First Visit to Sonoma
Number 1 Strategy:
Decide goals for the trip.
Winery Tour Choices:
- Hire a driver
- Go by yourselves
- We tried Sonoma Wine Rides: around $125 to join in a tour or $150 for a private tour.
- We almost hired Perry’s Tours. Paul was so very nice, but the charge was out of our price range. Very personable and responsive.
- We decided on Platypus Tours for a driver guide and one price per person of around $140.
Included fuel and tip.
Tip for a First Visit to Sonoma:
I added a $65 fee to have someone from Platypus Tours chat with me to plan what WE would like to do for lunch options etc. THIS one tip helped relieve my stress so much!
Did our group want to do activities at the winery or just tasting and chilling?
Did we want to eat at a restaurant or have a picnic in a winery?
How Many Wineries Can You Visit in One Day?
Three is a great number when you factor in driving and 5 tastes per winery. Note that they can close around 4 so start early!
Your Platypus winery tour guide / driver will give you a heads up when it is time to wrap up and buy the bottles you may want to ship.
THIS one tip helped us be present and not have to keep checking our watches.
Platypus Tours also will make reservations if they are needed at each winery.
Travel Tips for Sonoma:
Go out to eat your first night since you will be excited.
Pack coffee for that first morning.
Drive around that first full day to get the lay of the land.
Walk through a redwood forest. We opted for less San Francisco traffic by walking through the Colonel Redwood park instead of the popular Muir Woods.
There is a huge free parking lot in Sonoma Plaza right behind the Sonoma Mission on the square by the best cheese shop.
Since we were a large group, we rented a 4-bedroom house 2 miles from Sonoma Square Plaza. SEE HOUSE PICS
It was the best house for a large group!
But I wish we were within walking distance of the square so I did not have to drive everywhere. But Uber is always an option.
