The Raford Inn

The Raford Inn is one of Sonoma's most discreet bed-and-breakfast finds: an 1880 Queen Anne Victorian mansion turned six-room B&B, set off the beaten path on Wohler Road in the Russian River Valley near Healdsburg. The property's intimate scale and rural setting create an experience closer to staying at a private country estate than a commercial hotel. Each of the six guest rooms features a queen or king bed, period antiques, and en-suite bath; some include views over the surrounding vineyards.

A gourmet breakfast is served each morning, and an evening wine reception with hors d'oeuvres provides social opportunity for guests interested in conversation. The wrap-around porch, with its unobstructed vineyard views, is the soul of the property; many guests describe spending hours there with morning coffee or evening wine. The location off Wohler Road places guests within minutes of West Sonoma Coast wineries, the Russian River for paddling, and Healdsburg's downtown amenities, while feeling worlds away from any of them.