Located just south of Sonoma and Napa Counties, Marin is the gateway to the San Francisco Bay Area's famous Wine Country. A popular destination for locals and visitors alike, the Wine Country is an increasingly family-friendly destination, and a great place for a day trip or weekend getaway for the whole family. Renowned wines, great food, spectacular scenery, history, and fun all make the wine country a fantastic place to be enjoyed by adults and children alike.

Browse our features on Wine Country destinations and activities for families. If you have a favorite family-friendly winery or activity to share, please let us know and we'll check it out.

A Tour of Petaluma's Tara Firma Farms

May 8, 2012

Tara Firma FarmsOver the last couple of years we've heard a lot of great things about Petaluma's Tara Firma Farms. This family-run farm produces humanely raised pastured chickens, pigs, turkeys, and cattle on 300 acres just across the Sonoma County line. In addition to raising and selling their products, they're committed to educating the public about life on the farm, healthy food, and environmentally sustainable agriculture.

Tara and Craig Smith were inspired to start the farm in 2009 after reading Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma , and today you can purchase their products at local farmer's markets, their on-site farm store, and through their popular CSA delivery program, which includes their meats and eggs as well as produce and dairy products from other local organic producers.

Tara Firma farms also offers free farm tours on weekends at 10 am, noon, and 2 pm. We decided we had to visit and check it out, so we headed up to Petaluma for a farm tour last weekend. It was a fantastic experience for both parents and kids!

Family Hike and Picnic at Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen

January 14, 2012

Mustard in vineyard at Jack London State Historic ParkLast weekend, we visited one of our favorite outdoors spots, Jack London State Historic Park. Located in the small Sonoma Valley town of Glen Ellen, it's about a 45-minute drive north from Marin.

The park is made up of land that was at one time the Beauty Ranch owned by renowned writer, social reformer, and rabble-rouser Jack London (1876–1916), author of classic tales like The Sea Wolf, The Call of the Wild, and White Fang. This is always a destination for us every January—the wild mustard is in bloom in the vineyards, the weather is cool and clear, and it's breathtakingly beautiful.

Nestled at the foot of Sonoma Mountain, Jack London State Historic Park is full of stunning scenery, historic buildings, and short easy hikes that are perfect for families. There are also longer treks available for those who don't have little kids in tow.

Wine Country Family Fun at Cornerstone Sonoma

January 7, 2012

Whiligigs at Cornerstone Gardens in SonomaWhen we're looking for something fun for the family to do in the Wine Country, we often head to Cornerstone Sonoma to explore and play in the gardens. Located just outside the town of Sonoma off Highway 121 (Arnold Drive), across from the Gloria Ferrer winery, Cornerstone is unique complex of gardens, art, galleries, shops, and tasting rooms—and best of all, it's free.

For us, Cornerstone is all about their Gardens. Every time we go to Cornerstone, my kids have a fantastic time exploring the 20 different innovative installations, each with a different theme and each designed by a world-famous landscape architect. Gardens include plants, trees, natural materials, water features (often with fish), and various architectural elements. Wandering through the gardens can be a magical experience for both children and adults, and many of the installations include some sort of hands-on interactive or participatory feature.

Family Friendly Wineries: Cline Cellars in Sonoma

November 30, 2011

Cline Cellars tasting room in SonomaIf there's a winery out there that strikes the perfect balance of Wine Country sophistication and family-friendliness, it's Cline Cellars. Located on the south end of Sonoma Valley on Highway 121, Cline is a kind of wonderland that has a ton of things to see and do for wine tasters and children alike!

Cline looks pretty unassuming from the highway, where most of the grounds are obscured by vineyards and a low fieldstone wall. Turn into the entrance and you'll realize the expansiveness of the place, which is sited on 350 acres. Park around back or up front by the tasting room, which is housed in an cute 1850s farmhouse. You'll probably want to take a moment to walk around the park-like grounds, which feature lawns, six spring-fed ponds, paths, rose bushes, fountains, and even some vintage Pullman dining cars.

In the lawn area to the right of the tasting room you'll find large bird cages housing a number of brightly colored exotic species of pheasant and pigeon. Behind the tasting room on the other side is a large pond filled with huge fish—you'll see them jumping up to the surface if you wait long enough. There's a machine back there near the pond that dispenses fish food that you can toss to them, if you like.

Family Friendly Wineries: Larson Family Winery in Sonoma

November 28, 2011

Larson Family Winery in SonomaRemember back before you had kids when you used to head up to the Wine Country for a day of fun and wine tasting? You'll find that there are plenty of family-friendly wineries up in Sonoma and Napa counties, so don't stop just because you have kids in tow. Kid friendly wineries are also great places to take out-of-town family and other visitors, especially during the holidays.

What do we look for in a family-friendly winery? First and foremost, there has to be something that kids can do, other than just hang out in the tasting room and wait for mom and dad. Second, the winery should be openly child-friendly and relaxed, both for the comfort of families and for other grownups who probably don't want the disruption of kids to interfere with their Wine Country experience. Last, there should be plenty of space and somewhere to relax and have something to eat, whether you pack it in yourself or buy it on-site.

Pumpkins and More at the Tolay Fall Festival

October 11, 2011

Tolay Lake Fall Festival entranceMany families in Marin and the North Bay have fond memories of visiting the popular pumpkin patch at Cardoza Ranch outside Petaluma. In 2005, the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District and the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department acquired Cardoza Ranch, also known as Tolay Lake Ranch, turning its 1,737 acres of farmland into a county park. Tolay Lake Ranch is a unique spot, with a freshwater lake, wetlands, diverse wildlife, and 8,000 years human habitation with extensive archaeological and historical sites. Tolay Lake Regional Park is currently under development and access is restricted, although the public can now make use of the park through a day-use permit program.

Experience Life on the Farm at McClelland's Dairy Pumpkin Patch

October 8, 2011

Pumpkins and wheelbarrows at McClelland's Dairy pumpkin patchMcClelland's Dairy, a family-run certified organic dairy located just west of Petaluma, is this year's newcomer to the North Bay pumpkin patch circuit. Actually, that's only partly true—they last had a pumpkin patch on the farm a decade ago, and decided that this year it would be a good time to start it up again.

Compared to other pumpkin patches around Petaluma, McClelland's is a low-key affair, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun. It's just a slower, more gentle fun. McClelland's also stands out as the low-price leader among area pumpkin patches, with small pumpkins going for $2 each and larger specimens for a bargain price of $7.

Keep an eye out for their signs as you head down Bodega Road into the Two Rock area west of Petaluma. Turn into the dirt driveway and follow over a little bridge to the dairy farm. On your left you'll see a three-acre pumpkin field where you're welcome to go hunt for  and pick that perfect Halloween pumpkin.

The Pie's the Thing at Mom's Apple Pie in Sebastopol

September 5, 2011

Mom's Apple PieWhen we're travelling around the Bay Area, we always keep on the lookout for family-friendy (and budget-friendly) places to grab a bite to eat. We find ourselves in the west Sonoma County town of Sebastopol every fall and winter for apple picking, pumpkins, and Christmas trees, and one of our go-to places for a quick lunch or snack is Mom's Apple Pie, located on the north side of town at 4550 Gravenstein Highway North.

To be honest, the lunch part is just an excuse to go to Mom's and chow down on what she's famous for—homemade apple pies. As you might have figured out by its name, Mom's is all about the pie. Fresh baked, handmade apple pie takes center stage here. I think it's probably the best I've ever had, anywhere, and if you visit Mom's at the right time of year (August through November only) you can get apple pie that's made with Sebastopol's own Gravenstein apples. To make things even better, the Gravenstein apples come from the trees growing right behind the shop. The rest of the year the pies are made with Granny Smiths—but the Gravenstein pies are a special treat.

Pick Your Own Organic Apples at Gabriel Farm

September 4, 2011

Picking apples at Gabriel Farm in GratonLate summer and early fall are apple season, and plenty of the tasty fruits can be found north of Marin in western Sonoma County, particularly in the area around Sebastopol, which is famous for its apples. Early every September, we head up there for a visit to Gabriel Farm, a family-run, certified organic farm on fourteen acres in the Graton area on the north side of Sebastopol. Gabriel Farm is especially fun to visit at this time of year because you can head out into the orchard and pick your own apples!

Gabriel Farm is open for apple picking on weekends from late August or early September through October from 11 am to 4 pm. (They're open this Monday, Labor Day, too.) Keep in mind they close at 4, so if you want to spend some time picking apples on the farm, count on arriving no later than 3:30 pm. Gabriel Farm also offers weekday visits and school group or group tours by appointment; call them at (707) 829-0617 to make arrangements.

Gravenstein Apple Fair 2011: An Old-Time Country Festival

August 10, 2011

Gravenstein Apple Fair posterGuest writer Holly White-Wolf tells us all about this weekend's Gravenstein Apple Fair, a century-old tradition in the Sonoma County town of Sebastopol, about 40 minutes north of Marin. Holly shares the "art of mothering" with readers in Sonoma County and beyond on her blog and community website sono-ma.com.

Imagine spending a day walking across meadows under ancient oaks following your nose to food booths featuring frying apple fritters or slices of 4 inch high apple pie. Picture sitting on rustic benches (hefty planks resting on hay bales) while taking in terrific, acoustic music. Then, conjure up the noise of a turn of the century barnyard - complete with the bray of horses and the clanking of old-time harvesting machines - and you'll get a sense of the many agricultural attractions abounding at this event. Yes sir, Sonoma County's summertime, vintage jewel is the annual Apple Fair at Ragle Ranch Park. Let's explore what's in store for 2011.