You can earn up to $4,000 from their $4,000 Cash Incentive Program. Getting there is easy with daily flights from LAX. Add to that the wide range of accommodations and fascinating venues for meetings, and, frankly, it’s a no-brainer.

But let me add something else that makes Sonoma Country the perfect place for your next function. And that’s all the things you can do when you’re not meeting or convening. Sonoma Country has championship golf courses and world-class spas.

There’s kayaking on the Russian River, marvelous hiking, Hot Air Ballooning and even horseback riding on the beach. You can schedule food and wine pairings or plan a winemaker dinner in a wine cave. Sonoma Country: a great place to meet an ideal place to play.

It also passes through Freestone, Occidental and Monte Rio, communities long considered Mecca’s for artists and nature lovers. There’s lots to do in this part of Sonoma Country and the Bohemian Connection can help you locate restaurants like the family-style Union Hotel in Occidental, comfortable lodgings in the area and other attractions like the inventive and edgy Pegasus Theater Company in Monte Rio. Take a drive soon on the Bohemian Highway.

One of the most enjoyable and enlightening hikes that we’ve taken was a stroll through the 500 acre Bouverie Preserve. Located off the east side of Highway 12 in the Sonoma Valley near Glen Ellen and dominated by Stuart Creek, the landscape has it all; Oak woodlands, riparian, chapparal and a mixed evergreen forest. The preserve is known for its amazing spring flowers, 130 species of birds, 350 species of flowering plants and numerous animals. Docent led hikes introduce school children to this amazing place on a regular basis. They also schedule guided nature walks for the public. With Glen Ellen and Kenwood nearby, there’s plenty of places to stay and dine while enjoying Bouverie Preserve.

Here are two excellent business reasons why Sonoma Country is an ideal location for your various functions.

One: Getting there is remarkably easy with Horizon Air offering 3 flights daily from LAX.

Two: By booking your next meeting there, you can take advantage of Sonoma Country’s exciting $4,000 Cash Incentive Program. But the biggest reason is Sonoma Country itself. Besides the number of luxury to midrange to economy hotel facilities, you also have at your disposal unique venues that range from wineries — after all it is a world-class wine region — to wine caves, gardens and luxury private estates.

Sonoma Country will leave your clients asking you to please put Sonoma Country back on their meeting calendar once they’ve experienced the hospitality and charm of this wonderful place.

I’m Mike Cleary with a postcard from Sonoma Country.

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Here’s a Sonoma Country organization that is aptly named. It’s called Beautiful Places. Travel & Leisure magazine calls Beautiful Places one of the world’s best villa rental companies. This is something to really check out. Beautiful Places let’s you choose from an array of villas including a charming farmhouse, a Tuscan hilltop villa, a delightful cottage in a vineyard, even a mini-estate complete with swimming pool and tennis court. Beautiful Places can also help you arrange for any service you desire like a private chef or exclusive wine tour. It is yet another spectacular way to enjoy a romantic getaway, a company retreat or a wedding in a beautiful place called Sonoma Country.

I’ll bet when Horace Greeley said, “Go west, young man,” he meant western Sonoma Country. Why? Because it’s a treasure trove, featuring marvelous visitor delights.

For example, Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary. I can’t recommend it enough. It’s the only day spa in the country that offers the Cedar Enzyme Bath from Japan. Surprise your partner with a day at Osmosis. Lodgings are plentiful. Among them are the Holiday Inn Express and the Avalon Luxury Bed and Breakfast.

When exploring western Sonoma Country, drop by the Wine Emporium which not only offers wine-tasting but art works featuring prominent and rising Northern California artists. A final tip: Drop by the Ace in the Hole, the first cider pub in America.

Guerneville’s Festival of Lights parade is this weekend. A self-described quirky town, Guerneville is the perfect place to be to soak up some genuine Holiday atmosphere. A wonderful place to stay is eco-friendly Creekside Inn and Resort. It’s within walking distance to the parade and festival activities.

While there, check out their popular Nature Hikes and Bird-Watching packages through March. Another lodging I would recommend is Fern Grove Cottages, set amongst seven acres of Redwood trees and a magnificent garden. They offer twenty cottages of comfort and charm. There’s lots to do in Guerneville. You can even have a beer at Stumptown Brewery and learn why the area is called Stumptown.

One way to take the hectic out of the Holidays is to slip away to Sonoma Country for a romantic spa getaway. One of our favorite spa getaways is to the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa.

The dining is award-winning and the spa is a world unto itself, offering treatments that pay homage to ancient Greek, Egyptian and Roman civilizations. I might surprise Mary Ann and bring a toga on our next trip. I do a great Julius Caesar.

Another spa adventure is the Kenwood Inn and Spa with its gorgeous Mediterranean setting. The accommodations are intimate and elegant and the spa is, according to Luxury Spa Finder Magazine, one of the top spas in the world. And, of course, at either location, you’re just minutes away from all those splendid Sonoma Valley wineries.

For a town of 700 people, Graton in scenic Western Sonoma Country has more than its share of craft artisans, musicians and artists. Through January 6th, resident and alumni artists of the Graton Art Gallery are “Home for the Holidays.” It’s a gallery worth visiting.

You can also check out Mr. Ryder and Company and the Far West Trading Company. Two fun spots to dine are the Willowood Market Cafe and the Underwood Bar & Bistro. And lodging is very easy.

Just down the road from Graton is the rustic-lodge style Sebastopol Holiday Inn Express. Cinnamon-y buns in the morning are a special treat. West of the town is Occidental and it’s home to the Inn at Occidental. The wine spectator calls it one of the top five wine country destinations.

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Year round, Sonoma Country is a great place to play golf. Course layouts range from Scottish Links to manicured fairways cut into rolling hills. Play a course that’s a regular stop for the pros. What makes golf so sensational in Sonoma Country is the off-the-fairway diversions. And, that’s important for me who can never stay on the fairway. Now it easy to arrange a golf outing in Sonoma Country. Just visit SonomaSwing.com and make your plans. By the way, event planners, add challenging and fun golf courses to the growing list of reasons why so many companies, organizations and other groups consider Sonoma Country to be the perfect meeting destination.

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Parties, parties, parties! I’ve got three great Sonoma Country events to mention. All three are wonderful reasons to plan a March getaway. First up is the weekend-long, first-ever Artisan Cheese Festival, March 9th through the 12th at the Sheraton Sonoma County-Petaluma Hotel. It’s a celebration of all things cheese. Next is the 7th Annual Wine Country Chefs of Tomorrow…Take Flight. It’s March 11th at the Vintner’s Inn Events Center in Santa Rosa and it benefits youth culinary arts’ programs. Finally, March is Barrel Tasting Month. There are all kinds of fun events built around this wine country tradition of tasting the future from the barrel. Pick your favorite place to stay and party in Sonoma Country.

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Cloverdale is popularly known as the place where the vineyards meet the redwoods. The south part of Cloverdale is the northern part of the vineyard-rich Alexander Valley and north of the city the redwoods are in abundance. This is a wonderful part of Sonoma Country and worth a visit. It’s just minutes from Lake Sonoma and nearby is the attractive 70 acre River Park. There are also 3 great bike loops through the wine country. This is a terrific time to be in Cloverdale as the three-day Citrus Fair opens tomorrow with exhibits, arts and crafts, live entertainment and a popular midway. And this is the 115th year of the fair. Now that’s tradition Sonoma Country style.

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Knowing what I know about Sonoma Country, I’d make a great event planner. I can’t think of a better place for group meetings, company get get-togethers and conventions. Sonoma Country has more than sixty-three hundred full and limited service accommodations. Unique resorts and retreats range from luxury to midrange and economy properties. Now, you’re not going to be in meetings all day. So imagine the variety of restaurants, wineries and recreational attractions you’ll have to choose from. Two quick points: With the Bay Area just minutes away, this event paradise is close to all major airports. And in March, Horizon Air begins service from Seattle and Los Angeles to Santa Rosa. And in Sonoma Country, midweek and off-season rates are very attractive.

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My wife loves to drive. The windier the road the better. That gives me a chance to really take in the scenery on our way to Sea Ranch Lodge. On the north coast of Sonoma Country, this retreat has everything to keep us happy. Wonderful dining, comfortable accommodations and a coastal setting that is incomparable. The attractions are many. For instance, just up the road from Sea Ranch is Gualala Point Regional Park. Now if you want to sound like a local, then pronounce it Wah-lala. This inviting 195 acre park is a mix of open meadow and coastal forest. In fact, the park boasts a beautiful setting for small weddings. I bring that up because, after all, it is Valentine’s Day.

What do you and the cyclists in the Amgen Tour of California have in common? The ability to meander through breathtakingly beautiful places like Bodega Bay, Occidental and Graton. Well, you can meander. Next Monday, the competing Amgen teams will be racing from Sausalito to Santa Rosa for the conclusion of stage one of the Amgen Tour of California. And, Santa Rosa, the only city hosting a finish and a start, will be the place to catch all the excitement. Stay overnight in wonderful hotels like the Courtyard by Marriott, the Flamingo Resort Hotel and the FountainGrove Inn and catch two days of action in one place. And bring your bike to enjoy Sonoma Country’s perfect mix of challenging and easy terrain.

Food and Wine Magazine named the Kenwood Inn and Spa “Best Wine Country Retreat in all of California” and Luxury Spa Finder Magazine ranked the spa 6th out of the 50 top spas in the world. Now I don’t know if you can arrange anything by Valentine’s Day, but you can certainly let your loved one know that a future stay there is in their immediate future. The Kenwood Inn and Spa has a Romance Package that includes a TiAmo Togetherness Massage in room with a bottle of select champagne and soft music. Oh, be still my heart. Speaking of hearts, as you’ll be in the heart of the Sonoma Valley, you can also visit terrific wineries like Kunde, Arrowood and B.R. Cohn.

All this week, I’ve been singing the praises of the outdoor adventures and shopping in Sonoma Country. I also talked about the Artisan Cheese Festival and a great fundraiser for high school culinary arts programs. Well, you’re going to need a place to stay to do all this. Here are two to check out. Or rather, check-in. They are the Quality Inn in Petaluma and the Holiday Inn Express; Sebastopol. Both have great locations. The Quality Inn invites you to stay and upgrade to an Executive King room with a spa tub for two. A great way to relax after a busy day. The Holiday Inn Express; Sebastopol puts you close to the redwoods, coast and distinctive towns like Graton and Occidental. Stay there and receive a special offer to their restaurant.

I have spent considerable time talking about the great hikes, bike trips and kayak adventures awaiting you in Sonoma Country. Let’s not forget one more sport. It’s shopping. Sonoma Country is a paradise for those who enjoy this activity. Not only are there malls and high-end factory outlets. There are myriad one-of-a-kind shops in every part of Sonoma Country. Antique shops like Whistlestop Antiques in Santa Rosa or the Antique Society in Sebastopol are good examples. Sonoma Country is full of art galleries, garden shops, bookstores and winery gift shops. In many instances, you’ll be buying the works of local artists and crafts people. So leave a little space in your trunk to take home some Sonoma Country treasures.

I love firsts. I remember my first taste of a great cheese. There have been a few more good cheeses since then. But I have so much to learn. That’s why I’m excited about the First Annual Artisan Cheese Festival coming to the Sheraton Sonoma County-Petaluma Hotel on the weekend of March 9th. This is the first ever weekend-long celebration and exploration of handcrafted cheeses, wines, foods and beer. Learn how to buy artisan cheese. Learn how to store, serve and cook with it. One of the events will be an Artisan Gala Dinner prepared by San Francisco and Sonoma Country Chefs including John Ash, Bruce Hill and Joey Altman. On Sunday at the Artisan Cheese Marketplace, you’ll be able to taste and buy. Oh, I’m looking forward it.

Outdoor activities abound in Sonoma Country thanks to its dramatic mix of valleys, coastline and hills. Hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, whatever your choice of adventure, you’ll find Sonoma Country very inviting and, if you like, even challenging. Care to try your hand at an amazing sport called skydiving? Then check out a company called Skydive San Francisco that’s located at the Cloverdale airport. By the way, it’s considered one of the most scenic dive sites in California. And here’s the winning part of having an outdoor adventure in Sonoma Country. When you’re through, there’s so much more to do with all the wineries, restaurants, shops and other attractions that are part of Sonoma Country. Plan your stay now.