Giraffes in Wine Country? Whadya know. Safari West sprawls over 400 acres and hosts wildebeests, zebras, cheetahs and other exotic animals, which mostly roam free. See them on a guided 2½-hour safari in open-sided jeeps, which also includes a 30-minute hike; reservations required, no kids under four (unless you book a private wagon).

Those feeling adventurous can stay overnight in nifty canvas-sided tent cabins (including breakfast $260 to $475) inside the preserve. While the fires did some damage to the countryside around here and you will still see some burned areas, the animals are just fine and operations are back to normal.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Petrified Forest

3.02 MILES

Three million years ago at this now roadside-Americana attraction, a volcanic eruption at Mt St Helena blew down a stand of redwoods. The trees fell in…

2. Old Faithful Geyser

5.67 MILES

Calistoga’s miniversion of Yellowstone’s Old Faithful shoots boiling water 30ft to 80ft into the air, every 10 to 20 minutes. The vibe is pure roadside…

3. Vincent Arroyo

6.07 MILES

The tasting room is a garage, where you may even meet Mr Arroyo, known for his all-estate-grown Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. They're distributed…

4. Sharpsteen Museum

6.34 MILES

Across from the picturesque 1902 City Hall (originally an opera house), the Sharpsteen Museum was created by an ex-Disney animator (whose Oscar is on…

5. Olabisi Wines

6.4 MILES

In downtown Calistoga, this tasting room run by a long-time winemaker specializes in extremely small-production wines produced with wild yeast. The big…

6. Epicenter

6.92 MILES

An entertainment complex with restaurants, bars, bowling, an arcade and a trampoline park.

7. Children's Museum of Sonoma County

7.14 MILES

Geared to children 10 and under, this happy learning center inspires discovery, exploration and creativity with hands-on indoor and outdoor exhibits…

8. Charles M Schulz Museum

7.15 MILES

Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts cartoons and Santa Rosa resident, was born in 1922, published his first drawing in 1937, introduced Snoopy and Charlie…