Sonoma County is known as a sophisticated weekend travel locale for adults to enjoy the best that California wine country has to offer. This Northern California destination is home to gorgeous landscapes and world-renowned wineries.

It may surprise you to learn that in Sonoma County there’s plenty of activities the whole family can enjoy. If you are looking for a beautiful, fun and kid-friendly place to vacation, look no further than Sonoma County!

In this guide we outline some of the best things to do in Sonoma and the surrounding areas with your children. Whether you’ve got babies, toddlers or older kids, below you’ll find a variety of vacation itinerary ideas to fill your time with both adventure and relaxation.

Sonoma County Weather & The Best Time of Year to Visit

Sonoma County is known for having year-round pleasant weather without any extreme temperatures. The inland cities such as Santa Rosa have warm and sunny summers with dry heat and low humidity. In general the summer weather averages in the 80’s and 90’s, which is ideal for outdoor adventures and water play.

The winter weather in Sonoma County has temperatures averaging in the high 50’s and 60’s. Which is still pleasant with warm layers and a jacket. It almost never snows or freezes in Sonoma County.

The coastal towns in Sonoma County such as Bodega Bay are significantly cooler in the summer with temperatures averaging in the 60’s. These chilled temps provide a cool haven from the sweltering summer heat that takes over inland cities such as Sacramento, which often has hot days over 100 degrees.

Book Your Stay in Sonoma County:

**AutoCamp Russian River**

Stay inside a modern Airstream, fully equipped with all-new furnishings. Conveniently located in Guerneville next to the Russian River. Make s’mores at your personal fire pit and take bike rides with onsite complimentary bicycles.

Book Hotel

Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa — Flamingo Resort

The Flamingo Resort is located in Santa Rosa and brings the best of both worlds for parents and kids. The decor is modern and trendy and they offer services for children such as babysitting.

Book Hotel

Hotel Petaluma

The beautiful boutique Hotel Petaluma is located right in the center of downtown Petaluma. You can conveniently walk to coffee shops, dining and shopping. Especially excellent for stroller walks with babies.

Book Hotel

Over 30 Things to Do with Kids in Sonoma County

You’ll find a little bit of everything on this list. From the great outdoors, exploring wine country, foodie favorites and even a beach day - Sonoma County doesn’t disappoint.

For a quick reference guide, here I’ve listed all the sections and topics you’ll find below in this blog post:

Top things to do with kids in Petaluma.
Kid-friendly wineries in Sonoma County.
Kid-friendly things to do in Santa Rosa.
Best beaches for a picnic in Sonoma County.
Best places to Enjoy the Great Outdoors in Sonoma County.
Farm tours and apple picking in Sonoma County.
Kid-friendly restaurants in Sonoma County.

Top Things To Do with Kids in Petaluma

Wildlife Rescue Sonoma County Tours

On Saturdays the public can tour the Sonoma Wildlife Rescue park and see the animals who live permanently on the property. Children can see wildlife animals up close including mountain lions, bobcats, skunks, coyotes, turkey vultures, wolfdogs and more.

Dog-Friendly Picnic at Marin French Cheese Company in Petaluma

If you’re looking for a calm and peaceful place to enjoy some countryside scenery, I recommend a picnic at the Marin French Cheese Company in Petaluma. This large and sprawling property has a large duck pond, grassy fields, picnic tables and a gourmet grocery store and deli to shop for picnic lunches. Foodies will love the fact that they made gourmet cheeses onsite and of course you can taste and shop cheese to your heart’s desire. This is a dog-friendly venue and we brought along our Labrador Holly.

Explore Downtown Petaluma

The downtown streets of Petaluma are cute as can be with historical brick buildings and charming Victorian houses. You can spend an afternoon shopping the mom and pop stores and grabbing lunch, or opt to spend the night at one of their modern boutique hotels such as the Silk Mill Petaluma Inn or Hotel Petaluma. See my complete guide to visiting Petaluma here.

Top Kid-Friendly Wineries in Sonoma County

I can personally verify that the wineries listed below are kid-friendly because we brought our 2-year-old toddler with us when we visited these wineries. We called in advance to make sure we weren’t overstepping any boundaries and they assured us that children are welcome.

Benziger Family Winery in Glen Ellen

We took a tour through the Benziger Family Winery and saw the vineyards, theheard of sheep and cows, and tasted the wines in the tasting room. They gave our toddler daughter some juice and we sat outside on the beautiful grounds. They have a small gift and grocery store with cheeses and charcuterie finger foods to pair with wines.

Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville

The Francis Ford Coppola Winery is probably the most family and child-friendly winery I’ve ever seen. This property goes far beyond wine production and is much more like a daytime resort. They have very large swimming pools where the entire family can rent a cabine and lounge at the pool. There’s a Pool Cafe with a children’s food menu with pasta, grilled cheese and pizza.

Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood

We spent an afternoon wine tasting at the Landmark Vineyards in the small Sonoma County town of Kenwood. The staff was very accommodating to our toddler daughter and gave her a coloring activity book with crayons while we tasted our pinot noir and chardonnay wines. They have beautiful gardens with a bocce ball court and fountains.

When it comes to enjoying wine while visiting the tasting rooms at the wineries, safety is always the most important. Especially when driving with children. A family-friendly car service can help you make the most of your time visiting the vineyards and ensures everyone arrives safely at their destination.

Family-Friendly Guide to Sonoma County with Top Things To Do with Kids - Vineyard views at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery. — Vineyard views at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery.

Kid-Friendly Things To Do in Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa is the biggest city in Sonoma County and one of the most urban developed areas in the county. It’s centrally located and a quick drive to hot spots such as wineries and swimming lakes. There’s many restaurants, shopping and hotel accommodations in Santa Rosa for an overnight stay.

Safari West

The Safari West Wildlife Preserve is home to more than 800 animals, including giraffes, zebras, and rhinos. Kids will love getting up close and personal with these amazing wild creatures. Activities include going on a safari ride, a fancy meal at the Savannah Café and/or spending the night in a glamping tree house.

Family-Friendly Guide to Sonoma County with Top Things To Do with Kids - Francis Ford Coppola Winery. — Francis Ford Coppola Winery.

Pool Day at the Sandman Hotel or the Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa

When we planned our weekend stay in Santa Rosa, we stayed overnight at The Sandman Hotel. This dog-friendly resort has a pool, hot tub, bocce ball court, fire pits and outdoor picnic seating. For dinner we had a laid back In-N-Out Burger takeout meal with our pup. We brought along our inflatable flamingo floatie and the kids had a lot of fun swimming in the pool.

Their sister hotel is The Flamingo Resort which is a bit fancier with pool cabanas and fine dinning.

Visit the Santa Rosa Farmer’s Market

The Santa Rosa Farmers' Market is open year-round and is a great place to get fresh, local produce. Kids will love picking out their favorite fruits and vegetables. For the adults you can get your dose of freshly brewed gourmet coffee. There’s plenty of foodie approved hot meals served for lunch at the market. During the holiday season you can bring home an entire freshly baked pie to share with family and friends.

Family-Friendly Guide to Sonoma County with Top Things To Do with Kids - Swimming pools at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery. — Swimming pools at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery.

Children's Museum of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa

The Santa Rosa Children's Museum provides an excellent opportunity for children to learn about science, math and art. The many exhibits will be popular with youngsters, including a planetarium, toddler tree house and a butterfly garden. The ideal ages for this museum is 10-years-old and under.

Trione-Annadel State Park in Santa Rosa

The Trione-Annadel State Park is a massive 5,092-acre property with many outdoor recreational activities available for visitors. This park is a great option for families with older children, as it offers miles of hiking trails, a playground, and a picnic area. Those experienced with fishing can acquire a license to fish at the Lake Ilsanjo Dam inside the park.

Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa

Spring Lake Regional Park is another great option to enjoy some quality family time outdoors. This stunning park offers a swimming lagoon, a children's playground, and plenty of open space to run around. Santa Rosa has hot summers which makes for a perfect day of swimming.

Scandia Family Fun Amusement Park in Santa Rosa

If you’re looking for ways to entertain older kids while visiting Santa Rosa, the Scandia Amusement Park has a lot of activities. This action-packed park has rollercoasters, mini golf, bumper cars, go-karts, arcades and batting cages.

Best Beaches in Sonoma County

Sonoma County incorporates all kinds natural landscapes which includes a strip of Northern California coastline. Your weekend trip to the California Wine Country can include a relaxing day having a beach picnic on the sand. Below I’ve listed the top seaside spots for a beach day in Sonoma County.

Beaches for a Picnic in Sonoma County:

Explore the Tidepools in Sonoma County

If you’re visiting during the winter months and it’s too cold for a beach picnic, you can still have fun at the beach by exploring the many tidepools in Sonoma County. For those unfamiliar with tidepools, there are rocky shores with small pools of ocean water. This is where you can easily find a diverse mix of marine sea life such as starfish, crabs, clams, barnacles, sea anemones, sea urchins, small fish and more.

More Places to Enjoy the Great Outdoors in Sonoma County

One of the best things about Sonoma County is its abundance of natural beauty. From the picturesque coastline to towering redwoods, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Jenner Headlands Preserve

The Jenner Headlands Preserve is comprised of 5,630-acres of pristine natural landscape. In the preserve you’ll find forests made of redwoods and Douglas-fir trees, large open prairies and coastal shores. Even a drive down the Coast Highway is very scenic and worth pulling over for some ocean views and photos.

Salt Point State Park in Jenner

The Salt Point State Park covers 6,000 acres of rugged Northern California coastline. Inside the park outdoor enthusiasts can hike over 20 miles of trails, explore the beaches and go camping. In this park there’s very unique rock formations which make for cool nature photos.

Kayaking the Russian River in Jenner

This 3 hour kayaking tour takes you to the meeting point of the Russian River and the Pacific Ocean. As you paddle along the water you’ll likely see seals and if you’re lucky a whale. All of the kayak equipment is provided and a guide will lead you along the way.

The Petrified Forest in Calistoga

The Petrified Forest is a one-of-a-kind forest in which trees have been transformed into stone. The variety of fossils and gemstones found in the wood will fascinate children. This is a great place to do some leisurely nature trail walks and enjoy a natural setting. There's also a popular gemstone shop with crystals, agates and gifts.

Wildhaven Sonoma Glamping in Healdsburg

While I’m a big fan of camping, I am not too fond of lugging camping gear around and having to set up the campsite. At the Wildhaven Sonoma Glamping Camp, your tents and hammocks are all set-up for you. You’ll sleep on a proper bed and have your own patio. Nearby there’s a private beach, BBQs and a shared kitchen.

Farm Tours in Sonoma County

On a farm tour you can get up close and personal with some of Sonoma County’s cutest residents. Kids will love getting to pet and feed animals like goats, pigs, rabbits, and more. Many farms also offer wagon rides, hayrides, and other fun activities.

Meet the Farm Animals at La Candelaria Ranch

La Candelaria Farm has a very unique animal tour for children to have the opportunity to get up close and meet a variety of farm animals. When you book this farm tour your kids can hold baby chicks, brush the horses, hug Jack the mini-donkey, play with the goats and even touch an emu. They encourage visitors to take cute photos with the animals which is extra fun!

Bees N Blooms and the Lavender Labyrinth

The Bees N Blooms Farm is dedicated to growing flowers, particularly lavender. There’s a whimsical Lavender Labyrinth garden that visitors can leisurely meander through. This farm is a haven for honey bees and you can hear the gentle buzzing of worker bees gathering pollen. Check their websites for dates when the farm is open. You can also shop freshly made lavender products.

Redwood Hill Farm ~ Capracopia

During the month of October on the Redwood Hill Farm, they open the farm up to the public and visitors can interact with their goats. On Saturdays and Sundays you can “kid cuddle” baby goats, feed the adult goats, and tour around the farm. Reservations required and you can find the link here.

Sonoma Apple Picking Season in Sebastopol, Gravenstein and Petaluma

The apple picking season in Sonoma County starts in August and runs through November. Many of the u-pick apple farms can be found close Sebastopol, but you can also find them in Petaluma. Many of the farms require a reservation to avoid overcrowding, so be sure do to your homework before arriving on the farm.

Top U-Pick Apple Farms in Sonoma County:

Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Sonoma County

California Wine Country is known for having world-famous gourmet food, including Michelin Star restaurants. But many of these places are not ideal for bringing children, especially babies and toddlers.

As parents ourselves, we opt for more casual dining choices when we have the kids with us. Below we’ve provided some restaurants options where children are welcome and hopefully your child will find something they like to eat (especially if you have a picky toddler like mine!).

Valley Ford Cheese and Creamery

On your way to the beach at Bodega Bay, you can pit stop at the Valley Ford Cheese and Creamery store to buy a picnic lunch. They have pre-made sandwiches, cheese boxes, snacks and ice cream. Be sure to check the hours on their website because they often close early.

Patrick’s Salt Water Taffy

As you’re driving through Bodega Bay, it’s nearly impossible to miss the brightly colored pink and white striped building on your way to the beach. This little hut is filled with all kinds of sugary sweet salt water taffy flavors. Some of the most notable flavors are maple bacon, pina colada, red velvet cake, pineapple ginger, peaches n’ cream and sassy sour.

Huckleberry's Breakfast and Lunch

Huckleberry's is located right next to The Sandman Hotel in Santa Rosa. They are a casual diner serving American Southern-style breakfast and lunch foods. For children the have activity coloring mats and picky-eater approved meals such as pancakes, waffles, pizza, grilled cheese and more. For the adults who love treats from the south, you can order Mardi Gras beignets, fried green tomatoes and fried okra.

Family-Friendly Guide to Sonoma County with Top Things To Do with Kids - Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood. — Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood.

Belly Left Coast Kitchen and Taproom

Located in Santa Rosa, Belly Left Coast serves modern American food. They have outdoor patio seating with shade. The adult menu has entrees such as tacos, salads, sandwiches, small appetizer bites, burgers and pizza. They have a kids menu with pizza, mac n’ cheese and chicken fingers.

Lou's Luncheonette

If you’re cruising around the wineries in the heart of Sonoma, it can be tough to find dining options. Especially when you have to find a child-friendly restaurant amongst all the fancy fine dining spots. Luckily Lou's Luncheonette is here to save the day with a fun and quirky roadside food stand.

Lou’s serves Southern style breakfast and lunch, open until 3pm. The kids menu has grilled cheese, chicken and burgers. For dessert there’s cinnamon sugar donuts, hot chocolate, strawberry shortcake and ice cream.

There’s a popular “Greetings from Sonoma” postcard mural that makes for a great family photo backdrop. For all the Instagrammers out there, it’s totally Insta-worthy!

Brewsters Beer Garden in Petaluma

Although this is a spot specializing in selling beer, Brewsters clearly states on their website that they are both kid and dog-friendly. This trendy outdoor venue is located in downtown Petaluma and has all the modern charm that you can expect from a popular beer garden. They don’t have a designated kid’s menu but they do have kid-friendly eats such as mac n’ cheese, chicken wings and burgers. For non alcoholic drinks they have lemonade and soda.

Zapata Grill in Kenwood

After an afternoon of wine tasting at the Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood, we were on the hunt for some early dinner. We stumbled across the fun and colorful Zapata Grill which serves casual Mexican food. It was perfect for a meal with our 2-year-old toddler. We ordered a burrito and a quesadilla which my toddler ate up. You can scroll through the photos in this blog post to see our meal and the very festive and colorful Mexican-themed decor.