Credit: Sidecar Tours Inc
With three rivers, a lake and over 50 miles of coastline, Sonoma County’s many vineyards, restaurants and beauty spots are pretty spread out. The Sonoma Valley region on its own is over 17 miles long, covering twice as much area as its neighbour, Napa Valley. All of this can make planning a vehicle-free trip seem a little complicated. And if you plan on making the most of Sonoma’s world-famous vineyards, ditching the car is probably a wise choice.
Located 45 miles north of San Francisco, the public transport options north of the Golden Gate Bridge are quite limited. Thankfully there are plenty of alternative ways to explore California’s oldest wine valley, most of them offering their own unforgettable thrills.
1. Cycle your way around the vineyards
Credit: Sonoma County Tourism
Whether you are already a keen cyclist looking for your next muscle-burning challenge, or you haven’t sat on a pushbike since your school days, there’s a Sonoma cycling experience for you. You might want to ride off into the vines with just a map and a sense of adventure, or maybe you’d prefer to hand the responsibility of navigating over to a professional. Join Sonoma Valley Bike Tours or Getaway Adventures on a full-day bike ride with a local expert. Drink and taste your way around this historic wine region whilst enjoying the quiet roads and spectacular views.
2. Hop on a trolley
Credit: Sonoma County Tourism
Add a little San Francisco flavour to your wine tasting and tour the region in style aboard a hand-built California street cable car replica with Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley. With your knowledgeable guide, you’ll learn all about the history of wine production in Sonoma County. You’ll also meet fellow wine enthusiasts, enjoy a delicious lunch and visit a selection of hand-picked Sonoma wineries for some tasting sessions, with an in-depth explanation of each along the way.
3. Hit the trails on foot
Credit: Sonoma County Tourism
For those of an adventurous disposition, Wine Country Trekking offers 'European style' walking, hiking and running tours in and around the Bay Area. The average self-guided trek is around four nights / five days, and includes inn-style accommodation, breakfasts, wine tasting, maps, trail notes, taxes, tips, and even luggage transfer between lodgings. There are a couple of different options to choose from in Sonoma County, taking in the spectacular coast, towering redwoods, quaint towns, state parks, and, of course, wineries. Just make sure you bring your comfy shoes, because you'll be walking up to eight miles daily.
4. Leave it to the experts on a small group tour
Credit: Sonoma County Tourism
Leave all of the planning, logistics and thinking to the people who do it best - you’re on holiday after all. Join a small group tour complete with comfortable transport and excellent tour guiding. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the experience. With group sizes ranging from two to 14 people, you’ll also have the chance to meet like-minded wine enthusiasts, getting to know each other over expert-led tasting sessions. Sonoma Wine Tours offers a range of tour styles available across the county, suitable for a range of budgets, preferences and travel groups.
5. Take a stroll round Sonoma Plaza
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The charming town of Sonoma is home to Sonoma Plaza, California’s largest town square. The plaza is flanked by historic adobe buildings, restaurants, art galleries and more than two dozen tasting rooms. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon traversing the plaza, visiting the tasting rooms and wine cellars, all with their own unique look and ambience. It’s advisable to do a little bit of planning here as some venues get very busy at peak times, and only a few stay open into the late evening.
6. Ride a Segway
Credit: Sonoma Segway
As if wine tasting wasn’t fun enough on its own, adding a Segway into the mix really makes for an exciting day. Hire your own or join a Sonoma Segway tour and travel to some of Sonoma County’s most outstanding wineries on this thrilling, yet surprisingly relaxing, mode of transport. Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery whilst zipping down some of the smaller, quieter backroads in search of some of California’s oldest wineries.
7. Ride off on an exclusive sidecar adventure
Credit: Sidecar Tours Inc
For a truly unique way to travel around Sonoma County, it has to be a sidecar tour. Sidecar Tours Inc’s funky motorcycle sidecars have been modified to accommodate two passengers. Gain a deeper understanding of the region as you ride between tasting sessions with your friendly, knowledgeable motorcycle chauffeur. With just you, your companion and your driver, you’ll have the time of your life on this exclusive experience.
8. Explore the countryside on horseback
Exploring Sonoma County on horseback is a really special experience and a wonderful way to get to know the region. Discover beautiful beaches, inspirational mountaintops and endless vineyards aboard your trusty mount. Experienced riders have the option of more adventurous trails whilst there’s plenty of ground for beginners to safely live out their ranch hand dreams.
Credit: Sonoma County Tourism
Ride out with Sonoma Valley Trail Rides and you’ll have the option of including a wine tasting afterwards – the perfect way to spend a day. Explore Jack London State Historic Park with Triple Creek Horse Outfit, passing by old growth oak woodlands, and ancient winery ruins, or enjoy the views with the crew at The Ranch at Lake Sonoma overlooking world class Dry Creek Valley and Lake Sonoma.
9. Make a splash in the rivers and seas
Credit: Sonoma County Tourism
With miles of coastline and home to the beautiful Russian River, Sonoma County is an excellent spot for just about any water-based activity. From kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding to swimming in pools set amongst the vines, there are lots of opportunities to get in the water. Rivers Edge offers an eclectic range of kayak and canoe trips on the Russian River. And don’t worry, you’ll never be too far away from your next glass of wine. The well-known Korbel Cellars is located just across from the Russian River and is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of local sparkling wine after your aqua experience.
10. Soar through the sky on a zipline adventure
Credit: Sonoma County Tourism
For the ultimate view of Sonoma County, the only way is up! Get a bird’s eye view of the magnificent Northern California redwood forest on an exhilarating zipline course with Sonoma Zipline Adventures. Reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour as you zip across the treetops 250 feet above the forest floor. Accompanied by an expert guide, you’ll complete seven ziplines and two sky bridges, learning about the legendary redwoods along the way.
Download the Sonoma County App
With so much ground to cover, and so many ways to cover it, you’re going to need to keep track of your plans. You’ll want to make sure you’re not rushing between reservations – you’re supposed to be relaxing remember? The Sonoma County App allows you to create your own personalised itinerary in real-time. Whether you prefer to have your visit planned before you arrive or would rather see where the Sonoma County winds take you, the app allows you to explore thousands of wineries, experiences, transport options, local businesses and events by location or interest.
Experiencing the destination through the Sonoma County Leave No Trace Seven Principles gives travellers an opportunity to make a difference. Together, we can protect and preserve this special corner of the world for generations to come. Find more info about sustainable travel in Sonoma County here.