I’ll be totally honest: I haven’t visited Lodi, California yet but it has been popping up on my radar a bunch these past few months. Last fall, while touring a new Appellation property in Healdsburg—part of chef Charlie Palmer’s culinary-driven hotel brand—I learned about their Lodi sister property, Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort and Spa. The team is currently renovating the existing resort (which you can still book), with plans to re-launch it later this spring with refreshed rooms, a reimagined spa, and expanded food and wine offerings that reflect the brand’s signature focus on all things culinary. Their adorable cafe and bakery, Maison Lodi, is already open and welcoming patrons. And while the new resort is reason enough to plan a trip, there’s plenty of other things to do (and eat… and drink…) that make it a worthy getaway now. For one, it’s just one of 147 (!!) AVAs in California, with over 85 wineries and 60 tasting rooms. I’ve got my eye on Rhone-focused Jessie’s Grove Winery (shout out to our fellow Jessies!) and Spanish wine-centric Bokisch Vineyards. Local food favorites include The Oxford Kitchen for its New American cuisine, authentic Italian fare at Pietro’s Trattoria, and the elegant, farm-to-fork menu at The Exchange 1874. For a break from wine, rent a kayak or paddleboard at Lodi Lake, or explore vintage shops and boutiques along School Street in the town’s historic downtown.
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