Get Ready for Summer in Sonoma

Sonoma County in the summer means an almost endless list of things you can do. Some of them are: sit outside at a winery while sipping, swim, float, surf, or kayak on the cool water, hike a trail, go to the fair, and listen to music.

For other ideas, check out previous blog posts on Major Events for Summer and Alternatives to Wine.

Music in the vineyards
image from Bricoleur Vineyards

 

The Wine

Yep, we've got wine! It's the time of year for those outdoor tastings, looking at scenery. Also time for a chilled white, rosé, or sparkling wine. Every time I look, there is another local winery making a nice, dry rosé. Several wineries provide outdoor music as a separate event from the regular wine tasting.

The Beer

There will be some days when you just need a cold beer. There are a couple dozen breweries in the county, plus numerous tap rooms/pubs. Russian River and Lagunitas are the most famous breweries, but check out some of the unknowns, too.

The BBQ

There are not many BBQ restaurants around, unfortunately, but A&M BBQ, KINSmoke, and Sweet T's are local favorites. There are a few BBQ food trucks, such as War Pigs. Oliver's Markets, with several locations in the county, has to-go BBQ at their stores on Fri, Sat, Sun. 

A casual spot for authentic BBQ is Buster's by going over the hill to Napa in Calistoga.

The Burgers

Summer is a good time for a burger and a cold drink (beer, Coke, milkshake). Some of the top burger joints in the county are Acme's, Mike's, Ozzie's, and Superburger. There are three In-N-Out burger joints, too.

The Fresh Fruit

Summer fruit and vegetable season means local produce. You can shop at local markets such as Andy's Produce, Oliver's, Sonoma Mkt, and Sonoma Valley Fruit Stand (actually a permanent mkt). There are many pop-up fruit stands, including some great ones for strawberries - Kenwood Strawberry Patch, Lao Strawberries, and Watmaugh Strawberries.

The largest farmer's mkt is the Santa Rosa Original Farmer's Market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, but you'll find at least one in most towns.

The Walk

You can hike almost any time of the year. These are some shaded walks to keep you out of the sun: Armstrong Redwoods plus several county regional parks - Foothill, Shiloh, and Sonoma Valley, are mostly shaded.

The Water

You probably already know there's an ocean to the west. The water is too cold and/or dangerous in most places. The coast air, however, can be a welcome relief from the warm sun. There's also the Russian River and Lake Sonoma, both popular summer destinations for the locals. A beach with water great for the kids is Spring Lake; for kids and adults, Memorial Beach and Johnson's Beach.

The Events

Weekly recurring evening music and sometimes farmers' market:

Tuesday - Town of Sonoma's Tuesday Night Market, Healdsburg's Tuesdays in the Plaza, Luther Locals Music at the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa
Wednesday - Santa Rosa Downtown Market, Sebastopol Concert Series
Thursday - Windsor's Summer Nights on the Green
Friday - Coverdale's Friday Night Live, Santa Rosa's Hood series near Hood Mtn Regional Park, Summer Concerts in the Theatre Plaza in Petaluma, Party on the Plaza in Rohnert Park
Sundays on the Plaza in Healdsburg and on the Plaza in Sonoma, both are free afternoon concerts.

Also recurring, but on different schedules, are the Transcendence Theatre Company and the Green Music Center's Summer at the Green for outdoor shows. 

Several wineries have live music during the summer. Some are evening, some afternoon. A few of them are Dry Creek Vyds, Gundlach Bundschu, Muscardini, and Paradise Ridge. No doubt there are others. Also, some wineries will put on events such as a pizza night, food bites and wine pairing, or a full dinner.

The Weather

The local weather surprises many visitors for a couple of reasons. First, is the daily temperature swings. Generally, summer mornings are cool, afternoons warm to hot, evenings cool down quickly depending on where you are in the county. This brings me to the second reason people are surprised by the weather, the microclimates. The many microclimates mean you can drive a few minutes to find it hotter, cooler, maybe windier. 

It's all brought to you by the chilly waters of the Pacific. But you know what? Wine grapes love this kind of weather.

A foggy beach, something you often see in the summer
image from Sonoma County Regional Parks