wines enough that we left with a bottle of their Reserve Cabernet. After years of wine tasting in Napa, where tasting fees can easily be several times that amount, I was thrilled to find a place where you can actually enjoy wine without feeling like you've just made a major financial commitment.
Evening: Steak Dinner & A Peaceful Overnight Stay
By dinner, we'd already eaten extremely well, but there was one Winters institution we weren't willing to skip: . Located inside the historic DeVilbiss Hotel on Main Street, the restaurant has all the classic steakhouse details you want, including oak furnishings, warm lighting, antler chandeliers, and plenty of old-school character.
Buckhorn is known for its aged steaks, but after our breakfast and lunch adventures, Pete and I decided that sharing several dishes was a better strategy. We ordered the Steakhouse Chopped Salad, which was loaded with char-roasted tri-tip, crisp greens, tomatoes, cheese, and crispy fried onions, along with the Beef Carpaccio made with thinly sliced filet mignon. We also shared Brussels sprouts, which ended up being one of those unexpected side dishes that I kept going back to for "just one more bite."
You don't have to dress up for dinner here, either. That's another thing I love about Winters. You can spend the day in comfortable clothes, wander around town, go wine tasting, and still feel perfectly at home walking into dinner.
After dinner, I recommend taking one more walk before calling it a night. Just a block or two away from the activity of Main Street, Winters' residential neighborhoods are filled with historic homes dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s, when the town was growing as an agricultural and railroad center. You'll see Victorian and Craftsman-style homes, wraparound porches, mature trees, colorful paint, restored architectural details, and plenty of quirky garden decorations that make each street feel a little different.
If you have the time, I highly recommend turning your Winters day trip into an overnight. is right in the middle of downtown, which means you can walk to restaurants, shops, and the wine tasting room and leave your car parked for the evening. For me, that's a huge bonus because the last thing I want after wine tasting is to get back behind the wheel and figure out where I'm going next.
The hotel is comfortable and modern without feeling overly formal, and I loved the little touches in the lobby, including complimentary cucumber water and iced tea. Our room was spacious, clean, and comfortable, which was exactly what I needed after a full day of eating, drinking, walking, and exploring. Before heading upstairs, we spent some time in the courtyard listening to the fountain and enjoying a glass of wine, which felt like the perfect ending to the day.
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