One Of California’s Most Beautiful Fall Getaways Is Breaking All-Time Visitor Records

Is Napa old news? Hardly.

That doesn’t mean you can’t get your fill (literally) in a neighboring wine region boasting far less crowds and equal beauty.

The secret may be out, however.

A new report claims one of California’s most beautiful fall getaways is on pace for a record year, and that’s even after news broke that one of the most connected airlines at this small airport was dipping out.

If you haven’t guessed by now, we’re talking about Santa Rosa. On one hand, this gorgeous wine gateway is a destination unto itself, but it also serves as a springboard to nearby delights often lost in the shadow of Napa.

If Northern California is in your fall plans, consider leaving the hustle, bustle, and zombie apocalypse streets of San Francisco behind in favor of idyllic vineyards and small town charm oozing among the many map-dot hideaways speckled around Sonoma County.

Wine & Dine Away From Napa’s Cookie-Cutter Experiences

When you think of wine, you think of Napa. It’s that simple for most.

Napa is the undisputed king of American wine. It’s always the go-to destination, but there’s so many more unforgettable wine getaways scattered all across the West Coast, especially California.

I reside in San Diego, which isn’t exactly known for wine. However, within an hour radius, there’s numerous relaxing winery hotspots to visit including across the border.

The point being don’t let Napa fool you. A stone’s throw away lies Sonoma, under a half-hour drive.

It’s important to distinguish the town of Sonoma and Sonoma County. We’ll stick to the town for now…

Here, you’ll find a picturesque townscape full of boutiques and eats and sprawling vineyards offering insightful tours and delectable selections of wines with far less uppity know-it-all winos seeking clout like you’ll find in Napa Valley, when in reality they probably couldn’t distinguish the difference between a buttery chardonnay and a peppery syrah.

For now, Sonoma County offers fewer crowds than Napa. Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS) officials are expecting a sip shy of 850,000 air passengers by year’s end, despite Avelo pulling the plug on their West Coast route (Alaska and America still serve STS).

Sonoma County Gems: Discover Redwood Forests & Secret Beaches

TravelZoo named Sonoma County as their top pick for 2025 destinations. Given the surge of visitors, it obviously lived up to the hype.

Remember what I said earlier?

There’s no problem if you want to stick to Santa Rosa. Maybe a Peanuts museum is your jam.

But flying into STS is best served as a gateway to some of California’s best kept secrets, whether you’re wanting to enjoy a glass of locally produced wine in peace, seeking an adventure into towering redwood forests, or a beach day without buzzing boardwalks and eyesore hotels.

Sonoma County boasts alternative quaint wine towns such as Healdsburg, dupes to busy parks for the perfect photo-op with redwoods like Guerneville, and up-and-coming trendy towns like Petaluma.

The real surprise upon touching down in an inland NorCal town is the plethora of seemingly untouched coastline, unlike California’s most notable beaches..

Bodega Bay is the most popular of the bunch, though we at Travel Off Path revealed the crowd-free paradise of Jenner months ago .

Top Sonoma County Wineries

California is undeniably one of America’s prettiest states to visit year-round, but expect to see an influx of gleaming fall colors taking shape in the next few months, backdropping the existing shimmering shores still worthy of enjoyable beach days in mild 60s temps until December.

If you’re not picking your jaw off the ground in redwood forests or savoring every moment on California’s renowned shores, there’s no better place to bide your time in Sonoma County than its plentiful wineries, especially as even the vineyards begin to blush with autumn hues.

According to TripAdvisor, these are the top 5 wineries to enjoy this fall:

1. Gracianna Winery
2. Gundlach Bundschu Winery
3. Dry Creek Vineyard
4. Francis Ford Coppola Winery
5. Buena Vista Vineyard

There are 425 wineries and 60,000 acres of vineyards. So, most importantly, don’t forget to snag your Tasting Pass, as low as $59!