Whenever we travel, dog friendly hotels and places are always a priority. Our fur babies are a part of the family and we always want to bring them along with us! Wine Road Northern Sonoma County has a variety of places to visit that will make your doggies feel right at home.
What is Wine Road? It is an association of wineries and lodgings in the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River valleys of Northern Sonoma County. We loved visiting this area and exploring all the different things it has to offer. Sonoma County is especially beautiful this time of year with the vineyards changing to the colors of Fall.
We wanted to share our itinerary with you from our last visit there. Every place we visited is dog friendly and the schedule is very accommodating for families with kids.
Friday
1pm: Arrive at Hotel Trio –
Hotel Trio is one of Healdsburg’s newest hotels. They have some awesome amenities such as full kitchens in all their units, a robot who brings you snacks, and a heated pool. There are conference rooms for group meetings, a hearty buffet breakfast, and dog friendly rooms available. Besides all this, service is super friendly and the location can’t be beat, it is close to the freeway and close to downtown.
5pm: Dinner at Healdsburg Bar & Grille –
This place has a great outdoor vibe and a perfectly paw friendly patio that is decked out with lights. We loved their tangy mac & cheese and refreshing salads. Their menu is full of options for everyone; burgers and fries, fish & chips, steak frites, and more. They also have a kids menu and even better, a large lawn for them to run around on and burn their energy while you sip on a drink.
10 – 11:30am: Winery visit: Amista Vineyards –
If you like bubbles, this is your spot! It’s one of the few Wine Road wineries that specializes in sparkling wine (both rose and white), and we can’t think of a better way to start off the day! They of course also have reds and whites and have a great selection of Rhone wines that you’ll want to taste. This winery is laid back and we loved the outdoor tasting area, complete with shaded picnic tables. It’s super dog and baby friendly and even have a free vineyard adventure walk that the whole family will enjoy.
This general store has been here since 1881. It’s the perfect stop for picnic supplies. Their sandwiches will leave you satisfied and the sides are just as delicious. Don’t forget to grab a chocolate cookie on the way out.
For amazing valley views and award-winning wines this is the place to go. They have a picnic area that is fully shaded and a nice grassy area for the dogs to spend a lazy afternoon. We received a very warm welcome upon arrival and loved hearing the story behind the winery and the vintage high-wheel bicycle. Dutcher Crossing has a large portfolio of yummy wines, great for all palates.
West Wines combines the California grown grapes with the Old World style of winemaking. They have a variety of wines made with grapes from their two properties in the region. Katarina, the winery the owner, is also the wine maker. The winery itself has a lovely tasting room and patio that look out into the vineyards. A fun fact: their 2005 West Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve was selected as the only American wine to be served at the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Celebration in Sweden. It was the first time for American Wine to be served in 110 years of awards!
With a name like Mutt Lynch, it’s a given that this is a totally dog friendly spot. It’s located in downtown Windsor, so it’s a great place to stop by if you are having dinner in the area. In addition to wines, the tasting room has tons of dog toys, beds, and treats so you can pamper your pet. They even offer a dog treat tasting so your furry ones can enjoy a treat while you enjoy your wine tasting. Dog lovers will love the wine label designs here. They some are designed by local artists and have cute names like, “Merlot Over and Play Dead” and “Fou Fou Le Blanc”.
After a full day of wine tasting, we were hungry and ready to grub down. KC’s American Grill was the perfect place to go since they serve very generous portions! They have an extensive menu to choose from with everything from burgers, pastas, salads, wraps, totacos, and more. The interior is decorated with fun vintage memorabilia and their outdoor patio is the perfect place to relax and look out onto the Windsor Town Green.
9:00am: Breakfast at Costeaux’s Bakery –
Nothing brightens a day like a delicious breakfast. Costeaux French Bakeryoffers a simple but satisfying breakfast complete with coffee and baked goods. They also sell sourdough breads, cakes, and desserts as well as boxed lunches to grab and go. Costeaux is open for breakfast and lunch every day and also have space to host private events.
We’ve also visited some other Wine Roads members and have loved each unique visit. Here are some of the places we’ve been:
Bowman Cellars was founded in 2013 by a family rich in wine history. After working in the wine industry for most of their lives, they decided to use all their knowledge to produce wines that express a sense a place from the stunning appellations in which they reside. Their wines are delicious and easy to drink- perfect to share with family and friends over some good food!
The Sandman is the perfect place for a low key place to sit back and slow down a little. They have an awesome heated pool and hot tub that is open year round along with their newly renovated Pool House & Bar (seasonal hours). Enjoy new Sunday Funday food and drink specials on Sundays from 10:00am to 3:00pm. We love that they are an affordable option that still covers everything you’ll need for a great stay.
We spent a lovely few hours at Breathless Wines ‘s Healdsburg tasting room (which is made from shipping containers!) tasting their sparkling flight. The brand is started by three sisters in memory of their mother so they have really poured their love and dedication into making their sparkling wine. During our visit we also got to experience Sabrage: opening bottles using a sword. It was quiet the experience to too off the day.
Some more dog and family friendly wineries we had on our list, but didn’t get a chance to visit:
Balletto Vineyards (5700 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa)
Hanna Russian River (5353 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa)
Thank you to Wine Roads for hosting us for a wonderful getaway. We can’t wait for our next Sonoma County adventure!
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