Sonoma County is quintessential Northern California. The charming small towns, beautiful wine country, rugged coast and rolling, farm-studded hills make it one of my favorite places to spend a relaxing vacation, especially with three or more days. Based on several trips we’ve taken there, including a long weekend last spring, I’ve compiled my favorite 30 things to do Sonoma County. If you have tips for Sonoma travel, I’d love to hear them!

What to Do in Sonoma County: 30 Ideas

What to do on the Sonoma Coast:

Fort Ross

A former Russian colony from 1812, the Fort Ross State Historic Park offers a bit of history on the California coast. In fact, the 4th graders at my kids’ school stay at Fort Ross after learning about Russian and Californian history. They pretend to be fishermen, cooks, guards, etc. to act out the roles that Russian settlers would have had at the fort. The park’s cliff-top 3200 acres include original wooden structures, an antique canon and the visitor center with interpretive presentations.

19005 Coast Highway, Jenner, 707-847-3437, parking fee $8.

Sonoma Coast State Park: Schoolhouse Beach, Portuguese Beach & Goat Rock Beach

Best beaches in Sonoma County:

Sonoma Coast State Park along Highway One is loaded with visit-worthy beaches, but Schoolhouse Beach is one of our favorites for its size and rocks that line the beach. Located just north of Bodega Bay, this beach is large enough that you probably won’t feel crowded or worried about the waves crashing down on you.

Like other beaches in the area, this one is not safe for swimming, and the waves can be unpredictable and dangerous. There’s a small parking lot with restrooms and a short, easy walking path down the beach.

Portuguese Beach

Another scenic beach along Hwy 1 just north of Bodega Bay, Portuguese Beach is particularly nice because of the ice plant-covered bluffs and large rock formations. Like most of the others along this stretch of highway, there’s a small parking lot above the beach.

Goat Rock Beach:

This large beach is bordered by the mouth of the Russian River to the north and Goat Rock to the south. Bring a picnic and take in the views from the picnic tables, explore the Kortum hiking trail and view (from a distance of at least 50 meters) the seals that hang out here in spring and summer.

Tip: The water along the Sonoma coast is rough with unpredictable waves and a strong undertow, so don’t even think about swimming, and advise children not to play near the water.

Whale watching around Mother’s Day

Most people know that you can see whales from the coast while they’re migrating — between January and May — but the docents at Bodega Head especially recommend coming around Mothers’ Day. This is the best chance to see whales because at that time, mothers and their calves swim close to land.

Bodega Head is one of the best places to see them because the peninsula juts out into the water and the tall cliffs allow for excellent unobstructed views of the water. You can also try other places along the coast, like the beaches of Sonoma Coast State Park, Fort Ross, Sea Ranch and Salt Point State Park in Jenner.

Read more: Whale watching on the Sonoma coast

What to do in Sonoma County (inland):

Florence Avenue in Sebastopol

Fun things to do in Sonoma County: In the small town of Sebastopol is Florence Avenue, a street filled with the whimsical “junk art” of Patrick Amiot and Brigitte Laurent. This is an especially fun outing with kids — they’ll love walking from house to house to discover each unique sculpture and choosing their favorites.

Read more: Recycled Art in Sebastopol

Sonoma Plaza

What to do in Sonoma: Sonoma Plaza, a National Historic Landmark, is the largest square of its kind in California. It was here in 1849 that a group of settlers proclaimed this the Republic of California and raised the Bear Flag. The plaza includes a monument to the Bear Flag Revolt and the Sonoma City Hall and is bordered by preserved adobe buildings that make up the Sonoma State Historic Park.

Tips for visiting Sonoma Plaza: street parking is available. For kids, there’s a playground and pond inside the plaza. The streets around the plaza have cafes, restaurants, galleries, shops and wine tasting rooms.

Behind the plaza is a park with bocce ball courts and, when we were there, old train cars. We loved watching the town residents gathering at the park, and the train cars made a fun place for our kids to run around. If you have small kids, check out Sonoma TrainTown Railroad just outside of town.

Mission San Francisco Solano in Sonoma

The last of the California missions, Mission San Francisco Solano sits right on the corner of the town’s historic plaza. If you’ve seen the impressive architecture of missions like the Carmel Mission, this one will seem pretty tame, but if missions are new to you, you should make time to go inside and learn a bit about this unique part of California history. Open daily 10:00-5:00; entrance fee: $3 per adult, $2 kids 6 and up (this fee includes entrance to all the historic buildings of Sonoma State Historic Park).

Gift shop at Sonoma State Historic Park

This gift shop on the town square, just across from the mission, is wonderful! They sell many cool items from California like tiny sequoias that you can grow at home and t-shirts, hats and tea towels that actually look stylish. It’s on the bottom floor of the historic barracks building, so after you shop, you can walk back to the outdoor courtyard and up the stairs through some of the old rooms (see above).

Cornerstone Sonoma

Cornerstone Gardens is an eclectic mix of spaces created by some of the world’s best landscape architects and designers. The gardens also include the Sunset Test Gardens (as in Sunset Magazine). The outdoor gardens are part of Cornerstone Sonoma, a complex of galleries, shops, restaurants and wine tasting rooms. Entrance and parking are free.

Read more: What to do with kids: Napa & Sonoma

Downtown Petaluma

Petaluma is one of Northern California’s nicest looking towns, with Victorian-era buildings lining its downtown streets and riverfront. You can spend a few hours admiring the architecture, eating a relaxing lunch on the riverfront patio at Dempsey’s, popping into the Petaluma Seed Bank, browsing antiques at Sienna Antiques, taking a walking tour (get a map at the Visitor Center), and checking out the museum at the Visitor Center in the historic train depot.

Read more: A day trip to Petaluma (on Hither & Thither)

Spend an afternoon in Healdsburg:

One of the cutest towns in Northern California, Healdsburg has a bit of everything — excellent restaurants, wine tasting rooms, boutique shopping, antiques, spas, museums and more. Plan a few hours here to include a walk through the downtown plaza, a look inside the town’s wonderful antique stores, and a beer at Healdsburg Taproom or a glass of wine at one of the tasting rooms. There are two Michelin-starred restaurants here, but advance planning is needed to eat there; otherwise, choose from one of these Healdsburg restaurants.

Where to hike in Sonoma County

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve

Plan a half day trip to Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve for a walk among this grove of coastal redwoods, the tallest living thing on Earth! Choose easy or more difficult trails depending on how much time and energy you have, but don’t miss the Parson Jones Tree, the tallest tree at more 310 feet, and the Colonel Armstrong Tree, the oldest tree in the grove at about 1400 years old! Parking/entrance fee: $8 per car.

Tip: It gets chilly in the shade of these tall trees, so bring a jacket.

Read more: Whale watching on the Sonoma coast

Bodega Head

One of our favorite things to do on the coast is the hike at Bodega Head, especially on a sunny day. The easy path follows the cliffs, going up before leveling off with a view of Point Reyes in the distance. If you bring kids, be especially careful because there’s no barrier between the path and the cliff’s edge, and leave some time for them to climb around inside the huge cypress tree on the way back to the parking lot. Then stop at the harbor for lunch.

Read more: A day trip to Bodega Bay

Hike at Sea Ranch

The Sea Ranch is a small community that sits between Highway 1 and the ocean on the northernmost stretch of the Sonoma coast. The community has miles of hiking trails that hug the coastline with free parking and restrooms for visitors. There are many beaches to visit, including small and secluded Stengel Beach and the large, flat Walk On Beach.

If you go north, the trails take you to Gualala Point Regional Park, where you can kayak in the river or play on the beach. Besides the views of the water and sea caves, look for deer and foxes in the meadows.

Read more: What to do at Sea Ranch

Where to taste wine in Sonoma County:

Of course Sonoma County is known for its wine country, and with more than 400 wineries that offer all kinds of experiences, the options are close to endless. Here are a few of my favorite places to taste wine in Sonoma County:

Sutro Wine

If you want to learn about wine in an intimate setting, love being outdoors, or want to try a unique tasting experience, check out Sutro Wine. For $65 per person, you take an intimate guided tour through the vineyards at Warnecke Ranch followed by a one-hour wine tasting. For the property tour, expect a 1.5 mile hike with beautiful views over the surrounding area.

A wine and food pairing is also offered. By the way, did I mentioned that their wines are really, really good?!

Read more: Winery Tour in Sonoma County

Schug Wine

I fell in love with Schug Wines when I had the opportunity to try a few of their Pinot Noirs, a variety that they specialize in. Schug has two locations: one is a small pet-friendly tasting room on Sonoma Plaza (open daily 11-6), and the other is the winery, Schug Carneros Estate, about 10 minutes from Sonoma (open daily 10-5). The winery includes the option of a free, self-guided tour; stop in the tasting room to pick up the guide. The tasting fee is just $15 per person at both locations.

J. Rickards

For something a little different, try wine tasting at J. Rickards, one of the most down-to-earth wineries I’ve visited. The winemaker, Jim Rickards, loves to chat with visitors about the winery’s sustainable growing practices. It’s also worth visiting just to see the area — try taking the back roads through Alexander Valley and nearby Dry Creek Valley or stop in the small town of Geyserville.

Tastings are $15 per person, and the fee waived with the purchase of a bottle or wine club signup. Open Monday-Saturday 11-4.

Read more: Sonoma Sustainable Winery

La Follette outside Healdsburg and at the Barlow

La Follette Wines focuses on wines from some of the best coastal vineyards. Winemaker Simone Sequeira strives to let the character of the vineyards come through in each of their single vineyard wines. This is the place to come if you want to try Sonoma County Pinot Noir or Chardonnay. To taste at the winery, you’ll need to call or reserve a tasting online, but you can also taste their wines at their new location in the Barlow in Sebastopol (open 11-6 daily, tasting fee just $10).

Tip: Don’t miss this if you’re curious about Pinot Noir; La Follette’s are some of the best I’ve tried.

Ferrari Carano

Ferrari Carano winery features five acres of classic Italian/French style gardens. Come at any time of the year to walk the footpaths and view the waterfalls, bronze sculptures and various species of plants, each labeled. Spring is an especially nice time to visit because more than 10,000 tulips and daffodils are in bloom. You can visit the gardens for free; wine tasting starts at $15 for 5 wines. Open 10-5 daily.

Tip: You can call the Tulip Hotline at (707) 433-5349 in the late winter/early spring months to know when the tulips will be in full bloom.

Read more: Understanding the Sonoma Wine Region

Where to drink beer in Sonoma County:

Crooked Goat Brewing:

Beer is big business in California, and new breweries seem to be popping up right and left. A newcomer in the region is Crooked Goat Brewing, located at the Barlow in Sebastopol. 16 taps pour a constantly-changing lineup of beers including fruit-infused ales, IPAs (of course) and nitro beers. Food from Barlow restaurants/vendors is also served. Open daily at noon.

Lagunitas:

Lagunitas is a Northern California classic. With a wider selection of their beers than you find in supermarkets and a menu of munchies, salads, sandwiches and burgers, Lagunitas is worth a visit for beer lovers or if you’re just looking for a place to have a meal and a beer. Indoor and outdoor seating available, kid-friendly, open Wed.-Sun.

Tip: This place can be packed, so try coming on a weekday and avoid lunch and dinner time.

The Beer Trail: 

Russian River Brewing is another classic Sonoma County brewery, famous for its Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger IPAs, but it’s so crowded on most days that it’s hard to recommend it. If you love beer, try following the Beer Trail to discover some of the region’s new and lesser-known breweries, or stop at HenHouse in Santa Rosa or Petaluma or Healdsburg Taproom for their carefully curated selection of craft beers.

Where to eat in Sonoma County:

The Barlow

The Barlow used to be an apple cannery but was redone just a few years ago to be a “makers’ marketplace.” It’s now an outdoor market made up of over 30 restaurants, cafes, and other merchants in Sebastopol. Here you can find wine, cheese, beer, coffee, cider, ice cream and places to eat lunch, dinner or a snack.

Fresh seafood & clam chowder in Bodega Bay

We like to head to the harbor for lunch when we’re in Bodega Bay. Spud Point Crab Co. always has a huge line, so we go to Fisherman’s Cove next door. Grab a table outside and try the oysters, clam chowder, crab roll and calamari — they serve sustainable seafood caught on their own boats and organic produce.

the girl & the fig

the girl & the fig is a popular choice for an upscale meal in Sonoma with enticing items like grilled peaches, mussels & frites and a cheese menu with carefully selected local and imported cheeses. The owner describes the food as “country food with a French passion,” and many of the ingredients are actually farmed by the staff.

Diavola Pizzeria

Diavola serves Italian food in the tradition of a cucina povera, using local ingredients for classic, time-tested recipes. The restaurant specializes in house cured salumi and authentic Italian pizzas cooked in a wood burning pizza oven. I recommend stopping here in combination with a quick stop in the tiny town of Geyserville, wine tasting at nearby J. Rickards or a drive through Dry Creek Valley.

Amy’s Drive Thru

You probably know Amy’s from the vegetarian food brand that’s available in supermarkets. Amy’s Drive Thru in Rohnert Park is an organic, vegetarian fast-food restaurant serving veggie burgers, shakes (your choice of regular, soy or almond milk), lentil soup, kombucha, nitro cold brew coffee, and dairy free and vegan options.

Catelli’s

Catelli’s in the small town of Geyserville (just down the main street from Diavola Pizzeria) originally opened here in 1936; it now serves fresh upscale Italian food with a California twist with local, organic produce from the region.

Things to do Sonoma County for families

• Fort Ross State Historic Park (and the beach below it)
• Recycled art on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol
• Eat and let them run around at the Barlow
• Look for shells on Portuguese Beach
• Spot deer at the Sea Ranch
• Hike and climb in the big cypress tree at Bodega Head (be careful on the bluff trails!)
• Hike at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
• Sonoma Train Town Railroad for littles
• Camp or day visit to Sugarloaf State Park

Where to stay in Sonoma County:

For the best prices, try Booking.com: places to stay in Bodega Bay, places to stay in Sonoma, and places to stay at the Sea Ranch.

The Lodge at Bodega Bay

For us, this is a splurge, but one we felt was worth it to celebrate our 20-year wedding anniversary. We loved it so much that we brought our kids again to celebrate my birthday.  It’s a beautiful property located on the Sonoma Coast in the sleepy fishing village of Bodega Bay. With an on-site restaurant, bocce ball, a jumbo Jenga, a pool and huge hot tub, and walking trails nearby, this is also a great place to bring kids if you’re looking for a family getaway.

Airbnbs: We’ve had great experiences with home rentals through Airbnb in Sonoma County. We’ve stayed in cottages and a renovated farm house on quiet country roads just outside Sebastopol and Cotati.

If you want to get away from it all, try the special experience of staying at the Sea Ranch. Try staying at Il Tramonto (we loved it!) or one of the other rentals in that community. Click here to get $40 off your first stay with Airbnb!

Where to go camping in Sonoma County

There are lots of places to camp in Sonoma County, but I’ve stayed in only a few. 

The Healdsburg/Cloverdale KOA is located on a hill overlooking woods and wine country. It’s a peaceful location — think deer roaming the hills, amazing views of the stars at night, and a nice nature trail hike from the campground. There are RV hookups and tent sites as well as cabins that are comfortable enough but overpriced.

The Petaluma KOA is very family-focused with a playground, enormous inflatable for bouncing, and other kids’ activities. This KOA is too crowded and noisy for my taste, and the campsites are very close together, but the cabins here are new and offer a convenient, affordable option for a family getaway.

Tip: If you want a tent or RV site and a quieter, more nature-focused stay, I’d recommend the Cloverdale KOA; if you want to stay in a cabin and prefer a more central location, try the Petaluma KOA.

Sugarloaf State Park is a sweet state park with several kid-friendly trails and a small campground complete with a bubbling creek running beside it. This is dry camping but one yurt is also available. Read about our experience camping at Sugarloaf State Park.

There’s still so much more to explore in this beautiful region! I’d love to hear your tips for things to do Sonoma County.

See my Northern California day trips and popular travel guides for Northern California.

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Photo of Goat Rock Beach courtesy of Visit Sonoma County