Windsor

Windsor has done an incredible job of preserving its roots while looking to the future. The downtown area offers a mix of shopping and housing centered on the four-acre town green. In an echo of times past, some of the owners of the restaurants, bookstores, and boutiques live above their stores. Today, the plaza serves as a vibrant meeting place and a focal point for town activities, including a farmers' market held Thursdays and Sundays, where you'll find top chefs from Bay Area restaurants sourcing the ingredients for that night's menu. Each June, Windsor hosts the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic, an event that draws dozens of balloonists and thousands of families.