Seniors Enjoy Hopland

This senior had not heard of Hopland until a relative brought a bottle of wine to celebrate Christmas with us. There it was on the bottle…Hopland, California. The population is small at only 756 residents.

The town gets its name from the fact that from the 1870s to the mid-1950s, much of the region’s economy was based on the growing and drying of bitter hops, a key flavoring and preservative in beer. Today, it is vineyards that play an important part of life in Hopland. Let’s go for a visit to the Campovida Winery… and note the beautiful setting.

Senior travelers will find Hopland at the start of the Redwoods of Northern California and is about two hours drive along U.S. Route 101 north of San Francisco, and a 30-minute drive along State Route 175 to California’s largest natural lake, Clear Lake. It is a rustic farming community situated amongst oak covered coastal foothills. It is said that the best time of the year for a visit is in late April, when the Solar Living Institute throws its Earth Day bash, complete with live music, garden demos, and organic food-wine pairings.

 Lots Of Changes, Seniors Learn

The settlement that became Hopland was originally called Sanel. Over the years it was centered on either side of the Russian River. Sanel began on the west bank of the river in 1859. In 1874, the town moved to the east bank. The Sanel post office opened in 1860, closed for a time in 1869, moved and changed its name to Hopland in 1879, reverted to its original site and name in 1890, and changed its name finally to Hopland in 1891.

 And yes, TripAdvisor has a dozen attractions and things for senior visitors to enjoy on a stop in Hopland. Of course, visits to nearby wineries and distilleries rate high with visitors. The Hopland Sho-Ka-Wah Casino with Native American tribal decor offers table games, slots, a steakhouse and a casual bar. The McFadden Farm is a California producer of certified organic herbs and herb blends.

Seniors Enjoy Beautiful Mendocino County

Appreciated as a place where deep knowledge of the land is expressed in artisanal wines, olive oils and honey, Hopland is the heart of the upper Russian River wine country and gateway to beautiful Mendocino County. HOPLAND PASSPORT wine weekend in October gives senior visitors the opportunity to visit 15 local wineries and sample their best wines, paired with incredible food at each stop.

Several cycling public routes from a 100-mile ride to a shorter 62-mile ride. Cycling and river kayaking are dominate sports in the Hopland area. Seasoned kayakers can enjoy paddling down the Russian River with put ins just south of Hopland. There are various segments between Hopland and Asti that offer class I to III rapids depending on the season. So bring along your bike or a kayak and give it a shot.

Locals offer farm, garden and wine tours and Hopland is home to one of the country’s most prestigious sustainable living training centers. In Hopland you will encounter real farmers, sophisticated artisans and everything in between.  -jeb