15 Fun Things to do in Sonoma with Kids [that don’t involve wine]

I’ll admit it. Most folks go to Sonoma County for wine tasting. And it’s even attainable to have enjoyable at wineries with children. But that doesn’t imply that’s all there’s to do in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. From swinging from timber to strolling by way of the redwoods and sleeping with giraffes, there’s a lot to do in Sonoma with children.  

On my two visits to Santa Rosa, I’ve discovered loads of issues to do in Sonoma County in addition to wine tasting — here’s a pattern.

15 Things to do in Sonoma with Kids

Note: My journeys have been hosted by Santa Rosa Tourism and Sonoma County Tourism, who offered complimentary lodging and a few actions and meals, as is widespread within the journey business. This submit additionally comprises affiliate hyperlinks. If you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I could earn a small fee. All opinions are my very own.

Hang out with Snoopy on the Charles M. Schulz Museum

Who doesn’t love Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Woodstock, and the remainder of the Peanuts gang? Adults and children can get pleasure from a go to to the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa.

I realized a lot concerning the Peanut gang — like how Woodstock bought his title (yup, it was from the musical pageant) and that Charles Schulz truly prefers the title “Good Ole Charlie Brown” over Peanuts. But you additionally get to see among the authentic art work and learn the way Schulz hand-drew and hand-lettered all of his work.

From a peek right into a recreation of his studio, to altering displays round a sure theme, and enjoyable photograph alternatives, there’s lots to have interaction the youngsters. Be certain to choose up a Family Activity Guide whenever you buy your tickets and cease into the Education Room upstairs to attempt your hand at your personal cartoon characters.

When you might be executed, cease in subsequent door on the Ice Rink for a snack on the Warm Puppy Cafe, or go to the big present store subsequent door with some nice memorabilia.

Go fishing on the Children’s Museum

The Children’s Museum of Sonoma County was designed completely for teenagers 10 and youthful, with an emphasis on native tradition. Located close to the Charles M. Schulz Museum, you possibly can spend a full day in Santa Rosa.

At the museum, children can “catch” salmon within the miniature Russian River, go to a farm stand, construct a fort, hearken to a narrative, placed on a present, or paint a masterpiece with hands-on studying and play. Afterward, you possibly can get pleasure from pizza and a beer on the Russian River Brewing Company on the town.

Go glamping and take a safari at Safari West

Who ever thought you could possibly take a drive-through safari tour within the coronary heart of California’s wine nation? Safari West is an African-style luxurious tent camp, that brings the spirit of Africa to Northern California.

Home to 900 animals from 90 species, unfold throughout 400 acres, Safari West presents in a single day stays in luxurious glamping tents, in addition to personal and group safari excursions and animal encounters. Safari West is absolutely accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and actively works on animal conservation.

We liked our hosted keep in Tent #14, though we have been very joyful to have a heated blanket on a chilly fall night time! It was a enjoyable glamping expertise, particularly listening to the assorted animals all through the night time.

Even in the event you don’t keep in a single day, you possibly can take a three-hour safari tour (reservations required.) Tours exit 4 to 6 instances a day and welcome as much as 200 folks a day throughout the summer time. Each tour begins out with a 45-minute strolling tour by way of the Aviary and round small animal enclosures. This is adopted up by an thrilling, narrated trip on a safari truck by way of the protect.

Children must be no less than 4 years of age to go on a tour and no less than 45 inches tall to sit down within the seats on the prime of the truck. Throughout the safari, you get to see giraffes, rhinos, zebras, wildebeests, antelope, and all kinds of different African mammals.

Explore Downtown Sonoma, Santa Rosa, or Windsor

Downtown Sonoma is a laid-back, old-world city middle that mixes Western attraction with wine-country sophistication. The pretty Sonoma plaza presents vast lawns with beautiful outdated timber for operating round. It is surrounded by galleries, eating places, retailers, tasting rooms, and historic buildings — an ideal place for exploring and enjoyable.

The Sonoma Cheese Factory is an ideal place to pattern some cheeses and choose up some goodies for a picnic within the plaza. If you do need to cease for a wine tasting, Bump Cellars simply off the plaza presents a gallery-like setting that’s family-friendly with couches and video games for the youngsters (sorry, I couldn’t resist only one wine point out!)

Similarly, downtown Santa Rosa presents cute boutiques and family-friendly eating places just like the Russian River Brewing Company, Perch + Plow, and the Warm Puppy Cafe on the Redwood Empire Ice Arena (also called Snoopy’s Home Ice), proper subsequent to the Charles M. Schulz Museum.

Located simply minutes from the Sonoma County Airport, the small city of Windsor is one other cute spot to stroll round, do some wine tasting at numerous tasting rooms, and seize lunch. The city inexperienced typically hosts city occasions and festivals which are pet and kid-friendly.

Ride the Sonoma TrainTown Railroad

Just off the Plaza in downtown Sonoma, TrainTown presents younger practice fans a quarter-scale railroad that operates over a four-mile monitor. Families can climb aboard for a 20-minute practice trip by way of tunnels and over bridges, with a cease within the miniature city of Lakeview.

Beyond the practice, households with younger youngsters can get pleasure from a petting zoo and 6 amusement rides. It is the proper complement to a morning vineyard go to.

Go ziplining with Sonoma Canopy Tours

Adventure seekers will love hovering by way of the treetops of California’s well-known redwood timber with Sonoma Canopy Tours. Over a two and a half hour course, households zip throughout seven traces, traverse two sky bridges, climb a spiral staircase and rappel to the forest ground. Note that children must be no less than 10 years outdated and 70 lbs. and kids underneath 16 should be accompanied by an grownup.

After ziplining in so many alternative areas, from Costa Rica to CoCo Cay, I’ve to say that Sonoma Canopy Tours was top-of-the-line. Being within the Redwoods is at all times particular, however this tour presents greater than only a easy tree-to-tree course. My favourite was the 1500-foot zip the place you go as much as 40 mph! Rappeling off a platform on the finish was a bit of scary, however when you loosen up and lean again, the remaining is simple!

Go for a motorcycle trip

Pack a picnic, hire some bikes from the family-owned Sonoma Valley Bike Tours and head off by way of the beautiful Sonoma Valley. Sonoma Valley Bike Tours presents full and half-day guided bike excursions that cease at vineyards for wine tasting, or bike leases that hook up with quiet nation roads.

Hug a tree on the Armstrong Redwoods State Nature Reserve

Take a household hike among the many peaceable and towering redwoods at Armstrong Redwoods State Nature Reserve. Follow the one-mile Pioneer Nature Trail to see the Armstrong Tree, which is regarded as over 1,400 years outdated; or choose an extended rim hike you probably have energetic walkers. If you possibly can’t make all of it the way in which as much as Redwood National Park, this can be a good substitute.

Before your hike, you possibly can cease for lunch and a tour/champagne tasting at Korbel Winery and the tasty on-site deli. After your hike, proceed out to the coast or right down to Bodega Bay.

Fly a kite at Bodega Bay

Drive out to the coast and cease at Candy & Kites in Bodega Bay after which head right down to the seashore to fly a kite and splash within the waves.

Get creeped out

Film buffs may acknowledge the village of Bodega for its distinctive landmarks that served as a backdrop to Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 basic thriller “The Birds.”

Take a scenic drive alongside the California Coast

Drive north alongside Scenic Highway 1 from Bodega Bay and benefit from the rugged Sonoma County shoreline.

If you might be visiting between mid-January to mid-May, you might even see among the 20,000 grey whales that migrate previous the Sonoma Coast annually. Viewing is finest from Gualala Point Regional Park, The Sea Ranch, Stillwater Cove Regional Park, Timber Cove Inn and Fort Ross State Historic Park.

Ride a horse

Horse N Around Trail Rides presents a wide range of guided path rides on its 378-acre Chanslor Ranch, which overlooks the ocean with panoramic views of Bodega Bay, or trip alongside the seashore. Trail rides vary from 30-90 minutes and children should be six years outdated or older.

Go for a swim (or float)

The Russian River is Sonoma County’s out of doors adventureland with alternatives to swim, float, fish, kayak, canoe or simply splash round.

My pal Caz from Y Travel Blog actually loved tubing on the Russian River and I used to be disillusioned it was a bit of too chilly for me to present it a attempt on my final go to.

Some good spots for family-friendly swimming additionally embody Veteran’s Memorial Beach in Healdsburg, Forestville River Access, and Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville.

Do a kefir tasting

Do a tasting that children can truly partake in at The Kefiry in Sebastopol. The complete household can do that live-cultured, fermented beverage on the complimentary tasting bar.

They provide this non-alcoholic, non-dairy drink in lemon ginger ale, triple root beer, jasmine pearl inexperienced tea, Guayusa kola, OMG chocolate and extra.

Eat in Healdsburg

Healdsburg additionally incorporates a city plaza with a really upscale vibe. The city sq. is surrounded by wonderful eating places, upscale boutiques, galleries and tasting rooms. You may even take a meals tour!

While you might be on the town, you actually ought to attempt the tapas at Bravas Bar de Tapas. Kids will get pleasure from sitting within the heated backyard and sampling all of the scrumptious small plates. I feel we ordered practically every little thing on the menu and it was all wonderful!

And, in the event you do need to go to some wineries, listed here are some ideas for family-friendly wineries in Sonoma County.

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