Top Five Autumn Experiences in Sonoma Valley

Top Five Autumn Experiences in Sonoma Valley

1) Carneros Wine Flight

Bird watching and wine tasting pair beautifully when the Pacific Flyway is in close proximity to Sonoma Valley wineries. Sip wines and see the wildlife from the patios at Ram’s Gate and Viansa, both overlooking a large wetland that’s a popular stopover for birds of all feathers.

2) Ghost for It

In the early 1900s, famed author Jack London lived in the heart of Sonoma Valley. His dream home, the Wolf House, was nearly complete when it mysteriously burned to the ground. Walk out to the massive ruins and to London’s gravesite.

3) Go to a Star Party

Once a month, usually on a Saturday, Robert Ferguson Observatory in Sugarloaf State Park hosts a star party—a truly enlightening evening giving visitors access to the celestial viewing via some seriously powerful telescopes.

4) Pedal or Segway to the Wineries

You don’t need a car to explore Sonoma Valley’s wineries. Rent a bike in town or do a Segway tour to wineries like Ravenswood and Buena Vista—the birthplace of the California wine industry. Or stroll the plaza and check out over a dozen wine tasting lounges (you can bring your bottle to the picnic-perfect lawn at the plaza).

5) Eat Outdoors

Sonoma Valley’s charming northern neighborhood, The Springs, is home to some of the tastiest Mexican restaurants on the planet, and food trucks galore. Eat your enchiladas on a patio, then get some homemade ice cream at La Michoacana.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Hidden Botanical Garden

    Forget a dozen roses. Give your love a botanical garden. Hidden on the western slope of Sonoma Valley’s Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma Botanical Garden has one of the Bay Area’s best displays of Asian flora—and it’s a brilliant place for a quiet picnic and some calming contemplations.

    View
  2. Sunnyvale and Salty

    For up-close bird watching, it’s hard to beat a walk along the San Francisco Bay. This 5-mile loop on the Sunnyvale coast is a favorite of local wildlife photographers.

    View
  3. A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas

    Dragon Quest

    The newly reopened, 4-mile out-and-back hike at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas mixes the physical with the spiritual for a serene hiking experience.

    View
  4. woman hiking Buck Gulch Falls Novato

    Buck Wild!

    Tucked back beyond the residential ranch-style homes and golf courses of Novato in the North Bay is a wild and wondrous 30-foot waterfall that springs to life in the rainy season. Buck Gulch Falls in Novato’s Ignacio Valley Preserve is in peak flow right now, and it’s a short and Middle-earthy hike to reach it.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. Right now there's a banner and bonus view of a rare lake formation that appears only after big rains.

    View
  2. Keough's Hot Springs

    Soaking Up History

    When you slide into the soothing water of Keough’s Hot Springs, you’re bathing in a piece of Owens Valley history.

    View
  3. It's a Waterfall Life

    Tahquitz Canyon’s crystalline stream and lush stands of desert lavender, honey mesquite, and leafy sycamores is home to an easy day hike with a big bonus: a 60-foot waterfall that runs with remarkable gusto after winter rains.

    View
  4. Grover Hot Springs

    State Park Soaker

    Set in an alpine meadow at 6,000 feet and surrounded by the 10,000-foot granite peaks of the Sierra, Grover Hot Springs State Park—just outside the town of Markleeville—has its very own hot springs.

    View