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What they say...

"Tips - The scenery was gorgeous in this area. We didn't do any winery visits while in Sonoma - this was our outdoorsy part of the trip. Don't miss Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. Also, we drove out to the Sonoma Coast one day and had a picnic lunch on the beach. The coastline there is beautiful and very wild. From there, you can also drive up or down Hwy 1 - the views never stop. Be prepared to pull over every couple minutes to take pictures!"

Posted to Trip Advisor by a guest from Los Angeles, CA

Our Top Ten Favorite Sonoma Wine Country Adventures

 

  1. Drive to the coast -Wander along Goat Rock Beach. See the sea lions and the kayakers at the mouth of the Russian River. Lunch at the River's End - or dig into fresh caught Dungeness crab at Spud Point Crab Co.
  2. Hike the Giant Redwoods - Pick up a picnic and a bottle of bubbly at Korbel Winery (take a little while to take their garden tour if you can). Head out to Armstrong Woods for a long, leisurely hike and a lunch under the first-growth redwood trees.
  3. An afternoon on the square in Healdsburg - People-watch while you enjoy lunch outside at the Dry Creek Kitchen- Charlie Palmer's wine country destination restaurant. Skip dessert and head over to Bravas Bar de Tapas for organic soft serve ice cream with vanilla bean sea salt. Then on to great boutiques, antique shops and wine tasting rooms on the square.
  4. Bike the "Healdsburg Loop"- A 27 mile loop, starting at our front door and taking you out along the Westside Road, into Healdsburg and then back along the Eastside Road to the Farmhouse. Along the way, you can stop at a variety of boutique wineries. Enjoy a quick bite in Healdsburg- but save room for the amazing wine and food paring in J Winery's"Bubble Room". Can't bring your own bike? Rent one on the square in Healdsburg, or arrange to have one delivered to the Farmhouse. (www.spokefolk.com)
  5. A picnic and a game of bocce ball at Preston winery - Pick up a famous Farmhouse Picnic. Head out West Dry Creek road to the Preston Winery- they have everything else you need. Lou Preston bakes his own organic breads, cures olives and produces olive oil- in addition to making an array of delicious Rhone-style wines.
  6. Tour and tasting at Michel-Schlumberger winery - A darling, European estate-style winery in the Dry Creek Valley. The tours are fun and quirky- taking you out into the vineyards as well as showing how wines are made. (www.michelschlumberger.com)
  7. Tuesday night jazz on the Healdsburg Plaza - all summer long. Borrow a blanket from the concierge, head to the square to get a spot, hit the Healdsburg Farmer's market in the afternoon, grab a loaf of bread at Downtown Bakery, and a bottle of wine at one of the many tasting rooms- and settle in for some amazing music under the stars.
  8. Whale watching on the Sonoma Coast- More than 20,000 gray whales swim the Pacific shores during their annual migration. Whale watching season along the Sonoma coast peaks in December and January. Viewing is best from Gualala Point and Stillwater Regional Parks, or Black Point and Walk On Beach Accesses (in Sea Ranch).
  9. Canoeing down the Russian River - (Memorial Day-Labor Day). Grab a famous Farmhouse picnic and across the road to Burke's canoes. Meander down the river, a ten mile trek, stop here and there for a bite and some sun, enjoy the magnificent redwoods, and watch out for the fast spots! When you get to Johnson's Beach, you'll hop a bus that will take you back to your car.
  10. Oysters at Hog Island - Take Highway 1 down the coast to the town of Manchester. Stop at Point Reyes Winery for a bottle of their estate grown sparkling wine and then over to Tomales Bay Foods for some of the Cowgirl Creamery Redhawk cheese and bread. Then over to Hog Island - Grab a few dozen oysters and while away the afternoon watching the incredible birds over Tomales Bay.