Food & Wine

What to expect when visiting Sonoma County after the Fires

Many travelers are wondering what to expect when visiting Sonoma County in 2020, and especially now due to recent West Coast wildfires.

October 2020 update: While devastating, only a small portion of Sonoma County’s 1 million acres were impacted by the LNU Lightning Complex fires and the Glass Fire. The fires occured in very rural parts of Sonoma County, leaving most of Sonoma County unaffected. As such, you’ll find vineyards, charming towns, nature and history parks, beautiful vistas, 55 miles of dramatic Pacific coastline, and towering redwoods waiting for guests.

Note: While the majority of Sonoma County’s parks are open, Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve and Austin Creek State Recreation Area remain closed in northwestern Sonoma County, while Trione-Annadel State Park, Hood Mountain, and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park are closed near Santa Rosa. You can view the latest information here.

As you plan your trip, we recommend checking the latest weather and air quality forecasts.

Here’s what to expect when visiting Sonoma County after the fires:

1. More than 425 wineries are open for you

With hundreds of wineries countywide, you’ve got a lot of options to check out. Here are a few wineries we recommend for first-time visitors. Discover unique wine castles, go for a vineyard hike, and enjoy delectable al fresco food and wine pairings with beautiful views.

If you aren’t into wine we still have more than 40 breweries, distilleries and cider houses open as well.

2. There are a lot of great Sonoma County accommodations to choose from.

We have hundreds of hotels, inns, B&Bs, campgrounds, and vacation rentals and all manner of unique places to spend the night in Sonoma County. No hotels were lost in the recent wildfires, and you have many great options for where to stay when visiting Sonoma County.

Browse our website for lodging ideas, and be sure to check out the deals page to find special offers before booking.

3. It’s a great time to visit

Fall in Sonoma County is one of the most iconic, beautiful times of year to visit. Sonoma County is open for business, from the countryside rivers and valleys to the charming towns to the 55 miles of coastline. Discover charming wineries, beautiful redwood forests, and gorgeous beaches.

Visiting now supports the thousands of local residents who work in the hospitality industry, and fuels our local economy. Interesting fact: Did you know that 85 percent of Sonoma County tourism businesses are locally owned?

4. Very few vineyard acres were affected

Sonoma County itself is one million acres in size. Grape vines are resilient and acted as natural firebreaks, not only surviving, but helping to slow and stop the spread of wildfires. With it being the heart of fall, this is a great time to visit Sonoma County wineries.

Sonoma County’s welcoming and picturesque communities are all still here. Come see for yourself. And tell your friends. When visiting, we ask you to follow our SAFE Travels Promise. Take photos of the clear skies, beautiful vineyards, groves of redwood trees, pristine Pacific coastline, and rolling hills. Then post the photos to your social media channels with the tag #LifeOpensUp.