There’s more to do in Wine Country than just drinking. Sonoma County in particular has a lot of fun things you can do that don’t always involve wine.
Year-round, Sonoma County has perfect weather for a variety of outdoor activities, but even during bad weather, there are still plenty of things to do. If you are visiting Sonoma County, you can skip the wine, and still have a great time sober.
When people are visiting wine country, they immediately think about wineries, which can make drinking feel like an expectation. But Sonoma County offers much more than just alcohol. Don’t get me wrong, we have world class wine and beer that brings people into the area, but that isn’t the type of experience I am looking for.
Instead, I would rather spend my time enjoying Sonoma County’s natural beauty and scenery. We have lovely beaches, rivers and hiking trails centered around the region. Bodega Bay is a fun area to enjoy fresh seafood and a relaxing day at the beach. In the Summertime, Russian River is a fun place to cool off and soak in the sun.
Located in Healdsburg, Badger Park has another fun river location to spend your day. If you own a kayak or a paddleboard, you can even float down the river from Del Rio to Memorial Beach. There are also many different hiking trails that you can choose from. Some of my favorite hiking trails are Taylor Mountain, Foothill Regional Park and Spring Lake. These hikes range from easy to moderate and offer scenic views along the way.
For people with a wide range of hobbies, Sonoma County has great pilates and yoga studios, skateparks and rock climbing gyms. This is a great destination to enjoy a health and wellness retreat, instead of a drinking vacation. The pilates and yoga studios offer classes designed to refresh and challenge your body. The Windsor and Healdsburg skateparks both offer a great location to skate and hangout with the community.
Rock climbing is also popular in Sonoma County. You can head out to the coast to climb at Goat Rock, or visit local gyms such as Sessions and Vertex. Sonoma State University also has a free rock climbing gym for students, making it a great place to work out and connect with fellow Seawolves.
Although wine is a major part of Sonoma County’s identity and economy, it’s not the only thing to do when visiting. This region offers a wide range of activities beyond alcohol, especially for those interested in health and wellness. From outdoor activities, community experiences and beautiful scenery, Sonoma County is more than just a drinking destination. As tourism continues to evolve, highlighting these alternatives can make it more inclusive to all visitors.
