If you know me, you’ll know Sonoma County is one of my favorite places to travel in California. I’ve published a lot of Sonoma itineraries on the California Wayfaring blog, and today I want to pull them all together in one place. My blog post will show you the best of this part of Northern California, from wine tasting to the Sonoma Coast, cities and towns, hikes, and more. I’ve included a map, too.
Sonoma Itineraries
Right on the California coast north of San Francisco, Sonoma is not only my favorite place to go wine tasting in the Golden State, but also my top pick for getting away from it all. This county is more relaxed and down-to-earth than its famous neighbor (that’s Napa if you’re wondering), and it’s where a lot of locals go in Northern California’s wine country.
I’ve done everything from day trips to 3-day trips to Sonoma, and I’ve shared about all of them here on the blog. From wine tasting in Dry Creek Valley to weekends in Healdsburg and Russian River, I’ve covered a lot of the county.
I hope to bring you many more Sonoma itineraries in the future, and I’ll add them to this blog post as I publish them. If you want to bookmark it or pin it on Pinterest, you can use this as an easy reference for finding all my past, present, and future Sonoma travel guides.
1. Dry Creek Valley Day Trip Itinerary
The first of my Sonoma itineraries is a classic wine tasting day trip to Sonoma Valley. It’s a great one if you’re a first-time visitor and you want to get a good overview of the most famous thing the county has to offer. It’s also ideal if you have a limited amount of time to travel here.
The itinerary covers tastings at three wineries in Dry Creek Valley, an American Viticultural Area (AVA) formed by a stream that runs through Sonoma County. It also includes a lunch stop for delicious Mexican food and a dinner in Petaluma.
If experiencing some of the best wineries in Northern California sounds good to you, you can see the full itinerary here. It’s one of my favorite day trips from San Francisco, and I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do. If you’re traveling with a canine companion, you’re in luck. The whole itinerary is dog-friendly.
2. Sebastopol & Healdsburg Day Trip
The next of my Sonoma itineraries is a day trip from San Francisco to Sebastopol and Healdsburg. It’s a fun one if you want a mix of wine tasting, restaurants, and shopping. It will show you a range of things to do in a short amount of time.
The itinerary includes a stop at my favorite coffee shop in Sonoma County, a tasting at a local winery, and shopping in downtown Healdsburg. It also includes happy hour and dinner in town.
If discovering a range of things to do in Sonoma sounds like your kind of thing, you can see the full itinerary here. As with the previous itinerary, this one is dog-friendly.
3. Itinerary for a Day Trip to Carneros
The next of my Sonoma itineraries is a great one if you want to limit your time in the car and go somewhere near San Francisco. It will take you to some of the closest wineries to the city.
The itinerary covers tastings at three wineries in Los Carneros, an American Viticultural Area (AVA) that spans the southern parts of both Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley. You’ll get to taste everything from Chardonnay to Pinot Noir and sparkling wine.
If you don’t want to venture far from San Francisco, you can check out the full itinerary for wine tasting in Carneros. It’s will show you how to have a fun and easy day trip from the city.
4. Day Trip to Sonoma
My next Sonoma itinerary revolves around the city of Sonoma itself. If you’re interested in walking around the plaza, eating, shopping, and wine tasting, it’s a great one.
The itinerary starts in Sonoma Plaza, where you’ll have brunch at one of the most famous restaurants in wine country. From there it continues with a walk and some window shopping. Afterwards you’ll make short drives to two wineries for tastings.
This is a great one if you want to see downtown Sonoma and you don’t want to do too much driving once you’re in the area. If that appeals, you can see the full itinerary on my blog post about a day trip to Sonoma. It’s dog-friendly, too.
5. Winter Day Trip to Sonoma County
The next of my Sonoma itineraries is one that’s perfect for winter. If you’re in Northern California in the cooler months, it’s for you.
The itinerary includes breakfast at a famous bakery, wine tastings in Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley, lunch and a walk around Geyserville, and dinner in Sonoma. If you want to experience a range of things to do, see, and eat in this part of the Golden State, it’s just the ticket.
If that appeals, you can see the details on my itinerary for a winter day trip to Sonoma County. It’s perfect for seasonal trips to wine country. It’s dog-friendly, too.
6. Itinerary for One Day in Napa and Sonoma
The next of my Sonoma itineraries is for you if you want to get a broad overview of both Sonoma and Napa in one day. It’s great for first-timers and those wanting to see as much of Northern California’s wine country as they can in a quick trip.
The itinerary features everything from a riverfront breakfast in Petaluma to wine tasting in Healdsburg, Yountville, and Napa. It also includes time in downtown Napa’s Oxbow Public Market. If you enjoy a mix of good vintages, local towns, and delicious restaurants, this one is for you.
If that all sounds good, you can see the details and map on my itinerary for visiting Napa and Sonoma in one day. It’s ideal if you want to see both valleys and experience a range of what this part of the Golden State has to offer. It’s dog-friendly, too.
7. Sonoma Itinerary for 2 Days in Healdsburg
The next of my Sonoma itineraries is perfect for a special occasion or a hedonistic weekend getaway. Not only does it include wine tastings at beloved local wineries, but also dinner at a 3-Michelin starred restaurant and a luxurious hotel stay. It’s perfect if you’re celebrating something or if you want to travel in style.
The itinerary is centered around downtown Healdsburg. It covers a stay at one of the best hotels in town, the aforementioned dinner (and a breakfast that will wow you), two wine tastings in Sonoma County, a hike, and a beautiful coastal drive.
If experiencing some of the best food and wine in Sonoma sounds like your glass of Pinot Noir, you can see the full itinerary here. I have great memories of this trip, and I’m confident it will impress you as much as it did me.
8. Sonoma Itinerary for 48 Hours on the Coast and in the Valley
The next of my Sonoma itineraries is for 2 days on the coast and in the valley. It’s ideal if you enjoy getting a broad overview when you travel, as it offers a mix of spectacular ocean scenery, famous filming locations, hiking, and wine tasting.
This itinerary is centered around the pretty waterfront town of Bodega Bay. It includes a stay at a beautiful hotel with views called The Lodge at Bodega Bay, time in the towns of Bodega, Healdsburg, and Sonoma, a hike in Jenner Headlands Preserve, and plenty of wine tasting in between.
If spending 48 hours experiencing a range of the best Sonoma County has to offer appeals to you, you can see the full itinerary here. It’s perfect if you like being by the coast and discovering a lot of the places locals love here.
9. Weekend in Sonoma Itinerary
The next of my Sonoma itineraries is for a weekend getaway. It’s just the thing if you have a Saturday and Sunday in the area and you like experiencing a mix of restaurants, shopping, wine tasting, local towns, and waterfront fun.
This itinerary is centered around the Russian River town of Guerneville, a historic 19th-century logging town with a fun main street and lots of redwoods. It includes a stint in Sebastopol, a trip to Occidental, afternoons on the river and the coast, and wine tasting each day.
If spending a weekend experiencing a variety of things to do in Sonoma County sounds like your kind of escape, you can see the full itinerary here. It’s perfect if you want a big mix of what the county has to offer visitors.
10. Weekend in Sonoma Valley
Like the previous one, the next of my Sonoma itineraries is for a weekend escape. It’s perfect if you have a couple days to spend in the valley and you want to experience a variety of what the area has to offer.
This itinerary is centered around Glen Ellen, a picture-pretty town with historic buildings and lots of natural beauty. It also includes a stay at the beautiful Olea Hotel, time in Sonoma Plaza, Kenwood, and Moon Mountain. From wine tasting to restaurants and shopping, it covers a range of things to do and see.
If taking a weekend to discover the highlights of Sonoma County sounds like your kind of getaway, you can see the full itinerary here. It’s a great one if you’re traveling in a group (but it’s equally good if you’re not!).
11. Sonoma Itinerary for 3 Days in Healdsburg
The next of my Sonoma itineraries is ideal if you have a bit more time and you love a mix of shopping, wine tasting, hiking, and coastal areas. It’s a great one if you want to stay in one of the most beautiful towns in the county and you’re looking for a broad overview of what it has to offer.
Like my 2-day itinerary, this one centers around downtown Healdsburg. It includes a stay at a boutique B&B called the Grape Leaf Inn, plenty of time in the shops around the plaza, wine tasting, restaurants, and jaunts to Geyserville, Guerneville, Occidental, and Bodega Bay.
If basing yourself in Healdsburg and doing a range of activities sounds good to you, you can see the full itinerary here. It’s a fun one if you enjoy excellent food, wine, shopping, and hiking in equal measure.
12. Sonoma Itinerary for 3 Days in Russian River
The next of my Sonoma itineraries is for you if you have 3 days in Sonoma County and you want to live like a local. From wine tasting in Russian River to museums in Santa Rosa and famous local restaurants and bars, it covers a lot of the highlights.
Like my weekend itinerary, this one is centered around Guerneville. It includes plenty of wine tasting, a beautiful hike, a trip to Healdsburg, coastal gems, the town of Bodega, and other local highlights.
If you like the sound of this trip, you can see the full itinerary here. It’s a great one if you want to get a more local perspective on Sonoma County and experience a broad overview of what it has to offer.
13. Itinerary for 2 Days in Napa and Sonoma
The next of my Sonoma itineraries covers a trip to both Sonoma and Napa. Many visitors want to see both parts of wine country in one trip, and this is a great one if you have a couple days to spend here. It will show you a good overview of each place.
This itinerary starts in Napa County, where you’ll spend a day exploring towns like Yountville. It includes wine tastings and a dinner at the famous Carneros Resort and Spa. The trip continues in Sonoma County, where it covers popular destinations like the city of Sonoma, Jack London State Historic Park, and Glen Ellen.
If a combination of Napa and Sonoma sounds good to you, you can see the full itinerary here. This is a great one if you want to get a feel for how the two places differ and discover the highlights of each one.
14. Itinerary for 3 Days in Napa and Sonoma
The next of my Sonoma itineraries also covers both Sonoma County and Napa County. If you have a few days to explore wine country, this is a perfect one. It will show you a broad range of things to do in each place, and you’ll get to see a lot of the region.
This itinerary is centered around the historic town of Sonoma. It includes a gem of a local hotel called Sonoma Creek Inn, wine tasting in both Sonoma and Napa, fun spots in Sebastopol, a coastal hike, a cute museum, the historic sites in Sonoma, downtown Napa, and great restaurants.
If exploring both Napa and Sonoma appeals, you can see the full itinerary here. This one is for you if you want to get a feel for both counties and experience a range of things to do in each.
Sonoma Itineraries
I hope my Sonoma itineraries have inspired you to spend time visiting this part of Northern California. There’s so much to do here, whether you just want to taste wine or you’d like to experience the county beyond the vineyards.
I’d love it if my itineraries inspire you to discover wine country beyond Sonoma, too. If you want to see more, you can take a look at my blog posts with a Napa Valley itinerary for 1 day and a 3-day Napa itinerary.
Map of Sonoma Itineraries
As promised, I’ve created an interactive Google map of all my Sonoma itineraries. You can see it here. If you click on the blue pins, you’ll find my blog posts about each one. I hope they help you plan your trip to the county. Happy travels!
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