For those of
you wanting to make a weekend out of your trip, there are TONS of fun things to
do in the Healdsburg/Sonoma area.
Here are just a few:
Wine Tasting
In case the
label “wine country” didn’t tip you off, you should know that there are
hundreds of well-known wineries in the area to check out. Zach and Aubrey don’t know much about
wine so can’t recommend ones personally, but here a few of the top-rated ones
on Trip Advisor. Just make sure
that they are open on the day you plan to go first!
- Dutcher Crossing Winery
- A. Rafanelli Winery
- Jordan Vineyard & Winery
- Lancaster Estate Winery
- Robert Hunter Winery
- Jacuzzi Family Vineyards
- Bartholomew Park Winery
Beaches
Who doesn’t
love a day at the beach?! Crazy
people and the "pigment-challenged" maybe… but for those of you who like to play in the waves,
we definitely recommend stopping by Bodega Bay or one of the many public beaches
along the coast. Schoolhouse Beach
was always a favorite in Aubrey’s family, and if you like taffy make sure to
stop at Patrick’s Saltwater Taffy! It’s a little pink and white striped
building – you can’t miss it.
Charles M.
Schulz Museum
Any Peanuts
fans out there should save some time to check out the Charles Schulz Museum. It houses the largest
collection of Peanuts strips in the world! In October they will have an exhibit on Peanuts animation,
showcasing the Museum’s collection of animation cels and production drawings.
Many of these never-before-exhibited animation cels are very rare; the
exhibitions will feature donated cels that were salvaged from the 1966 Coffee
Lane fire, including several cels from A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and It’s the Great Pumpkin,
Charlie Brown (1966).
Hot Air
Balloon Rides
Hot airballoon rides are extremely popular in Napa. It
would be an amazing experience to fly over vineyards, experiencing their beauty
from a bird’s eye view. Most hot
air balloon companies also have pilots narrate the journey and include some
kind of meal. Unfortunately they
can be pricey, so keep an eye out for Napa Groupons!
Healdsburg
Square
The charm and
genuine down to earth personality of Healdsburg is inescapable, from the sounds
of jazz and laughter at every town square event, to the enticing aromas of five
star cuisine tempting you at every turn, to the country roads winding through
rolling hills of world-acclaimed wine growing appellations. Healdsburg Square includes a number
of charming boutiques and art galleries.
More importantly, it is home to some fantastic gelato.
Safari West
Nestled on 400
acres in the heart of California's wine country, Safari West is home for over
400 exotic mammals and birds. Not a zoo, not a drive-through park, it's a
wildlife preserve where the whole family can experience some of nature's most
beautiful animals in a natural habitat. Come close with giraffes, gazelles,
zebras and many of the other animals that inhabit the preserve. Take an
exciting three-hour safari drive and explore the wildlife preserve, traveling
first in an authentic safari vehicle and then a trek around the inner grounds.
It may not be Africa, but it’s close! With animals roaming and running free
outside your safari jeep, this safari escape is the closest it comes without
requiring a passport.
Golf
For the golf
enthusiasts, there are a number of golf courses located in the area. Adobe Creek Golf Course, Bodega Harbour
Golf Links, Fountaingrove Golf and Country Club, Oakmont Golf Club, Rooster Run
Golf Club, and Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club are just some of the many
offerings.
Hiking
There are some
gorgeous parks and hiking trails in Sonoma County. This website http://www.sonomacountywiki.info/Hiking lists quite a few, some of which are
as follows:
- Bay Area Ridge Trail
- California Coastal Trail
- Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area
- Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area
- Petaluma Marsh Wildlife Area
But Wait,
There’s More!