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
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
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
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
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
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
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!
