Sonoma is Cider Country

In this article we feature our favorite West Sonoma ciders, all of which have a tap room with outdoor space. There is so much to do in the area, that we were able to come up with suggestions on how to turn the cider tasting into an adventure for the whole family!

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Top 7 Family Takeout Restaurants in West Sonoma County

Are you ready for a trip away from home but dread the thought of having to cook yet another meal for your family? The Russian River area is now open for visitors so you can get away into the Redwood forest, enjoy the scenic river, and visit nearby beaches. And that is all you will have to think about when you come, because our local restaurants and small businesses have adapted to the new way that we are enjoying restaurant food during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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French Themed Day Trip in Beautiful Sonoma County

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.…

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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…

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

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…

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Three Different Road Trips Through Northern California to the Russian River

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…

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Fresh Dungeness Crab in Bodega Bay, A Holiday Meal to Remember

Turkey, ham, and prime rib may be the meal that comes to mind around the holidays but San Franciscan’s and Northern California chefs know that the easiest way to have an amazingly memorable holiday feast is with dungeness crabs fresh off the boat. Dungeness crab season varies each year but generally runs from  November to…

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Russian River Valley Wine Tasting by Bike Path, Take the Kids too!

Before kids, our favorite wine tasting adventure was to rent a tandem bike at Spoke Folk Cyclery (201 Center St, Healdsburg) in Healdsburg and ride out on West Dry Creek Road and return by East Dry Creek Road. We always started with the west side because the narrow road with no shoulder didn’t leave much…

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Gravenstein Apple Picking Adventure for the Whole Family

After you get inspired by this post, check our special update for 2020 called Sonoma Apple Picking Adventures in 2020. What if you could enjoy all the apple goodness of Apple Hill without all the people, traffic, and that drive up I-80? Only an hour from San Francisco and 20 minutes from Guerneville and the…

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3 Summer Cocktails for the Whole Family, Even the Kids

When our family heads up to our home on the Russian River, Lucky Bend Lookout, our summer time rhythm is pretty active but we always make time to enjoy happy hour on the deck overlooking the river. A typical day starts with the kids “helping” grandpa make a fancy breakfast. After a morning activity like…

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