When vacationing in Wine Country this summer, you’re guaranteed to learn how grapes are planted, grown, and harvested. But Sonoma County is also a hub farming, ranching, and dairy production. The region has a mild climate and abundant natural resources, making it a great place for agriculture of all kinds.
Want to see where your Saturday night dinner comes from, from plate to wine glass? Add to your vacation a few farm tours in Sonoma County – you won’t be disappointed. Wine Country Life Vacation Homes offers vacation rentals that are centrally located and comfortable, many offering beautiful views of the surrounding region.
Tara Firma Farms
Every weekend, Tara Firma Farms offers free tours to educate on regenerative agriculture, a system of farming that aims to enhance, not damage, ecosystems. Tours are offered on Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., an involve a total walk of about two miles. Come prepared with a water bottle and a hat, as summer months can be hot.
Tara Firma is a 260-acre, family-owned farm in Petaluma, with a dedication to ethical, sustainable foods. Their products include meats, eggs, and produce.
Achadinha Cheese Co.
The cheese at Achadinha Cheese Company has 250 goats and 60 cows that produce its many types of cheese, including Greek-style feta, fromage blanc, and garlic, herb, and spicy curds.
Achadinha offers two-hour farm tours most Saturdays for $30 per adult. Visit the barns where the “girls” hang out, the cheese plant, and the milking parlor. Children are welcome and will love the cuddliest part of the tour: animal TLC. The experience also includes cheese tasting, so come with an adventurous palate.
Real cheese lovers might be interested to learn more about the cheese-making process. Fortunately, at Achadinha Cheese Co., you can learn how to use the equipment used when making cheese. Prepared to get dirty as you’ll be working with vats full for curds and whey. This workshop includes cheese tasting and a deli sandwich with your favorites.
Redwood Hill Farm
Redwood Hill Farm is a multi-use farm with dairy goats, chickens, apples, honeybees, and more. Visit these intelligent animals on a Redwood Hill Farm Tour, with a member of the family of owners as your guide. See how a dairy goat is milked, cuddle baby goats known as kids, and learn about what it means to have a sustainable farm. Tours run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays as per their schedule online. Be sure to book in advance as tours sell out.
Spend some time after the tour exploring the farm’s orchards, or even have a picnic on the farm’s grass overlooking Sonoma Valley. Stop by the Farm Market Stand for fresh seasonal produce, goat milk cheese, and artisanal goat milk soap.
A 20-minute drive from the town of Winsor, this is one of the closest farm tours to your Sonoma County vacation rental.
McClelland’s Dairy
This Petaluma farm offers plenty of kid-friendly activities – perfect for families with young travelers staying at Sonoma County vacation homes.
From spring up until the end of October, visitors can book family-friendly farm tours that give you an inside look at McClelland’s Dairy Farm. Pet baby cows, see the milking process, and even learn to milk a cow by hand. Tours last 1.5 hours and reservations are required.
Kids will love the farm’s Pumpkin Patch, which is open from the end of September to the end of October weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Pumpkin Patch gives kids a chance to pick their own pumpkin straight off the vine, make new friends at the petting zoo, and get lost in the hay maze. This is a great fall activity for kids visiting the region.
For more things to do in Sonoma County, keep reading our blog. Once you’re convinced this is the next vacation spot for you, choose the perfect Wine Country vacation home and book right here online.
