10 Reasons to Visit Sonoma County in 2026

For 2026, Sonoma County has been named not only a top place to travel in California, but also a top place to travel, period. From the laid-back vibe to the stunning natural landscapes, the dark skies, working farms and hands-on opportunities for learning and connection, here are some of the top reasons to discover the peace and joy of Sonoma County for yourself this year.

1. The Art of Slow

As travelers move away from rushed itineraries and checklist travel, many are seeking deeper immersion, sustainability, and the luxury of time to pause. Sonoma County naturally supports this unhurried approach, inviting visitors to linger over meals, wander vineyard roads, and engage more meaningfully with place and people. The region’s relaxed pace reinforces a sense of presence and connection, encouraging travelers to slow down, savor each moment, and experience our destination with intention.

To get in a slow-travel groove, check out our tips for a Sonoma County slowcation and this “slow” weekend in Sonoma County itinerary. Our Soulful Travel series will also inspire you to unplug, unwind, and ultimately, slow down just enough to uncover something within yourself. 

Instinct Magazine found the invitation to slow down at Guerneville’s Dawn Ranch resort, featuring the property as an easy Sonoma County getaway for travelers seeking comfort, nature and a slower pace.

Sonoma County was also named one of the Best Romantic Getaways in the U.S. for 2026 by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Vacations Rankings, earning the #5 slot on a distinguished list for our ambiance (hello, cool redwood forests, rolling farmland, small towns and windswept coastline), romantic accommodations, restaurants and activities — and of course, our wine.

2. Detour Destinations

Visitors are increasingly bypassing major cities for smaller, lesser-known towns, seeking more space, value, and authenticity. In Sonoma County, big experiences live in small towns that deliver character without crowds. Here you’ll find local businesses, calm environments, and a laid-back, approachable culture, where quiet Wine Country experiences feel personal.

This TravelHost article calls Sonoma County a more relaxed, less expensive alternative to San Francisco, encouraging visits to the towns of Sonoma, Glen Ellen, Kenwood and Boyes Hot Springs. In this 7×7 Magazine modern guide to Forestville, the town is celebrated for its killer food and natural wine scenes, and the chic Farmhouse Inn. Via Magazine’s suggestion of an off-season road trip along the Sonoma Coast starts in the Russian River town of Jenner, detouring along the way to Fort Ross and Gualala.

3. Goods Getaways

Travelers want to experience what we call “goods getaways,” meeting farm, wine, and craft makers and creators directly and bringing their products home. We can suggest some great Sonoma County goods getaway road trips, with souvenirs that include authentic Western wear from Geyserville’s Bosworth & Son Store and cow’s-milk cheeses from Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery in Valley Ford.

This Swagger article recommends taking a guy’s weekend in Sonoma County for the connection, camaraderie and craft products, from ciders to olive oils. Regarding the latter,The Olive Oil Professor reminds you that October and November bring olive oil harvest events in Sonoma County, with opportunities to harvest your own olives, observe olive milling, and taste olive oil that’s been fresh-pressed before your eyes.

4. The All-Inclusive Glow Up

Sonoma County makes an ideal retreat for wellness travel, as we blend luxury and relaxation with land and mindfulness. Here you can focus on your skin health, sleep and restoration, pairing personalized spa treatments with peaceful natural environments.

To help plan an all-inclusive glow up, see this itinerary for a wellness weekend in Sonoma County for Stressed-Out Souls. If you’d like to relax with a group, check out fun spa and wellness ideas for you and your friends, or for a solo journey of the mind, see our best places for meditation.

One of Sonoma County’s most unique wellness experiences is its natural hot springs, highlighted in Islands magazine. You can enjoy these healing waters with a day pass or a stay at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma, just a few minutes’ drive (or a free shuttle ride) from Sonoma Plaza.

5. Noctourism

Travelers are also seeking out dark skies and nighttime experiences, and happily, nightfall is when Sonoma County really shines, from the forests to the coast. Whether you’re chasing a meteor shower or just the constellations, the best spots for stargazing in Sonoma County include the dark skies above Lake Sonoma Recreation Area and the powerful Robert Ferguson Observatory in Kenwood’s Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.

Campsites throughout Sonoma County experience low light pollution. When you stay overnight at Safari West wildlife preserve, for instance, you can stargaze right from your glamping tent’s viewing deck. And way out on the Sonoma Coast, the remote Timber Cove Resort has a telescope for stargazing guests.

6. Farm Charm

Sonoma County provides the authentic farm access travelers want, with lots of working farms where simple activities create grounding experiences and food connection strengthens sense of place. Rooted in taste and community, Sonoma County offers a cornucopia of agri-tourism experiences.

For instance, on Sonoma County Farm Trails weekends in spring and fall, local farms open their barn doors to the public with markets, tours and demonstrations. You can enjoy a picnic made entirely of things grown and/or produced at Healdsburg’s Preston Farm & Winery, or you can pick your own berries, apples and more at local farms like Sebastopol’s EARTHseed Farm and Petaluma’s Chileno Valley Ranch. A healthy slice of the California Cheese Trail runs through Sonoma County, and rural flower farmers grow some of America’s showiest blooms.

7. Micro-Learning Getaways

Micro-learning getaways are short trips focused on mastering a specific skill, turning travel into an active, hands-on experience. In Sonoma County, you can learn from experts in food, wine, and craft, engaging deeply with place and process, then return home with new skills and a lasting sense of accomplishment.

For example, here in Sonoma County, there are plenty of opportunities to go herbal foraging with a guide, hunting for mushrooms, seaweed or wild herbs, like the guided mushroom foraging expedition with our Taste of Coastal Foraging Signature Experience.

Sonoma’s The Epicurean Connection teaches hands-on cheesemaking classes, while our Relish Sonoma Excursions Signature Experience offers visits to area makers who might teach you how to custom-blend your own tea or create your own cocktail shrub. And Cartograph winery offers a master class on Pinot Noir from the winemaker’s perspective.

8. Good Grief Getaways

Nostalgia-driven travel offers comfort, where familiar stories provide humor, warmth, and a return to identity. Here in Sonoma County, the legacy of cartoonist Charles M. Schulz and his Peanuts characters support this emotional trend, offering a stay that reminds you what happiness feels like.

The Peanuts creator moved to Sonoma County in 1958, living first in Sebastopol and then in Santa Rosa until his passing in 2000. He’s the namesake of our Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS), which Time Out calls one of the best regional airports in the U.S. With bronze statues of Charlie Brown and the gang, plus a Snoopy-themed bar named The Flying Ace, STS greets you right in the feels.

TravelMole’s summertime guide to celebrating Snoopy in Sonoma Wine Country includes a visit to the Charles M. Schulz Museum, Snoopy’s Home Ice ice skating rink and its Warm Puppy Café, and the handful of Peanuts statues in Santa Rosa’s Historic Railroad Square, as well as a stay at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country, which has a Lucy statue of its own.

9. ‘She’ Travel

Safe, walkable towns, welcoming hosts, and a relaxed pace make Sonoma County ideal for women traveling on their own terms. A woman can stay in one of the most walkable hotels in Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Windsor, and Cloverdale, and discover Sonoma County as a solo traveler by exploring historic streets, art districts, boutique shops, and winery tasting rooms at her own speed.

Our guides for Girls Getaways and Soulful Travel are full of good ideas for “she” travel. Come and meet women winemakers, support women-owned businesses, join a women’s wellness walk in Jack London State Historic Park, and visit serene spots like the Sonoma Botanical Garden. For a woman traveling alone, there are lots of ways to enjoy the good life in Wine Country

10. Multi-Generational Wellness Travel

Families are increasingly traveling together across generations, seeking gentle outdoor activities to replace high-intensity schedules. Sonoma County supports multi-generational family bonding without pressure, providing a place where generations can slow down together, reconnect and get on the same wellness page.

We offer great tips for planning the family vacation of a lifetime, and our Signature Experiences are pure inspiration for a multi-generational family trip. You all might discover sea life on the Sonoma Coast, explore our hiking and walking trails, or go cycling through Sonoma County on leisurely, family-friendly bike routes. 

Our Family Travel resources also include a guide to family-friendly hotels & campgrounds in Sonoma County, one of which, the Petaluma KOA, has won Campground of the Year for the second year in a row from national organization Kampgrounds in America!

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Written by Melanie Wynne