Napa Valley’s fresher, folksier sibling to the west, Sonoma County is the present-day epicenter of California Wine Country cool. Scores of oenophiles travel to Sonoma County each year for its world-class vineyards, set against a backdrop of rolling fields and a rugged coastline. They stay to experience farm-to-table dining destinations that have gained the region its international cache. From the bustling Santa Rosa to the quaint Glen Ellen, Sonoma County comprises 22 cities brimming with 19th-century history. It’s also home to a number of state parks ripe for hiking, camping and fishing. Traveling to Sonoma County takes 45 minutes from San Francisco, but it’s already a world away from its urban buzz. Use Travel + Leisure’s Sonoma County travel guide to start exploring.
Things Not to Miss in Sonoma County
• Taste vintages at one of more than 250 wineries
• Take in the untamed natural beauty of the Russian River Valley
• Catch a glimpse of California history with a visit to Sonoma Plaza and browse its summertime farmers’ market
• Indulge your inner foodie with reservations at one of the county’s top-tier restaurants
When to Go to Sonoma County
The mild, maritime-influenced climate that makes Sonoma County prime grape-growing territory also makes it traveler-friendly throughout most of the year. Visit Sonoma County and you can find daytime temperatures that hover around 71 degrees, dropping once the sun goes down. Plan your Sonoma County travel for the springtime and catch its International Film Festival in March. In May and June, the county pops with color thanks to its lavender and wildflower blooms.
-
12 Beautiful Sonoma Wineries to Visit Right Now
Sonoma Valley. Just the name suggests innate decadence and glorious beauty, which makes natural disasters, like the recent Kincade Fire, all the more... Read More
-
Airbnb is Offering Free Housing to Those Displaced By California Wildfires
As wildfires torch California, Airbnb hosts in the Sonoma Country area have opened up their homes to displaced people and workers suffering from... Read More
-
California Fires Continue to Burn As Weather Conditions Worsen
Two massive fires continued to burn up and down California on Tuesday, with the Kincade fire in the north and the Getty fire in the south.The Kincade... Read More
-
Wildfires Raging in California's Sonoma County After 'Hurricane-force' Winds Rip Through Wine Country (Video)
Update (Friday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m. ET)People across Northern California have been forced to evacuate after the Kincade Fire rapidly spread overnight due... Read More
-
Heroic Pit Bull Saves His Owner From Shark Attack
A 1-year-old pit bull named Darby is one very good boy as he bravely came to the rescue of his owner, who was bitten on the leg by a shark.The... Read More
-
It's so Hot in Northern California This Summer That Mussels Are Cooking on the Beach
Europe isn’t the only place under a monster heatwave this summer. In early June, Northern California experienced its own heat advisory. And now,... Read More
-
The Best Beaches for Camping in the U.S.
Grab your tent and your swimsuit.When it comes to making weekend travel plans for the summer, you have a lot of options. Perhaps you want to sit in the... Read More
-
Why Prince Harry 'Can't Wait to Get Out' of Kensington Palace
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s move away from the confines of Kensington Palace will be a welcome change for the couple as they prepare to welcome... Read More
-
How Princess Eugenie Is Making Her Royal Wedding Bigger Than Harry and Meghan's
Princess Eugenie is on a mission to have the biggest, baddest, and most over-the-top royal wedding of all time with her fiance, Jack Brooksbank... Read More
-
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Unforgettable Royal Wedding Day in Photos
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle brought over 100,000 spectators to Windsor Castle to celebrate. Fans decked out in crowns, Union Jack... Read More
-
See All the Celebrity Guests at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding
On Saturday, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry tied the knot in what will undoubtedly be remembered as the wedding of the year. And to help them celebrate,... Read More
-
Everyone's Debating What Prince Harry Whispered to Meghan Markle at the Altar
On Saturday Prince Harry and Meghan Markle finally got married. Throughout the last few months the world has become engrossed in their relationship,... Read More
-
Watch Prince George and Princess Charlotte Steal the Show at Uncle Prince Harry’s Royal Wedding
It may be Meghan Markle and Prince Harry‘s big day, but all eyes were on their 4-year-old nephew, Prince George, and 3-year-old niece, Princess... Read More
-
Kate Middleton Recycled the Perfect Outfit for the Royal Wedding
On Saturday, all eyes may have been on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, but for one split second Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, stole the show... Read More
-
Anthony Bourdain Woke up Early to Hate on the Royal Wedding — See His 'Grumpy' Tweets
While the rest of the world was busy joyously celebrating the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Anthony Bourdain was busy raining on all... Read More
