BEYOND THE VINE: EXPLORING SONOMA COUNTY BEYOND ITS WINERIES

My King Ocean View Room at Timber Cover Resort

My King Ocean View Room at Timber Cover Resort

Known internationally for its wine, Sonoma County is home to over 425 wineries and is the largest producer of wine in all of California. Located 30 miles north of San Francisco, I had a chance to visit Sonoma County last fall, and although it was the wine that originally piqued my interest, I quickly discovered that there was way more to see and do there beyond just visiting the wineries. Of course, where there is great wine there is also great food which is why I wanted to recommend some of my favorite restaurants along with favorite hotels and activities so that you can also make the most out of your time in Sonoma.

A Quick Pit Stop At The Golden Gate Bridge Is A Must On The Way To Sonoma County When Landing at SFO

A Quick Pit Stop At The Golden Gate Bridge Is A Must On The Way To Sonoma County When Landing at SFO

HOT TIP: Since Sonoma County doesn’t have an international commercial airport (only a national one - Sonoma County Airport STS), you have to fly to either San Francisco International Airport (SFO) or Oakland International Airport (OAK) when coming in from Toronto and then rent a car and drive the rest of the way (about 1 - 1.5 hours depending on traffic) or grab a connecting flight. Both airports are about the same distance away from Sonoma Country (give or take a few miles) however, if you land at SFO you have an excuse to cross the Golden Gate Bridge and stop at the observation lookout to take a quick photo of the iconic bridge before continuing on your way to Sonoma County.


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On The Way Into The Town of Sonoma

While on the way into Sonoma I highly recommend stopping at Cornerstone for a bite to eat and a little wandering around to stretch your legs. Cornerstone is a mix-use indoor/outdoor complex full of boutique shops, tasting rooms, sprawling gardens, outdoor venue spaces, and even an eatery/gastro-pub with a large patio that you will happily allow to steal an hour or so of your time. Further, if you really want to play it smart, I would recommend checking their events schedule before you go and timing it with your visit. Apparently their Oktoberfest event is one of the best in the county and really attacks a crowd!

You are sure to pass by tons of wineries before reaching the town of Sonoma, but one spot worth a quick stop is The Olive Press. Nestled among the wineries, The Olive Press is an award-winning olive oil mill that uses natural and sustainable old-world milling practices to extract the best oil from their olives. Located only 10 minutes from town, The Olive Press has a beautiful courtyard where you can sit and enjoy views of the olive orchard as well as an expansive tasting room and store where you can pick up a few souvenirs or gifts for you and your friends back home.

While In The Town of Sonoma

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Got My Copy Of The Scavenger Hunt From The Tourism Office In The Town Of Sonoma

Once you reach the town of Sonoma I recommend making your way to the town plaza. Recognized for being the largest plaza in California, Sonoma Plaza anchors the entire town and is where you will find the Town Hall and Tourism office. Surrounding the plaza are numerous boutiques, cafes, restaurants, art galleries, boutique hotels, and tasting rooms to explore as well as the most northwest Mission in California, the Mission San Francisco Solano. Further, the tourism office is a great place to book local tours and request a copy of their scavenger hunt (pictured above) which makes exploring the area that much more fun!

Just Up The Road

Entrance To Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

Entrance To Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

Just up the road from the town on Sonoma, no more than a 10-minute drive, you will find the beautiful sprawling property of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa. This luxury hotel is one of the only luxury spa resorts in the country to be situated on a natural ancient thermal hot spring which makes it the perfect place to stay for anyone interested in a wellness getaway. Not only can you expect superior spa services from this hotel, but the hotels’ restaurant Santé is a recent recipient of the prestigious Michelin Star making it the perfect place to check out and stay for any epicurean.

I had the chance to spend one night at the hotel while in town and enjoy a dinner at Santé during my stay, both of which lived up to their hype and felt too short-lived. If I ever have a chance to revisit the region, I will definitely be heading back to the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa for another dose of Sonoma luxury.

Head To The Coast

View Of The Sonoma Coast from Timber Cove Resort

View Of The Sonoma Coast from Timber Cove Resort

One thing I think a lot of people forget or don’t take into account about Sonoma County is that they have over 50 miles of beautiful coastline with the most enchanting views of the Pacific Ocean. One spot I fell in love with while staying on the coast was Timber Cover Resort, a newly renovated, retreat-style, boutique hotel situated on top of a cliff that has the most breathtaking sunsets. The hotel itself is a member of Design Hotels and is located close enough to the small town of Jenner that it can attract a local crowd (especially at happy hour when there is live music in the lobby), but also far enough to feel/enjoy the solitude. A few things I loved about this resort were the communal games and fire pits sprinkled troughout the property, their library of records which you could take and enjoy in your room, and the hotel’s restaurant, Coast Kitchen, which offers delicious fare using locally sourced seasonal ingredients. We spent one night at Timber Cove during our time in Sonoma County and made sure to dine at Coast Kitchen during our stay, an experience I am still swooning over. If I was ever looking for a place to retreat to for a week so I could disconnect from the world, this would be it!

Kayaking the Mouth of The Russian River With Getaway Adventures

Kayaking the Mouth of The Russian River With Getaway Adventures

While on the Sonoma County coast, it would be a shame if you didn’t take advantage of all the outdoor activities the area has to offer. One activity we did which was easy and a lot of fun was a kayaking tour along the Russian River with Getaway Adventures. Our guide met us in Jenner with all the equipment and gear we needed for the 4.5-hour tour and gave us a quick lesson before we set off. The Russian River is a hot spot for seals and it didn’t take long for our group to spot a few playing near the banks. We had a lot of fun chasing after them as they played with each other and jumped out of the water. It was a great way to spend the day and it was really nice to get out on the water and experience the area from a different point of view.

Turn It Up A Notch in Santa Rosa

A Friendly Giraffe We Got Up Close And Personal With During Our Safari West Tour

A Friendly Giraffe We Got Up Close And Personal With During Our Safari West Tour

If you want to take your time in Sonoma County up a notch and really get adventurous, I recommend heading to Safari West near Santa Rosa for the ultimate glamping experience. Unlike anything you would ever expect to experience in California, Safari West is the ultimate family-friendly, beyond-the-vine, Sonoma County experience. This animal sanctuary and wildlife preserve offers the ultimate luxury glamping experience along with group tours that get you up close to exotic wildlife like white rhinos, zebras, giraffe, cheetahs, monkeys, and much more. Located just outside Santa Rosa, Safari West promotes wildlife conservation, educational environmental concepts, and is fully accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Tours and lodging at Safari West are by reservation only and Safari tours are two hours consisting of a walk through of their aviary followed by a tour of the surrounding grounds in an open-air safari vehicle. The luxury glamping tents that you can choose to stay in feature wooden floors, heated blankets, and ensuite bathrooms outfitted with full plumbing. Although Safari West is an amazing family-friendly experience, children under 4 cannot participate in the driving portion of the safari tours, and children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Although I am not a huge camper, spending a night in a glamping tent was a lot of fun and it was crazy to hear all the animals at night. You really felt like you were in the wild. Further, it did get quite cold overnight and into the morning so I was really thankful they supplied a heated blanket, but I would also recommend bringing some warm clothes to sleep in for this experience.

All in all my time in Sonoma County was short lived but incredibly memorable. With so much to see and do beyond wineries, including our mini road trip around the county and the numerous towns we stopped in for a quick walk around and bite like Petaluma, I would recommend planning to go for 5-7 days if you really want to make the most of your time there without rushing the through the entire experience.


I hope you enjoyed reading this travel guide and found a lot of useful information to help you with planning your upcoming trip to Sonoma County. If you have any questions or comments about any of my recommendations, please feel free to leave them below and I'll be happy to answer them as soon as I can! Safe Travels!


MY SONOMA COUNTY RECOMMENDATIONS ON A MAP


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48 HOURS IN MONTREAL

Enjoying a Cappuccino at Caffe Farine in MTL’s St. Henri neighbourhood

Enjoying a Cappuccino at Caffe Farine in MTL’s St. Henri neighborhood

Romantic cobblestone streets, beautiful architecture, delicious eats, and friendly, warm people. All of these characteristics to me what make travelling to Montreal one of best cities to visit in Canada. There is something to say about a place that no matter how many time you visit, you still find yourself coming back for more. Montreal to me is exactly that. Every time I venture back to my french speaking roots (my mother is from the Laurentians) there is something new, delicious, and fun to discover.

Recently, needing a change of scenery from my everyday Toronto, I took a trip to visit a close lifestyle blogger, dear friend and Montrealer @HEY.MACA, to do some Montreal sightseeing. At the time I couldn’t shake off a lingering creative rut and desperately needed a shift in perspective. I knew Montreal would provide the perfect call for inspiration I needed and Maca the best host to show me all the new things to do in Montreal and the best restaurants in Montreal downtown core. We spent the next 48 hours running around Montreal collecting hot spots of happiness and inspiration along the way. She took me to all the new cool places and I left Montreal feeling completely full of delicious foods, inspiration, and with a list of new favorites restaurants in Montreal’s downtown core. .

So… without further ado, here is a list of some of my favorite new discoveries from my 48 hours in Montreal with Maca!


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CAFE’S AND RESTAURANTS IN MONTREAL WORTH CHECK OUT:

Caffe Farine - A cute coffee shop in the St. Henri neighborhood (pictured above) with the most amazing coffee (their foam was soooo on point!) I have ever had while in MTL! It was very quiet, had great lighting by the window, and I loved their vibrant blue banquette and little Ciao Bella neon sign on the wall. It all made for a perfect coffee shop photo-opp and a great spot to grab a caffeine fix when visiting Montreal.

Ssense Cafe - The new Ssense store in the Old Port features a beautiful cafe and reastaurant on the top floor that is an architecture and design lovers dream! The lighting inside is also incredible and casts perfect rays of contrasting light into the space. Although the whole place makes for a great photography setting Maca and I both found it hard to shoot portrait style photos in here. Reflected light made for an interesting cast on skintone and accentuated all flaws - more than normal. Although it wasn’t a good place for us to shoot outfit photos it was still an amazing and inspiring space. The food coming out of their small kitchen looked and smelt quiet amazing as well. Even if you have no plans to eat, the Ssense boutique should be on your ‘Montreal sightseeing’ list as it is a premiere shopping destination for luxury designer brands in downtown Montreal

Foiegwa - This restaurant has been open for a while and I have been dying to go because I have seen it on so many list regarding ‘Best restaurnats in Montreal’s downtown’. Every time I visited Montreal in the last two years I had it at the top of my list of places I wanted to eat, but it wasn’t until this last trip that I was actually able to go and let me tell you, it was worth the wait! The food here was spectacular although a little pricey*. Maca and I shared the beef tartare and immediately ordered another one after finishing the first - we couldn’t get enough!

*One of the beautiful things I love about Montreal is all their great restaurants. Usually in the past, especially as a student, I would always remark on how restaurants in Montreal’s downtown core were so affordable, even the super nice ones. I remember going to visit my friends at Concordia and having a nice meal and thinking the same meal in Toronto would probably cost 20-30% more. That said I know Toronto food prices have gone up (perhaps because of higher food cost or even increase in rent) so I can only imagine Montreal is experiencing the same. Honestly this comment was more about me no longer seeing Montreal restaurants being as affordable as they once were and how they are more on the same tier as Toronto in terms of food price points.

Cafe Pista - This little Mile End gem was totally my hipster coffee shop dream and one of the best cafes in Montreal to sit and work. It was very bright with amazing tile floors and white and mint decor/accents. Although their menu was small the food looked amazing and I couldn’t stop myself from ordering their ‘Bol Pista’ - a salad version of a salmon poke with a boiled egg - a delicious choice if you ask me. If I was looking for a cafe to do some work while I was in Montreal this would be it. This place just did it all for me - great people watching, awesome food, and cute decor.

McKiernan Lunchonette - This new collaboration between the owners of Maison Publique and Joe Beef is definitely one to add to your list of things to do while in Montreal. Having only opened the week prior to my trip I was so happy I got to check this place out before I left Montreal. I was only informed of its opening the night before I was leaving town, and being a big fan of Joe Beef’s food and having heard amazing things about Maison Publique, this place immediately shot up to the top of Maca and I’s ‘to-do’ list. The cafeteria style space the restaurant is located in is nowhere near downtown but rather in a more industrial loft style building on the outskirts of Montreal. Although it may be a little bit of a trek from where you may be staying, the breakfast we had here was delicious and so was the spicy Caesar cocktail I ordered. The space is available to rent for larger events and the new Lunchonette venture doubles as both an on and off-site catering company.

Pastel Rita - This pretty pink heaven is a mixed-use space featuring a boutique, an atelier, and a coffee shop/winebar. The three designers (a jewelry designer, a milliner and a leather-smith) share an open concept atelier in the back (with glass windows so you can peer in), while displaying their handmade goods in a boutique space and coffee shop in the front. The whole idea of having a shared co-working space that is also partly open to the public is a very cool concept to me. It is something I don’t often see as they are usually more private, members-only spaces in Toronto. I always find watching people work on their craft very inspirational and it helps feed my curious tendencies. Taking this opportunity of inspiration and combining it with coffee, and all pink everything, makes for an afternoon well spent in the Mile End area and a cool places to hang out while visiting Montreal.

Pictured Below - a shot I took of @Hey.Maca in Pastel Rita wearing a hat from Heirloom Hats.

Montreal


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ADDITIONAL PHOTOS FROM MY TRIP TO MONTREAL!

Left unsupervised in Montreal’s Old Port

Left unsupervised in Montreal’s Old Port

Waiting for my coffee at one of the best cafes in Montreal - Tommy - Located in Montreal’s Old Port

Waiting for my coffee at one of the best cafes in Montreal - Tommy - Located in Montreal’s Old Port


I hope you enjoyed this travel guide on the best cafes in Montreal, Old Montreal restaurants, things to do in Montreal downtown and so much more. If you have any questions, comments or recommendations of your own, please feel free to leave them in the comments below and I wish you a great time visiting Montreal!


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