Things to Do
Downtown Sonoma
We encourage to explore the downtown of Sonoma, one of our favorite small towns in the Bay Area! With a wide array of boutiques, restaurants and cafés, tasting rooms, and more, you're sure to fall in love with this town just like we have. Our recommendations: The Girl & The Fig, Sunflower Caffé, Valley Bar + Bottle, Sweet Scoops, El Dorado Kitchen, Hopmonk Tavern
Downtown Napa
The largest city in Napa Valley, with a variety of shops, fantastic restaurants, and great nightlife. Walk down to the river for one of our favorite views of the city.
Visit Napa Valley Wineries
Welcome to the heart of Northern California Wine Country! Sonoma is conveniently located close to a vast array of wineries and tasting rooms - almost too many to count. We are getting married at our favorite one ;) For inspiration, planning tips, and a list of nearby wineries, visit SonomaCounty.com Book a wine tour! https://www.sonoma.com/businesses?category=Things%20To%20Do&tags=wine-tours-and-sightseeing
Book a Pool/Spa Day Pass
Sonoma County has some amazing resorts, many with day pass offerings to enjoy a relaxing spa treatment, pools, and more without breaking the bank. We have visited and loved Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa multiple times, but there are plenty to choose from!
Sonoma Raceway
Fast and furious, California edition. <10 minutes from our venue
Explore Point Reyes National Seashore
Ready for an adventure? Take a drive ~40 miles west of Sonoma to Point Reyes and the coast of California for hikes, lighthouses, and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Bring a jacket!
Hike Muir Woods
A true Northern California gem. Take a day to explore Muir Woods, miles of protected trails through towering old-growth redwood trees. Note: This is a very busy and popular activity in the summer, make sure to book in advance and plan accordingly!
Hike Marin Headlands & Mt. Tam
Popular destination for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, located right between Sonoma and San Francisco. Tip: Stay for sunset!
Visit Sausalito and Tiburon
Right in between San Francisco and Sonoma County are some idyllic towns you can't miss. We love visiting Sausalito and Tiburon specifically - amazing seafood, shopping, and sailboats to watch (or ride!). We'd recommend stopping in these areas if you're traveling to/from SFO to break up the drive. Also accessible via ferry to/from SF.
San Francisco
Our home! :) Shop at the Ferry Building, grab hot cocoa from Ghirardelli Square, visit Alcatraz, drive down Lombard Street, hop on a cable car, hike Lands End, or park and visit Crissy Field for some incredible views. Our favorite summer activities include: sailing on the Bay (we love Adventure Cat Sailing tours), biking the Golden Gate Bridge into Sausalito (tip: electric bikes), and visiting Oracle Park for a Giants game (but... Go Braves)
Silicon Valley
Drive through the south end of the Bay Area peninsula to explore the home of world-famous tech companies, start-ups and venture capitalism. Tips: Visit Stanford University (see Palm Drive), Google and Apple's Visitor Centers, hike The Stanford Dish, shop on University Avenue, tour Filoli Gardens, and grab a glass of wine at Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel.
Golf like a Pro (Drew)
In no particular order: Pebble Beach, Poppy Hills, Pacific Grove, Corica Park
Drive Highway 1 to Big Sur
A must! Drive ~3 hours south of Sonoma County along the famous Highway 1 to visit the coastline of Central California known as "Big Sur." Miles of breathtaking views, hikes, and campsites. In Drew's words: "majestic" and "unforgettable"
Visit Carmel-by-the-Sea
One of our favorite small towns along the coast of California. Perfect for a romantic getaway! A very unique, European-style village with quaint shops, restaurants, tasting rooms, and more. (Great to visit/stay while exploring Big Sur).
Visit Mendocino
A gem of a city. Drive less than 3 hours north of Sonoma to visit the small town of Mendocino. Wake up in a bed and breakfast located right on the cliffs of the Pacific Coast, go whale watching, and shop local all day long. A dream!
Lake Tahoe
Our home away from home! Summer is an incredibly popular time to visit Lake Tahoe (3+ hours from Sonoma, pending traffic). Book a cabin getaway and enjoy hiking, biking, boating, and more. We prefer the North shore of the lake, but South shore is also very popular.
Yosemite National Park
Iconic. ~4 hours from Sonoma. Bring your camera! **Reservations required, plan ahead
Road trip to Santa Barbara & Ventura
If a longer road trip down the coast is in the cards, we would absolutely recommend visiting Santa Barbara and Ventura. One of our favorite vacations as a couple was visiting these picturesque beach towns. Tip: Take a surfing lesson! Located ~7 hours south of Sonoma.