Sonoma Family Adventures

Best Challenging Family Hikes in West Sonoma

In this series we are highlighting our top 3 easy, moderate, and strenuous hikes in West Sonoma County. A few of our favorite trails in Armstrong Woods and Austin Creek were burned in the recent fires and remain closed. When they reopen we’ll post an update to these posts. We hope these other equally amazing trails inspire you to get out and enjoy the fresh air and natural beauty of Sonoma County.

These strenuous hikes have steep uphill components and range from 4-15 miles, and great for adults and big kids. The shortest one may also be considered moderate.

Best Moderate Family Hikes in West Sonoma

Now that our kids have graduated from fairy wands while hiking (though certainly not from berry bushes), we have moved on to geocaching as great way to motivate slightly older kids on down the trail. Geocaching is a free IRL treasure hunting game played with the GPS on your phone. Someday we will do a…

French Themed Day Trip in Beautiful Sonoma County

By: LuckyBendLookout September 12, 2020August 30, 2022

Family Adventures, Itineraries, LocalvoreDay trip from San Francisco, Day trip San Francisco, Day trip Sonoma, farm visit, France, Korbel, Lavender, Picnic, Russian River, San Francisco Day Trip, Sebastopol, Sonoma County3 Comments

I wouldn’t consider myself a francophile so much as a wineaux. Growing up in California and having travelled to all the major wine regions in in France and Spain, I have always been struck by how Sonoma and France are kindred spirits in wine and food culture, even sharing similar Mediterranean climate and similar ecology.…

Sonoma Apple Picking Adventures in 2020

There is something that satisfies the soul about picking a harvest and turning it into delicious treats for the family. In the spring we take our family out to Brentwood to u-pick cherries, apricots, and peaches. Most of our spring harvest gets chomped for snack time or converted to jam to take us through the…

Sonoma County is Welcoming Visitors!

By: LuckyBendLookout June 11, 2020June 18, 2020

Family AdventuresArmstrong Redwoods, Beach, getaway weekend, Guerneville, Hiking, Johnson’s Beach, kids, Russian River, Sonoma, Sonoma County, wine tastingLeave a Comment

It’s so exciting! The time has finally come! Effective 12:01am in June 19, 2020. Sonoma County is welcoming staycationers from nearby to stay and play! Beaches are open, you can rent a canoe, restaurants are seating patrons indoors, you can go inside a store, wineries are open, and campgrounds, vacation rentals, and hotels are allowed…

Whales, Hiking, and Chowder; Day Trip to Bodega Bay

By: LuckyBendLookout May 25, 2020August 30, 2022

Family Adventures, Itineraries, LocalvoreBodega Bay, Bodega Head, Bodega Head Trail, Clam Chowder, Day trip San Francisco, Day trip Sonoma, Hiking, Restaurants, San Francisco Day Trip, Whale Watching, wine tasting3 Comments

Where can you go on a day trip from the SF Bay area that’s less than two hours from the city, has breathtaking ocean views, amazing local food, an easy hike, and wildlife viewing? Bodega Bay, of course! We usually visit Bodega Bay when we stay at our vacation home Lucky Bend Lookout because it’s…

Book Direct for a Better Trip; Save a Few Bucks too!

By: LuckyBendLookout April 20, 2020August 30, 2022

Grown Ups (Mostly), Local Advicebook direct, Guerneville, local advice, save money, travel, travel advice, vacation home, vacation rental3 Comments

A few years ago we had a traveling revelation that changed our approach to vacationing ever since. It was all thanks to booking direct and developing a relationship with the vacation home owner. We flew our family of four to the Yucatán to meet up with some friends to escape the cold wet winter weather.…

Three Different Road Trips Through Northern California to the Russian River

By: LuckyBendLookout February 14, 2020August 9, 2021

Family Travel, Itineraries, LocalvoreBodega Bay, foodie, Guerneville, Jenner, Point Reyes Station, Road Trip, Santa Rosa, Sausalito3 Comments

It’s less than two hours from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Russian River in west Sonoma County, but why race up there when you could explore for a whole day? One of the things that we have come to love about the Russian River area is that vacation wonderland is so close, and…

Lucky Bend Lookout Goes Carbon Free

By: LuckyBendLookout February 3, 2020February 15, 2020

Grown Ups (Mostly)carbon-free, electrification, energy, geothermal power, remodel, Russian River, solar power, sustainability1 Comment

We finally made it! It took us four stages to take Lucky Bend Lookout from ramshackle shack to the eco-friendly splendor that it is now. We are starting 2020 with the final stage, 100% renewable energy from solar power during the day and geothermal power at night. No more guilt for cranking up the radiant…

Winter Warm-up with Russian River Wine

By: LuckyBendLookout January 20, 2020February 15, 2020

Family AdventuresCabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Russian River, Sonoma, Sonoma County, wine tasting, Winter, ZinfandelLeave a Comment

After the holiday travel rush, visiting family in all the different cities, lugging present-hyped children from one sugar-rush to the next, it is time for the parents to take a well-deserved break from the kiddos and relax with a glass of wine. One of the benefits of hosting the Lucky Bend Lookout vacation rental is…