Sometimes when I visit a really beautiful area that’s new to me, I have a tough time remembering exactly why I feel so attached to my home turf. Rio Nido is a perfect example. It’s too easy to look at some of the rustic houses — many of them reached only by towering wooden staircases — as they sit tucked away amongst the soft, cool climate of the redwood forest and wish that I never had to return to the hot Sacramento Valley and my small yard consisting mainly of dirt and weeds.

After wandering around this particular neighborhood, only a short distance from the Russian River, I might have been tempted never to return home. And that was despite the fact the lovely little cabin I had rented was half the size of my own small house. In the end, what made it easier for me to leave was the awareness that Rio Nido is only a small island in the middle of a wildly popular summertime getaway, accessible only by two-lane, winding highways that are frequently obstructed by road repairs. Of course, there are good reasons why the area is so popular, and I may find myself returning for more visits in the future. There is still quite a lot to explore!