Guerneville is fantastic. It’s additionally fairly small. So after you’ve splashed, hiked and noshed in any respect the tasty eating places, take into account increasing your Russian River adventures with a facet journey to the coast, a foray to a vineyard, some music or different artistic exploration. Right here’s a bit day journey inspiration.
Hike the Headlands
The Jenner Headlands Protect gives a good looking sequence of trails and sweeping views of the ocean. In truth, it’s the place a number of Guerneville people sneak away to seek out peace. You may take leashed canines there, not like many state parks. Goat Rock Seaside is a first-rate spot for observing seals, with a mystical feeling when the fog rolls in.
The Kortum path — close to the place Freeway 116 hits the ocean — takes you alongside coastal bluffs with possibilities to see whales throughout migration season.
One other good whale-watching space is Bodega Head, a 40-minute drive south from Guerneville, with seafood shacks serving Dungeness crab sandwiches and grilled oysters.
Sip bubbles and brews
Porter-Bass Winery & Vineyard is a cute, family-owned place for tastings (reservations required) you may entry by way of bike from city. Bear in mind Korbel, that Champagne you might need gotten for 10 bucks and chugged heat (and illegally) throughout promenade again within the day? Seems, they produce some actually good bubblies and nonetheless wines at their historic property close to Guerneville. Tastings (reservations really helpful) are cheap and held on the stunning property grounds.
Stumptown Brewery has a deck over the Russian River, the place you may sip brews and performs video games like Jenga when you talk about Stumptown’s beer names, equivalent to Rat Bastard, Squirrel Tickler and Blimey (the Wanker).
Catch a present
The Rio Theater, a single-screen film palace in a historic quonset hut in Monte Rio, is present process a change right into a culture-and-events hub and has weekend occasions like sq. dancing — and you may kayak there from Guerneville.
Try the Rio Nido Roadhouse, too, which has an out of doors stage with dwell music on weekends, plus a grill serving burgers and beers. There’s a pool for the children and an historic basketball courtroom, too.
Discover one other small city
Fulton is a one-horse city close to Santa Rosa, besides the horse on this case could be a miniature pony. Or donkey. The declare to fame right here is an arts advanced, Fulton Crossing, with greater than a dozen portray and maker studios, plus extra within the again turning out world-renowned blown glass and handpan drums. (Full disclosure: This journalist as soon as labored there.)
In the identical advanced, you’ll discover an antiques warehouse, Janakos & Firm, which makes a speciality of mid-century and Danish furnishings. Throughout the best way is Mike’s Truck Backyard, an amazing fruit stand the place you may load up on cherries and California nectarines and grapes. Time it proper, and also you may discover the Cotton Sweet grape varietal, which tastes precisely prefer it sounds.
If You Go
Jenner Headlands Protect: This 5,630-acre protect is open from 8 a.m. till sundown day by day at 12001 Freeway 1 in Jenner. Discover path maps, butterfly guides and different data at https://wildlandsconservancy.org.
Porter-Bass Winery and Vineyard: Open day by day from 9 a.m. to five p.m. for tastings ($25) by appointment at 11750 Mays Canyon Street in Guerneville. Make reservations and discover particulars at https://porter-bass.com.
Korbel Vineyard: Open day by day from 10 a.m. to three p.m. Thursday-Monday for tastings ($10-$15, reservations really helpful) at 13250 River Street in Guerneville; www.korbel.com.
Stumptown Brewery: This brewpub is open day by day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 15045 River Street in Guerneville;www.stumptown.com.
Rio Theater: Examine www.monteriotheater.com for showtimes and occasion data for this theater and cultural hub at 20396 Bohemian Freeway in Monte Rio.
Rio Nido Roadhouse: This eatery opens at 11 a.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. for weekend brunch at 14540 Canyon 2 Street in Rio Nido; www.rionidoroadhouse.com.
Fulton Crossing Artisan Middle: Open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday-Sunday at 1200 River Street in Fulton; www.fultoncrossing.com.
Mike’s Truck Backyard: This farm stand opens at 10 a.m. day by day at 1319 River Street in Fulton.