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 potential to have enjoyable at wineries with youngsters. But that doesn’t imply that’s all there may be to do in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. From swinging from timber to strolling by means of the redwoods and sleeping with giraffes, there may be a lot to do in Sonoma with youngsters.  

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

15 Things to do in Sonoma with Kids

Note: My journeys had been hosted by Santa Rosa Tourism and Sonoma County Tourism, who offered complimentary lodging and a few actions and meals, as is frequent within the journey business. This put up additionally accommodates 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 youngsters can take pleasure in a go to to the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa.

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

From a peek right into a recreation of his studio, to altering reveals round a sure theme, and enjoyable photograph alternatives, there may be lots to have interaction the children. Be positive to choose up a Family Activity Guide while you buy your tickets and cease into the Education Room upstairs to strive your hand at your individual cartoon characters.

When you’re performed, cease in subsequent door on the Ice Rink for a snack on the Warm Puppy Cafe, or go to the big reward store subsequent door with some nice memorabilia.

Go fishing on the Children’s Museum

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

At the museum, youngsters can “catch” salmon within the miniature Russian River, go to a farm stand, construct a fort, take heed to a narrative, placed on a present, or paint a masterpiece with hands-on studying and play. Afterward, you may take pleasure in 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 possibly can 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 provides in a single day stays in luxurious glamping tents, in addition to non-public and group safari excursions and animal encounters. Safari West is totally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and actively works on animal conservation.

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

Even when you don’t keep in a single day, you may 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 season. Each tour begins out with a 45-minute strolling tour by means of the Aviary and round small animal enclosures. This is adopted up by an thrilling, narrated journey on a safari truck by means of the protect.

Children have to 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 high 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 heart that mixes Western allure with wine-country sophistication. The pretty Sonoma plaza provides extensive lawns with attractive previous timber for working round. It is surrounded by galleries, eating places, outlets, tasting rooms, and historic buildings — an ideal place for exploring and stress-free.

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 wish to cease for a wine tasting, Bump Cellars simply off the plaza provides a gallery-like setting that’s family-friendly with couches and video games for the children (sorry, I couldn’t resist only one wine point out!)

Similarly, downtown Santa Rosa provides 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 referred to as 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 might be pet and kid-friendly.

Ride the Sonoma TrainTown Railroad

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

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

Go ziplining with Sonoma Canopy Tours

Adventure seekers will love hovering by means 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 youngsters have to be no less than 10 years previous and 70 lbs. and kids below 16 have to be accompanied by an grownup.

After ziplining in so many various areas, from Costa Rica to CoCo Cay, I’ve to say that Sonoma Canopy Tours was among the finest. Being within the Redwoods is at all times particular, however this tour provides 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 little bit scary, however when you calm down and lean again, the remainder is straightforward!

Go for a motorcycle journey

Pack a picnic, lease some bikes from the family-owned Sonoma Valley Bike Tours and head off by means of the attractive Sonoma Valley. Sonoma Valley Bike Tours provides full and half-day guided bike excursions that cease at vineyards for wine tasting, or bike leases that connect 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 previous; or choose an extended rim hike when you’ve got energetic walkers. If you may’t make all of it the way in which as much as Redwood National Park, it is a good substitute.

Before your hike, you may 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 traditional 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’re 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 provides quite a lot of guided path rides on its 378-acre Chanslor Ranch, which overlooks the ocean with panoramic views of Bodega Bay, or journey alongside the seashore. Trail rides vary from 30-90 minutes and youngsters have to be six years previous 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 disenchanted it was a little bit too chilly for me to provide it a strive on my final go to.

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

Do a kefir tasting

Do a tasting that youngsters can truly partake in at The Kefiry in Sebastopol. The entire household can do this 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 encompasses 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’re on the town, you actually ought to strive the tapas at Bravas Bar de Tapas. Kids will take pleasure in sitting within the heated backyard and sampling all of the scrumptious small plates. I feel we ordered almost every little thing on the menu and it was all wonderful!

And, when you do wish to go to some wineries, listed below are some strategies for family-friendly wineries in Sonoma County.

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