LGBTQ+

5 Tips for Planning Your Big Gay Sonoma Visit

Sonoma Valley

Take a trip to friendly Sonoma County, California, because this destination is gorgeous, loaded with wineries, and offers many things to see and explore. Here are some helpful tips for a gay ol’ time on your visit to Sonoma Wine Country.

Plan Ahead

Sonoma County is vast, so you’ll absolutely want to organize your itinerary early so you can spend less time in transit and more time enjoying your stay. Also, because popular restaurants book up fast, particularly on holiday weekends, make your reservations earlier rather than later. Ditto for any wineries or special tasting rooms on your list given that space is often limited so you might miss out if you fail to plan in advance. For LGBTQ+ owned and welcoming spots you won’t want to miss, visit LGBTQ+ Getaways in Sonoma County.

Check Out LGBTQ+ Events

LGBTQ+ travelers looking for fun events can check the Sonoma County event calendar and visit during an annual activity, holiday, or event like Sonoma County Pride, Gay Wine Weekend, Lazy Bear Week, and Russian River Women’s Weekend. For more details on these specifically, click here.

Visit the Russian River

People swim and play at the Russian River beach — The Russian River’s Johnson’s Beach, Guerneville, California

The Russian River Valley is still the gay nerve center of Sonoma County and a stunningly scenic one at that. Whether you float down the river at Johnson’s Beach, hike the neighboring woods at any time of year, or stroll Main Street in Guerneville, this area is a treat to discover.

While in the Russian River resort areas, check out boon eat + drink and Piknik Town Market for farm-fresh cuisine and gourmet picnic foods.

Excellent overnight options in this region include The Highlands Resort and The Woods Resort.

Explore the Sonoma Coast

Flowers bloom along the Sonoma Coast Kortum Trail — Kortum Trail along the Pacific Ocean Coast in Sonoma County, California

Some visitors don’t realize that there’s a portion of Highway 1 along the Sonoma Coast that will absolutely take your breath away! Spend an afternoon cruising this scenic highway and plan on stopping at all the turnouts to take in the cinematic views. Count on spending time at the historic Fort Ross, traversing coastal trails, and in the seaside towns of Jenner and Bodega Bay.

Sample Copious Amounts of Wine

Sip wines that have made Sonoma County famous at estate wineries, but also go off the beaten path to visit the friendly boutique tasting rooms. This is where you’ll discover artisan winemakers and limited-production releases like rare gems with their own avid fans.

Discover the complete listing of Sonoma County wineries and tasting rooms.

Written by Sonoma Insider Duane Wells