Winter escapes for the North Coast thrifty

Tourists come from all over the world to experience the rugged North Coast during the fall, but during the winter time, it’s pretty quiet. If you live here and yearn to get away in your own beautiful back yard, you can find lots of midweek discounts and special treats.

Here are a few resorts and inns that not only offer special deals and packages but have recently expanded with new rooms, restaurants and other amenities:

Up in Philo in the deep end of Anderson Valley, The Madrones estate has opened five new guest quarters, bringing the total accommodations to nine.

The Tuscan-style spread, which also houses four wine-tasting rooms, features an on-site restaurant, Stone & Embers, serving casual but refined cuisine from a wood-burning oven.

Read the full article at pressdemocrat.com.

Rustic getaway in Mendocino County

The bucolic vineyards, sheep ranches and apple orchards of Anderson Valley often race by in a blur as drivers navigate Highway 128 on their way to the Mendocino coast.

But as more wineries plant grapes in the valley’s cool climate and new restaurants open their doors, the rural valley is gaining a reputation as a destination.

“We’re getting a lot of day-trippers from Sonoma (County),” said Jim Roberts, owner of The Madrones in Philo. “I had guests check in today who said, ‘We’ve passed through so many times. … We just wanted to stay this time.’”

Read the full article at pressdemocrat.com.