Kenwood sits in the Valley of the Moon, the name Jack London gave to the Sonoma Valley, where he built his ranch and his ill-fated dream house, Wolf House, which burned before he could move in. The ruins and his grave lie in Jack London State Historic Park in nearby Glen Ellen, and the valley around them remains one of the most beautiful in California, with vineyards, oak woodland and the Mayacamas Mountains rising to the east.
Kenwood itself is a small community strung along Highway 12, with wineries, a few restaurants and a sense of rural calm. The valley is long and narrow, with the Sonoma Mountains to the west and the Mayacamas to the east, and the light in the late afternoon, golden over the vines, is lovely. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, just above Kenwood, has hiking trails and an observatory.
Highway 12 is a pleasant, flowing road through the valley, but the real fun lies in the roads that climb into the hills. Trinity Road, Calistoga Road and the roads over the Mayacamas towards Napa are narrow, winding and steep, with tight hairpins and spectacular views. They demand care, with gravel, cyclists and occasional fast local traffic. Summer can be hot, and wildfire risk is a serious concern; the 2017 fires devastated parts of the valley, and you can still see the scars on the hills.
Kenwood has limited fuel, so plan to fill up in Santa Rosa or Sonoma. The local delis and restaurants offer excellent food, and many wineries have picnic areas, though tasting is for passengers. Point Reyes and the coast lie to the west, through Petaluma and the rolling dairy country of Marin.