Looking for the perfect wine country getaway? While there is enough to do in Sonoma Valley to fill well more than three weeks, three days in Sonoma Valley is a great way to start. Here’s an action packed way to spend three days in Sonoma wine country. For more suggestions, visit our two Visitors Centers or email us your questions at info@sonomavalley.com.
DAY 1: Downtown Sonoma
- Enjoy breakfast in the garden of Sunflower Caffé, on the historic Sonoma Plaza, and savor delicious dishes made from locally sourced ingredients on their sun-dappled terrace.
- After breakfast, tour Sonoma’s historic hotspots: the San Francisco Solano Mission, the Mission Barracks, General Vallejo’s Home, and the Bear Flag Monument.
- Lunch in the HopMonk Tavern’s biergarten for tasty tavern fare and house-brewed beers.
- Spend the afternoon browsing Sonoma’s art at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art for compelling contemporary exhibits, Jason Tinacci Gallery for bold wine country and travel photography, and at Scott Nichols Gallery to see California photography from famous artists, past and present.
- After touring the plaza’s artistic treasures, it’s time for wine! Head over to Pangloss Cellars’ tasting room, where you’ll find a flight of elegant local wine to whet your whistle before dinner.
- Dine at Valley Bar + Bottle, one of Sonoma’s hottest new restaurants, where simple, local ingredients are prepared in delectable ways.
DAY 2: Up Valley
- Start the day with breakfast in Glen Ellen at Les Pascals Patisserie, where you can enjoy freshly baked croissants, quiche, baguettes and café au lait.
- Pop across the street to Glen Ellen Village Market and pick up a picnic lunch. Their selections range from sandwiches and a salad bar to pre-prepared charcuterie and cheese plates—this is how you wine country!
- Drive a couple miles up the road and hike beneath giant redwoods at Jack London Historic State Park. Not much of a hiker? No worries. Jack London is also the former home of the famous author, with great exhibits for the literary minded.
- Just down the road from Jack London, taste your way through the biodynamic vineyards of Benziger Family Winery in Glen Ellen—the perfect educational aperitif before dinner.
- Enjoy dinner in Glen Ellen at The Glen Ellen Star, known for its wood-fired pizzas, or in Kenwood at Tips Roadside, a locals’ favorite known for its delicious tri-tip sandwiches, gluten-free fried chicken, and live music.
DAY 3: Above Sonoma Valley
- Start your day at sunrise with a hot beverage and a light snack at Sonoma Ballooning Adventures, before your one-hour ride above Sonoma Valley. Take in exquisite views, then toast to your experience with a glass of bubbly!
- Mid-morning, head over the Sonoma Plaza for an olive oil tasting at Figone's of California and learn about their incredible, locally-made, traditional olive oils.
- Lunch at Tasca Tasca, a Portuguese tapas bar ripe with delicious wine and food pairings.
- Shop ‘til you drop in Sonoma’s fabulous boutiques! Find everything from novelty stores and fashion to home design and handmade leather goods…and everything in between!
- Fortify yourself during the three o’clock cravings with a visit to Sweet Scoops for ice cream or Harvey’s Gourmet Donut Bar for donuts and coffee.
- Book a late-afternoon tasting at Bedrock Wine Co., in the historic Joseph Hooker House, where you’ll have the rare opportunity to taste zinfandels from vineyards planted 200 years ago!
- Enjoy a farewell dinner at El Dorado Kitchen, with elevated modern fare and unforgettable craft cocktails.
- Need a night cap? Check out Taub Family Outpost’s hidden upstairs speakeasy, the best place in town for late-night fun.