Hikes and Life in Sonoma and Napa, Beyond Wines

I had a semi-getaway in Sonoma and Napa area in March 2021. Back then, I had been working from home for more than a year due to COVID. There was no socialization, no change in life, and no boundaries between work and life. Every day felt the same. Life had been like dead water, no motivation, no energy, no excitement, and no hope that COVID would ever end. I felt the urge to spice things up a bit. Therefore, I decided to bring Ariel and live in Sonoma for a month.

This getaway was not a vacation because I didn’t take any days off and still worked normal hours. But it’s a different environment and somehow put me in a semi-vacation mode. Not in the sense that I slacked at work but that I felt more excited and happy about my everyday routine. I also had the motivation to look up things to do and go out to explore. The ice cream shop around the corner, the grocery store across the street, the grape vines along the roads, the dog bark in the neighborhood, and the parks 5-minute away were all new and exciting.

Why Sonoma

I chose the Sonoma and Napa area not because it’s on my vacation destination list but that it’s an ok location during COVID. First, it’s far from home but still within reasonable driving distance. Second, the accommodation is not ridiculously expensive. In addition, it’s quiet and pet-friendly. It also has enough hikes. Last but not least, I haven’t really explored the area other than visiting some wineries in Napa. Although Sonoma and Napa are famous for their wines, I didn’t take advantage of that during this trip because I don’t drink alcohol that much.

What to do Beyond Drinking Wine

Because Sonoma or Napa was not a place that was completely new to me, instead of checking off a touristy checklist, I tried to live like a local. On weekdays, I tried out different local parks including dog parks with Ariel after work. Parks there were much less crowded compared to home. Ariel had a lot more freedom and space to run. I even drove her to parks in the mornings, which I wouldn’t do or was too busy to do at home. I’m sure Ariel had a much better time than I did during that month.

Weekends are my hiking time with Ariel. In my opinion, Sonoma and Napa don’t have breathtaking sceneries like Lake Tahoe or other areas in the Bay Area. But they are humble, quiet, low-key, and peaceful. The hikes were less crowded than those close to home. My own steps and breaths were the only sound I could hear on the road. No car noises or airplanes flying overhead. Spring flowers were growing wildly without any disturbance. There was nothing on the grape vines yet but I could already foresee the harvest during summer time.

My Favorite Places

1. Sonoma Valley Regional Park

Sonoma Valley Regional Park is less than 20 minutes away from Sonoma downtown, dog friendly, very accessible and easy to find with plenty of parking. I only had good things to say about it. Some of the trails are partially shaded, but be ready for the sun exposure and hot weather when hiking in summer. It’s known for its oak woodlands and Suttonfield Lake. I took the Sonoma Valley Regional Park Trail. Part of it is along the lake.

2. Maxwell Farms Regional Park

Maxwell Farms Regional Park is right next to downtown Sonoma. It has a huge soccer field, tennis courts, playgrounds, and numerous trails. The trails are flat and ideal for jogging. Some are shaded as well. Maxwell, Back Meadow, Three Meadow and Bay Tree Trail is a perfect one if you want to loop around the park. This park is 5 minutes away from where I stayed by driving, so I went there pretty much every morning with Ariel. This’s her favorite park.

3. Westwood Hills Park

Westwood Hills Park is in Napa. You will see beautiful groves of oak trees, grassy meadows, and expansive overlook of the city there. Its trails are generally very short, within 3 miles. I took the Westwood Hills Park Loop which was already very green by mid March and looks very similar to my hometown as well as some trails in the South Bay Area.

4. Bartholomew Park

Bartholomew Park is situated on a vineyard in Sonoma where you can enjoy some wine if not interested in hiking. However, the hike is worth the effort. It has a great variety of wildflowers in spring. In addition, you will get to overlook the 375 acres of vineyard and Sonoma Valley on the Grape Stomp and You-Walk Miwok Loop.

5. Napa County Regional Park

Lake Hennessey is a big highlight of Napa County Regional Park. The Lake Hennessey Shoreline Trail will take you to the lake shoreline. I always appreciate the combination of green woods and clear lake. But the downside of this trail is no shade at all. Ariel got very hot even in spring.

6. Jack London State Historic Park

Jack London State Historic Park is the most famous park in Sonoma. It features the legacy of Jack London. But this park is not on my top list because it’s not very dog friendly. There’s only one trail that allows dogs: Wolf House Historic Trail, which starts from the Jack London Museum and loops around the Wolf House Ruins. It’s mostly shaded though and I encountered a bobcat from distance.