Lady’s 48 Hours in Sonoma County, California

Every time I travel to Sonoma County I wonder why I haven’t moved here yet. The rolling hills, miles of vineyards, and pretty town squares draw me in, and the warm California sunshine begs me to stay. With each successive visit, I discover more about this region that makes me love it, and now that I have 48 hours in Sonoma County, I find more to tempt me.

48 Hours in Sonoma County

I land at San Francisco International Airport after a flight with British Airways, arriving on a sunny afternoon with my group from Sonoma County Tourism, which has invited me on the trip.

We hop in a shuttle for the drive through San Francisco and across the Golden Gate Bridge, settling in as we make our way north to the Sonoma Coast.

Bodega Bay

No trip to wine country would be off to a good start without a bit of tasting, and as soon as we arrive on the coast, we stop at Gourmet au Bay in Bodega Bay.

They have a creative take on wine tasting that they call wine surfing. Flights of red and white sit on little wooden surfboards, which are perfect given we’re right next to the Pacific Ocean. It’s a great way to begin to our 2 days in Sonoma.

After wine tasting we had to our hotel, the Bodega Bay Lodge. The view from my room is amazing, and thanks to jet lag I’m able to watch both a colorful sunset and warm sunrise from the balcony.

I also take advantage of the outdoor pool and hot tub, going for a morning dip as the rising sun paints the coastal land in pinks and oranges.

Not far from the hotel is Bodega, which along with Bodega Bay was used as the setting for Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. The historic main street has pretty wooden buildings and a beautiful whitewashed church.

Sebastopol

Back on the road, our Sonoma wine tour shuttle takes us to Sebastopol. The beloved hippie town has always been a favorite of mine, and in recent years it’s gotten even better.

The Barlow, a complex full of creative companies making everything from coffee to candles, is a great place to see what some of Sonoma County’s best independent shops and galleries are up to.

Passing by the hipster Taylor Lane Organic Coffee shop, we make our way to the Spirit Works Distillery, which is owned by a British-American couple.

They offer tours of their facility, where their two female distillers make everything from traditional vodka to unique barrel-aged sloe gin.

I never imagined finding anything but wine in wine country, but I love the spirits, too.

Healdsburg

And speaking of drinks that aren’t wine, the next stop on our 48 hours in Sonoma County is Healdsburg. There’s a picture-pretty town square here, not to mention great shops and restaurants. We stop here for lunch and beers.

Santa Rosa

But this is wine country, after all, and we should really do some more wine tasting in Sonoma County if we’re going to do it properly.

Thankfully our next stop is Paradise Ridge Winery. Sitting on a hill on the outskirts of Santa Rosa, it has stunning views over the vineyards below.

Add to that a sculpture park featuring works from the Burning Man festival and a stage that hosts starlit performances by Transcendence Theatre Company’s Broadway performers, and Paradise Ridge is a great place to be.

Jack London State Historic Park

Another place to watch the Transcendence Theatre Company is Jack London State Historic Park, where their Broadway Under the Stars series has helped raise money to keep the park open.

But it’s not just about the actors here. The real stars are the redwood trees and beautiful natural surroundings.

Formerly the home of writer Jack London, the park has miles of walking and hiking trails as well as London’s former home (I fall in love with his collection of vintage souvenirs from all over the world).

It also shows off his farm, on which London pioneered sustainable farming techniques long before others were thinking about them.

I had no idea that his contributions to agriculture were as important as his contributions to literature.

Sonoma

Eventually we reach Sonoma, an appropriate place to end our 48 hours in Sonoma County, California.

We enjoy a picnic lunch in the historic square, then stop for a last glass of wine on an outdoor terrace at one of the surrounding tasting rooms.

48 Hours in Sonoma County, California

As we travel south to San Francisco, I can’t help but think I should have stayed behind. With beautiful coastline, great food and drinks, natural beauty, and warm sunshine, Sonoma County has everything necessary for a good life.

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