6 Tips for Planning the Family Vacation of a Lifetime

For your next family getaway, whether that’s a small group or an extended, multi-generational family reunion, don’t overlook family-friendly Sonoma County, California, a stunning destination full of festive events, outdoor adventures, farms, wineries, and fun activities to experience and explore.

Here are some helpful tips for having a wonderful time with the whole family on your visit to Sonoma Wine Country.

Plan Ahead

Sonoma County is big (as in, 1,768 square miles big), so in order to maximize your family’s enjoyment on a group vacation, you’ll want to organize your itinerary as soon as possible, planning stops throughout the county’s charming cities and towns. Popular lodging, restaurants, wineries, and attractions book up fast, particularly on holiday weekends, so be sure to make your reservations earlier rather than later.

If you have family members who use wheelchairs or have other accessibility needs, be sure to see our accessible travel guide. And if the family pets are along for the ride, check out our guide to dog-friendly travel in Sonoma County.

If flying in, there may not be a more convenient (or cuter) airport than the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport, which flies directly into Santa Rosa. A direct flight with a short drive following will kick-off the trip quicker and get the fun started sooner.

Pro tip: Plan your family’s itinerary using the Sonoma County app, and you’ll be able to share the itinerary with others, including notes, step-by-step directions to different stops, and the ability to make changes in real time.

For more inspiration, check out these pre-made, pre-approved Sonoma County itineraries.

Don’t Miss Out on Family-Friendly Events

Throughout the year, there are plenty of Sonoma County events ideal for family groups of all ages. Book your trip around one or more of these events, and you’re all but guaranteed a great family vacation. For example:

Winter warms up during January’s Chowder Day on the Sonoma Coast, when local seafood and coastal scenery are the star attractions (plus, everyone can take home their own commemorative spoon!). In February, the weekend-long Cloverdale Citrus Fair brings a rollicking carnival packed with rides, and a joyful pet parade.

Come spring, the Apple Blossom Festival and Parade unfurls down Sebastopol’s Main Street, while the Butter and Egg Days Parade and Festival proceeds through Downtown Petaluma. Held in April, both of these longtime events include music; arts and crafts; food and drink; and areas just for kids. In May, the Sonoma County Farm Trails Spring Tour is a weekend of open-house farm tours featuring spring produce and super-cute baby animals.

Summer brings family-friendly events like July’s Native American-focused Ocean & Art Festival at Fort Ross State Historic Park, and the two-day Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic, with dozens of colorful hot air balloons. In August, Sebastopol’s Gravenstein Apple Fair is a country fair celebrating Sonoma County’s own Gravenstein apple.

Autumn in Sonoma County is gorgeous, with warm sunshine, colorful leaves, and fabulous fall festivals and events for the whole family. Late September sees the Sonoma County Farm Trails Fall Tour, which enables you to see how cheese, cider and jam are made, and pick pumpkins, apples and more. In October, the three-day Sonoma County Harvest Fair features locally made food and beverages, as well as live music, a classic car show, a pumpkin patch, and a championship grape stomp.

Cheerful holiday celebrations and tree lightings across Sonoma County start in November, including Petaluma’s Lighted Boat Parade and the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove in the town of Windsor. Multi-generational groups can also enjoy area ice skating rinks, theatre performances, and gardens strung with twinkling lights.

For an up-to-date list of upcoming events including dates, times and details, visit our Calendar of Events.

Book Lodging the Whole Family Will Love

To get the most enjoyment out of your family vacation, consider lodging where the whole family can spread out and relax, even while the kids are burning off some energy.

Vacation rentals are a great choice for multi-generational groups, as folks can enjoy the comfort and convenience of fully equipped kitchens, a washer and dryer, common living areas, and private bedrooms, all under one roof. Especially large rental options in Sonoma County include Bodega Bay’s Bodega Sky Ranch, with 10 bedrooms, a pool and spa, and several dining areas, and Santa Rosa’s Casita Amarosa, with four bedrooms/baths and a large swimming pool. 

Sonoma County also has lots of family-friendly hotels and campgrounds. In Rohnert Park, for example, the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Sonoma Wine Country has easy access to a heated pool and pickleball, as well as family fun activities like Cal Skate, an authentic ’80s roller rink, and the Scandia Family Fun Center, with mini-golf, batting cages, and a huge arcade.

For more focus on the outdoors, Dawn Ranch Resort is surrounded by redwoods on the Russian River and includes cabins, cottages, and bungalows, close to Guerneville restaurants and Russian River Valley wineries, plus it’s just a 20-minute drive from the Pacific Ocean.

In Cloverdale, the 60-acre  Cloverdale Healdsburg Campground overlooks the rolling hills of Alexander Valley and includes tents, lodges, cabins and RV sites, as well as a pool and spa, fishing pond, and paddleboat rentals.

In Forestville, River Bend Resort is another family-friendly RV park & campground option that, located right on the Russian River, offers plenty to explore. Designated as the only Good Sam Park in the Russian River Valley, the park meets high standards for cleanliness, friendliness and available services, including a general store, three children’s play areas, an old-fashioned gaming arcade, horseshoe pits, an outdoor theater, and a private beach exclusively for resort guests – the perfect spot for stargazing at night!

If glamping is more your family’s vibe, book one or more of the luxurious safari tents at Santa Rosa’s Safari West, a 400-acre wildlife park full of African animals like giraffes, lemurs and zebras. Each safari tent has a private viewing deck, an ensuite bathroom, and hardwood floors, so you’re definitely not roughing it. The whole family can visit the resident animals by day, then listen to them at night!

Satisfy Everyone’s Food Cravings

Family vacations can be stressful when you’re trying to feed a big group, especially if everyone eats differently. Fortunately, Sonoma County gives you lots of options when it comes to family dining. 

Santa Rosa’s open-air Mitote Food Park, for instance, features several food trucks with different Mexican specialties, and even colorful cocktails for the grownups. Middle Eastern food means big platters for sharing, and while there’s no shortage of BBQ places in Sonoma County, vegetarian eateries can also be crowd-pleasing choices. Just about every kind of pizza is available here, as well as burgers, Thai, seafood, and spots that are open late!

Amazing bakeries can be found all over, including plenty of gluten-free options. Breakfast spots with big tables make it easy and comfortable to start each day with the fam.

Need more family-friendly dining inspiration? Treat yourself to a rundown of the 50 best things to eat in Sonoma County, and check out our full list of restaurants, which you filter by location and cuisine, here.

Make Wine Tasting a Family Affair

With a little strategizing, your Sonoma County wine tasting adventures can be kid-friendly. This might mean choosing wineries near activities that family members of all ages will enjoy, or choosing family-friendly wineries that feature fun attractions for children.

In Santa Rosa, for example, the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County and the Charles M. Schulz Museum are near not only each other, but also a couple of wineries with kid-friendly attractions. Along quiet Olivet Lane, Hook & Ladder Winery has a vintage fire truck, while DeLoach Vineyards has farm animals to visit and a one-acre herb, veggie and flower garden to explore. Prefer to divide and conquer? You could send part of your group (including the littles) to these museums while others enjoy grownup-focused wineries in the area, such as Martinelli, Benovia, and La Crema.

Or head to the town of Sonoma, where Train Town and its colorful quarter-scale railroad is about a mile from dozens of Sonoma Plaza wine tasting rooms and near family-friendly Cline Family Cellars, with its pond, aviary, and resident flock of sheep.

Keep in mind that children may not be the only non-drinkers in your group. For booze-optional winery adventures that will appeal to folks of all ages, check out Beyond the Bottle: Sonoma County Winery Experiences Without the Alcohol.

Find Family-Friendly Activities for the Whole Gang

Having fun with your family in Sonoma County can be as easy as going outdoors. You could all wander flat trails amid towering trees in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve or the 3-million-year-old Petrified Forest. The family might enjoy flying kites and bird-watching on the beach at Doran Regional Park, or renting paddleboats at Lake Ralphine in Howarth Park.

For a bit more excitement, you could hop into some Russian River Railbikes in Cloverdale, rent a sailboat at Lake Sonoma, or go ziplining high above the forest floor with Sonoma Zipline Adventures. While some of your group go ice skating at Snoopy’s Home Ice, others could sip hot cocoa at the Warm Puppy Café.

If you want to go truly wild, reserve a public or private tour at Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, one of several animal sanctuaries in Sonoma County that welcome visitors of all ages. Or, go whale watching on the Sonoma Coast, from January through May.

With thoughtful trip planning, a family vacation in Sonoma County can bring one amazing experience of a lifetime after another that everyone will enjoy – together. So when dreaming up your next family getaway, multi-gen adventure, or family reunion, be sure to see our planning resources, consult our events calendar, and use this article as your guide!

---

Written by Melanie Wynne