2021-09-04 00:37:57
One of the best things about Sonoma County’s three distinct regions is their proximity to one another. See each region in a long weekend with this itinerary that keeps drive time down to no more than one hour each day. Day 1 VALLEYS & VINEYARDS Start your adventure in Petaluma in the Valleys & Vineyards region of Sonoma County for a day of wine tasting in the Petaluma Gap. In town, choose from a long list of tasting rooms including Vine & Barrel Wines and Sonoma Portworks or head out of town to Azari Vineyards, which also serves house made pizzas on a garden terrace. Follow Highway 101 and Highway 116 to Sebastopol, where you can discover Native American pottery and jewelry at Native Riders and take in the area’s flourishing arts and culture scene. Afterward, get in a late afternoon wine tasting at one of the nearby Russian River Valley wineries. End your day of wine tasting in Santa Rosa with a hearty dinner at the casually elegant Stark’s Steak & Seafood and a stay at one of Sonoma County’s newest boutique hotels, Hotel E. Day 2 REDWOODS & RIVERS Take the scenic route from Santa Rosa back to Highway 116 in search of some of the area’s most magnificent natural wonders, California redwoods. Drive north to Riverfront Regional Park in Windsor and meander through towering redwood groves. After exploring the park, stop at Tiny Town Café in Forestville for a cup of coffee and local conversation. Or take your coffee togo and head to Mom’s Beach to listen to the relaxing sounds of the rushing waters of Russian River. Continue to Guerneville to spend the evening at the gorgeous boon hotel + spa and enjoy a deliciously fresh and seasonal meal (paired with a Russian River Valley wine, of course) at boon eat + drink. Day 3 COAST & SEA VILLAGES Before you leave Guerneville, pick up a picnic lunch to-go from Big Bottom Market and then venture west on Highway 116 to Jenner, a quiet sea village with beautiful Pacific Ocean views. Go for an easy hike at Sonoma Coast State Park. Find a good spot to enjoy your picnic lunch before driving 11 miles south on Highway 1 to the fishing village of Bodega Bay. If you’re feeling adventurous, opt for a 3-mile walk along Bodega Head. Watch the sunset while enjoying plates of fresh seafood at Tides Wharf Restaurant before retiring for the evening at the picturesque Bodega Bay Lodge.
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