Bartholomew Park

(29 reviews)

1.7 mi

Cool trail I found just above the main town square of Sonoma. Like less than a half mile going…read moretowards the hills. I actually found where to park from now on if trying to roam this touristy part of town, instead of trying to find a space near the park and all the retail businesses. Much more room back there without the traffic due to parking sharks stalling traffic. This is pretty much an up and back so not a loop. It goes about a little over a mile up in a gradual fashion about 600 feet in elevation gain. Nothing strenuous but will get your cardio revving. About 50/50 shade/sun ratio but once up top it is all exposed. Up top there is a great view of the valley below. It is worth the trek. Went on a Sunday afternoon and it was pretty popular. Probably saw over 30 peeps either coming or going. I bet it is much more relaxed on the weekdays, which will be my next op. Trust. Great workout, picturesque views, clean air, and lots of entertainment just minutes below this trailhead. So glad I found this, only took me 20 years of visiting this town to find it. As they say 'better late than never'.

One of the best hikes for me. I respect and admire historical cemeteries and I was able to…read morebeautifully and admirably mix the two. Instead of entering the trailhead parking entrance, I entered through the sleek veterans memorial and entered the meandering cemetery way. The more higher one got, the more historical it got. Follow the arrows to continue to the trailhead. No I returned where the arrows lead you back and then continued up and right. What another beautiful hike and view passing even older markers. I enjoyed this part the best. I will definitely want to visit and admire the history of it's families, again.

Cool memorial stone benches.

November 26, 2023

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Jack London State Historic Park

4.7

(194 reviews)

7.4 mi

This is a beautiful stop in Sonoma County. It features easy walks that allow you to learn about…read moreJack London and explore his homes, including the House of Happy Walls Museum and the ruins of his Wolf House. The trails are well-maintained and shaded by trees, with some minor uphill and downhill sections, making it a great outdoor activity for all ages. There is a vehicle entry fee to get into the park, but it is covered if you have a California State Parks pass. Highly recommend checking it out if you are in the area or need a break from wine tasting.

Jack London's gravesite and ruins of Wolf House. We came for the abandoned house and were very…read moreimpressed by the scale and size, Jack London must have been very wealthy for the time to have a house like this. The sad thing is it burned down right before completion so they never got to live in the house. The use of stones and rock kept a lot of the walls despite the fire and it reminds me of of an oversized version of a Greene and Greene style Craftsman Bungalow I saw in Pasadena, CA. If you are a fan of abandoned places you will like coming here. It's fenced off for safety so you can't go running around the structures but you can do a full 360 walk around and there is a platform you can walk on that's about in the middle of the house and you get a good view of the pool and different floors from here. The hike from the parking lot to the museum and to the grave sites and house are easy, my senior parents and young kids were able to do it easily. I would stop by the museum on the way back, there are some nice artifacts from Jack London as well as a scale model of what the hosue was supposed to look like.

Museum is worth stopping at

Easy trail for old and young people

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The pay off is the Wolf House ruins

Sonoma Garden Park

5.0

(9 reviews)

1.6 mi

Happened to be in sonoma during the harvest fest weekend at sonoma garden park. Great event with…read morelive music , food truck vendors and different exhibitors. Great place to walk around the expansive community garden. Hidden gem minutes from Sonoma plaza

I came here today as part of my birthday Sonoma Tour and it was really fun. Really charming cute…read moregardens spread out over acres and tons of pretty Zinnias and other old fashioned flowers. Lots and lots of tomato plants and sunflower plants. Lots of bees. As soon as you get there, there's a small red barn. We went straight to the barn and picked up some garden vegetables, Chinese long purple beans for 3 dollars and two eggplants and one green apple. A volunteer weighs the produce and you pay with a credit card. They had some zinnias and sunflowers for sale but an older woman got there upon opening and bought two buckets of it for 62 dollars and there were no more flowers to buy. I was there for an hour admiring the flowers and different varieties of gourds and vegetables growing. You can rent a private plot for 200 dollars and lots of elderly people were tending to their plants happily and chatted with us as we walked around. A lovely community garden beloved by the old and young. Definitely recommend a trip here and especially on Saturdays when you can get some super fresh garden produce. Cute place.

Squash gardens

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Open sunrise to 7pm

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

(151 reviews)

11.4 mi

An amazing network of trails of all levels can be found at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, as well as…read moreinformational trails that are great for kids. You can pick up a list of trails and rough map at the entrance. We meandered creekside, and looped Hillside Trail to meadow trail, all with amazing scenery. Very clean and well-maintained park, with plenty of rangers. Loads of great picnic areas as well. Can't wait to return and try more hikes.

This state park was relatively easy to get to despite the long drive and heavy traffic from…read morePeninsula. However the road leading up to the park was relatively straightforward. We are getting into camping this year and this was our trial run with all the new gears we bought. We rented camper site #1 which is labeled as "premium". Maybe it was a bit bigger than the regular sites but other than that it didn't feel particularly premium. Since #1 and 48 are the first and last sites in the campground loop and closest to the visitor center, they had the best WiFi reception. The downside is we were the farthest to the bathrooms and showers which were located on the opposite site of the loop. This made trekking over at night a bit inconvenient. The bathrooms were somewhat clean and the showers are coin-operated at the cost of 25c per minute. Shampoo and body wash were provided which is nice. All in all this was a nice introductory experience for us. If we were to come back to camp at this park we will opt for site #3 which is nicely tucked into the shaded corner and is fairly close to the bathrooms.

Poppies on the Quest hike

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North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park

4.9

(9 reviews)

10.7 mi

The North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve is an amazing park with incredible…read moreviews! There's a parking fee or it's free if you have a Regional Park Pass. They have a bathroom near the parking lot that they keep clean. There are several different trails that you can take and some that connect to Jack London Park. We hiked the Bennett Valley Overlook Trail, which is a 3.7 mile out and back trail. Dogs are not allowed on this particular trail so you will have to leave your four legged friends home if you decide to hike this trail. The overlook has stunning views. There are two picnic tables if you want to pack a lunch/picnic and enjoy the views for longer. Most of the trail is not shaded so something to consider and bringing a hat may come in handy for this reason and wearing sunscreen on sunny days. Also wear hiking shoes and bring water to stay hydrated along the way. We enjoyed our hike and the views and look forward to hiking some of the other hiking trails soon!

Went here recently with friends for a day hike. We went to discover scenic vistas. We enjoyed a…read morenice picnic on picnic tables overlooking scenic vistas and also enjoyed some chess as I am an avid chess player. Giant redwood trees and the setting sun. There is also the umbrella tree which is a unique tree to climb and enjoy shade underneath it on a sunny day. Recommended hiking here. There are many options and the views can't be beat!

The views...

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Sonoma Valley Regional Park

4.5

(26 reviews)

6.5 mi

A stunning Regional Park with well maintained trails and beautiful views. There is parking on the…read moreside of the road and tons of nature to be found. We saw hawks, butterflies, ladybugs, and many different species of trees for the nature lovers out there. There were a few places to sit and picnic, so bring a sandwich and sunblock!

I can't today for the dog park which is really large fenced area with shade trees, tables, chairs,…read morea gazebo, water bowls for the dogs There is a porta potty plus water fountain for people plus miles of hiking trails. Very relaxing and a good place for dog socializing and exercise. Parking fee or Sonoma park pass or you can park on the side of the road and walk in. The pass is reasonable and good for parking in all of the Sonoma Valley Parks. Friendly people and mostly mellow dogs.

It was sprinkling on our hike so the creeks were running

Lilac oysterling

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Land Trust of Napa County

5.0

(1 review)

7.7 mi

I've hiked with Napa Land Trust a bunch of times & continue to hike with them when I can. My last…read morehike was Linda Falls on Sunday 1/9/11. It's a short moderate hike of about 3 miles roundtrip. To hike with them you need to plan ahead and make reservations. I booked my group of 4 about 3 weeks beforehand, but I've done it with only a few days notice. Meet the leader Chris, then we carpooled to a location she told us in Angwin. There wasn't much climbing, & only 2 rushing creeks that we had to cross - nobody fell in & I didn't even get my feet wet. That was nice. I was at the lower more dramatic falls to Linda Falls & was able to go down by following the pipe, then heading down. It was not too scary. The middle cascade up higher was nice, very top cascade wasn't much. Best to go to the bottom & look up. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/KjQcSZOtbG-Ev2PQaLb8TQ?select=59AxVR2wCFTnKP6ixCM0PA It's a 31 foot waterfall. Hike back was really short only about 10 minutes & we were done. Hike took 3hrs to finish from 10am-1pm. Next schedule Linda Falls hike with the Napa Land Trust is Sunday 2/13/11. Website here: http://napalandtrust.org/

From the owner: Land Trust of Napa County is a community-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving the character of…read moreNapa by permanently protecting land. In our 44-year history, we've completed 225 projects, protecting 81,000 acres of land - 15% of Napa County.

Side view of Linda Falls

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Top of Linda Falls

Alston Park

(84 reviews)

5.3 mi

******Off Leash Park?!?!?****…read more There are plenty of signs reminding dog owners of the leash laws, but it's clearly not enforced.

What a gorgeous fenced dog park they have with a nice trail and fresh green grass! Our goldendoodle…read morepuppy Midnight loved it, definitely tuckered him out! I especially loved seeing all the birds in their little wooden bird houses and beautiful flowers in bloom! I would HIGHLY recommend this park and hubby and I are looking forward to returning to explore more! SYOY! :D Music: Walk by @iksonmusic

Our sleepy Goldendoodle puppy Midnight after playing at the dog park!

Small dog park gate

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Napa River and Bay Trail

(45 reviews)

12.5 mi

I absolutely Love walking here with my kids it's quiet peaceful and very Beautiful my dog loves…read morewalking around here with us too

Glass beach is a must see at the end of this trail. Such an amazing place to see a beautiful sunset…read moreand to take a walk with the Littles. My daughter enjoyed this place so much. She collected sea glass, We got to take an amazing walk and watched the beautiful sunset. This will definitely be a go to place for me To relax, unwind, and watch one of the most amazing sunsets I've seen in the state. Also love that it is dog friendly!

Century plant

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Nature

Crane Creek Regional Park

4.0

(48 reviews)

12.3 mi

A splendid park- views over the valley and Rohnert Park…read more Great views of Sonoma mountain to the east.

Looking for a holiday activity to do with my family that wasn't centered around food, I found Crane…read moreCreek Regional Park on AllTrails. I'm glad I did! This park is not too far from Cotati and Rohnert Park, but it feels like you are far away amongst the vineyards and farms. Parts of the trail have great views. There is a decent size parking lot with a $7 fee. Trail maps near the parking lot direct you where to walk and sign posts on the trails keep you from getting lost. It's not humongous so we walked for less than an hour, only about 2 miles, but the trails were well maintained as mostly gravel, hard packed dirt, or grass. There is also a very popular disc golf course here. Dog friendly, on leash. Pit toilets. No sink or hand sanitizer.

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Jack London State Historic Park

4.7

(194 reviews)

7.4 mi

This is a beautiful stop in Sonoma County. It features easy walks that allow you to learn about…read moreJack London and explore his homes, including the House of Happy Walls Museum and the ruins of his Wolf House. The trails are well-maintained and shaded by trees, with some minor uphill and downhill sections, making it a great outdoor activity for all ages. There is a vehicle entry fee to get into the park, but it is covered if you have a California State Parks pass. Highly recommend checking it out if you are in the area or need a break from wine tasting.

Jack London's gravesite and ruins of Wolf House. We came for the abandoned house and were very…read moreimpressed by the scale and size, Jack London must have been very wealthy for the time to have a house like this. The sad thing is it burned down right before completion so they never got to live in the house. The use of stones and rock kept a lot of the walls despite the fire and it reminds me of of an oversized version of a Greene and Greene style Craftsman Bungalow I saw in Pasadena, CA. If you are a fan of abandoned places you will like coming here. It's fenced off for safety so you can't go running around the structures but you can do a full 360 walk around and there is a platform you can walk on that's about in the middle of the house and you get a good view of the pool and different floors from here. The hike from the parking lot to the museum and to the grave sites and house are easy, my senior parents and young kids were able to do it easily. I would stop by the museum on the way back, there are some nice artifacts from Jack London as well as a scale model of what the hosue was supposed to look like.

Museum is worth stopping at

Easy trail for old and young people

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The pay off is the Wolf House ruins

SOAR Inflatables & Russian River Adventures

(251 reviews)

31.6 mi

My family and I had an excellent experience. The river was challenging, but it was a very memorable…read moretrip! This is run by a lovely, local couple who almost felt like family in the short time we were there. They boosted the confidence of my son with reassurance and also took the time to help us get back to our vehicle after it unexpectedly broke down on our way to the river. Just wanted to say they are really good people. They also gave us great guidance to navigate the river with quality equipment!

First off, we do this river day trip every year. We -highly- recommend experiencing the river, it's…read morealways fun and rarely disappoints (even as our kids get older!) While we have used different outfits lately - we had a great experience with Russian River Adventures a few years back, so we came in excited to return. Unfortunately, this visit was disappointing, mainly due to poor planning by the staff. We booked for four people on a Thursday - my wife, myself, and our two teens (14 and 16)--with the expectation that we'd have two boats, which is standard for this group size. However, the team miscounted the boats that morning. When we pointed this out, instead of fixing the mistake, they pulled us aside and crammed all four of us into a boat intended for three, squeezing in an extra seat to make it "fit." Visibly frustrated, the team promised to speak with the owner and make it right (it was two high schoolers running it that day). I didn't argue and wanted to at least try to have a good time and not be that Dad. The result on the boat? A very cramped and uncomfortable setup that made the inflatable much harder to steer and navigate--especially on a 9-mile river trip. This wasn't the experience we paid for or expected based on our prior trips. The staff seemed more focused on moving us along rather than making it right. Still haven't heard from the owner. We'll likely explore other options next time around. Disappointed to see the service slip like this.

We stopped at a great country store and bought gourmet sandwiches for the next wine stop.

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Canoe was VERY snug

Howarth Park

(146 reviews)

16.9 mi

We love Howarth Park, it has many outdoor activities. The kids love the play area along with…read morefishing, feeding ducks, feeding chipmunks, riding boats, feeding the animals at the little barn, after they can go on a little train ride or miracle round. It also nice for walks and runs, the trail has different exercises you can get into. Theres a fishing doc here along with plentiful places to BBQ. Multiple playgrounds and the list goes on. It's always packed so parking gets full. But with our mind state we serendipity get lucky- as we come into the park, someone always leaves at the right time for us to park! Definitely a gem in Santa Rosa.

This is a great park for families. There is a nice play area that has many different activities for…read moreall ages. They have po ore rides, a train ride and a carousel. That also rent out paddle boats and canoes. There are many hiking trails that hook up with a spring lake and Andel park so you can walk as far as you want. It's a great place for birthday parties as well. Many tables. Parking is rough sometimes on a busy weekend.

Heated pool with shallow area

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Calistoga Community Pool

(7 reviews)

21.3 mi

This place was so much fun for young kids…read more There is a wading pool area with splash structures, no deeper than 1-2 feet. Additionally, there is a separate pool with diving boards and a deep end, plus an area thats 3-4 deep. On a hot August day, an ice cream guy came by the fence and after a few kids caught on, I'm pretty sure they sold something to every single family there. They are strict about what floaties are allowed in. Our puddle jumpers were ok, but they did ask to hold them so they could check they are approved. Cost was $8 per adult, with kids free. There is tons of grass to sit in, and lawn chairs with shading. The locker rooms are nice, but it's only a changing area and bathrooms inside. The shower is only outside, so it forces you to take a quick rinse in your bathing suit.

Desperate for warm weather this past weekend we made the trek up North to the pool. The grass is…read morelovely and i always like the option for a kiddie pool since my daughter isn't a strong swimmer yet. The diving board in the deep pool was a big hit for my son; and neither child complained about chlorine, which can sometimes be an issue for them. It's still "early" in the season, but I wish the pool was open later than 5:00. Bathrooms were clean. Downside were all the older kids running into and over-crowding the kiddie pool.

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Sonoma Plaza

4.5

(85 reviews)

1.8 mi

This town may be small, but it's truly beautiful and full of heart. Growing up here, it always felt…read morelike more than just a place--it felt like home. The people here are warm, welcoming, and many feel like family, which makes the community so special. The local food spots are amazing, with delicious options that bring everyone together. The schools are another highlight, with caring teachers who genuinely support and guide their students. It's also a town full of animal lovers, with shelters and people who truly care for animals. Over the years, I've watched this town grow and evolve into a more modern place while still holding onto the charm and close-knit feeling that makes it unique. It will always have a special place in my heart.

This plaza has everything in it and surrounding it! By that, I mean it has a playground that has…read morebaby swings and kid friendly, of course, and delicious eateries around! Sonoma city plays a lot of live music here and the plaza is well maintained. Ambiance is warm and a pleasure to simply be here. It's a great pitstop if one is wanting to eat and get a taste of the wine country life, leisurely stroll and explore a historical city in wine country all the while spending time with family and friends! How to put it - it's easy going in this plaza and taking in the culture of Sonoma!

Ducks.

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Parade

Walter Graham Aquatic Center

4.1

(42 reviews)

23.5 mi

Have lifeguards that care about their jobs...guarding lives. Kids were jumping into the big pool…read moreonto each other and near the cement corner several times, over and over. Brought it to a lifeguard's attention, they literally said "that is his area". We left after this comment. There appeared to be actual feces in the kiddie pool area. Not a just a little. The lifeguards at the diving boards did not ensure that yellow bands were on little kids' wrists. My nephew went over there and was obviously not 12. Nothing done. I took him away and put him where he belonged. I had three kids with me all different ages and heights. Lifeguards need to be lifeguards and not be checking out other teenagers and playing games amongst themselves. It was very obvious. Sad really. Won't be back.

I love this aquatic center! They are staffed well with young, excited youth that seem to like being…read morea part of the community. Seems like everyone is following the rules and having so much fun! They will allow you to bring your own food, tables, and chairs in! They have a snack bar that seems to have something for everyone with great prices! The price to get in is so affordable at eight dollars per child. It's the cheapest fun you can have! If you're a parent/caregiver and you want to swim, it will cost you the same but if you just want to go in it, it's five dollars to enter. We typically stay the full rec time that is 3 1/2 hours. We absolutely love it. The splash pad for the younger kids is really awesome with a waterslide that's perfect for youngsters! That waterslide is so much fun and these little ones have a blast! I highly recommend!

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Sonoma Overlook Trail

(29 reviews)

1.7 mi

Cool trail I found just above the main town square of Sonoma. Like less than a half mile going…read moretowards the hills. I actually found where to park from now on if trying to roam this touristy part of town, instead of trying to find a space near the park and all the retail businesses. Much more room back there without the traffic due to parking sharks stalling traffic. This is pretty much an up and back so not a loop. It goes about a little over a mile up in a gradual fashion about 600 feet in elevation gain. Nothing strenuous but will get your cardio revving. About 50/50 shade/sun ratio but once up top it is all exposed. Up top there is a great view of the valley below. It is worth the trek. Went on a Sunday afternoon and it was pretty popular. Probably saw over 30 peeps either coming or going. I bet it is much more relaxed on the weekdays, which will be my next op. Trust. Great workout, picturesque views, clean air, and lots of entertainment just minutes below this trailhead. So glad I found this, only took me 20 years of visiting this town to find it. As they say 'better late than never'.

One of the best hikes for me. I respect and admire historical cemeteries and I was able to…read morebeautifully and admirably mix the two. Instead of entering the trailhead parking entrance, I entered through the sleek veterans memorial and entered the meandering cemetery way. The more higher one got, the more historical it got. Follow the arrows to continue to the trailhead. No I returned where the arrows lead you back and then continued up and right. What another beautiful hike and view passing even older markers. I enjoyed this part the best. I will definitely want to visit and admire the history of it's families, again.