Redwoods & Wine Country loop

Muir Woods National Monument

Ancient old-growth coast redwoods just outside the city, an easy flat loop through giants.

💡 Parking and shuttle reservations are mandatory — book online days ahead.

Mill Valley

Cowgirl Creamery

Beloved local creamery and cheese shop in a converted hay barn — a Point Reyes institution.

💡 Grab a cheese plate to go and eat outside on the picnic benches.

1490 Cader Ln, Petaluma

Point Reyes Lighthouse

Dramatic cliff-top lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula with whale-watching in season.

💡 300 steps down to the lighthouse itself — the platform view is enough if you skip them.

Point Reyes Lighthouse, Inverness

boon eat + drink

Farm-to-table Sonoma cooking in a relaxed Guerneville storefront — a local favorite.

💡 Small dining room — reserve ahead on weekends.

16248 Main St, Guerneville

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve

Quieter than Muir Woods, with towering redwoods and easy, flat forest paths.

💡 Free to walk in; parking fee applies at the reserve lot.

17000 Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville

Jenner Headlands Preserve

Sweeping view where the Russian River meets the ocean, with harbor seals often visible below.

💡 Pull off at the marked vista point — no hiking needed for the view.

12001 CA-1, Jenner

Point Arena Lighthouse

Tallest lighthouse on the West Coast, with a small museum and coastal views.

💡 Climbing the tower is optional — the grounds view is free.

California Coastal National Monument - Point Arena-Stornetta Unit, 45500 Lighthouse Rd, Point Arena

Franny's Cup & Saucer

Tiny beloved bakery-cafe in Point Arena, known for pastries and simple, well-made lunches.

💡 Cash-friendly, small seating — good for a midday lunch stop after the lighthouse.

213 Main St, Point Arena

Mendocino Headlands State Park

Dramatic bluff-top trails circling the village, with sea arches and blowholes below.

💡 Best walked near sunset when the light hits the cliffs.

Mendocino

Café Beaujolais

Mendocino's classic destination restaurant, elegant California-French cooking in a historic house.

💡 Reserve well ahead — it's the area's signature dinner.

961 Ukiah St, Mendocino

Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park

A gentle bluff-top lighthouse walk just outside town, quieter than the headlands trail.

💡 Easy flat walk, good for an early morning start before the drive south.

13800 Point Cabrillo Dr, Mendocino

The Boonville Hotel and Restaurant

Anderson Valley farm-driven cooking in a historic small-town hotel — a well-regarded local table.

💡 Time the drive to arrive by midday for the lunch seating, roughly 12:00–2pm.

14050 CA-128, Boonville

Healdsburg Plaza

Charming central square ringed with tasting rooms, shops and shaded lawns — the town's social heart.

💡 Good spot for an easy afternoon stroll after the drive.

Healdsburg Ave & Matheson St, Healdsburg

Barndiva

Acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant in a converted barn, a Healdsburg dining landmark.

💡 Book a few days ahead — it's the top table in town.

237 Center St, Healdsburg

the girl & the fig

Well-loved Sonoma bistro with French-inflected wine-country cooking right on the plaza.

💡 Reserve ahead for a midday table — this is the wine-country lunch worth timing the morning around.

110 W Spain St, Sonoma

Sonoma Plaza

California's largest historic town square, ringed by the old Mission and adobe buildings.

💡 Easy to park near the plaza and walk the perimeter in under an hour after lunch.

453 1st St E, Sonoma