48 Hours in Sonoma County

Sonoma County Road Trip

02.15.2018
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.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Barbary Coast Trail medallion hike in San Francisco

    Medallion Walk SF

    The Barbary Coast Trail is a 3.8-mile historical walk and treasure hunt through San Francisco. Be on the lookout for hubcap-sized bronze medallions placed on the city sidewalks with arrows pointing you in the right direction.

    View

  2. Greater by the Dozen

    This hike is anything but a dime a dozen. The all-new "Golden Gate Dozen Trail" links 12 National Park sites on a spectacular 13-mile journey across San Francisco's coastline.

    View

  3. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View

  4. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Roaring Redwoods

    Tucked next to brilliant Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz, the folks at Roaring Camp Railroads had a bright idea: When the sun goes down, the rainbow lights come up. Sequoias at Night brings big magic to some of the tallest trees in the world.

    View

  2. There's Always To Moro!

    Looking for a rock-solid itinerary in Sequoia National Park? Pair the park's most famous viewpoint with one that's often overlooked.

    View

  3. Rancho Style

    Vicente Bluffs Reserve dazzles anytime, but during the golden hour it’s an absolute knockout. Majestic rocky bluffs, dreamy ocean views, and a picturesque lighthouse are just a few of the reasons.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View