Sonoma, California

• More about your oliver guide: Allyson Weekes
• Trip type: Adult, Family, Group getaway, Solo, City
• Activity level: easy
• Ideal length of trip: 3-4 days

to & from

Sonoma is close to San Francisco, Oakland, Napa and Santa Rosa. It’s a nice central location to explore “Wine Country” as it is between Napa, St. Helena and Glen Ellen and not far from Healdsburg.

• Fly into San Francisco or Oakland airport and drive an hour North to Sonoma

Where to Stay

There are some smaller boutique hotels which offer amazing insight into the area and a sense of what makes this area so special. Accommodations can range from (group) luxury villas, to quaint bungalows off “The Plaza” and everything in between. The historic Sonoma Plaza has amazing tasting rooms and restaurants, and there are a number of accommodations within walking distance.

• MacArthur Place Hotel and Spa (luxury accommodations close to plaza)
• Thornsberry House (an Airbnb)
• El Dorado Hotel (on the Sonoma Plaza) 
• Beltane Ranch (a working winery and bed and breakfast)
• Cottage Inn & Spa (off the plaza)
• Olea Hotel (next to Sonoma in Glen Ellen, family owned and very quaint)

Where to Eat and Drink

Sonoma has AMAZING food options and utilizes local farms for the freshest ingredients. Sonoma County has over 425 wineries so you’ll easily find amazing wine to drink – vineyard tours, mountaintop tastings, cave tours, etc. Here is a list of some of our favorite “in town” options.

• Glen Ellen Star - everything (it's our favorite)
• Tapas at Oso
• Sweet Scoops Ice Cream (amazing local ingredients)
• El Molino (Mexican Street Food)
• Sunflower Cafe - brunch
• The Girl and The Fig (the fig salad and anything else - an iconic spot on the Sonoma Plaza)

What to Do

This quaint little town has great activities for couples to families, groups to solo travelers. Here is a list of some of our favorite activities.

• Historical Jack London State Park for horseback riding and hiking. The Wolf House is an amazing building with rich history.
• Safari West for a true African adventure without the journey. At the end of your safari tour, you can even settle-into your own glamping camp tent for the night if you wish! Great for kids. You will not be disappointed.
• Summer months - Tuesday night farmers market (it's a huge community event with bands, etc)
• Bike riding through the vineyards (stop and taste along the way)
• Amazing wineries with tours and tastings, everything from casual tasting rooms, to in-depth classes and wine blending experiences.
• Traintown for families; ferris wheel, petting zoo and a great train ride are among some of the fun activities for kids.
• Cornerstone Gardens beautiful gardens and tasting rooms, distillery, shops and a restaurant make this a fun family or group outing.
• Bohemian Highway Travel Co tour around the area with curated stops at wineries, farms and more.

inside scoop

• El Dorado Hotel  (Insider's tip, it's not on the menu.) The Peach Jalapeno Martini and truffle fries.
• Abbot's Passage Winery often has classes upstairs in their tasting room, very fun offerings in an inspiring space.

skip it

• Cheese Factory on the Plaza.

What to Pack

Sonoma has great weather, it can be warm in the summer months – but the nighttimes are always cool (that’s what make the wine so great).

• Layers, don't forget a jacket or sweater for evening.
• Cute casual clothes for the evening, Sonoma has a casual vibe. Long dresses and cute boots would be our outfit of choice for wine-tasting (although anything goes).