Famed for its scenery and fine vintages, the California Wine Country north of San Francisco has much more than grapes to offer family travelers.

Fifty miles north of San Francisco rests California's quiet and peaceful wine country that centers in the cities of Napa and Sonoma. In addition to the many gastronomical destinations across the entire region, the wine country also offers a multitude of museums and parks that the whole family will enjoy.

Sonoma

Dating back to the early 19th and set amidst winding country roads and family-owned vineyards, Sonoma offers all the perks of being in the heart of wine country, with the added benefit of a laid back vibe that complements the award-winning wine and food. Located right on the Sonoma City Square, the Sonoma Cheese Factory (800/535-2855, 2 Spain Street Sonoma, CA 95476) offers a tour through their cheesemaking facilities, and has a deli where you can buy picnic supplies, including the delicious Sonoma Jack cheeses made right on the premises. Visit the shops in the downtown area after spending a quiet afternoon on the city square.

Lake Sonoma is a popular destination for fishers and campers, but also provides an ideal location for a quiet afternoon picnic. You can reserve both the Warms Springs Recreation Area and the Yorty Creek Recreation Area for group picnics, or head for a picnic table that does not require reservations. Warm Springs has several volleyball courts, a playground and a lawn for other sporting activities. Yorty Creek is located near the swimming area. For additional information on parks, beaches and restaurants visit the Sonoma County Park & Recreation website and the Sonoma Valley Visitor’s Bureau.

Napa

Copia: The American Center for Food, Wine and the Arts (707/259-1600, 500 First Street Napa, CA 94559) is a non-profit center dedicated to the discovery and appreciation of wine, food and art. Visit their excellent café, grab a sandwich and sit out in their lush and peaceful gardens for lunch.

Enjoy a relaxing and delicious ride aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train (707/253-2111, 800/427-4124, 1275 McKinstry Street, Napa, CA 94559) during a roundtrip excursion from historic downtown Napa. Choose to dine or eat lunch in a 1947 Pullman Vista Dome Dining Car, fully restored Pullman Dining and Lounge railcars dating from 1915-17, or an open air Silverado car. Check their schedule for Family Fun Nights, when parents can relax with a gourmet dinner, while kids ages 3 to 12 play games, watch movies and enjoy a free meal under the supervision of a professional caregiver in a separate railcar.

Yountville

Headquartered at Yountville's historic Vintage 1870 shopping complex, the Napa Valley Aloft ballooning company (800/944-4408) offers hot-air balloon launches every morning at sunrise. Napa Valley Balloons, Inc. (800/253-2224) has operated for more than 25 years out of Yountville. Although the rides are pricey (around $240 for each adult), it is fun just to watch these balloons inflate and take off.

Petaluma

Located in Petaluma, the Marin French Cheese Company (800/292-6001, 7500 Red Hill Rd. Petaluma, CA 94952) gives factory tours with demonstrations on how their Camembert and Brie cheeses are made. They also have five acres of grassy space with picnic tables for you and your family to spend the afternoon.

Mrs. Grossman's Sticker Mania (800/429-4549, 3810 Cypress Drive Petaluma, CA 94954) offers daily tours teaching children the inner-workings of how stickers are made. There is also an exhibit of all the stickers ever made by Mrs. Grossman’s.

Santa Rosa

For children who love Snoopy and all the other Peanuts characters, visit the Charles M. Schulz Museum (707/ 579-4452, 2301 Hardies Lane Santa Rosa, CA 95403) in Santa Rosa. There is a drop-in art studio for kids to practice drawing and coloring and a labyrinth in the shape of Snoopy’s head.

The Pacific Coast Air Museum (707/575-7900, 2230 Becker Boulevard Santa Rosa, CA 95403) is the perfect destination for the child who loves airplanes. With a variety of educational exhibits about famous aviators and the history of airplanes, the museum is also dedicated to restoring historical aircrafts and putting them on display.

Safari West (707/579-2551, 3115 Porter Creek Road Santa Rosa, CA 95404) in Santa Rosa is a wildlife preserve created to protect endangered animals. This is ideal for older children because the guided tours are quite lengthy at 2 ½ hours long. The first part of the tour takes place on a safari vehicle, while during the second part you are more "up close and personal" with the animals. You will have the chance to encounter giraffes, gazelles, wildebeests and zebras on your safari adventure.

Healdsburg

Healdsburg, a town with rental homes and small B&Bs, has become a new foodie mecca in California's Wine Country. In the summer, famlies can spend a day canoeing or kayaking on the Russian River. It is a fairly calm river, and is safe and enjoyable for the entire family. Located about 10 miles north of Santa Rosa, Healdsburg’s Rivers Edge Kayak and Canoe Trips (800/345-0869, 13840 Healdsburg Ave. Healdsburg, CA 95448) offers several family packages that includes box lunches, sunscreen, a waterproof camera and a bag of ice to go with the full-day rental of a canoe.