Spring flings in Wine Country

Are you a culture vulture on the prowl for an art exhibition? Or a foodie searching for a great palate adventure?

Maybe you're a hiker in search of the most compelling vistas in the great outdoors.

Whoever you are and whatever you fancy, let's get something clear straight away: You deserve it.

You can let your to-do list go undone long enough to pamper yourself with an adventure in Wine Country, which by the way, is ripe with a great assortment of treats.

Here are six of our top picks:

Land of art

The di Rosa Preserve (dirosaart.org, 226-5991, 5200 Carneros Highway, Napa). The founders are stewards of both art and the land, with a 200-acre preserve in the Carneros region. It's a great place to roam after perusing di Rosa's considerable art collection, which features 2,000 works of art by more than 800 artists.

One current exhibit, which runs through April 27, is 'Lost and Found.' It features the work of Elisheva Biernoff and Floris Schönfeld, two Bay Area-based artists who explore the relationship between man and nature. Don't miss Biernoff's 'House of Cards,' an interesting take on a child's card castle.

Oysters and more

Rocker Oysterfeller's (oysterfellers.com, 876-1983, 14415 Highway 1, Valley Ford). Here's a place to let your oyster cravings run wild. Local Tomales Bay oysters are a specialty, and they're served on the half shell virtually any way you can imagine — with a little garlic butter or baked with bacon and cream cheese.

If you're in the mood for traditional comfort food, there's no shortage here, with buttermilk fried chicken and cheese grits among the favorites. This is the perfect getaway for people who yearn for a refreshing seafood dinner.