About Sonoma County
Wine, food, and nature lovers will find their paradise in welcoming, laid-back Sonoma County. Here the vineyard growers are fifth generation and the wines are as diverse as they are delicious. Made up of 16 wine regions that span 47 miles from north to south, Sonoma County grows a variety of grapes, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel. Quaint farming towns dot the region—home to world-class restaurants and quirky shops—and 60 miles of pristine coastline and ancient redwood forests complete the picture. With so much to do and see, there’s a Sonoma County for everyone.
-- From Explore Sonoma County website.
-- From Explore Sonoma County website.
XSiGHT
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Venues TWE Curated Just for YouSonoma County, a neighbor of Napa County, has its onw distictive personality. Evident in the rich agriculture soil, there is something down-to-earth (pun intended) about it. The region has roots deep in the history of California culture. See our list of TWE venues in the Elopements page.
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Lilly & Lime Photography
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TWE Top Picks of Must-See Venues in Sonoma CountyWe love an oakey red wine (Rick) and a sweet white (Jennifer) paired with Netflix at home, but, we also enjoy a weekend visit to these amazing Napa venues:
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Wine Country Chocolates
Jack London State Park
Cedar Bath at Osmosis Day Spa
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Our Perfect Trip to Sonoma ValleyWe head straight to downtown Sonoma for some Wine Country Chocolates to eat as we stroll through the shops around the plaza. Delicious early lunch at Maya is rounded out with some wine tasting at Three Sticks. A nap at our room at favorite Ramekins, is usually timed so that we are ready for a culinary class on site! Exquisite Portuguese tapas dinner at Tasca Tasca and if we can squeeze it in, a flight of sparkling at the bubbly bar, Sigh. And...all of this is within walking distance, so we never have to drive once we hit Sonoma!
Our second day is breakfast at the always chic El Dorado Kitchen, and then a drive to dreamy Glen Ellen for a hike at Jack London State Park. Tasting at our favorite Hamel Family Wines (call in advance!), and then some tasting at gorgeous Chateau St. Jean in Kenwood. We check in at Kenwood Inn & Spa for a massage and to stay the night. Dinner at Salt & Stone is a treat. If we are adventurous, we head into what we call the "wild" part of the Sonoma Valley on our second day, and either hike around the beach at Bodega Bay, or at Goat's Head State Beach in Jenner where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean. A trek to Korbel for some sparkling, or kayaking down the Russian River, ends with some pampering at the unique Osmosis Spa in Freestone and dinner and overnight at the lovely Farmhouse Inn in Occidental. A third day is a trip up to Healdsburg, where we can spend the day shopping and tasting in downtown, and then head back down to one of our all-time favorite resorts, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn for spa services, dinner at Sante and some rest. We head home the next day, but not before having brunch at HopMonk Tavern (beer, for a change!), and pick up some bottles of wine at Gundlach-Bundschu "GunBun". |
