Northern California in December - Best of the West

Sunset, Dec, 2003 by Kristine M. Carber, Amy McConnell, Mimi Towle

* SAN FRANCISCO Experience Dickens Feeling a bit Scrooge-like this holiday season? Treat yourself to Gerald Charles Dickens Performs A Christmas Carol in the recently restored Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel. Dine on holiday fare as the seasoned thespian provides a dramatization of A Christmas Carol, the perennial classic his great-great-grandfather, Charles Dickens, penned 160 years ago. Opt for either an afternoon-tea or dinner show. For a special treat, stay overnight and take advantage of a discounted hotel package. Dec 16-17; tickets from $60 adults, from $40 children ages 12 and under. (415) 772-5204. * NAPA VALLEY Have a Pinot weekend Life just got a little headier for Pinot Noir lovers, thanks to the new Pinot-only winemaking facility opened by Domaine Carneros. After a day of tasting, spend the night at the new Carneros Inn, which was scheduled to open in November. Though the lodging tab for one of the 96 private guest cottages is high--$375 to $800 a night during the low season--you don't need to be a guest to have a meal at the inn's Boon Fly Cafe. Or explore the property's native flora and apple orchards. Domaine Carneros: tasting room open 10-6 daily; free tours, tasting fee for wine; 1240 Duhig Rd.; www.domaine.com or (707) 257-0101. The Carneros Inn: 4048 Sonoma Hwy.; www. thecarnerosinn.com or (707) 299-4900.

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* SAN FRANCISCO Visit Levi

Clever commercials--like the clip of a bronzed, burly, Burt Lancaster-like man diving in and out of swimming pools wearing nothing but a pair of Levi's jeans--are among the highlights of the new visitor center at Levi Strauss & Co., opened in May to commemorate the brand's 150-year anniversary. Visitor center: 10-5 daily; free; Levi Strauss Plaza, 155 Battery St.; www.levistrauss.com or (800) 872-5384. * SACRAMENTO Play with ABCs Kids can practice their ABCs while learning about plants at the Alphabet Garden in Fairytale Town. The garden features each letter of the alphabet surrounded by plants beginning with that letter. "Kids love to find the plants that spell out their name," says executive director Kathryn Fleming. Call for hours and admission prices. 3901 Land Park Dr.; www.fairytaletown.org or (916) 264-5233.