Back in January, I wrote a post called "Welcome 2026: Slowing Down, Eating Well, and Traveling With Intention." The subtitle was reflections on family, food, and doing fewer things, better. I wrote it as a plan for this newsletter. I didn't know yet it would end up describing my whole summer.
Last summer we went big. A family trip to Greece, before my son left for college.
This summer, we are all back together in San Francisco, taking weekend escapes in Northern California and a week in the mountains in Tahoe. Like I always say, the very best trips can be just a few hours from home.
I grew up in Sonoma County, and this year I found my way back to it again and again. I spent a few precious days in the Russian River Valley with girlfriends, celebrating two milestone birthdays. My husband and I spent a magical afternoon with Karin Warnelius-Miller at Garden Creek Vineyards in the Alexander Valley. I had delicious outdoor lunches in the Valley of the Moon while visiting my parents. My daughter and I rode horses above Point Reyes. We wandered the charming western town of San Juan Bautista with my mother-in-law. And we spent a week in Tahoe, hiking, swimming in Donner Lake, and rafting down the Truckee River with dear friends.
And on the days we didn’t go anywhere, we didn’t go anywhere. San Francisco has stayed foggy (but showed off with a few days of sunshine), and we let it.
Here are few highlights from our summer so far.
Two of my dear friends turned 50 in June, so a small group of us gathered to celebrate for a few glorious days in Sonoma County's Russian River Valley. I found us a home in the woods near Sebastopol through HomeExchange* — five bedrooms, a big deck with a hot tub, and views over the valley that none of us wanted to leave. Here are a few activities we did and places we ate, all of which I highly recommend.
Lavender Labyrinth Sound Bath at Bees n’ Blooms in Santa Rosa. My friends and I absolutely loved this experience. It runs every Monday evening from 6 to 7:30pm through October 5, 2026. If you’re in Northern California, grab some friends or your partner, pack a yoga mat and warm blanket and go.
Wine tasting at Pax Wines, located in the Barlow in downtown Sebastopol. Book a tasting in advance online, and be sure to ask if my friend Smita is working - she’s the best (tell her Shannon from The Gomes Guide sent you!).
The most delicious lunch at Willow Wood Market Cafe in Graton. We all loved this place - great food, awesome service and so much comforting charm.
A walk through the majestical Armstrong Redwoods in Guerneville. I’m always so awestruck when amongst this incredible trees.
Wine tasting at Russian River Vineyards. Like with all wineries in Sonoma County, I recommend making tasting reservations online in advance.
Dinner at Goldfinch in downtown Sebastopol. Great cocktails and fabulous food.
Grab n’ go breakfast and coffee at Coffee Baazar in Guerneville.
Spa afternoon at Dawn Ranch in Guerneville. This is a very small spa, but we all loved soaking in the outdoor redwood tubs, inspired by the Japanese Ofuro tradition. We also loved cruising around the property afterwards, and agreed it would be a lovely place to stay with either our families or group of friends.
Dinner in Bodega Bay at Rocker Oysterfellers. Old school, relaxed vibes, and delicious seafood. We loved this place!
Interested in more restaurant recommendations for this region? Here are some other fantastic restaurants to consider, many thanks to recommendations from my Sonoma County friends.
Underwood (Graton)
Terapin Creek (Bodega)
Drakes (Bodega)
Howard Station Cafe (breakfast in Occidental)
Hazel (Occidental)
A&M BBQ (Sebastopol)
Portico Italian Social Food (Sebastopol)
Fern Bar (Sebastopol)
* Curious to learn more about HomeExchange? Feel free to email me at: shannon@thegomesguide.com, or sign up as an annual member using my referral code: shannon-c9c2e — we'll each get an additional 250 GuestPoints. For just $235 a year, you can stay in homes around the world with no nightly fee (yes, really!). The network spans 155 countries, with a global community of 300k members and over 550,000 homes available. It's one of the most affordable, and heartwarming, ways to travel. In case you missed it, check out my interview with HomeExchange CEO Emmanuel Arnaud.
Visiting Garden Creek Vineyards and Ranch on a sunny Saturday in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley was an absolute treat. We walked the vineyards and learned about the land, which holds nine distinct soil types across one hillside. We tasted through the lineup (their Chardonnay is my favorite), then sat down to a light lunch that ended with peach galettes. We happened to visit on the Summer Solstice, too, a fitting day given Karin’s Swedish heritage. If you listened to or read highlights from my recent Gomes Guide interview with Karin Warnelius-Miller, you already know that everything Karin and her husband Justin do at Garden Creek is done with intent, care, and beauty. A truly magical afternoon!
Growing up in Sonoma County, I love the hot summer sun. So when it's foggy in SF, it's an easy one-hour drive up to where my parents live in the Valley of the Moon, typically a 20 to 30 degree difference. There are so many fantastic wineries to visit in the area — some favorites are St. Francis Winery, Kunde Winery, Landmark Vineyards, Chateau St. Jean, and Deerfield Ranch Winery. But my favorite part is the outdoor lunch spots for a warm, sunny afternoon. My go-tos are all in Kenwood:
You know that question: “Are you an ocean person or a mountain person?” I’m honestly both, but if I had to choose, it’s the mountains. There’s something magical about them, whether it’s the height of summer or the middle of winter. I’ve visited some incredible ranges, from the Swiss and French Alps to Whistler and Banff in Canada, but the Sierra Nevada is one of my favorites. The mountains were calling this summer, so it was a joy to spend a week in Truckee for the Fourth of July. Besides watching World Cup games non-stop, we also enjoyed:
Hiking the Five Lakes Trail from Alpine Meadows. Only 4 miles round-trip, but a steep climb to the top — worth it for the views and the lakes.
Lunch at Gar Woods in Carnelian Bay and Moody’s in downtown Truckee
An afternoon at Donner Lake (it felt so good to swim!)
Floating down the Truckee River with friends on the Fourth of July with the Truckee River Raft Company (book online in advance)
Looking for more recommendations for Lake Tahoe? Don’t miss this “Where to Eat: Lake Tahoe” post, this post about the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, and this post about South Lake Tahoe.
My husband grew up in Hollister, CA, just south of Gilroy, the “Garlic Capital of the World.” When we visit, one of our favorite things to do is drive up into the Hollister Hills to visit the wineries: Calera Wine Company (my favorite Pinot Noir), DeRose Vineyards, and Eden Rift Vineyards.
We also love the charming small town of San Juan Bautista, home to Mission San Juan Bautista. We recently spent a day there as a family with my mother-in-law, and it's always fun to stroll this old western town, browse the local shops, walk the Mission's grounds, and grab a good meal. Our favorite spot is Jardines, which has a gorgeous garden for outdoor dining, strong margaritas, and delicious Mexican food.
One of my favorite day trips from San Francisco is driving out to West Marin. It has some of the most stunning coastline in California outside of Big Sur, plus quaint small towns like Bolinas and Point Reyes Station. On a recent weekend, my daughter suggested we go horseback riding, and I knew it was the perfect excuse to spend the day in Point Reyes. It's another great town to walk around, browsing the local shops. We loved lunch at Side Street Kitchen, then a two-hour ride in the hills with Five Brooks Ranch. It felt like a different world, yet only an hour from home. Another reason I love day trips.
An while the rest of the country broils this summer, and Europe deals yet again with record heat waves, San Francisco does what it always does in the summer: stays gray, cool, and stubbornly foggy. Nature’s air conditioning, some might say. I’ll admit I prefer the sun — it’s exactly why we chased it all summer, from Sonoma to Tahoe. But there’s something about coming home to the fog. It rolls in low over the hills, drops the temperature ten degrees in an hour, and makes it perfectly fine to stay home, slow down, go on long walks in the Presidio, and binge watch all of the World Cup games. I’ve learned to love those days too.
There’s still half a summer left. Take the drive you’ve been putting off. Say yes to the lake day, the backyard dinner, the trip that’s only two hours away. Let the fog roll in when it wants to, and chase the sun when it shows up. Whatever it looks like for you, I hope the rest of your summer stays slow, sunny, and full of the people you love.
Wishing you safe and meaningful travels always,
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