7 Best Things to Do in Sonoma Valley

Best Things to Do in Sonoma County CA

1. Wineries

Let’s start with the obvious. Jacob is allergic to wine, so it’s nice to have options that don’t involve wine. But there was also no way I would skip out when I have the perfect DD.

Wineries cover less than 6% of land in Sonoma but still amount to over 60k acres of vineyards and 400+ wineries. Because of the varying landscapes, you can find over 50 grape varietals. We highlighted the ones we visited plus other notable wineries we need to come back for.

Wine and Art Pairing at Paradise Ridge Winery

4545 Thomas Lake Harris Dr, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, map

If you love art paired with your wine, then you need to visit Paradise Ridge Winery, which is only 10 minutes away from downtown Santa Rosa. As we drove onto the property, large-scale art installments greeted us among the backdrop of the beautiful vineyards.

We loved the origin story of how they started to incorporate art into the vineyard. Rene, co-owner and one of five kids that runs the winery, told us his dad had proposed to his mom in a sculpture garden. Some of the pieces are from Burning Man, and they even have a portion of The Empyrean Temple, a 40-foot sculpture, which was supposed to be used at Burning Man 2020.

We started our visit with a tasting at the main building, then strolled through the sculpture garden to view the art.  I really loved their sparkling Shiraz.

Local Tip: Every Wed from May to Oct they host a wine and sunsets event with live music. They multiple seatings at 5, 5:30, and 6.

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Korbel Winery + Korbel Delicatessen & Market

13250 River Rd, Guerneville, CA 95446, map

Afterward, we headed over to Korbel Winery for some food and bubbly. They have a delicatessen and market, which is where we had our lunch. The sandwiches and salads were so fresh and yummy, and we enjoyed our time on the outdoor patio.

They offer complimentary tastings for up to 3 champagnes, but you need to call and make a reservation ahead of time.

Buena Vista Winery

18000 Old Winery Rd, Sonoma, CA 95476, map

Buena Vista was founded in 1857 and is the oldest commercial winery and California’s first premium winery. 

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, CA 95441, map

If you’re looking for more than wine, check out Francis Ford Coppola Winery. They not only produce over forty wines, but they also serve food at their restaurant to pair with your wine. You can take a dip in either of their two swimming pools and check out their huge collection of movie memorabilia.

Benziger Family Winery

1883 London Ranch Rd, Glen Ellen, CA 95442, map

Benziger Family Winery is one of the first wineries to integrate biodynamic farming, and you can even take a Biodynamic Vineyard Tram Tour.

Chateau St. Jean Winery

8555 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, CA 95452, map

If you’re looking to spoil yourself, head to Chateau St. Jean Winery, where you can pretend you’re royalty for the day. The grounds are picturesque, and they have a European chateau and gardens atmosphere.

Other Wineries to Check Out

Local Tip: Check out their guide to wineries you should visit during the holidays.

2. Cedar Enzyme Bath at Osmosis

209 Bohemian Hwy, Freestone, CA 95472, map

Osmosis Day Spa and Sanctuary was the highlight of our trip. We did the Cedar Enzyme Bath, which is a practice from Japan, and Osmosis is the only place you get this treatment in North America.

When we first heard about the cedar bath, we imagined a cedar tub filled with water, but we were surprised to find ourselves buried in a mixture of ground cedar and rice bran. The natural fermentation that is happening through the enzymes results in a warm treatment that improves circulation, relieves joint and muscle pain, and cleanses your skin.

In addition to that, the rest of the property is absolutely stunning. We spoke with Michael Stusser, who founded the spa. He studied as an apprentice in Japan, which helped him design the beautiful Zen gardens. Fun fact, the property used to be a junkyard and they left one of the old cars there as a tribute to the space.

Local Tip: They have a locker where you can keep your belongings when you’re in the spa. We just brought our phones with us and during the Cedar Enzyme Bath, our therapist helped us snap a few shots.

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3. Forest Bathing + Wine Tasting with EcoWisdom

Have you heard of forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku? It was developed in Japan in the 80s and is part of preventive health care and healing when they saw people’s mental health deteriorating from being overworked.

The idea is that you slow down and mindfully walk and meditate in a forest environment. Like meditation or yoga, if you’re a beginner, it helps to have someone guide you through it. Oftentimes in Japan, you end having tea made from what was foraged during your forest bath. You take it all in through meditation and then taste the land.

Jenny from Ecowisdom showed us how to forest bathe with a Sonoma twist at Zephyr Vineyards. Near the end of our forest bath, rather than tea, we did a wine tasting, since wine is one of the few beverages where you taste the earth. If you try it, let us know if you can taste the redwood spice.

Even when I got home, it helped me pick up the daily habit of meditating again.

Local Tip: It was rainy during our experience so having a solid rain jacket and waterproof boots helped.

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4. Enjoy the Apple Trail + Apple Gleaning

efore Sonoma became grape country, apples were the star. It’s still one of the popular crops, and if you’re visiting in late summer to fall, you should try their apples. Gravensteins are the most popular variety, and every August they celebrate with an annual festival. Check out the apple trail here.

Otherwise, you can visit a U-Pick farm in the Sebastopol area, shop at the farmer’s markets, find a local cidery, or try some apple pie.

Since voluntourism is becoming more popular for travelers, you can also spend time apple gleaning in an orchard. Gleaning is when you volunteer to pick apples that are distributed to people in need. We were supposed to on this trip, but we kept getting rained out.

Local Tip: They also glean other fruits and vegetables throughout the year.

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5. Drive to Bodega Bay

17110 Bodega Ln Bodega, CA 94922, map

Next, we headed to the picturesque Bodega Bay. Bodega Head is a popular rock cliff overlooking the ocean, where you can walk along the cliffs and sometimes spot migrating whales. You can also head to the beach to take surfing lessons or charter a fishing boat.

If you saw Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds (address linked above), you can also see their filming locations here at Potter School and the Inn at the Tides. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’ve been itching to since visiting and watching Schitt’s Creek make references to it.

Doran Regional Park is a great place to go birding.

See More: The Ultimate California Coast Road Trip

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6. Sonoma Coast State Park

If you’re looking for beach time, head to the Sonoma Coast State Park. It actually encompasses 17 miles of the coast from Bodega Head to Vista Trail and has multiple beaches and rocky cliffs.

Schoolhouse Beach, Wright’s Beach, or Goat Rock Beach are popular spots for sunset. We wanted to spend some time on the beach, but since it was rainy the entire time, we ended up just seeing Schoolhouse Beach from above.

Local Tip: It’s always good to have cash with you in case you need to pay for entry and/or parking.

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7. The Barlow

6770 McKinley St, Sebastopol, CA 95472, map

The Barlow is an open-air marketplace that covers four city blocks where you will find restaurants, shops, breweries, cideries, galleries, and more.

We had a delicious lunch at Kosho Sushi, grabbed coffee at Taylor Lane Organic Coffee. I also couldn’t resist stopping at California Sister Floral, a super cute plant shop next to Taylor Lane.

The area used to be home to the Barlow family who built facilities to process apples into applesauce. Some of the original structures are still there. In 2012, new structures were added and local makers came to create a community where people can shop, drink, and play together.

Local Tip: If you see any fruit on the trees in the public areas, then you’re free to pick them. – Duskie, Farm to Pantry

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