What I Learned Visiting Lakeport, CA

July at Clear Lake

Lakeport is a small, self-contained town on the western shore of Clear Lake. The lake is the jewel of Lake County, which sits just north of Napa but feels culturally worlds away from the touristy and upscale feel of wine country. We drove from the cool Marin headlands—through Napa, bustling but still wild, green, and beautiful—up and down quiet, winding mountain roads in Lake County, alternately sunny and shaded—to the lakeside town, where an unexpected retinue of helpful locals gave us generous advice on where the best fishin’ was. Here’s what I learned from the trip:

1. People are so friendly and helpful. Let them help you. You’ll get better tips from a quick chat with someone than from hours of online reading.
2. Farm-to-table is real, not just a tag line for fancy restaurants. From farmer’s markets to the many ranches, farms, vineyards, and gardens, there’s accessibility to the land everywhere.
3. In Lake County, literally every radio station plays country. You skip to the next station—and yep, more Luke Bryan. I started to dig it by the end of the trip; it’s a vibe.
4. Don’t wear open-toed sandals in 96-degree scorching inland California summer. Sunburn beats romance. I smothered sunscreen over my toes every twenty minutes outside and it was just barely enough.