I remember my first visit to the wine country in the 1980’s, a time when tastings were free and the top spots were Mondavi, Sutter Home and Beringer. While these iconic wineries remain, much has changed since then. On a recent visit to some of Napa Valley’s 500-plus wineries, we were overwhelmed by the abundant pairing of art and wine, and the substantial investments that places like Hall Winery have made in sculpture and paintings to enrich the visitor experience. Hall’s prestigious art collection rivals even the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington D.C. Closer to home, the Bay Area art scene is also exploding: the University of California’s Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) reopened after a multi-million dollar renovation and San Francisco’s Modern Art Museum (SFMOMA) is making its long-awaited debut in May. Here in Walnut Creek, we are graced with the inspiring exhibits at the Bedford Gallery and the city’s ongoing commitment to improving the quality of our daily lives with major public artworks, murals and streetscapes. We applaud these cultural enhancements and bring some of them into view for you on the pages of this issue. Look around you, art is everywhere.

One of the benefits of publishing Walnut Creek Magazine, is the opportunity to visit some pretty spectacular destinations. While we may yearn for the coast of Mexico, sometimes a local escape to Healdsburg or St. Helena is all it takes to rejuvenate. Our small town getaway feature is loaded with tips and treasures that will trans- form your travel experience. Whether you go now or later, put these destinations on your vacation list. Spring officially arrives at the end of March and with it comes base- ball season, the urge to discard extra clutter, and put a fresh coat of paint on the walls. We are hopeful that the predictions for a wet spring come true, giving us the perfect weather for exploring the Bay Area’s distinguished art museums.

Pam Becker Kessler