You’ve been bitten by the travel bug—we hear you! Check out our places to go and things to do this Spring. There’s tons of fun to be had for everyone.

Sonoma County

Find redwoods and river, vineyards and coastlines in Sonoma County. Stop by Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve in Guerneville to walk amongst towering coastal trees. Stay anywhere in the Russian River Resort Area.

Then take the kids to Doran Regional Park in Bodega Bay that hosts kite festivals in May. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of whales in the sea. Stay at the Bodega Bay Lodge

Catch a glimpse of the Petrified Forests in Calistoga after checking into a kid-friendly hot springs resort (Carlin County Cottages, Calistoga Arbors, Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa). Don’t skip a trip to Safari West that’s full of giraffes, rhinos, lemurs, and zebras. You can even stay at their luxurious safari tents.

If you’re looking for an adrenal rush, head to Sonoma Zipline Adventures in Occidental that takes you on a redwood forest adventure.

Santa Rosa offers a variety of fun pitstops, including the Pacific Coast Air Museum, Charles M. Schulz Museum, and the Children’s Museum of Sonoma Cunty.

For wine-lovers, the heart of Sonoma County offers history and award-winning wines. The town of Sonoma should be experienced with a jaunt at the Sonoma Plaza. Enjoy wine-tasting, food and wine tours, shopping, art galleries, parks for picnics, and a healthy dose of history. Speaking of, history buffs will benefit from a trip to the Sonoma State Historic Park or the Jack London State Historic Park (yes, named after Jack London who authored The Call of the Wild and White Fang).

Lake Tahoe/Reno

Before you actually get to the mountains, don’t miss the waterfalls on the way. Gushing waters and beautiful wildflowers await at Bassi Falls, Cascade Falls, and Park Creek Waterfall. 

Although temps have warmed up a little, Tahoe still offers skiing fun—minus the crowds. Northstar, Palisades Tahoe, Kirkwood, and Heavenly resorts are all likely to offer skiing and snowboarding opportunities. You can even try your hand at fly-fishing at the lake.

 

Hike the Cascade Falls Trail near Emerald Bay, spot wildflowers at Big Meadow Trailhead, take a lake cruise or just wine and dine at one of many amazing restaurants. You can even catch a spring music festival like the WinterWonderGrass festival at Palisades Tahoe in April.

If heading further to Reno, take the kids to Animal Ark, a sanctuary for wildlife or have some good old-fashioned fun at Circus Circus. 

Santa Cruz/Monterey/Carmel

The boardwalk at Santa Cruz never gets old. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the fun and entertainment it has to offer—not to mention yummy food and views of the ocean.

Other fun local spots include the Roaring Camp Railroads that snakes through the redwoods and Mystery Spot that’s always mind-boggling.

A trip to Monterey is incomplete without a trip to the aquarium—considered one of the best in the world. A walk down Cannery Road will offer some fun food pitstops as well as pleasant views of the ocean. Go on a whale-watching tour or drive the 17-mile drive. If you’ve got little ones, the Dennis the Mennace Playground is a necessary pitstop. And if you’ve got time, stop by the zoo, too.

Carmel-by-the sea is a quaint, romantic town with charming fairytale cottages, secret courtyards, a magical Cottage of Sweets, and a dog-friendly Carmel Beach. Take a trip to the historical Carmel Mission Basilica and its museum if you’re looking for some old-world charm. Or hike the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve which is fun for the whole fam. It’s an easy hike and you’ll find many fascinating tide pools along the way.