OLLI's Jack London State Park and Laurel Glen Winery Trip Recap

On Wednesday, July 10, OLLI enjoyed a journey through Sonoma County, starting with a luxury motor coach ride from Davis to Glen Ellen. The first stop was Jack London State Park, where we explored the House of Happy Walls Museum and Jack London’s historic cottage. Led by knowledgeable docents, we learned about Jack London’s literary legacy and the natural beauty of the park.

The House of Happy Walls, originally built by Charmian London and Eliza Shepard, showcased a collection of first edition books, a 1901 Steinway piano, and various artifacts from the Londons' global travels. The historic cottage, initially part of the Pioneer Winery, provided insights into the Londons' life and featured their personal artifacts and artworks.

After the tour, we enjoyed picnic box lunches in the park before heading to Laurel Glen Vineyard's tasting room. There, we sampled four organic wines, learning about Laurel Glen's rich history and their approach to sustainable farming with old-growth Cabernet vines.

 

Up Next: Flavors of Sonoma: Cheese Trail Tour & Tasting

Join OLLI on Wednesday July 24 for an indulgent day on the Sonoma Cheese Trail!

We'll depart Davis by luxury motor coach and visit Achadinha Family Creamery near Petaluma. There, we’ll meet third-generation dairy farmers Jim and Donna Pacheco, tour their farm and taste six of their award-winning cheeses.

Next, we’ll enjoy a hosted sit-down lunch at Rancho Nicasio, followed by a tour of Nicasio Valley Cheese. The Lafranchi family will share their century-old dairy farming legacy and treat us to six of their organic, farmstead cheeses.

Prepare for extensive walking and wear sturdy, comfortable shoes. Enroll using this link: https://cpe.ucdavis.edu/course/flavors-sonoma-cheese-trail-tour-and-tasting. We hope you'll join us!