Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; Okinawa, Japan. If making it to 100 years old is your goal, these are three locales where people have extraordinarily long, happy lives. But you don’t have to move to another continent to take advantage of the principles practiced in so-called “Blue Zones” (regions with the healthiest, longest-lived populations). Almost 80 cities, counties, and communities in North America are participating in the Blue Zones Project, a global wellness initiative encouraging neighbors and visitors to eat wisely, connect with others, move naturally, discover their purpose, and live joyfully. In fact, Sacramento County received a $1.7 million state grant to transform its county into a Blue Zones community.
The phenomenon started with journalist Dan Buettner’s investigation into five areas with the world’s highest longevity rates (in addition to the aforementioned places, these are Nicoya, Costa Rica, and Loma Linda, California) and has since expanded to include a Netflix series and a plethora of books on everything from Blue Zones cooking to finding happiness.
Diablo explored three lesser-known California regions—all Blue Zones Projects—where travelers can enjoy exceptional outdoor activities and healthy eating establishments.
Scenic Clear Lake is one of Lake County’s top destinations.
LIVING WELL IN LAKE COUNTY
When Lynne and Bernie Butcher bought the Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon near Clear Lake in 2003, they fully restored the historic stagecoach stop and revitalized the quaint town of Upper Lake. Now, the hotel and full-service restaurant and bar are among the first businesses to join Lake County’s Blue Zones Project.
Guests already see the changes. “We get a few comments a week from customers,” says Bernie. Among the healthy options at the Blue Wing Saloon are chef Pablo Aguilar’s Blue Zones–approved dishes like veggie burgers, lemony linguine, and vegetable-driven pasta primavera. “Another thing we did was offer some half portions versus large portions,” says Lynne, adding that when you order a burger or sandwich, it often comes with a salad. Several nights a week, musicians play on the veranda of the Tallman Hotel, with a light breeze rustling through the trees as guests dine alfresco.
Lake County’s water-rich attractions have always been a draw. Clear Lake is a birder’s delight on the Pacific Flyway, graced with eagles, ospreys, and gaggles of grebes that perform water dances as part of their mating rituals. Birding is known to boost happiness and reduce stress.
The smaller Blue Lakes, just a short drive from Upper Lake, fit even better into the Blue Zones ethos, prohibiting motorboats to help maintain the crystal-clear waters for swimming and fishing. The twin lakes sit at the base of a canyon, forming their own ecosystem with clean groundwater that keeps them free from the algae and aquatic weeds that choke other lakes. There are public access points around the Blue Lakes, and vendors like the Lodge at Blue Lakes rent electric boats and kayaks.
A scenic drive along Clear Lake takes you past boutique wineries and small towns like Lakeport, where the waterfront has been revitalized with a community park. In the Mayberry-esque town of Kelseyville, where horses still clip-clop down the main street, Blue Zones–approved eatery Saw Shop Public House is a local favorite. Inspired by the Blue Zones cookbook, The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100, the cauliflower tacos are a big hit with diners.
Lake County’s 4,300-acre Six Sigma Ranch and Winery is another Blue Zones Project stop, where visitors can enjoy small-lot, high-quality wines and a network of hiking and biking trails, with the option of spending the night under the stars at Huttopia Wine Country. The ranch’s upscale canvas tents with luxurious bedding, bathrooms, kitchenettes, and decks dot the hillside, just steps from a swimming pool and a bistro. The ranch also hosts Jack’s Lavender Farm, a nonprofit that employs local teens.
“You can stay here and really unplug,” says the county’s Blue Zones executive director Jamey Gill. “The hiking, mountain biking, water sports—they’re all outdoor activities you can pursue in our clean, fresh air.”
Tuolumne County offers healthy outdoor activities, such as skiing at Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort.
TIME OUT IN TUOLUMNE COUNTY
Over half of Yosemite National Park is in Tuolumne County, which fits seamlessly into the Blue Zones principle of moving naturally. Visitors can fish, raft, water ski, and even snow ski in this recreation-rich county that encompasses the Stanislaus National Forest.
The vibrant Gold Rush city of Sonora is Tuolumne County’s Blue Zones headquarters, and the architecture alone will cause you to slow down to appreciate the craftmanship of these handsome structures. The stylish 1896 Sonora Inn is just one of the stops on the walking tour of historic buildings along Washington Street.
One-of-a-kind stores make Sonora’s main street a retail mecca, with several small businesses that fit the Blue Zones mold. Nox is a popular gathering place for locals and visitors; the coffee shop sources its beans from Oakland roaster Sweet Maria’s. Nox also hosts Blue Zones–curated cooking demonstrations and live music in its cozy café.
The grand canyon of the Tuolumne in Yosemite is ideal for hiking.
Nearby is Amala Detox and Tea Lounge, where you can sip on wellness drinks while indulging in an ionic foot soak and house-made sugar scrub with essential oils and herbs. A few doors down, the intoxicating smell of sourdough bread lures customers into Pence Farm, while the Blue Zones principle of community can best be found at the Armory—a beer garden, restaurant, and event space with a rooftop patio, wine room, and bourbon barrel lounge.
A short, scenic drive from Sonora takes you through orchard country, and to the organic apple ranch, cidery, and distillery at Indigeny Reserve. Granny Smith and honeycrisp apples are picked fresh in fall, and guests can picnic or take a walk on the network of trails that lace the family-owned preserve.
Visitors to Tuolumne County are always invited to join walking groups, plant-based cooking demonstrations, and tai chi classes, says the county’s Blue Zones marketing and community engagement lead Judy Stoltenberg.
The Yuba River is a favorite for active family outings.
FINDING COMMUNITY IN THE YUBA SUTTER REGION
When it comes to endorphin-boosting animal interactions, this region has something to crow about. As many as 1,000 wild roosters and hens hang out in Yuba City, with an occasional free-range bird appearing on the tree-lined main street near the two counties’ Blue Zones office in town. Birds are a big attraction in the Yuba Sutter region, which is along the Pacific Flyway. There’s even a sanctuary for birds of prey in Marysville at West Coast Falconry, where guests can interact with owls and learn basic falconry.
Marysville is a draw for human visitors as well; a stroll down the well-preserved main street is a leisurely trip back in time. Known as the gateway to the gold fields, Marysville was a popular riverboat stop at the confluence of the Yuba and Feather rivers. Longtime residents will often swap stories in the Blue Zones–approved Brick Coffee House Café, known to locals as “the Brick.” The café has healthy eating options and locally sourced coffee. Other Blue Zones Project eateries include Pete’s Restaurant and Brewhouse and 2 Bits Express. For overnight stays, the beautifully restored 1874 Victorian Harkey House Bed and Breakfast Inn in Yuba City is Blue Zones–approved.
The rich history and abundance of lakes, rivers, and streams have always attracted tourists to Yuba Sutter, but the counties’ Blue Zones executive director Marni Sanders says visitors also feel a strong sense of belonging thanks to the region’s friendly, “salt-of-the-earth” residents. “People come to our community and are touched by the people they encounter here.”
