Visiting a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. Viewing world-class contemporary art. Touring a craft-spirit distillery. These aren’t adventures that come to mind when planning a visit to California’s wine country. The side-by-side, sister valleys of Napa and Sonoma are known primarily for their world-class vino and rolling hills covered with verdant vineyards.
But in addition to visiting the tried-and true wine country tasting rooms, there’s a variety of experiences, from active to brain-activating and at a range of price points, that offer a little something for everyone with an interest in consuming more than just wine in wine country.
1. Ride in a hot air balloon (Napa and Sonoma valleys)
An early-morning hot air balloon jaunt is a dramatic way to get a bird’s-eye view of the idyllic Napa and Sonoma scenery (plus a lot of Instagram likes). Balloons lift off at sunrise when the air is cool and the landscape is just awakening. In Napa, several companies offer one-hour group rides, including Napa Valley Aloft, Napa Valley Balloons, and Balloons Above the Valley (prices range from $189 to $239). Private flights for two can start around $1,500 for a weekday with Napa Valley Aloft. Staying in Sonoma? Try Up and Away Hot Air Ballooning, which has group rides starting at $219 per person and a private option for two for $2,200.
2. Learn from winemakers at Ashes and Diamonds Winery (Napa)
If you want to learn about wine before you drink it, this summer’s third annual Ashes and Diamonds Winery’s “A&D Q&A” speaker series is a great place to start. Events include A&D’s own stellar winemaking team, led by Steve Matthiasson and Diana Snowden Seysses, in conversation with winemaking luminaries such as David Hirsch, leader of the Sonoma Coast pinot noir movement; Raj Parr, sommelier turned winemaker; and Pax Mahle of Pax Mahle Wines. The winery itself is worth a visit too, with architecture and landscape design by Bestor Architecture that gives a nod to Palm Springs modernism with a Northern California twist. (On select Fridays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; tickets are $30 per person.)
3. View contemporary art at the Hess Collection (Napa)
This family-run winery atop Napa’s Mount Veeder is a draw for both its art museum and its vino. Swiss-born Donald Hess, the founder of Hess Collection, began collecting art in 1966, and the museum he set up on the property features an array of contemporary heavyweights including Robert Motherwell, Francis Bacon, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Anselm Kiefer, and Andy Goldsworthy. The winery was damaged in the 2014 Napa quake (though, luckily, the art gallery was spared) and has been renovated and retrofitted to feature a new commercial kitchen and state-of-the-art production facilities. So it’s worth a visit now more than ever before. (Museum admission is free.)
4. Taste regional specialties at Oxbow Public Market (Napa)
One of the best ways to sample the local delicacies of wine country’s farmers and artisans is to visit downtown Napa’s Oxbow Public Market, a 40,000-square-foot public market and food hall. Oxbow features a mix of 22 merchants including cheese makers, artisanal cafes, butcheries such as Five Dot Ranch, and Eiko’s sushi and fish market. A scenic deck with outdoor seating overlooks the Napa River. Oxbow recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in downtown Napa and remains a lively spot with a calendar of public programs such as book signings, happy hours, and live music. Check out the upcoming “Uke-A-Palooza” night on August 2, a free event where guests are encouraged to bring their own ukulele and perform.
5. Visit “Rosie” the T-rex skeleton at Erin Martin (St. Helena)
Interior design wunderkind Erin Martin is known for her bold, irreverent style and eye for the unexpected. Her St. Helena showroom is a true cabinet of curiosities, with objects for sale that range from surprising to magnificent (oversize black-and-white photographs, stylish club chairs, leather jewelry, and tiny cowboy hats for kids are part of her current assortment). One of Martin’s most extraordinary finds to date is front and center in the showroom: a monstrous, 35-foot-long, 14-foot high Tyrannosaurus rex fossil (for real!). On loan from a commercial paleontological company, the T-rex is nicknamed “Roosevelt” or “Rosie,” and is estimated to be 66 million years old. It’s free to peruse all the offerings at Martin’s showroom, but get there soon—August is the last month to see Rosie.
6. Dip into a mud bath at Indian Springs (Calistoga)
Located on a bed of natural hot springs, the historic Indian Springs resort in Calistoga was built in 1861 by gold rush millionaire Sam Brannan. Over the years it has drawn numbers of Bay Area fans for its charming bungalows, relaxing vibes, and soothing spa treatments of healing volcanic mud. Approximately one hour is all you need to experience the time-honored mud dip. The treatment starts with a bath in mud made from from 100 percent pure volcanic ash, a mineral-water soak, and, finally, a mineral steam. If you have a bit more time, any spa appointment includes use of the Olympic-size pool, whose healing waters are fed directly by four on-site geysers.
7. Hike to the top of Mount St. Helena (Calistoga)
Taking the Stevenson Memorial Trail to the summit of Mount St. Helena, the highest point in Napa Valley, gives hikers one of the most rewarding views in the Bay Area, though the trail isn’t a walk in the park. It’s a 10-mile round-trip journey with an 1,800-foot elevation gain. The hike offers landscapes of pines, oaks, madrones, chaparral, and wildflowers. At the summit, your payoff includes views of Lake Berryessa, Mount Diablo, and Mount Tamalpais. Bring water, snacks, or a trail lunch and a windbreaker for when you reach the top. Keep in mind that temperatures can be extremely hot in the summer and stretches of the trail have little shade.
8. Drive the scenic route along Highway 128 (Knights Valley)
Wine country has a plethora of two-lane roads and country byways with pastoral vistas, including one not-to-miss stretch where Highway 128 makes its way through the bucolic Knights Valley. Set between the Mayacamas mountain range and the base of Mount St. Helena, Knights Valley is punctuated by cattle ranches, farmland, and vineyards, but only 2,500 acres are planted, so the area still feels rustic. As you head back into Alexander Valley, get a bite to eat at the locally loved country cafe and souvenir shop Jimtown Store.
9. Explore the ruins of Wolf Hall at Jack London State Historic Park (Glen Ellen)
The adventurer and author of American classics such as White Fang made his home in Sonoma County, and his former estate is now a California State Park. It’s a sprawling property where London experimented with early sustainable farming techniques, hosted friends, and wrote late into the evening. It features trails, picnic areas, a bookstore, a museum, and a gift shop. Of particular interest are the eerie ruins of the writer’s dream home, called Wolf Hall, which featured 26 rooms and nine fireplaces. The structure burned just before its completion in 1913 and was never rebuilt.
10. Rock out at the Sonoma Harvest Music Festival (Glen Ellen)
The Sonoma Harvest Music Festival is brought to you by the same group that organizes Bottle Rock Napa, the area’s largest rock festival. But consider the Sonoma Harvest Music Festival a kinder, more intimate cousin to Bottle Rock (it’s limited to 4,000 attendees). There are also local food producers, microbreweries, and wines made by the host vineyard, B.R. Cohn, whose picturesque property-slash-festival ground is located near the town of Glen Ellen. Held during the autumn crush season, this year’s festival features musicians Lauryn Hill, Death Cab for Cutie, Chvrches, and others. Festival dates are the weekends of September 14 and 15 and September 21 and 22 (tickets from $119).
11. See rare Asian plants at Quarryhill (Glen Ellen)
A 25-acre hidden gem, Quarryhill Botanical Garden has been devoted to the conservation and study of Asian flora since its founding in the late 1980s. Full of meandering pathways, ponds, and intimate views, the garden is 90 percent wild-sourced, meaning that most of the plants were sourced from wild seed gathered on Quarryhill-sponsored seed-collecting expeditions to Asia. It’s a sight worth seeing, as several of the garden’s varieties are threatened with extinction in their native lands due to deforestation, habitat loss, and human development. Quarryhill acts as a kind of Asian seed bank, partnering with the Royal Botanic Garden in Kew in England (“Kew Gardens”) to collect and preserve seeds from these plants for future generations. In addition to the rare plants, Quarryhill is great for birding and nature walks and features blooming beauties for every season ($12 adults, $10 seniors, $8 children ages 13-17).
12. See the work of Bay Area artists at Di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art
Di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art is an 217-acre art center and nature preserve located on the edge of the rolling hills of the Carneros region of Napa Valley. The core of the art collection is from the private estate of Rene di Rosa, who began collecting avant-garde Bay Area contemporary art in the 1960s and 1970s. Di Rosa gifted his estate to the public, and today, what was once his private property houses two separate large galleries as well as a sculpture meadow, all presenting modern and contemporary works by celebrated Bay Area artists. A solo exhibition of Bay Area artist Viola Frey is currently on display, as well as a selection of works from the permanent collection.
13. Tour a craft distillery at Spirit Works (Sebastopol)
While wine country is known for its grape-y mainstay, the area has seen a recent burst of craft spirits distilling too. At last count, there were more than 20 craft distillers in the region, including Napa Valley Distillery, Sipsong Spirits, Alley 6, Lost Republic, and Sonoma Distilling Co. To get a sense of the local scene, you can witness the inner workings of many of these facilities with a tour. One we enjoy is with Spirit Works Distillery, a women-led distillery with a grain-to-glass philosophy; instead of buying base spirits like many up-and-comers, they make their spirits from scratch. (The tour and a tasting costs $20 per person.) While you’re visiting Spirit Works, check out some of the other offerings at the Barlow, Sebastopol’s 12.5-acre outdoor food and arts center, including the delicious Fern Bar.
14. Order pie à la mode at Nobel Folk (Healdsburg and Santa Rosa)
On the weekends, the line at Noble Folk Ice Cream and Pie Bar can go out the door—and for good reason. Founded by Osvaldo “Ozzy” Jimenez and Christian Sullberg, Noble Folk blends together stylish decor with extraordinary ice cream offerings such as black sesame and coconut, Dutch cookie, homemade Oreo, Lucky Charms, and cornflake maple. Or if you’d prefer pie, don’t miss a slice of the s’mores Mississippi mud. In addition to its original downtown Healdsburg location, Noble Folk has a second location in Santa Rosa.
15. Stroll through the culinary gardens at Kendall-Jackson (Santa Rosa)
Set on approximately four acres, these lush gardens are cultivated by farmer extraordinaire Tucker Taylor, who made his name establishing the culinary garden program at the world-famous restaurant the French Laundry. The Kendall-Jackson gardens are equal parts demonstration space and laboratory, where Taylor experiments with sustainable techniques and grows unique offerings sought by many of the Bay Area’s top chefs. Of particular note are the white wine and red wine sensory gardens, where fragrant plantings, such as lemon verbena, melons, plum, and cherry trees, demonstrate different wine aromas. Meander through the garden on your own for free or add a garden tour to your wine tasting ($30 per person).
16. Overnight in an Airstream at Autocamp (Forestville)
Ever dream of camping out under the redwoods but find your scout skills lacking? Autocamp Russian River can do the heavy tent lifting for you. Designed by Dan Weber Architecture and Geremia Design, Autocamp Russian River Valley is a boutique hotel and resort with a fun, campground feel and chic accommodations in retro Airstream trailers. The stylish clubhouse includes reception, communal dining, and events spaces—plus a roaring fire pit. If you feel slightly more like roughing it, Autocamp also offers luxury canvas tents that include electrical outlets, plush bed linens, Malin and Goetz beauty products, and kitchen amenities, too.
17. Visit the movie museum at Francis Ford Coppola Winery Museum (Geyserville)
In addition to its expansive tasting room, the Francisco Ford Coppola Winery houses a museum dedicated to the work and career of the larger-than-life movie director. Props and memorabilia from Coppola’s films include Colonel Kurtz’s dog tags from Apocalypse Now, Don Vito’s ornate office desk from The Godfather, and an original Tucker 1948 sedan used in Tucker: The Man and His Dream. The director’s six Oscars are on display, too, and admission is free. Coppola also boasts a hearty restaurant called Rustic with picturesque view of Alexander Valley and a lively pool. To spend the day poolside requires a pass ($40 per adult, $15 per child), but you can also enjoy the outdoor scene for the cost of grabbing a lunch or ice tea at the pool cafe.
18. See cool jewelry and art at Gallery Lulo (Healdsburg)
A compelling contemporary design and art gallery, Lulo was founded by Danish curator Katrina Schjerbeck and jewelry artist and designer Karen Gilbert more than a decade ago. Today, Lulo draws patrons from across the Bay Area for its leading blend of unique, sculptural jewelry and fine art. The gallery is a bright, minimal space that features rotating exhibitions. Works on display include jewelry by Hitomi Jacobs and Emily Biller and handwriting-imbued ink and oil artworks by Eric Wolske. Gilbert also heads the glass studio Sklo, whose sculptural accessories and lighting are shown in the gallery.
19. Picnic on the lawn at Noci Sonoma (Healdsburg)
On a lush, sprawling 24-acre property in Dry Creek Valley, Noci Sonoma presents a new kind of membership-based garden and harvesting experience, though you don’t need to be a member to get to a taste of this blissful corner of paradise. Calling itself an Edible Garden Adventure Club, Noci Sonoma features a range of vegetable, fruit, and flower gardens where members can explore, harvest produce and fresh flowers, hang out for the day, and let kids run free. Noci Sonoma is open for non-member tours on Friday through Sunday. Book in advance to tour the innovative design and finish with a picnic on Noci’s relaxing front lawn. (Tours are $25 per person.)
20. Take a cooking class at Relish Culinary Adventures (Healdsburg)
Based in Healdsburg, Relish Culinary Adventures offers a variety of culinary classes on topics including wine and food pairings, DIY canning, cheese making, and mushroom foraging. One popular summer option is the Healdsburg Farmer’s Market tour. Attendees meet local purveyors, taste and learn about their products, and return to the Relish demonstration kitchen for a hands-on class and luncheon. Dishes can include prosciutto-wrapped peaches and melons with Saba drizzle; green salad with grilled peaches, baked ricotta salata, candied pistachios, and pear cider vinaigrette; or tabouli with grilled summer vegetables and herbs. (Healdsburg Farmer’s Market Cooking Workshop, $145 per person.)
21. Kayak on the Russian River
The Russian River snakes through the heart of Sonoma Valley to the Pacific Ocean and offers some of the area’s most picturesque kayaking and canoeing. The river is brimming with animal life—ospreys, eagles, herons, turtles, and endangered Coho salmon are just some of the species enjoying the river alongside you. Several purveyors offer full- and half-day trips, including Russian River Adventures (starting at $50 per adult with inflatable canoes) or River’s Edge Kayak and Canoe Trips (starting at $70 per adult with sit-in kayaks). Another fun option is SUP Odyssey, which offers stand-up paddleboards for hourly and even multiday rentals. (Prices start at $25 per hour through weekend rate of $150.)