La Veranda Guidebook
Favorite Breakfast Spots & Restaurants
Mostly in Sonoma
Fresh coffee and delicious pastries. Cute back patio, too. (5 min drive)
16 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Baker & Cook
18812 CA-12Fresh coffee and delicious pastries. Cute back patio, too. (5 min drive)
Bonjour mon ami🥐☕️🇫🇷 (10 min drive)
35 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Les Pascals Patisserie et Boulangerie
13758 Arnold DrBonjour mon ami🥐☕️🇫🇷 (10 min drive)
It's just down the hill and has the best Mexican food in San Francisco Bay Area! (per San Francisco Chronicle and we agree) 4 min drive (12 min walk)
141 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
El Molino Central
11 Central AveIt's just down the hill and has the best Mexican food in San Francisco Bay Area! (per San Francisco Chronicle and we agree) 4 min drive (12 min walk)
Be sure to make time for lunch and relaxation in the Brix gardens before or after Napa wine tasting reservations. (30 min drive to Napa)
19 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Brix Restaurant and Gardens
7377 St Helena HwyBe sure to make time for lunch and relaxation in the Brix gardens before or after Napa wine tasting reservations. (30 min drive to Napa)
Yum! Homemade nan bread. Incredible creek-side patio and Sherpa chefs from Mt Everest (no kidding!). (9 min drive)
36 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Yeti
14301 Arnold DrYum! Homemade nan bread. Incredible creek-side patio and Sherpa chefs from Mt Everest (no kidding!). (9 min drive)
Glen Ellen Star
13648 Arnold DrMy very favorite! (10 minute drive)
For a special occasion evening, Layla is sure to please! (12 min drive)
14 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Layla at MacArthur Place
29 E MacArthur StFor a special occasion evening, Layla is sure to please! (12 min drive)
Local farm-to-table favorite on Sonoma Plaza. Outdoor tables. Great wine list! (10 min drive)
30 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Valley
487 1st St WLocal farm-to-table favorite on Sonoma Plaza. Outdoor tables. Great wine list! (10 min drive)
GREAT Wineries
All nearby!
Tasteful, modern and absolutely first class. The “Reserve Experience” is exceptional! Overlooks Valley of the Moon (5 min drive)
23 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Hamel Family Wines
15401 Sonoma HwyTasteful, modern and absolutely first class. The “Reserve Experience” is exceptional! Overlooks Valley of the Moon (5 min drive)
World class art and great wine. No other vineyard comes close with this unique combo! (20 min drive)
9 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
The Donum Estate
24500 Ramal RdWorld class art and great wine. No other vineyard comes close with this unique combo! (20 min drive)
Highly recommend the "mountain top" tasting. (12 min drive)
75 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Kunde Family Winery
9825 Sonoma HwyHighly recommend the "mountain top" tasting. (12 min drive)
Beautiful valley setting, frequently has live music. Olive oil tastings, too. Fun fact: founder also managed The Doobie Brothers! (6 min drive)
46 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
B.R. Cohn Winery and Olive Oil Company
15000 Sonoma HwyBeautiful valley setting, frequently has live music. Olive oil tastings, too. Fun fact: founder also managed The Doobie Brothers! (6 min drive)
Hiking
Closest hiking trails to La Veranda (8 min drive). Easy trails. Good views of surrounding mountains & lake.
39 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Sonoma Valley Regional Park
13630 Sonoma HwyClosest hiking trails to La Veranda (8 min drive). Easy trails. Good views of surrounding mountains & lake.
Close to La Veranda (10 min drive). No entrance fee. Hike up Sonoma Mountain, past beautiful Fern Lake and into the redwoods. Mostly shaded hiking. Park near Eldridge Fire Station and then just hike uphill on the paved road past the locked gate (for cars). Continue hiking uphill on trails when pavement ends.
Sonoma Developmental Center – Eldridge
15000 Arnold DriveClose to La Veranda (10 min drive). No entrance fee. Hike up Sonoma Mountain, past beautiful Fern Lake and into the redwoods. Mostly shaded hiking. Park near Eldridge Fire Station and then just hike uphill on the paved road past the locked gate (for cars). Continue hiking uphill on trails when pavement ends.
A little history and a lot of hiking trails on the side of Sonoma Mountain, some through apple orchards and others through redwoods. If super ambitious, can hike to the top of the ridge. Also interesting to tour Jack London's home and grounds. There is an entrance fee. (14 min drive)
201 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Parque Histórico Estatal Jack London
2400 London Ranch RdA little history and a lot of hiking trails on the side of Sonoma Mountain, some through apple orchards and others through redwoods. If super ambitious, can hike to the top of the ridge. Also interesting to tour Jack London's home and grounds. There is an entrance fee. (14 min drive)
One of the prettiest places for hiking near La Veranda. Sweeping vistas from the top of Bald Mountain over Sonoma, Napa and all the way to San Francisco. There's also an observatory that offers viewings on select dates - please confirm dates/availability on the website for Robert Ferguson Observatory. (18 min drive)
95 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
2605 Adobe Canyon RdOne of the prettiest places for hiking near La Veranda. Sweeping vistas from the top of Bald Mountain over Sonoma, Napa and all the way to San Francisco. There's also an observatory that offers viewings on select dates - please confirm dates/availability on the website for Robert Ferguson Observatory. (18 min drive)
Ice Cream Shops!
"Little Heaven" ice cream shop at the bottom of our hill. Easy walk down but it's steep coming back!
7 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Cielito Coffee and Ice Cream
205 Nino Marco Sq"Little Heaven" ice cream shop at the bottom of our hill. Easy walk down but it's steep coming back!
Sweet memories🍦All in a scoop…or two❣️(10 min drive) - on Sonoma Square
12 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Sweet Scoops Homemade Ice Cream
408 1st St ESweet memories🍦All in a scoop…or two❣️(10 min drive) - on Sonoma Square
If you absolutely LOVE cycling ...
Here are four of our favorite places to ride road bikes and mountain bikes. Wine Country Cyclery and Sonoma Adventures in Sonoma rent high quality bikes (road & electric).
For road bike enthusiasts, this is one of the best climbs in Sonoma County and it's just about a mile north of La Veranda up Highway 12. Cavedale Road is a very scenic, steady climb to the ridge without cars! From the fire station at the top, you can then descend on Trinity Road back into the valley to Glen Ellen and then head back to La Veranda for a 19 mile loop -- or continue over into Napa via Mt Veeder, Dry Creek Road or Oakville Grade for a full day tour. Super smooth NEW PAVEMENT and views all the way to San Francisco!
Interested?? You should be! For more info and the specific route itself, please search online for:
Cavedale Road Climb
Cavedale Rd, California, EE. UU.
For road bike enthusiasts, this is one of the best climbs in Sonoma County and it's just about a mile north of La Veranda up Highway 12. Cavedale Road is a very scenic, steady climb to the ridge without cars! From the fire station at the top, you can then descend on Trinity Road back into the valley to Glen Ellen and then head back to La Veranda for a 19 mile loop -- or continue over into Napa via Mt Veeder, Dry Creek Road or Oakville Grade for a full day tour. Super smooth NEW PAVEMENT and views all the way to San Francisco!
Interested?? You should be! For more info and the specific route itself, please search online for:
Cavedale Road Climb
Our favorite place to go mountain biking and it is VERY close to La Veranda!
Beautiful single track trails for mountain biking to the top of Sonoma Mountain with fabulous views of Sonoma and San Franscisco. Just a mile or two north of La Veranda on Arnold Drive (before you cross the creek and reach Glen Ellen), park on southside of Sonoma Development Center near the Eldridge Fire Station and take paved (gated) road up the mountain until pavement ends by Camp Via ... and then keep going up!
For more info and a trail map, please search online for "Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail" and download the PDF map from the Jack London State Park website.
Enjoy!
Sonoma Mountain, California 94954, EE. UU.
Our favorite place to go mountain biking and it is VERY close to La Veranda!
Beautiful single track trails for mountain biking to the top of Sonoma Mountain with fabulous views of Sonoma and San Franscisco. Just a mile or two north of La Veranda on Arnold Drive (before you cross the creek and reach Glen Ellen), park on southside of Sonoma Development Center near the Eldridge Fire Station and take paved (gated) road up the mountain until pavement ends by Camp Via ... and then keep going up!
For more info and a trail map, please search online for "Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail" and download the PDF map from the Jack London State Park website.
Enjoy!
HUGE selection of great mountain bike trails!
15 miles north of La Veranda (20 min drive)
Annadel State Park is one of the largest and most well known mountain bike trail networks in Northern California. In the 5,000 acre park there are 40+ miles of trails for mountain bikers. There is a day fee to enter the park. Trails range from old roads and converted rail lines to technical and rocky singletrack. Lots of shaded trails help lower the heat!
162 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Trione-Annadel State Park
6201 Channel DrHUGE selection of great mountain bike trails!
15 miles north of La Veranda (20 min drive)
Annadel State Park is one of the largest and most well known mountain bike trail networks in Northern California. In the 5,000 acre park there are 40+ miles of trails for mountain bikers. There is a day fee to enter the park. Trails range from old roads and converted rail lines to technical and rocky singletrack. Lots of shaded trails help lower the heat!
Fantastic climb for road bikers -- and you can keep on going up well beyond the campground to the summit of Bald Mountain. Excellent 35 mile ride to/from La Veranda while avoiding Highway 12 for most of the route by going through Glen Ellen and backroads.
While the climb to the park is awesome, the real fun begins just past the park's entrance gatehouse (must pay entrance fee). Take the paved road to the left that goes uphill (used to service communication towers). This is a steep climb with no cars allowed because there’s a locked gate. Near the top, the road turns left to a communication tower at Red Mountain. It's not worth the side trip, so take a right on the short dirt road for the final bit that curves around to the summit of Bald Mountain at 2,729'. Some might want to walk this… but try to hang on!
Your reward? The stunning 360 degree view from the summit is one of the best in the Bay area: Sonoma & Napa vineyards, Berkeley, Oakland, Mt. Tam, Mt. Diablo, the SF Bay & downtown office buildings, and even some snowy Sierra Mountains on a clear day (130 miles)!
95 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
2605 Adobe Canyon RdFantastic climb for road bikers -- and you can keep on going up well beyond the campground to the summit of Bald Mountain. Excellent 35 mile ride to/from La Veranda while avoiding Highway 12 for most of the route by going through Glen Ellen and backroads.
While the climb to the park is awesome, the real fun begins just past the park's entrance gatehouse (must pay entrance fee). Take the paved road to the left that goes uphill (used to service communication towers). This is a steep climb with no cars allowed because there’s a locked gate. Near the top, the road turns left to a communication tower at Red Mountain. It's not worth the side trip, so take a right on the short dirt road for the final bit that curves around to the summit of Bald Mountain at 2,729'. Some might want to walk this… but try to hang on!
Your reward? The stunning 360 degree view from the summit is one of the best in the Bay area: Sonoma & Napa vineyards, Berkeley, Oakland, Mt. Tam, Mt. Diablo, the SF Bay & downtown office buildings, and even some snowy Sierra Mountains on a clear day (130 miles)!
Consejos sobre la ciudad
No te lo pierdas
Go to the Sonoma Tuesday Farmers Market on the square!
On Sonoma Square downtown Tuesdays 5pm-8pm May-September.
Live music, food trucks, fresh produce, family fun. Don't miss this!
No te lo pierdas
Day trip to Bodega Bay on the coast is fun!
Less than an hour drive to the Pacific from La Veranda. Pretty drive. Cool coastline, town and FRESH oysters!