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.
