Charmingly rustic, the town of Guerneville (pop. 4,534) mixes towering redwoods, cool river waters, laid-back attitudes, and Sonoma Wine Country delights in a pleasing blend that makes it a popular destination, as well as an established gay vacation resort. Guerneville has always been a vacation getaway for San Franciscans — by train in the 1870s to the 1930s, and by car through the 1950s.
In the 1970s it became a welcoming resort area for Bay Area gay men and lesbians. Today, visitors stay in cozy cabins, uniquely rustic resorts, campgrounds, vacation rentals, and other lodgings. They can choose to eat at trendy restaurants, food stands, or hip cafes reminiscent of the flower-power era. And with more than 50 wineries within a 20-minute drive, wine tasting in the cool-climate Russian River Valley wine region is definitely a must for wine lovers.
With canoes, kayaks, inner tubes, umbrellas, and beach chairs available for rent, Johnson's Beach provides the main river access in downtown Guerneville, within walking distance of restaurants and shops. Visit the awe-inspiring, 805-acre Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, two miles north of Guerneville's Main Street. Walk among the serene, majestic beauty of California coast redwoods, some of the world's tallest living things. It can be a transforming experience. Find details about Guerneville hotels and lodging.
Together, we can protect and preserve the beauty and natural resources of Sonoma County for generations to come. Check out our page on Sustainable Travel, and look over the Leave No Trace Seven Principles.
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Trip Ideas
As an 18-year-old in Sonoma County, your options for fun activities can seem limited. You can drive, sure, but you can’t take full advantage of the Wine Country culture — the tasting rooms and tap...
Dip your toes both literally and figuratively in Wine Country on this one-day adventure from San Francisco to the Russian River Valley, with its towering redwoods, cool river water, and laid-back...
In Sonoma County's Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, walk among sprouting ferns and giant trees in the magnificence of nature. Beneath the soaring redwood canopy, you'll feel silenced by the...
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Nine miles from the ocean, in a saddle between two ridge tops sits Porter-Bass Vineyard & Winery. The Russian River gently forms an oxbow around these ridges allowing the fog to drift to the foot of…
At Korbel, our enduring legacy is shaped by a distinctive champagne heritage, inspiring over 140 years of excellence in winemaking dedication. Today, as a sought-out Russian River winery destination,…
Equality Vines is the world’s first cause wine portfolio dedicated to equality for all people. It’s a perfect pairing for label co-founders Matt Grove and Jim Obergefell, a coupling of their shared…
INIZI: beginnings in Italian. The name INIZI came from our belief that a bottle of wine begins in the vineyard. Located in the heart of Guerneville, California, we invite you to visit our tasting room…