How to spend 4 days in California wine country

Feb 5

Feb 5 Celebrating 5 Years Married in California Wine Country

A little bit of travel made this the best January I’ve had in awhile! First I headed to Dallas for my company’s annual kickoff event—always a welcome opportunity to connect with my remote coworkers IRL, get hyped about the year ahead, get a change of scenery, and get dressed in something besides sweats (pics from Dallas HERE including my travel day look and the coat that was the MVP of the trip)! Then after a day at home to unpack and re-pack, Chris and I took off for San Francisco for a few days away to celebrate our five-year wedding anniversary (much belated, but hey—better late than never). It wasn’t ideal to do the two trips back to back, but we knew the timing would never be perfect between work commitments and life. This was our first trip just the two of us (not counting trips to visit family) since our HONEYMOON in February 2020. Sooo we needed it! Cash did great with his grandma and aunties while we were away, and I’m so glad we were able to start the year with a little adventure to see a new part of the country. Already thinking about the next!

More pics on my LTK, plus 20+ under-$20 wines from Sonoma and Monterey County you can try at home! Scroll for our itinerary if you’re interested in visiting California wine country 🍷

How to spend 4 days in California Wine Country

January is definitely the “off season” for this area and typically rainy. We got very lucky with sun every day and temps in the low 60s. We originally planned to go in June, then October, but life got in the way! So, I don’t necessarily recommend January as the most ideal time to visit, but it *was* easy to get winery reservations, and certain accommodations (hotels) were less expensive than if we had gone in the peak season.

Travel Day: Arrive in Petaluma

Fly into SFO, pick up rental car and drive to hotel!
We stayed in Petaluma (try Hotel Petaluma for downtown walkability), adjacent to Sonoma, a little over an hour drive from the airport. We got to drive right through the city so you could make a point to check out Pier 39, the Mission District, and sample some dim sum or sourdough. But I enjoyed just driving through, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, and taking in the city views (while imagining living in one of the coastal hillside homes) from the winding tree-lined roads. So beautiful!!
Settle in, then grab beers at Lagunitas Brewery to kick off the vacation vibes before dinner at Old Chicago pizza, a charming deep-dish pizzeria with old school vibes (recommended to us by Chris’s local coworker, and it did not disappoint!).
My carry-on and more travel bags I love:

Day 1: Wine Tasting in Sonoma

I recommend trying to hit 3-4 wineries for a full day experience! We played it pretty conservative since 1) we were driving and 2) to keep costs down. I booked reservations at wineries where tastings were $50 or under, but they can go up to $100 per tasting or more which can add up so keep that in mind! Some wineries take walk-ins but having a reservation is always a safe bet (and check the website ahead).
Our first stop was McEvoy Ranch in Petaluma which is actually known for olive oil rather than wine. The views were the draw for me, as you get to enjoy your tasting experience in a picturesque valley overlooking a small pond, olive trees, vineyards, and hills. We sampled a few oils (I loved the jalapeno infused—great for avocado toast!) with our wine, and you can add on lunch if you want which is a nice option. The olive oil body butter produced by the Ranch was named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2024!
Grab lunch in Sonoma Plaza before your next winery! We ate at Sunflower Cafe which has a great garden patio and casual but upscale menu options. Before settling at Sunflower Cafe, we tried to get into Bloom Carneros nearby but it was full—looked like a tasty spot to try! I recommend making reservations ahead!
Our next winery was Sangiacomo, a family-run winery with Italian varietals 2 miles from Sonoma Plaza that mostly supplies grapes to other wineries and recently started producing their own wine. The winery provided nice views (picture above) but it wasn’t necessarily anything SUPER special, so not a MUST SEE.
Before dinner at Central Market in Petaluma (a cozy spot serving “modern American cuisine” that features local ingredients and influences), stop for happy hour at The Shuckery, voted best restaurant for oysters in Sonoma County!
What I wore to the wineries (my current favorite jeans): WINE TASTING OUTFIT DETAILS

Day 2: Muir Woods & “Muir” Wine
After a relaxing day sipping wine, we were ready for a little activity so we spent the morning hiking among the Redwoods at Muir Woods (about 45 minute drive from Petaluma). There are both paved/boardwalk and non-paved trails, with varying-length loops so you can make the experience your own. Focus on Redwood Creek Trail, Cathedral Grove, and Bohemian Grove for the best views. Make sure to book your parking pass ahead! Tip: Be prepared for windy roads on your way up to the park (I was a little nervous)! There’s a scenic overlook near the top that I wish I had stopped at for a picture.
There’s a cafe at Muir Woods if you want a quick lunch on the spot after hiking, but I recommend checking out a local spot in Mill Valley—the very wealthy region where Muir Woods is located. Loved getting a glimpse of this little area!
Regroup at the hotel before spending the afternoon at more wineries! We stopped into Kunde Winery in Sonoma which had the best tasting experience of the wineries we went to—which included truffle potato chips, a charcuterie board, and I think 6 different wines. It’s a fairly big winery, with a huge outdoor patio. We never made it to Napa, but I recommend spending the afternoon here if you’re a big wino! Napa is generally more expensive than Sonoma (and a little further west, depending on where you are staying), but it would be fun to splurge on a high-end experience and check out the downtown area.
That night we got drinks and dinner at The Girl & the Fig, a French restaurant with an antique bar and award-winning wine list, in Sonoma Plaza. Other local recs included Valley and El Dorado Kitchen.
What I wore to Muir Woods (big fan of this fleece jacket): HIKING OUTFIT DETAILS
What I wore to dinner in Sonoma (everyone asks me about these pants): SONOMA OUTFIT DETAILS

Day 3: Big Sur & Carmel via PCH
Time for a change of scenery! Drive south along the Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur. We made the trip from Sonoma to Carmel and wish we had continued just a little farther to Big Sur to see the Bixby Bridge and views made famous by Big Little Lies. Total trip would be 170 miles but you could get there faster via freeway, too.
After taking in the Big Sur views, head back north about 40 miles to Carmel by the Sea for lunch, beach time, and shopping! I love love loooooved this little town. Unique cottages, charming twisted tree-lined streets, plus a white sand beach! We started with lunch at Village Corner (apparently a longtime local fave)—extremely friendly staff, good food, lovely patio. Then spent the rest of the afternoon strolling the beach and Scenic Road before shopping with iced coffee in hand on Ocean Avenue. If you stay for happy hour, try A.W. Shucks!
What I wore to Carmel by the Sea (these are the perfect travel pants): CARMEL OUTFIT DETAILS

Day 4: 17 Mile Drive & Monterey

We stayed at the Spindrift Inn in Monterey right on the water and our room had a breakfast nook and armchairs by the TV, so we enjoyed a slow morning in the room eating breakfast and enjoying the ocean views—a luxury we don’t often get at home with a toddler—before we started our last day of vacation. *If your budget allows, go for a hot air balloon ride to end the trip with an unforgettable experience! (Not something we splurged for, but something I would’ve done if money wasn’t a factor!)
Start (or continue) the day with an ebike tour of 17 Mile Drive for an adventurous way to check out Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula. The scenic route winds along the coastline, famous golf courses, and mansions with stops to spot whales, seals, and other sealife, and the famous Lone Cypress tree. Riding through the cypress-lined neighborhoods and peeping all the beautiful homes was my favorite. I was nervous about operating the ebike, but it’s super easy and you don’t have to pedal or “work” if you don’t want to—win! The tour also stops at Pebble Beach where you can grab a deli sandwich at the market, browse the gift shop for the golfer in your life, or visit the taproom. We booked the 10:30 am guided group tour through Big Sur Adventures, but because it was off-season, we had the tour guide Zane to ourselves! Highly recommend this ~2.5 hour experience!
Drive back to the Spindrift Inn along Ocean View Boulevard for more scenic coastline views and spend a lowkey afternoon exploring Cannery Row in Monterey (if you’re with kids, check out the aquarium). I was on the hunt for some souvenirs but couldn’t decide on anything and went home empty handed (is anyone else like this?!)! The shopping is very touristy and not as good as Carmel, so you don’t need much time for this. I was looking for knick knacks and little gifts for Cash!
Celebrate your last night with cocktails! We went to Hula’s in Monterey for happy hour and it was SO GOOD. It’s not on the water, but it has a fun kitschy island vibe and the most delicious food—we got the Hawaiian Ceviche and Kona-Style Wings—and I’m still drooling thinking about it. Then try the Beach House at Lover’s Point for casual California dining on the beach (recommended by our bike tour guide)—water views were a must before returning to the Midwest!
What I wore for the bike tour (including my new fave sunglasses): MONTEREY OUTFIT DETAILS

We headed home the next morning on an afternoon flight to give ourselves plenty of time, but it was an easy trip back to SFO from Monterey and a morning flight would have been no problem. We loved exploring this part of California, and hope it gives you a head start on planning your own trip!

Get a taste of Sonoma from home!