Photo spots nearby
What to see near Auberge du Soleil
Drive the Silverado Trail on a slow afternoon and you will understand something about this valley that the busier roads never quite reveal. The vineyards roll out on either side without urgency, row after row of vines tracing the contours of the hills, and the light that falls across them has a particular warmth and weight. There is less traffic here, more stillness. Pull over where the gravel shoulder widens and just stand for a moment beside the vines. The Vaca Mountains hold the eastern edge of the sky. The air smells of dust and something green and living. It is one of those places that rewards the unhurried, and you, staying this close, have no reason to rush.
Within 25 miles · ranked by scenic score
11 Places Worth Seeing
Napa, CA
Silverado Trail Vineyards
The Silverado Trail runs 29 miles along the eastern edge of Napa Valley, paralleling Highway 29 with less traffic and more intimate vineyard views. The road passes through a continuous corridor of vineyards with the Vaca Mountains as a backdrop to the east. Fall foliage transforms the grapevines into brilliant shades of gold, orange, and red from late October through November.
Santa Rosa, CA
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park encompasses 4,020 acres in the Sonoma Mountains with elevations from 600 to 2,729 feet at Bald Mountain summit. The summit offers 360-degree views encompassing the Sierra Nevada, San Francisco skyline, and Pacific Ocean on clear days. The park also contains a 25-foot waterfall on Sonoma Creek that flows most impressively after winter rains.
Sonoma, CA
Sonoma Plaza
Sonoma Plaza is the largest plaza in California and the historic heart of the city, dating to 1835. The plaza is surrounded by historic stone buildings including the Sonoma Barracks and Mission San Francisco Solano. Mature trees, a duck pond, and the distinctive City Hall create a classic small-town scene.
Napa, CA
Oxbow Public Market
Oxbow Public Market is an indoor marketplace on the bank of the Napa River in downtown Napa, housed in a contemporary open-beam structure. The market features local food vendors, artisan producers, and an organic garden, with the adjacent Oxbow Commons providing river access. The Napa River boardwalk adjacent to the market offers views of the river and downtown bridges.
Napa, CA
Hot Air Balloon Over Napa Valley
Napa Valley is one of the premier hot air ballooning locations in California, with flights launching at dawn over rolling vineyards. The patchwork of vineyards, morning fog, and Mayacamas Mountains create iconic aerial landscapes. Balloons typically launch from the southern end of the valley near Yountville.
Santa Rosa, CA
Crane Creek Regional Park
Crane Creek Regional Park offers 128 acres of open grasslands and rolling hills on the outskirts of Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa. The park provides panoramic views of Sonoma Mountain and surrounding vineyard-covered hillsides. In spring, the hillsides are blanketed with wildflowers including lupine and poppies.
Napa, CA
Domaine Carneros Winery
Domaine Carneros features a château-style building modeled after the 18th-century Château de la Marquetterie in Champagne, France. The winery sits atop a knoll overlooking the Carneros wine region with sweeping views of surrounding vineyards. The grand staircase and formal gardens provide a European architectural subject in a California landscape.
Santa Rosa, CA
Spring Lake Regional Park
Spring Lake Regional Park encompasses 320 acres with a scenic reservoir surrounded by oak-studded hills in eastern Santa Rosa. The lake provides calm water for reflections of surrounding trees and hills, especially in early morning. A 2.3-mile paved path circles the lake with multiple vantage points.
Santa Rosa, CA
Luther Burbank Home & Gardens
Luther Burbank Home & Gardens preserves the home and experimental gardens of the famed horticulturist who developed over 800 plant varieties in Santa Rosa. The gardens feature a modified Greek Revival cottage surrounded by diverse plantings including Burbank's original Shasta daisies and experimental hybrid plants. A large greenhouse and heritage gardens provide year-round botanical subjects.
Petaluma, CA
Petaluma Historic Downtown
Petaluma's downtown features one of the best-preserved collections of iron-front commercial buildings in California, dating from the 1880s. The Petaluma River runs through the center of town, with a turning basin that reflects the historic waterfront buildings. The area has been used as a filming location for American Graffiti and other productions.
Petaluma, CA
Petaluma River Turning Basin
The Petaluma River turning basin is a widened section of the navigable river in downtown Petaluma where historic boats and small craft moor. The calm water provides mirror-like reflections of the surrounding Victorian-era waterfront warehouses, particularly at dawn. The McNear Building and other brick structures along the basin date from Petaluma's 19th-century river commerce era.
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