Lady’s Guide to 3 Days in Sonoma County, California

When most people think of California’s Sonoma County, they think of wine. I used to, too. But there are things to do in this part of Northern California beyond the vineyards, and now that I’m here for a few days I’m discovering a lot of them. If you’re curious, today I bring you A Lady in London’s guide to spending 3 days in Sonoma County.

3 Days in Sonoma

Sonoma County is on the California coast north of San Francisco. It’s more laid-back and local than its famous neighbor, Napa, and it’s always been my favorite place to go wine tasting in my home state.

Most of my visits to Sonoma are day trips from San Francisco, but on this trip I have 3 days in Sonoma thanks to a friend that’s offered to let me stay in his house in the county’s Russian River area.

I’m excited to get out and see more than I usually get to.

3 Days in Sonoma: Day 1

On the first of my 3 days in Sonoma I head to the wineries. That’s what draws most people to this area, and I can’t visit without doing some wine tasting.

Wine Tasting in Sonoma

I start at Korbel, the closest winery to where I’m staying and one of the few that still offers complimentary tastings. Korbel is known for its sparkling wines, but I try a range of still, sparkling, red, and white to get a feel for what they produce.

Afterwards I get lunch at their deli and enjoy a salad on the sunny terrace. It’s a great start to my trip.

From Korbel, I drive deeper into Russian River and stop at a winery called Matrix. Its tasting room is next to redwoods and vineyards, and feels quintessentially Sonoma.

Russian River is known for its Pinot Noir (the climate here is perfect for growing it), but Matrix has everything from Sauvignon Blanc to Petite Sirah and Zinfandel to round out its tasting menu.

The wines are excellent, and I’m happy to have stumbled upon this place. Better yet, they offer me a card that gives me free tastings at their sister wineries in the area.

Healdsburg

From Matrix I head into Healdsburg, one of my favorite towns in Sonoma County. With a pretty central square and lots of shops and tasting rooms, it has everything I love about Russian River in one place.

I pop into antiques shops like Modern Antiquarium and browse the wares at Lime Stone before making my way to Rockpile Vineyards for some wine tasting in Healdsburg.

The menu here is primarily focused on single appellation wines, and everything from Zinfandel to Cabernet Sauvignon goes down a treat in the sunny tasting room.

3 Days in Sonoma: Day 2

My 3 days in Sonoma continue the following day with an itinerary focused on non-wine activities. I start in Santa Rosa, the county’s biggest city.

Santa Rosa

I’m here for a very specific reason: Snoopy. Yes, Snoopy. I love the cartoon dog so much I’ve decided to spend my morning at the Charles M. Schulz Museum.

It’s dedicated to all things Peanuts, including Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the rest of the crew.

The museum is full of Peanuts comic strips and memorabilia as well as special exhibitions and interactive exhibits. There’s a gift shop and cafe across the street, and an outdoor area for soaking up the Sonoma County sun.

I spend ages taking everything in, then head to lunch at a Mexican place called Taqueria Las Palmas.

This colorful hole-in-the-wall restaurant gets great reviews, and the burritos live up to their reputation. The mix of lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and cheese in my veggie one is divine.

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve

After lunch I need to burn off some calories, so I drive to Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. This state park is stuffed with California’s iconic redwood trees and offers miles of hiking trails through the Sonoma hills.

I do a 5.6-mile hike along the East Ridge Trail and Pool Ridge Trail. It goes through beautiful redwood forests and has some challenging hills. It’s just what I wanted.

Stumptown Brewery

When I finish the hike, I head to Stumptown Brewery in Guerneville for a drink.

This local bar and brewery is right on the river and has a big deck for enjoying food and beer outside. Its rustic atmosphere makes a fun place to end my day.

3 Days in Sonoma: Day 3

I start the last of my 3 days in Sonoma County in Guerneville. The main street is packed with colorful bars, restaurants, and cafes, and it’s home to some of the most famous biscuits in the US.

Guerneville

Piknik Town Market (formerly Big Bottom Market) serves fluffy biscuits with all kinds of toppings. They’re so good they even made Oprah’s list of her favorite things.

I tuck into the Sea Biscuit, which is topped with smoked salmon, creme fraiche, pickled onions, and capers. The biscuit is as light and fluffy as it looks, and the toppings are packed with flavor.

After breakfast I spend some time walking around Guerneville, which the phrase “lumberjack chic” describes well.

Sonoma Coast

When I leave, I head for the Sonoma Coast. This county has classic California coastline, complete with beaches and rock formations.

I first visit Goat Rock State Beach, where I hike up to a viewpoint and take in the Pacific scenery.

From Goat Rock I drive south to Bodega Bay, then inland to Bodega. Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds was filmed in both places, and I pop over to see the famous house while I’m in town.

Wine Tasting

After visiting Bodega I drive back up to Healdsburg for a last bit of wine tasting. I start at Pezzi King, a warehouse-type tasting room where the focus is on Zinfandel.

From Pezzi King I drive to Wilson. The tasting room has a big terrace overlooking the vineyards, and it’s a beautiful place to sip everything from Zinfandel to Petite Sirah.

I stay until closing, taking in every drop of sunshine on the leaves before heading back to where I’m staying.

Sonoma

Soon the hour arrives to head home to London. It’s been an amazing trip to California, and I’ve enjoyed having more time than usual to explore wine country.

There’s so much to do here that it’s great to have had 3 days in Sonoma, and I’m glad I’ve been able to see more of the area than just the wineries. If you get a chance to visit, I hope you feel the same.

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