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15 Enjoyable Issues to do in Sonoma with Youngsters [that don’t involve wine]


I’ll admit it. Most individuals go to Sonoma County for wine tasting. And it’s even doable to have enjoyable at wineries with youngsters. However that doesn’t imply that’s all there’s to do in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. From swinging from timber to strolling by the redwoods and sleeping with giraffes, there’s 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 in addition to wine tasting — here’s a pattern.

Running through the fields in Sonoma

15 Issues to do in Sonoma with Youngsters

Be aware: My journeys had been hosted by Santa Rosa Tourism and Sonoma County Tourism, who supplied complimentary lodging and a few actions and meals, as is frequent within the journey business. This publish additionally comprises affiliate hyperlinks. Should you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I could earn a small fee. All opinions are my very own.

Hang around with Snoopy on the Charles M. Schulz Museum

Charles Schulz Museum
Taking part in round 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 take pleasure in 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 competition) and that Charles Schulz really prefers the title “Good Ole Charlie Brown” over Peanuts. However you additionally get to see among the unique 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 reveals round a sure theme, and enjoyable picture alternatives, there’s lots to have interaction the youngsters. You’ll want to choose up a Household Exercise Information while you buy your tickets and cease into the Schooling Room upstairs to strive your hand at your personal cartoon characters.

If you find yourself accomplished, cease in subsequent door on the Ice Rink for a snack on the Heat Pet Cafe, or go to the big reward store subsequent door with some nice memorabilia.

Go fishing on the Youngsters’s Museum

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

On 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 possibly can take pleasure in pizza and a beer on the Russian River Brewing Firm on the town.

Go glamping and take a safari at Safari West

glamping tent at Safari West
Glamping tent at Safari West

Who ever thought you would 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.

Dwelling 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 personal and group safari excursions and animal encounters. Safari West is totally accredited by the Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums, and actively works on animal conservation.

We liked our hosted keep in Tent #14, though we had been very completely satisfied 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.

Safari West tour truck
Happening tour at Safari West

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

Youngsters should be not less than 4 years of age to go on a tour and not less than 45 inches tall to sit down within the seats on the high of the truck. All through the safari, you get to see giraffes, rhinos, zebras, wildebeests, antelope, and all types of different African mammals.

Discover Downtown Sonoma, Santa Rosa, or Windsor

Things to do in Sonoma with family
Downtown Sonoma

Downtown Sonoma is a laid-back, old-world city middle that mixes Western attraction with wine-country sophistication. The beautiful Sonoma plaza provides huge lawns with beautiful previous timber for working round. It’s surrounded by galleries, eating places, outlets, tasting rooms, and historic buildings — an ideal place for exploring and stress-free.

The Sonoma Cheese Manufacturing facility is an ideal place to pattern some cheeses and choose up some goodies for a picnic within the plaza. Should 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 youngsters (sorry, I couldn’t resist only one wine point out!)

Equally, downtown Santa Rosa provides cute boutiques and family-friendly eating places just like the Russian River Brewing Firm, Perch + Plow, and the Heat Pet Cafe on the Redwood Empire Ice Area (also referred to as Snoopy’s Dwelling Ice), proper subsequent to the Charles M. Schulz Museum.

Situated 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 varied tasting rooms, and seize lunch. The city inexperienced typically hosts city occasions and festivals which can be pet and kid-friendly.

Journey the Sonoma TrainTown Railroad

Simply off the Plaza in downtown Sonoma, TrainTown provides younger prepare fanatics a quarter-scale railroad that operates over a four-mile monitor. Households can climb aboard for a 20-minute prepare trip by tunnels and over bridges, with a cease within the miniature city of Lakeview.

Past the prepare, households with younger youngsters can take pleasure in a petting zoo and 6 amusement rides. It’s the excellent complement to a morning vineyard go to.

Go ziplining with Sonoma Cover Excursions

zipping with Sonoma Canopy tours

Journey seekers will love hovering by the treetops of California’s well-known redwood timber with Sonoma Cover Excursions. 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 flooring. Be aware that children should be not less than 10 years previous and 70 lbs. and youngsters underneath 16 have to be accompanied by an grownup.

After ziplining in so many various places, from Costa Rica to CoCo Cay, I’ve to say that Sonoma Cover Excursions 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 somewhat scary, however when you calm down and lean again, the remainder is simple!

Go for a motorbike trip

Pack a picnic, lease some bikes from the family-owned Sonoma Valley Bike Excursions and head off by the beautiful Sonoma Valley. Sonoma Valley Bike Excursions provides 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

Armstrong woods pioneer nature trail

Take a household hike among the many peaceable and towering redwoods at Armstrong Redwoods State Nature Reserve. Comply with the one-mile Pioneer Nature Path to see the Armstrong Tree, which is regarded as over 1,400 years previous; or choose an extended rim hike when you have energetic walkers. Should you can’t make all of it the way in which as much as Redwood Nationwide Park, it is a good substitute.

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

Fly a kite at Bodega Bay

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

Get creeped out

Movie 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

Things to do in Sonoma with family
The beautiful California Coast

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

In case you are visiting between mid-January to mid-Might, you might even see among the 20,000 grey whales that migrate previous the Sonoma Coast every year. Viewing is finest from Gualala Level Regional Park, The Sea Ranch, Stillwater Cove Regional Park, Timber Cove Inn and Fort Ross State Historic Park.

Journey a horse

Horse N Round Path 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 trip alongside the seashore. Path rides vary from 30-90 minutes and children have to be six years previous or older.

Go for a swim (or float)

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

My good friend Caz from Y Journey Weblog actually loved tubing on the Russian River and I used to be upset it was somewhat too chilly for me to offer it a strive on my final go to.

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

Do a kefir tasting

Do a tasting that children can really 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

Things to do in Sonoma with kids
Bravas’ superb tortilla — pretty much as good as any in Spain

Healdsburg additionally encompasses a city plaza with a really upscale vibe. The city sq. is surrounded by glorious eating places, upscale boutiques, galleries and tasting rooms. You’ll be able to even take a meals tour!

If you are on the town, you actually ought to strive the tapas at Bravas Bar de Tapas. Youngsters will take pleasure in sitting within the heated backyard and sampling all of the scrumptious small plates. I feel we ordered almost all the pieces on the menu and it was all glorious!

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

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