Looking to spend a day by the coast but want to avoid the crowds? These seven secret spots and unique experiences are perfect for the solitary ocean aficionado. Click through the above gallery for all the details.
Though they might seem like just another visitor attraction at a winery, wine caves do serve a specific purpose — to store wine at a steady, cool temperature as it ages to perfection. And when when it’s hot outside, these underground caverns also do a great job of keeping wine tasters comfortably chilled. Here are a few favorite carved-out hillsides where you can taste wine and stay cool in the hot days ahead.
Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in a comment below.
Hot and sunny summer days don’t have to put a damper on plans to get outside in Wine Country. You can lace up your boots and stay cool in one of Sonoma County’s many shady parks. Tree-lined paths make hiking excursions a breeze, even when the sun is blazing and temperatures soar. Click through the gallery above for details.
This summer, Northern California welcomes the return of Festival del Sole, which will be held at the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University from Aug. 1 to 4.
The event, presented in collaboration with arts entrepreneur and pianist Barrett Wissman, will feature a lineup of international musicians, wine events and an exclusive gala dinner and auction, which will welcome actor Robert Redford and his wife, multimedia environmental artist Sibylle Szaggars Redford.
Originating in the 1990s in Italy, Festival del Sole was conceived by Wissman and his wife, cellist Nina Kotova, as an event where friends could gather to make music in a welcoming atmosphere.
The couple, who were living in Italy at the time, frequented a 19th-century theater in Cortona, Tuscany, that used to screen movies one day a week on Sundays. “Back then, there were spiderwebs everywhere. We thought, wouldn’t it be great to have a festival here,” Wissman said.
The festival officially launched in Cortona in 2003, featuring concerts, art exhibitions, culinary events, wine tastings and literary gatherings. Over the next couple of years, it grew rapidly. Barrett attributed the success to the fact that the festival was dedicated to the artists themselves.
“It was the one time in the summer where they had time to come together, and it led to interesting collaborations that they normally wouldn’t be able to do,” Wissman said. “We had the best artists from across the world. From Anthony Hopkins to Sting.”
In 2006, Wissman brought Festival del Sole to Napa Valley, and the event was renamed Festival Napa Valley in 2016. However, this August will be Festival del Sole’s reincarnation.
Wissman set out to unite the purest form of collaboration and talent, from wineries to chefs, with the notion of bringing all artists together.
“The idea is to build something in Sonoma like what Ravinia is to Chicago. The highest level of performance and arts combined with food and wine,” Wissman said.
The festival kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 1, with performances by acclaimed instrumentalists Olga Kern, Nina Kotova and Viktoria Mullova. “This is the first time these musicians are coming together, they’ve never played together,” Wissman said.
On Friday, Aug. 2, celebrated violinist and violist Pinchas Zukerman will perform alongside cellist Amanda Forsyth and pianist Michael Brown. On Saturday, Aug. 3, tenor Joseph Calleja, known for his “golden-age” voice and commanding stage presence, will perform.
The festival will conclude on Sunday, Aug. 4, with a screening of “The Way of the Rain: Hope for Earth—A Symphony for Our Planet.” The film captures the October 2023 live performance at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Hall in Dallas, Texas, featuring narration by Robert Redford and music by Tim Janis. Sibylle Szaggars Redford and Robert Redford will attend the screening and gala dinner.
Buena Vista Winery and French vintner Jean-Charles Boisset will host the grand gala dinner and auction on Aug. 4. The event will benefit The Way of the Rain, a nonprofit founded by Sibylle Szaggars Redford that promotes environmental awareness through artistic performances.
Attendees can enjoy wines from Buena Vista and a special Bordeaux crafted by enologist Michel Rolland. Additionally, Vinous, a renowned wine publication, has organized a series of lunches and tastings at wineries such as Freeman Vineyard & Winery and Three Sticks Wines. One of the festival’s main draws will be the culinary and wine experiences curated by private wine club Domus Artium Reserve.
Montage Healdsburg will offer accommodations for artists and participants. The resort is located on 258 acres in Sonoma and features 130 bungalow-style guest rooms and suites and 40 private residences.
“We really want to bring the community together, something that Sonoma can be really proud of and proud to host. I really want to try to encourage anyone who wants to collaborate to be a part of it,” said Wissman.
Tickets for Festival del Sole range from $45 to $70 for music performances, $190 for lunch and wine tastings, and $500 for the gala dinner. Purchase tickets at gmc.sonoma.edu or by calling 707-664-4246. For more details on the gala and wine events, visit festivaldelsolearts.com.
The pace of the Russian River sets up a leisurely tempo of life in west Sonoma County. In this laid-back enclave of charming redwood cabins nestled into steep hillsides, you are bound to find your own rhythm in relaxed Russian River style.
Guerneville’s varied storefronts reflect the layers of the region’s recent history, from timber town to hippie haven to gay-friendly retreat and upscale weekend getaway. Close to the beach and with a downtown full of excellent places to eat and drink, it is a great place to kick back and soak up the sun during summer days. Click through the above gallery for a few of our favorite places in Guerneville.
Sonoma County residents have a hot week ahead as the early summer heat in the north bay nears century-old records. So how to stay cool? Keep reading and find out.
Notoriously cold during most of the year, Northern California beaches are the ultimate getaway for hot weather days. Pack a picnic and some sunblock and head out to Doran Beach, or any of our favorite beaches. The Russian River has plenty of cool spots, too. Pro tip: Make your way to the beach early, before everyone else — and their cars — do the same. Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville has paddleboarding, picnicking, tubing and swimming. johnsonsbeach.com
Walk shaded by gentle giants in the Grove of Old Trees, perched high on a remote ridge top in Occidental. The grove is owned and managed by the land conservancy group LandPaths and includes 28 peaceful acres traversed by a network of wide, easy-to-walk trails. Access is free but be forewarned: There are no amenities, save for a picnic table. 17599 Fitzpatrick Lane, Occidental, 707-544-7284, landpaths.org
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve offers a year-round refuge for Sonoma County visitors and locals looking to get away from it all (parks.ca.gov). On hot days, it’s a good spot to cool down. Follow the paths meandering through the woods and take in the sounds of nature. Pro tip: Arrive early to enjoy the silence — sans selfie-snapping tourists on Segways. Then head to Nimble & Finn’s in downtown Guerneville for some cool sweet scoops.
On meltingly hot days, thoughts turn to ice cream and its cousins — gelato and sorbet. Noble Folk Ice Cream and Pie Bar in Healdsburg and Santa Rosa is worth a special trip (thenoblefolk.com). Unique flavors include passionfruit, Thai tea, salted caramel and Dutch cookie, each inspired by local produce and the seasons. For more places to get a cool sweet scoop, click here.
Take restless and overheated little ones to Snoopy’s Home Ice, or spend the day bowling, playing laser tag or jumping on the trampolines at Santa Rosa’s (air-conditioned) Epicenter. Further north, play in the river at Memorial Beach.
A couple of Sonoma County movie theaters have received facelifts in the last few years, including Santa Rosa’s Airport Stadium and Petaluma’s Boulevard 14, and now come with reclining chairs, beer and wine bars, and online ticket sales allowing moviegoers to choose their seats before getting to the theater. Pro tip: Get your tickets online before the heat peaks and then enjoy a movie and air conditioning.
Many Sonoma County wineries keep their wine barrels cool in underground caves, open to thirsty visitors looking to escape the heat. Head into the caves at Deerfield Ranch or Kunde Family Winery in Kenwood, for example. Pro tip: Reserve a tour or private tasting ahead of the heat wave — you won’t be the only one craving a caveman lifestyle once temperatures rise.
If you prefer to stay out of the cave but still crave some local vino, most Sonoma County tastings rooms are air conditioned. Not sure where to go? Check out these popular wineries for first-time visitors. Pro tip: In the heat, stick to whites and Pinot.
Prefer to stay cool in the comfort of your own yard? Get an inflatable pool. Not just for the kiddos, you can get a slightly larger version just for you. Fill it up, then grab a bottle of your favorite Sonoma County rosé from the fridge. Pro tip: Add another splash of cool pink with rose sorbet, or a cute can of brut rosé.
If a small plastic pool isn’t cutting it for you, take the family to Morton’s Warm Springs in Kenwood, or get a massage and lounge by the mineral pool at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, a luxury hotel in Sonoma Valley. For more poolside wine sipping, there’s Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville (reservations required). Find more local pools here.
Embrace the heat from underneath a patio umbrella, a cold drink in hand and a good meal on the table (find winery patios here; and outdoor dining here). Or cool down with a cocktail and a few nibbles at one of our favorite bars for hot summer nights.
As temperatures heat up inland, the coast is our cool-weather getaway through the summer. Click through the above gallery for a few of our favorite coastal restaurants in Sonoma and Marin counties.
John Beck and Dana Rebmann contributed to this article.
Summertime in Sonoma County calls for several beach trips to cool off in the water or sunbathe on the shore while sipping a cold drink.
Scroll on below to find the best beaches in Sonoma County for all your summer waterfront needs.
Note: Due to an Aug. 30, 2024, breach in the Vacation Beach summer dam on the lower Russian River, Sonoma County Public Infrastructure has closed the summer road and bridge off Neely Road for the season.
Nestled near Goat Rock south of Jenner, this narrow pebble beach offers great views of the ocean and the impressive Arch Rock. It’s the perfect beach sanctuary for those who want to get away from it all while listening to waves crashing against rocks. Highway 1 and Goat Rock Road, Jenner, parks.ca.gov
Sometimes it can be difficult to find a beach that’s both entertaining and safe for kids. Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach offers essential summer activities, has lifeguard patrols and provides life vests to loan for free. River’s Edge Kayak & Canoe Trips is located nearby, off Healdsburg Avenue, to help plan your family river excursions. 13839 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov
Enclosed by rocky headlands, this beach has a glorious pebble shore and a low tide that sea scavengers will enjoy. The vibrantly colored and ocean-polished small stones and seashells are great for collecting, and the tidepools are teeming with colorful marine life, such as starfish, mussels, hermit crabs, sea anemones and other interesting critters and crustaceans. Viking Strand and Highway 1, Bodega Bay, parks.ca.gov
This regional park beach is popular for a number of activities: picnicking, fishing, paddling, bird watching, kite flying and even horseback riding. But perhaps one of its most beloved aspects is that it’s dog-friendly (on a leash, that is). Take your playful pup on a trail through the grassy dunes or wade by the gentle seashore for a memorable time. 201 Doran Beach Road, Bodega Bay, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov
There are six public access trails in Sea Ranch leading to coastal beaches, such as Shell Beach and Stengel Beach (temporarily closed to replace a wooden staircase) with its seasonal waterfalls. But perhaps the best beach for couples here is Black Point, a long sandy cove accessed via a steep wooden staircase. The beach is typically secluded and enjoys beautiful ocean views. Access Black Point Beach via Sea Walk Drive, located off Coast Highway 1, The Sea Ranch, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov
Both North and South Salmon Creek beaches are popular spots for the local surfing community. On days when conditions are just right, experienced riders can enjoy some powerful swells while navigating gnarly rip currents. It’s also a good place for beginners when the waves are less intense. The sandy bottom of the ocean floor lessens the blows of wipeouts. 3095 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, parks.ca.gov
Floating down the river is what summer is all about. This Guerneville beach is perfect for those who want to kayak down the flowing currents or simply relax on the water in inner tubes with a cold drink in hand. Whether you want to paddleboard solo or canoe with a group of friends, there’s no shortage of summer fun here. 16215 First St., Guerneville, johnsonsbeach.com
While there are plenty of water sports to enjoy at Monte Rio Beach, its shore is superb for landlubbers. Volleyball courts and horseshoe pits are free. There are also barbecue areas to grill by the beach and a food concession stand with summer grub. 20488 Highway 116, Monte Rio, mrrpd.org
This beach is a great destination for animal lovers. Go birdwatching for gliding seabirds like gulls and sandpipers, catch a glimpse of breaching whales during migrating season and see a colony of Pacific Harbor seals with their pups throughout summer. No dogs are allowed and people should stay at least 300 feet away from the seals, especially during pupping season from March to August. Highway 1 and Goat Rock Road, Jenner, parks.ca.gov
While any beach along the Sonoma Coast can provide excellent sunsets views, this is the ideal spot to get comfortable and really soak them in. Whether you’re fishing from the rocky bluffs, strolling on the wide sandy beach or relaxing on the grassy knoll by the parking lot, there’s no bad spot here to watch a stunning, golden sunset over the ocean. Eureka Drive and Highway 1, Bodega Bay, parks.ca.gov
As the sizzling season continues with meltingly hot days and everlasting nights, thoughts turn to ice cream and its cousins — gelato and sorbet — to cool things down.
Scroll on below or click through the gallery above for a few of our favorite ice cream shops.
This ice cream shop is worth a special trip. Unique flavors include passionfruit, Thai tea, salted caramel and Dutch cookie, each inspired by local produce and the seasons. The menu changes frequently.
539 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-978-3392; 116 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-395-4426, thenoblefolk.com
Cheeky by-the-scoop flavors include Front Porch Mint Chip (the mint is from one of the owner’s front porch), Meyer Lemon, Lavender Honeycomb and Whiskey Butterscotch. Add booze and you’ve got a sassy little float. We love the Permanent Holiday with creamy Meyer lemon ice cream, Lo Fi sweet vermouth and Goat Rock rosé cider, or the summery Strawberry Letter with strawberry sorbet, vermouth, elderflower and Champagne.
16290 Main St., Guerneville, 707-666-9411; 123 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-666-9590, nimbleandfinns.com
Sonomans go wild for this housemade ice cream spot on the square, which always has 22 flavors, from simple vanilla to lemon custard and Mexican chocolate. Or this combo: pistachio and lavender fig. Yum. Ice cream flavors rotate regularly; check the website for current flavors.
408 First St. East, Sonoma, 707-721-1187, sweetscoopsicecream.com
This old school burger and ice cream spot is all about the memories. Maybe because you’ve walked there, or your mom and dad took you in the family wagon, or it’s just Tuesday.
1400 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-576-7028; 855 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, 707-542-3212, fostersfreeze.com
This restaurant in Sebastopol was built on the site of an old Foster’s Freeze and they continue to keep soft serve ice cream on the menu.
935 Gravenstein Ave. South, Sebastopol, 707-827-3744, handline.com
The ultimate kid spot with half a dozen flavors like crème brûlée, mudslide pie, white chocolate raspberry and Dole Whip pineapple sorbet.
2188 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-545-9866, menchies.com
This local artisan producer uses premium organic milk, organic cream and liquid nitrogen (!) to make their ice cream. At a cool 321° below zero, the liquid nitrogen keeps fat and water molecules small, making for a creamier ice cream.
320 W. Third St. Suite A, Santa Rosa, 707-978-2635, dgicecream.com
While known for their mélange of breads and pastries, Goguette also churns out delightful, French-style ice cream, or glacée. Using locally sourced or imported (from France and Italy) ingredients, find flavors like pear, lemon, chocolate orange, Madagascar vanilla and more. The bakery now also sells ice cream cakes, with such flavors as vanilla, strawberry, pistachio and matcha.
59 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, goguettebread.com
It’s no surprise that Food & Wine magazine has named this Sebastopol ice cream spot one of the best in America. There’s always a line, there are always kids with messy chocolate grins, and there’s always a new flavor to try. When it comes to rich dark chocolate, there’s always Mimi’s Mud or Deep Dark Secret.
6902 Sebastopol. Ave., Sebastopol, 707-823-5902, screaminmimisicecream.com
Formerly SubZero, this Sebastopol spot at the Barlow (and now in Windsor) calls itself “farm to cone,” using organic local ingredients and natural flavors for soft, gelato-style ice cream. Seasonal flavors like Summer Yuzu are a treat, while classic scoops, including Bananas Foster Crunch and Coffee Heath Bar always satisfy. One of the few places you can still get a banana split!
6760 McKinley St., Suite 110, Sebastopol, 707-823-9376; 9240 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 100, Windsor, 707-837-5965, twodognightcreamery.com
Formerly known as Lala’s Creamery, this spot looks like the soda fountains of old, with a marble-topped bar and brick walls, but in addition to the traditional confections and banana splits, it serves up unique flavors. If you want to pair burgers with your ice cream, head on over to the Healdsburg location, home to Iggy’s Organic Burgers.
134 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, 707-774-6567; 1390 N. McDowell Blvd. East, Petaluma, 707-981-6910; 6671 Front St., Forestville, 707-820-1559; 109 Plaza St., Healdsburg, 707-473-8636. angelasicecream.com
This historic creamery still makes house-made ice cream along with Spring Hill cheese. Most popular is the lavender ice cream, but Meyer lemon is also a contender.
711 Western Ave., Petaluma, 707-762-9038, springhillcheese.com
Taking over the former Amy’s Wicked Slush location in Petaluma’s American Alley in 2022, Once Upon A Slush has won over slush fans with its assortment of shakes, slushys, floats and soft serve. There are childhood favorite flavors like the blue raspberry slush and chocolate vanilla swirl soft serve, as well as new summer flavors such as black cherry, sour watermelon and cotton candy.
122b American Alley, Petaluma, 707-763-9253, onceuponaslush.com
This coffee and ice cream shop in the Vailetti Plaza shopping center on Highway 12 serves a wide variety of coffee beverages, milkshakes and ice cream.
205 Nino Marco Square, Sonoma, 707-343-7330, instagram.com/sweets_from_the_sky
You can’t miss this ice cream spot’s bright pink and orange exterior. It’s best known for fruit paletas, or frozen ice pops. Try their Mangonada: blended fresh mango with ice, swirled chamoy sauce, topped with mango chunks and tamarind candy, and a tamarind stick.
18495 Highway 12, Sonoma, 707-938-1773, michoacana.com
All natural flavors, both traditional and unconventional. Among the more unique are rose petal, guava, cheese, membrillo, chongo zamorano and mamey.
Four locations in Santa Rosa and Petaluma, frutaicecream.com
The Alcazars have been making Michoacana-style ice creams since 2011, originally as La Real Michoacana, and they continue to expand their lineup of 40 plus flavors. It now includes merlot chocolate chip, Kahlua, Mexican caramel, hibiscus flower, rum raisin and strawberry butter. The family comes from Tocumbo, Mexico’s ice cream-making capital.
500 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, 707-331-2899, frozenarticecream.com
This nonprofit ice cream and coffee shop near Sonoma State funds a nearby student center and serves up Petaluma’s-own Mariposa ice cream.
1451 Southwest Blvd., Suite 111, Rohnert Park, 707-992-0841, squatchscoffee.com
Another locally-owned Sonoma State fave serving up great fro-yo with a smile.
1718 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, 707-795-7900, swirltime.com
This local yogurt shop is a favorite because of its organic ingredients and commitment to local farms. Plus, it’s open seven days a week.
7108 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol, 707-829-9866, honeymoonfrozenyogurt.com
This little retro camper does only one thing: pineapple whips, a little aloha in a cup. It is non-dairy soft-serve that you can get with or without a float of fresh pineapple juice. Check farmers markets and other locations here.
707-681-1995, traderjimsfloats.com
You can’t say 31 flavors without thinking of this classic ice cream spot. Daiquiri ice is among our favorite flavors.
Locations in Petaluma, Windsor, Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park. baskinrobbins.com
A longtime chain favorite featuring simple base flavors from vanilla and chocolate to cake batter with dozens of mix-ins to make a truly unique scoop.
Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park and Petaluma locations. coldstonecreamery.com
Travel site National Geographic recently released a list of five of the best retro motels in California. Two local motels, in Santa Rosa and Calistoga, made the cut.
Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa, originally opened in 1946 as a roadside motel, placed third on the list for its nostalgic design and nature-inspired interiors. The retro lodge is known for its hot springs-fed geothermal pools and modern, 1880s bathhouse-inspired MoonAcre Spa with clawfoot tub mud baths.
The Calistoga Motor Lodge features 97 guest rooms and suites and the onsite Fleetwood restaurant, serving Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Rooms from $246.
The Astro Motel in Santa Rosa, built in 1963 as part of a chain of space-themed motels, earned the fourth spot on National Geographic’s list for its modern revival and 1950s-themed interior.
After the turn of the century, The Astro fell into disrepair and became infamous for its seediness. The team behind Santa Rosa’s Spinster Sisters restaurant acquired the motel in 2017 and got to work on an ambitious remodel. The motel became a refuge for fire evacuees later that year during the 2017 wildfires in Sonoma County. The renovated motel officially opened to the public in January of 2018.
Retro decor at The Astro include “white leather banquettes, record players and signs for defunct soft drinks,” according to the National Geographic listing. The motel features 34 rooms and a guest lounge complete with a vintage sound system, a collection of board games and a daily complimentary breakfast from The Spinster Sisters pantry. Rooms from $139.
Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa, 1880 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, 707-737-0000, calistogamotorlodgeandspa.com; The Astro, 323 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-200-4655, theastro.com
