10 Reasons to Visit the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County
We often get asked by our guests that book a Russian River Wine Tour about the reasons people choose to visit the Russian River Valley! This is an amazing place to visit for wine lovers, foodies, and nature lovers. This valley has gaint redwood trees and rolling vineyards with the Russian River meandering through it all. For this reason, it’s also an excellent wine getaway destination to rest, relax, and rejuvenate! In addition, if you are an adventure seeker or love the great outdoors, you will find that this is an amazing destination for you! There is so much to see and do that you will fall in love with this area for so many reasons!
Sonoma County wine country is such an amazing place to visit and the Russian River Valley is no exception! It is located about 60 miles north of San Francisco, making the Russian River Valley an amazing weekend destination getaway.
1.) Pinot Paradise
Russian River Valley is known for having exceptional Pinot Noir along with Chardonnay. While the Russian River Valley is known for their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, you will also find many other varietals in that area that you can enjoy.
Enjoy a Russian River Valley Wine Tour with Windsor Wine Tours. On our Russian River Valley Wine Tours, you can sip world-class Pinot Noir, learn about the wine making process, and soak in the stunning vineyard views. Take your time and walk through the vines on your Russian River Wine Tour and take in the beauty of this beautiful valley.
In addition, the Russian River Valley is near both the Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley. This makes it an incredible area to go wine tasting! With three world class wine regions so close to one another, you will have no shortage of amazing wine! For this reason, if you are staying for a while, it’s worth considering spending a day going on an Alexander Valley Wine Tour or a Dry Creek Valley Wine Tour. Book your wine tour today with Windsor Wine Tours and explore the beautiful Russian River Valley. Check out Russian River Valley wineries here.
2.) Enjoy Armstrong Woods State Natural Preserve
In addition to a Russian River wine tour, enjoy the nature that surrounds you! Hike Armstrong Woods State Natural Preserve amidst towering, majestic redwood trees that are throughout the Russian River Valley. These towering giants that have stood for centuries will leave you with a feeling of wonder, reverence, and humility.
Stroll through this beautiful preserve and if you want, you can bring a picnic lunch. There is a picnic area with picnic tables along the trail. Sit amongst these majestic redwoods and soak in the beauty that surrounds you.
3.) Kayak, paddle, or float in the Russian River
Enjoy the Russian River and all that it has to offer. You can paddle along the Russian River on a stand up paddle board, kayak, or float in the river. Either way you will have a relaxing experience.
If you go a little further to Jenner, you will be able to kayak to see the harbor seals at certain times of the year. In this coastal town, you can also see them by walking along the sand at Goat Rock beach where the mouth of the Russian River meets the ocean.
4.) Go soaring through the redwoods ziplining
You can enjoy an amazing ziplining experience and soar through the redwoods with Sonoma Zipline Adventures. You can even spend the night in a treehouse with stunning views of these giant redwoods, while allowing you the option to rappel back down to the forest floor.
You will experience a deep connection with nature as you combine the awe-inspiring beauty of nature and the exhilarating experience of soaring through these majestic redwood giants.
5.) Foodie Delights
In addition to the Russian River Valley having amazing wine, it also has amazing food! You will discover incredible Michelin-starred restaurants and an amazing food and wine scene. In the downtown Healdsburg area, you will find several amazing restaurants such as Vallete, Molti Amici, The Matheson, and Guiso Latin Fusion. If you are looking for a fine dining experience, Singlethread and Cyrus offer an incredible wine and food experience. You can also experience amazing food at The Barlow!
If you are looking for an amazing wine and food pairing while on a wine tour in the area, please reach out to us at Windsor Wine Tours and we can provide recommendations.
6.) Soar above it all in a hot air balloon ride
Soar high above it all and soak in the incredible vineyard views and rolling hills from high above it all! A hot air balloon ride is an excellent way to see the beautiful Russian River Valley!
There are several compainies that you can go through to have this expereince! It’s a once in a lifetime experience with incredible views of the rolling hills and vineyards!
7.) Visit the charming towns in the Russian River Valley
The town of Guerneville is so charming and there are so many charming towns in or near the Russian River Valley! In addition to small family owned wineries, you will find the small town charm of the cities in the Russian River Valley and those that surround it.
Enjoy a tranquil getaway and be surrounded by nature. The Russian River Valley is a place that is known to have many incredible vacation rentals. If enjoy your own slice of heaven while visiting the Russian Valley and want a private experience, a vacation rental is something to consider! Many hotels and vacation rentals are tucked away in the Redwood Trees, providing a peaceful and relaxing getaway! Windsor Wine Tours partners wtih many vacation rental properties in the area for those seeking the ultimate getaway vacation in the Russian River Valley.
8.) Go hiking
There are plenty of amazing places to go hiking in the area and so much natural beauty to see! There are several parks in the Russian River Valley such as Riverfront Regional Park.
In addition to amazing parks, there is a lot of great hikes if you venture out to the Sonoma Coast. The Jenner Headlands Preserve has a lot of amazing hikes such as the Sea to Sky Trail with incredible views! You can also hike along the coast on the Kortum Trail.
9.) Enjoy the coastal views
Enjoy a short trip to Bodega Bay or Jenner to soak in the coastal views! You can bring a pincic and relax as you listen to the sound of waves! It’s a scenic drive with incredible views of the rugged coastline.
A favorite place for visitors and locals alike is the Kortum Trail Hike. There is also the Pomo Hiking Trail.
10.) Relax at a spa
Book a one-of-a-king experience at the Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary! Enjoy the beautiful Kyoto-style Japanese gardens for a zen like experience. Pamper yourself at this serene and peaceful spa sanctuary!
In addition to this amazing spa, there are many other amazing spa experiences that you can experience while in the Russian River Valley!
There are so many amazing reasons to visit the Russian River Valley and so many reasons this is an amazing getaway destination when in Sonoma County wine country. If you are looking for a wine tour when visiting this beautiful destination, please visit our Russian River Wine Tours webpage. If you are looking to book a wine tour checkout our online wine tour request form: Book Online
If you are looking to go wine tasting in more than one wine region during your stay in wine country, check out our Healdsburg Wine Tours, Sebastopol Wine Tours, Alexander Valley Wine Tours, Dry Creek Valley Wine Tours, and our Sonoma Valley Wine Tours.
