FORESTVILLE, CA—Just north of Santa Rosa, California is one particularly choice spot in which to rest and rejuvenate. It’s a well-known and luxurious accommodation called The Farmhouse Inn. In 2009 Sunset Magazine gave it the #1 ranking in their list of “Top Ten Farm Vacations”. Let’s take a mini-tour…

A fully restored 1873 American farmhouse, complete with charming cottages, and a fairly new series of suites in the “Barn”. The 6 acre Sonoma County property is the stuff that dream vacations are made of.

It’s all been recently renovated. This is the Barn tucked in at the back of the property. 

Here is #18 — The spacious and plush Barn Suite. Featherbeds and down duvets upon pillow-topped mattresses… Ah! On a cold and day in January this is where you want to be!

Rooms have large jetted tubs and saunas or steam showers. Plus, a selection of complimentary bath salts, milks and sugar scrubs.

Barn Suite #18 is quite large. Here’s the comfortable sitting room.

A short walk around the grounds will take you past the on-site spa. Here you get “farm-to-table” services including massage, facials, hot stone and aromatherapy.

Sure, there’s a pool but who wants to hang out poolside when you’re just 5 minutes away from Russian River’s top wineries!

Around the corner by the pool are herb and flower boxes. This truly is a culinary Inn. In fact, the Farmhouse Inn restaurant has received rave reviews.

A Main Course might be: Wild Pacific Sea Bass, Roasted Elk Tenderloin, Roasted Colorado Lamb Rib Chop, Pancetta Wrapped Port Tenderloin… You get the idea. My advice is: make your dining reservation well in advance. In high-season they are often booked up weeks in advance. I’m hoping to eat there in the next month or two.

I took a quick peak at their cottage rooms too. Really charming.

Better than Grandma’s house! This is cottage room #4. All rooms here have fireplaces.

The cottage bathrooms are also so beautiful. I’m afraid this photo didn’t quite do it justice.

To me, Cottage Room #4 has a theme. I’d call it: “I’ll stay in bed all day long.”

Here is another Cottage Room. It is #7… Nice. Yes? Let’s see… What else can I say? Oh yes! I’ve been told that all rooms include a hot two course breakfast. I have not heard about any specials here but it’s always best to check their website. Wine Country specials often come up in January and February; especially mid-week.

The place is really country-gorgeous. (That’s right. I just made up that word. But don’t get any ideas—I have big plans to trademark it.)

If you’re looking for high-end intimacy and sophistication, minutes from the famed Russian River wineries, this is it. With a spa and top restaurant right on the grounds, there’s little else you would need.

Oh, by the way, yes there really IS a Russian River.

After this weekend’s heavy rains it should look much more impressive.