Railtown welcomes Santa on trains

Santa will utilize alternative transportation when he passes through the Gold Country's Railtown 1897 next weekend, riding the rails along with state park visitors (who have made advance reservations). "Santa's Starlight Express," running two nights only, will be filled with lights, music, caroling and rendezvous with the jolly old elf. He'll also appear with Railtown's Roving Fiddler on "Santa by Daylight" trains, running through the three-day weekend after Thanksgiving and again for one weekend in December.

Vitals: Friday-next Sunday and Dec. 18-19, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 26-27 only). Day trains $13 adults/$6 youth, night trains $24/$12 (5 and under free). Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, Fifth Avenue at Reservoir Road, Jamestown. (209) 984-3953, www.railtown1897.org.

-- Blessing of the fleet: In Trinidad, on the Humboldt County coast, Thanksgiving Day traditions are not so much about turkey as about ... fish. Visitors are invited to California's smallest incorporated city to be part of the annual Blessing of the Fleet, when fishing crews give thanks for a bountiful harvest and receive a blessing for the season to come. It's a refreshing way to start the holiday season- and give some thanks for the fruits of its fishermen's efforts. Thursday, 10 a.m. Free. (707) 677-1610, www.discovertrinidadca.com.

-- Sonoma Valley wineries' open house: Getting out and about is a surefire antidote for Thanksgiving overindulgence, and if you set your GPS for the annual Heart of Sonoma Valley Holiday Open House, not only can you savor Wine Country's quiet time but pick up some wine for the holidays. For this annual holiday season kick-off, 23 wineries open their doors for tastings, meetings with the winemakers, and tours of caves and cellars. New this year are street food vendors positioned strategically throughout the valley. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $40-$45. (707) 431-1137, www.heartofsonomavalley.com.

This article appeared on page M - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle