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We've teamed up with legendary travel company Abercrombie & Kent to offer Curated Escapes, a collection of specialized trips custom-designed for our readers. Experience the adventurous side of Sonoma wine country on private, four-day trips that bring travelers to soaring redwood groves, the bohemian charms of the Russian River, and 55 miles of dramatic Pacific coastline. Book now.
Despite the rolling vineyards that blanket most of its landscapes, there is much more to Sonoma County than wine. It's here where all the senses are seduced by fields, ocean, and air that feel richer thanks to the luscious Northern California climate. It’s easy to enjoy getting lost on the scenic byways or spending days immersed in tastings and long lunches.
But with so many ways to spend your visit, the county’s new Signature Experiences program invites travelers into deeper firsthand explorations. Why just taste wine when you could learn expert pairing concepts to create your own flavor journeys? Why only sample prepared local ingredients when you could forage for seasonal delights along the Sonoma Coast’s culinary wonderland? Between curated, in-depth experiences and everyday temptations, the county always has more to discover.
Getting there and around
Drive north from San Francisco or Oakland airports to reach Sonoma County’s southern gateways of Petaluma and the city of Sonoma in just over an hour. Highway 101 will lead to Santa Rosa, the county’s biggest city (pop. 175,000), and home to Charles Schulz Sonoma County Airport. Continue north to reach foodie enclave Healdsburg, with Coppola Winery’s fine vintages and cinematic treasures in nearby Geyserville.
Westward from Santa Rosa takes you to artsy Sebastopol, and to Guerneville on the Russian River, the region’s longtime LGBTQ-friendly holiday hideaway. Drive about 25 minutes further west where forests give way to Pacific scenery along the Sonoma Coast, from quiet Sea Ranch at the north, to Jenner’s coastal park trails, down to Bodega Bay’s inns and restaurants.
Where to eat
Sonoma County is a food-lover’s paradise and a capital of fresh, local-seasonal dining. Expect to find especially tempting options in Healdsburg at high-end spots like Valette and Michelin-starred Single-Thread Farm. (Book your reservations well in advance.) More approachable is Spinster Sisters in Santa Rosa with a romantic outdoor dining area and menu broken into ocean, garden, and pasture—and, thankfully, cheese.
Guerneville continues to see notable restaurants opening, most recently Road Trip, serving well-made American dishes with Thai touches; and the Lodge at Dawn Ranch, whose menu changes with the season but leads with Italian and Mexican influences. Along the coast, award-winning Terrapin Creek blends California and Japanese flavors on its short, creative menu. You’ll taste seafood pulled right from the bay at casual eatery Fishetarian (get the chowder), and at recently opened Rocker Oysterfeller, with sweeping views from Lucas Wharf.
Restaurants across Sonoma celebrate farmers' best ingredients, but The Barlow in Sebastopol is a complex where you can try the greatest variety in one place, including excellent fare at Osito Tacos, Salt & Sea Poke, WM Cofield Cheesemakers, and excellent Fern Bar—a bar-focused restaurant devoted to Sonoma’s flavors. The Barlow recently launched a happy-hour crawl with stops at six spots for dining and drinking. Build in spare time to browse its great indie shops.
Things to do in Sonoma
Along with the rollout of its Signature Experiences excursions, immersive tastings, and adventures, Sonoma County's Tasting Pass is handy for sampling dozens of wineries, distilleries, craft breweries, and cideries. Both large and small wineries encourage reservations, and the county also lists ones that welcome tasting-room walk-ins.
There’s a remarkable variety of tasting rooms across the county. On the east side of Santa Rosa, Benziger Family Winery is one of the largest, with a variety of tasting options and special events like brunches and vineyard hikes. Glen Ellen’s Paradise Ridge has high views from its polished tasting room, along with a free sculpture garden; nearby Abbot’s Passage is a bit more casual with a mercantile, gardens, and games. In Sonoma city, don’t miss the elegant SIGH Champagne Bar just off the historic main plaza, with a wall of quotations, like this lament from John Maynard Keynes: “My only regret in life is that I didn’t drink enough Champagne.”
Iron Horse Vineyards is a stunning sparkling winery on the west side near Sebastopol, notable for its beautiful outdoor hilltop space and special events. With more rustic farm vibes, Russian River Vineyards has large tasting terraces overlooking its fields, and over in Guerneville, Equality Vines is a small, friendly tasting room pouring labels from across the county. Overlook Bodega Bay with your flights of latest releases at Sonoma Coast Vineyards, a sweet spot for pre- or post-hike tastings along Sonoma Coast State Park’s bluffs.
Nature’s best comes in many forms in Sonoma, and its redwoods are especially magical. Ensconce yourself in the oxygen-rich Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Guerneville, where trails are short but the trees are epic. Jack London State Historic Park is a lovely place for hikes and picnics among eucalyptus groves, to see the author’s cottage and gravesite, and to catch live outdoor theater and other events. Check out more ways to embrace the fresh air with Sonoma activities from zip-lining and kayaking, to birding and bike tours.
Where to stay
Sonoma’s lodging options span everything from coastal Cali resorts, like the family-friendly Lodge at Bodega Bay, to revamped mid-century motor hotels like Santa Rosa’s The Astro, and the newly reopened Flamingo Resort & Spa, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. In Guerneville, AutoCamp Russian River invites you deep into nature with luxe Airstream-camper guestrooms and spacious tents. Mine + Farm Inn is a cozy, chic option that’s one of the few cannabis-friendly properties (in designated areas) and serves incredible breakfasts. New in 2025 and across the Russian River is 12-acre River Electric, a modern glamping resort, swim club, and event space.
For more traditional lodging, Olea Hotel in Glen Ellen is a charming boutique property with guestrooms and cottages, a spa, and a big pool and terrace. The town of Sonoma’s MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa stands out as a luxurious urban resort with large rooms, some with fireplaces and balconies, plus an all-day lounge-worthy pool, upscale spa, and sophisticated dining.
You can also go out on a limb to lodge at the Spectacular Spyglass Treehouse in Occidental, the most wish-listed Airbnb in California. It’s an architectural feat and traveler’s haven, complete with a hot tub, sauna, patio, and kitchenette—nestled high among the towering redwoods—for a purely Sonoma experience.
Ready to book your own trip? Read more about our Curated Escapes with Abercrombie & Kent here.
