5 More Reasons to Visit Sonoma County in 2025

The word is out: Sonoma County is the place to be in 2025. Travel writers can’t get enough of the area, touting the views, the vibes, and of course, the magic of the vines. Travelzoo chose Sonoma County as one of only nine “Best Bets for Travel in 2025,” and Condé Nast Traveler called Alexander Valley one of “The Best Places to Go in North America & the Caribbean in 2025.” 

But the reporters aren’t done!  

As the year unfolds, Sonoma County continues to get attention! In June, CNN named Petaluma one of America’s best towns to visit in 2025, and in May, Vogue called Sonoma County an ideal locale for an elevated bachelorette party.  

Hot off the presses, we give you five more reasons to plan a trip here this year! 

1. Petaluma

Petaluma, Sonoma County’s southernmost city, was named one of America’s best towns to visit in 2025 by CNN, coming in at No. 6 on the list! Among Petaluma’s many attractions, CNN cites its historic downtown, full of Gold Rush-era buildings and beloved spots like Swedish-Lebanese restaurant Stockhome, the hopping Brewsters Beer Garden, and flagship music venue The Mystic Theatre.  

The article also mentions nearby Keller Estate Winery, known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and The Floathouse, a boat rental center on the lovely Petaluma River. While the town enjoys day-trip proximity to San Francisco (45 minutes south along Hwy. 101), CNN also points out that The Hampton Inn Petaluma is set in a “nicely renovated” silk mill, right near downtown.  

To boot, Petaluma’s Griffo Distillery won the Best London Dry Gin award at the 2025 L.A. Spirits Awards held in April in Los Angeles, as well as platinum awards for its corn-based vodka and Scott Street Gin. Be sure to stop by the Griffo Distillery tasting room in Petaluma.  

2. Great Girl Time and Incredible Wine Tasting

Wine Country weddings are always in fashion, but now, Vogue magazine suggests some Sonoma County spots for throwing an elegant bachelorette party, too. Suggested lodgings include The Madrona, a graceful, 19^th-century Healdsburg inn with a top-notch restaurant. Wineries mentioned include Flowers Vineyards & Winery with its beautiful gardens, Reeve Wines with its boho-chic vibe, and the sleek, modern Aperture Cellars. Francis Ford Coppola Winery gets a shout-out, too, for its sprawling, glamorous swimming pool. A bride and her bridesmaids could easily celebrate in style in Sonoma County Wine Country. 

3. The Russian River

The Wall Street Journal recommends taking a three-day trip to the Russian River-adjacent town of Guerneville for its natural beauty, LGBTQ+ culture, and wine-tasting opportunities – and we couldn’t agree more. Set amid the redwoods in western Sonoma County (or “West County,” as the locals say), this laid-back, funky village has been attracting vacationers for more than a century, tempting them with forest shade, cool breezes and the promise of a relaxing getaway.  

The article suggests Johnson’s Beach as a great spot to launch a canoe or a party; historic Korbel Champagne Cellars and LGBTQ+ friendly Equality Vines for some wine tasting; and Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve for its many trails through towering trees. Retro diner Pat’s International earns praise for its doughnuts and Korean-style fried chicken, while the family-friendly Rio Nido Roadhouse gets a nod for its outdoor music stage, open-air dance floor, and always-popular cocktail bar.  

Guerneville makes a great homebase, the article also points out, for exploring the epic Sonoma Coast State Park, a 17-mile-long ribbon of windswept beaches, hills, and trails that unfurls beside the Pacific Ocean. From downtown Guerneville, the park’s iconic, northernmost Goat Rock Beach is a roughly 15-mile, 30-minute drive along the winding and beautiful Highway 116.  

4. Unique Glamping

Santa Rosa’s Safari West has been rated the No. 1 Glamping Spot in the country by USAToday’s 10Best series! Known as the Sonoma Serengeti, this 400-acre wildlife reserve is home to hundreds of African savannah animals, as well as glamorous safari-style platform tents with cozy beds and ensuite bathrooms. Standard tents accommodate up to four adults, and a continental breakfast is included. An overnight stay includes the calls of howler monkeys and your own private view of the resident giraffes. 

Note that the safari tents are closed in January and February, but year-round you can enjoy meals in the onsite Savannah Café and join a safari tour or Behind the Scenes Experience at Safari West. In addition to those monkeys and giraffes, the reserve’s 900-plus wild animals include cheetahs, white rhinos, zebras, and wildebeest, as well as antelope, ostriches and lemurs. It’s like traveling to Africa, without ever leaving America. 

5. Endless Experiences

Newsweek magazine’s Reader’s Choice series has honored Occidental’s Sonoma Zipline Adventures with the No. 1 spot on its Best Zipline in America list, which leaves us flying high. Set way up in the redwoods, this exciting, family-friendly course includes 14 ziplines, one of which is the longest in Northern California, spanning 1,500 feet. There are also eight sky bridges and two spiral staircases, plus a zippy little rappel back down.  

You could spend a few hours on the mile-long course sailing hundreds of feet in the air, or zipline for an entire day, pausing to enjoy a gourmet lunch. To experience the course after dark, book a Night Flight Tour and zipline under the stars, then stay overnight in a Hobbit-esque treehouse, high above the forest floor. You can also sign up for the Remarkable Redwoods Experience, which offers a deeper encounter with the redwood forest.   

  

Newsweek’s Reader’s Choice series has also named Sonoma’s Transcendence Theater its No. 2 Outdoor Theater in America. Set just off Sonoma Plaza in vineyard-rimmed Fazio Field – also known as the “Field of Dreams” – this unique outdoor venue stages productions with professional performers from around the country.  

The theater’s summer season runs through mid-September, with splashy Broadway revues and big-ticket shows. A Broadway-themed holiday spectacular kicks off in December. Local wines and pairings are for sale onsite, because after all, this is Wine Country. 

Build Your Itinerary  

For even more Sonoma County travel inspiration, see our guides on Petaluma, Guerneville, the Russian River Valley, Outdoor Activities, Glamping, Girls Getaways, and the vibrant Arts Scene.  

We look forward to welcoming you in 2025 – and beyond! 

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Written by Melanie Wynne