Our local favorites
Food scene
Excellent sandwiches and burgers. Best fries in town. Order at counter and eat in patio. You can order sandwiches for take out and have a picnic!
23 locals recommend
Picazo Cafe
19100 Arnold DrExcellent sandwiches and burgers. Best fries in town. Order at counter and eat in patio. You can order sandwiches for take out and have a picnic!
Great music on the weekends. Nice enclosed outdoor patio. Kids’ outdoor area.
10 locals recommend
Reel & Brand
401 Grove StGreat music on the weekends. Nice enclosed outdoor patio. Kids’ outdoor area.
One of the newer restaurants here in Sonoma. Chic, high end spot with great food—fresh and seasonal.
14 locals recommend
Layla at MacArthur Place
29 E MacArthur StOne of the newer restaurants here in Sonoma. Chic, high end spot with great food—fresh and seasonal.
Sister restaurant to Picazo Cafe, in the Maxwell Shopping Center, within walking distance of our place. Great breakfast on the weekends.
8 locals recommend
Picazo Kitchen & Bar
19101 Sonoma HwySister restaurant to Picazo Cafe, in the Maxwell Shopping Center, within walking distance of our place. Great breakfast on the weekends.
El Dorado Kitchen
405 1st St WSightseeing
Within walking distance of our house. Great place to get a nature fix. Walk through small forest to Sonoma creek, where you can dip your toes in and catch a glimpse of egrets and other local birds.
11 locals recommend
Maxwell Farms Regional Park
100 Verano AveWithin walking distance of our house. Great place to get a nature fix. Walk through small forest to Sonoma creek, where you can dip your toes in and catch a glimpse of egrets and other local birds.
Our favorite picnic spot. Picnic area overlooks vineyards. Has old historic buildings as well as nature trails to explore.
60 locals recommend
Bartholomew Estate Vineyards and Winery
1000 Vineyard LnOur favorite picnic spot. Picnic area overlooks vineyards. Has old historic buildings as well as nature trails to explore.
Lovely gardens to walk around (including Sunset magazine’s test gardens), shops, tasting room, and restaurant/cafe. Nice place to take kids and let them run off some energy!
52 locals recommend
Cornerstone Sonoma
23570 Arnold DrLovely gardens to walk around (including Sunset magazine’s test gardens), shops, tasting room, and restaurant/cafe. Nice place to take kids and let them run off some energy!
Great way to get a sense of what life was like in mission-era Sonoma. Walk the grounds and take a docent tour of the old house. It’s said to be haunted!
Vallejo Home State Park
Vallejo Home State ParkGreat way to get a sense of what life was like in mission-era Sonoma. Walk the grounds and take a docent tour of the old house. It’s said to be haunted!
Hiking trails, museum, and historic homes of Jack London and his wife Charmian. The hike to the ruins of the Wolf House, which was to be Jack’s dream house but which burned just before completion, is worth it. Don’t miss visiting the cottage where Jack lived and worked. There are picnic tables on the way to the cottage and you get a lovely view of the hillsides.
201 locals recommend
Jack London State Historic Park
2400 London Ranch RdHiking trails, museum, and historic homes of Jack London and his wife Charmian. The hike to the ruins of the Wolf House, which was to be Jack’s dream house but which burned just before completion, is worth it. Don’t miss visiting the cottage where Jack lived and worked. There are picnic tables on the way to the cottage and you get a lovely view of the hillsides.
Fun spot to take the kids on sunny days—the little train ride through the forest is lots of fun. Don’t miss the old fashioned PAC Man arcade game in the train cars.
60 locals recommend
Sonoma TrainTown Railway
20264 BroadwayFun spot to take the kids on sunny days—the little train ride through the forest is lots of fun. Don’t miss the old fashioned PAC Man arcade game in the train cars.
Historic old theater on the plaza. Hosts special events regularly as well as first run movies.
26 locals recommend
Sebastiani Theatre
476 1st St EHistoric old theater on the plaza. Hosts special events regularly as well as first run movies.