48 Hours in Sonoma County

Sonoma County Road Trip

Sonoma County road trip

Time is precious. Which is why Sonoma County is the ideal 48-hour getaway! We’re talking acres of beautiful open space, easygoing hiking and biking trails, amazing food, and of course—the wine!

Day 1: Start at Sonoma Valley’s historic plaza, surrounded by restaurants, wine tasting rooms, cool shops, even a state park. Rent bikes or hop on the Wine Trolley to explore the surrounding area and tasting rooms—like California’s first premium winery, Buena Vista.

Day 2: Swing up Highway 12, stopping at marquee winery estates like Kunde, St. Francis, and Chateau St. Jean. Get to Bodega Bay by late afternoon for a sunset hike and famous winter whale-watching at Bodega Head. Have dinner by the water at Gourmet Au Bay or go for farm-to-table comfort food at Terrapin Creek.

Day 3: Make your way along the wild and scenic Sonoma Coast, stopping for selfies at iconic Goat Rock. Grab lunch in Jenner at River’s End Restaurant & Inn. A little further north, explore Fort Ross State Historic Park and its scenic coastal hiking trail. Now that you’ve got your 48-hour getaway, the big question: Who gets shotgun?

COOL STAYS & DEALS: Get fantastic ideas and deals for lodging, wine tasting, dining and more.

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