Taste the best that wine country has to offer at one of many celebrated Russian River wineries while you take in the beauty of the Sonoma County landscape. It's only natural that you must include a wine tasting in your trip to the Russian River Valley. These wineries are quite popular and many are reservation only, so be sure to save your spot. These are just a few of our favorites:

Korbel-Stop by this historic champagne house to view the beautiful grounds and enjoy a tasting of their winery exclusive bubbles, or enjoy a picnic lunch on their patio. Either way, it's a must stop: https://www.korbel.com/

Iron Horse: This beautiful winery, located in neighboring Sebastopol, has some of the best sparkling wines and Pinot Noirs you'll find, along with amazing views of West Sonoma County: https://www.ironhorsevineyards.com/

Flowers: Located in Healdsburg, Flowers is home to some of our personal favorite Pinots. The winery is set among lush gardens and towering redwood groves, giving it that quintessential West Sonoma County feel. https://www.flowerswinery.com/

La Crema: Nestled in the heart of the Russian River Valley the new La Crema Estate is the premier destination for cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Have a picnic on the beautiful grounds or enjoy a full tasting in their historic barn. https://www.lacrema.com/

The Redwood: While not a winery, the Redwood is our favorite wine shop and go-to place to pick up unique and natural wines in Sonoma County. We love their delicious small plates and wines by the glass. https://www.theredwoodwine.com/

The Russian River is one of the best places to swim, hang out, and cool down during the hot Northern California Summers. There are a number of public river access spots and beaches to spend the day at.

Some of our favorites include:

Patterson Point Preserve - https://maps.app.goo.gl/rhiHZ9st2cuHnJLo8

Monte Rio Riverfront Meadow - https://maps.app.goo.gl/SMJK1UEG2BG7DHMB7

Johnson's Beach - https://maps.app.goo.gl/bBeYokkCosKnyxaHA

Sunset Beach River Park - https://maps.app.goo.gl/gUiA1cuh5QZkRyZz8

If you're looking to get a little taste of the natural beauty of the Russian River and want to get some boots on the ground, there are a few hikes in the area that you could hit.

Islands in the Sky Vista Loop - A moderate 4 mile loop with 928 ft in elevation gain. Quick climb up from the river, this hike will take you to mountain-top vistas overlooking the beautiful hills of West Sonoma County. Carve out about 2 hours to complete this hike

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve - Armstrong Redwoods boasts some of Sonoma County's best Redwood groves. There is a solid network of trails within the preserve, most can be completed within an hour. The Pioneer trail (1.5 miles out & back) is an easy route that takes you through large Redwood groves on the valley floor with only 72 ft of elevation gain.

Monte Rio Redwoods Trial - A moderate 2.2 mile loop trail that takes you through another impressive Redwood grove south of the Russian River. This trail can be completed in about an hour and a half and includes 600 ft of elevation gain.

Red Hill via Pomo Canyon Trail - This is a moderate hike that takes you up a ridge with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the Russian River. Very scenic hike but includes a decent amount of climbing. 5 miles round trip with a little over 1000 ft in elevation gain

The Barlow has been one of our go-to spots in West Sonoma County for years. The Barlow Market District is home to talented artisan producers of local crafts, award winning restaurants, craft breweries, spirits, tasting rooms and wineries.

https://thebarlow.net/

Just a short drive West from Monte Rio, you'll find where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean. The coastal town of Jenner is an excellent spot for a morning coffee at Cafe Aquatica, or a sunset dinner at the River's End Restaurant & Inn. Cruise down Highway 1 to check out the rugged coast line and sandy beaches of Sonoma Coast State Park, or grab some oysters in Bodega Bay

The famous Sonoma Cheese Trail. Take a drive to meet local cheesemakers; visit a cheese maker; take a farm tour; and learn about the wide variety of cheeses available. Some cheesemakers are open to the public on a regular basis, some are open seasonally or by appointment and some are just plain too busy making cheese

https://www.cheesetrail.org/