Over the past few years, I’ve visited some pretty amazing destinations in California, such as San Francisco, San Diego, Disneyland, Palm Springs, and Yosemite National Park to name a few. However, one place that I have wanted to visit forever, but never did until very recently, is Sonoma Valley. I have heard so many wonderful things about Sonoma Valley, and never a single bad thing, so I was excited to finally experience wheelchair accessible Sonoma for myself recently!
For three days, I enjoyed Sonoma Valley’s accessible offerings, from fantastic wineries to unique attractions. Somehow, it was exactly like I imagined, but so much better at the same time. This is a destination that I could have honestly enjoyed for a full week, but it was a perfect weekend getaway and I was impressed with the accessibility of the destination.
If you’re interested in visiting Sonoma Valley as a wheelchair user, hopefully the below information will be helpful for you. I’ll start by talking about some of the wheelchair accessible Sonoma attractions I experienced and then I’ll let you know about where I stayed. Here’s how I explored accessibility in Sonoma Valley!

Wheelchair Accessible Sonoma Valley Attractions & Things to Do
Sonoma Valley has hundreds of wineries, of course, and tons of restaurants and attractions for wheelchair users to enjoy. While I didn’t have time to experience everything (it would take a lifetime probably!), here are some wheelchair accessible Sonoma things that I really loved doing –
Enjoy some wine tastings
Sonoma County has over 425 wineries, so your options are seemingly limitless. I was able to visit three different wineries for tastings and I really enjoyed each one. The three that I visited were different from one another with their own specialties, and they were all easily wheelchair accessible.

I started my time in Sonoma by visiting Ram’s Gate Winery. This winery was founded in 2011 and has a beautiful 28-acre estate. It is truly an incredible place and just as beautiful as I expected wine country to be. If you’re looking for a scenic winery to visit, this is definitely the place!

There were a couple different tasting options at Ram’s Gate when I visited, but I opted for the “Summer Flight”. With that, I tried a Sauvignon blanc, a Pinot blanc, and a rosé. This tasting was $40 per person, but there was another tasting option with five different wines for $60 as well. For the tasting, I sat outside and overlooked the sprawling vineyard. It was such a perfect experience for my first wine tasting in Sonoma Valley!

After drinking the three different wines, I enjoyed a tour of the property and even went down into the cellar, which was pretty cool. It was interesting to learn about how Ram’s Gate makes their wines and I could clearly see how passionate they are. If you would like to book a tasting at Ram’s Gate Winery, you can do that on their website.

The next winery that I visited was Honrama Cellars. This is a Mexican-owned winery and it was founded in 2008. Today, Honrama is well-known for producing high quality wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. While the space at Honrama is smaller than Ram’s Gate Winery, it’s still a great environment and I enjoyed a wonderful tasting.

You can sit inside for your wine tasting experience, but I chose to sit outside on their patio since it was such a nice day. For about an hour and a half, I tried some of Honrama Cellar’s best wines (their Dia de los Muertos Cabernet was particularly good!) and I will note that they were quite generous with the pours. By the end of this tasting experience, I was feeling pretty good… to say the least.

I loved my experience at Honrama and would highly suggest checking this winery out if you’ll be in the area. If you’re interested in doing a tasting, you do need to book that in advance of your visit on their website. Tastings start at $41 per person and can be booked here.

The last place that I visited for a tasting was La Prenda Wines. This one is in a convenient location in the heart of Sonoma, just off the historic Sonoma Square. It doesn’t get any more central than this place, so it’s a great place to visit either before or after you do some shopping around wheelchair accessible Sonoma Plaza, which I’ll talk about next!

La Prenda Wines was founded in 2008 by Ned and Erika Hill, and you can enjoy a wine tasting in their beautiful tasting room. For the wine tasting, you’ll get five different wines and it is encouraged to reserve a time for your tasting on their website here.

Since I had already visited two other wineries before La Prenda, I actually didn’t do the tasting and instead, I just got a rosé slushy. I love rosé, but I had never heard of a rosé slushy, so I was excited to try it. I’m happy to say that it was delicious! On a hot day, this was the perfect beverage, but next time I’m in Sonoma, I definitely want to do their full tasting experience.

Wine tasting in Sonoma Valley was a lot of fun and I certainly discovered some wineries that I’ll likely be ordering from in the near future. If you will be in Sonoma, be sure to try all three of these that I mentioned, but also try some others and let me know where I should go for a tasting on my next trip in the area!
Shop (and more) on Sonoma Plaza
The beating heart of Sonoma is the historic and vibrant public square known as Sonoma Plaza. It encompasses eight acres and is California’s largest historic plaza. It is bordered by charming 19th-century adobe buildings that now house shops, restaurants, and renowned wine tasting rooms (like La Prenda that I mentioned earlier!), all of which I enjoyed during my visit.

Sonoma Plaza itself is flat and paved, making it a great place to explore for visitors of all abilities. Sonoma Valley prides itself on being an inclusive destination, and accessibility extends to the Sonoma Plaza. The wide, flat sidewalks and smooth pavement allow for easy wheelchair accessibility throughout the plaza. Additionally, most of the shops and restaurants lining the square were either built with accessibility in mind or have undergone renovations to improve access. This means you can easily roll right in and browse the unique shops or enjoy a meal on a restaurant patio while taking in the sights and sounds of this historic plaza.

Before my trip to Sonoma, I heard from several people that no trip to the Plaza would be complete without a stop at Sweet Scoops. It is a haven for ice cream aficionados. They churn out the most incredible homemade ice cream in flavors you won’t find anywhere else. Their specialty flavors change daily, but they always offer vegan ice cream options as well. Grab a double scoop in a waffle cone (because, why not?) and savor the deliciousness while watching the world go by.

Another one of my favorite shops on Sonoma Plaza was Global Heart Fair Trade. This gem of a shop overflows with unique, handcrafted goods from all over the world. Knowing their focus is on fair trade practices makes every purchase feel like a good one. I found some cool souvenirs here to commemorate my trip, and the friendly staff was happy to answer my questions and help me find the perfect items.

You could easily spend a full day enjoying everything that the Plaza has to offer. Whether you’re interested in visiting attractions, wine tasting, shopping, or simply soaking up the California sunshine, Sonoma Plaza offers something for everyone, and it’s all easily accessible with a wheelchair.
Eat delicious food in Sonoma’s restaurants
Known as one of California’s top culinary destinations, you certainly won’t go hungry in Sonoma Valley. There are a plethora of restaurants and no matter what kind of food you’re craving, you will find it in Sonoma Valley. While I didn’t have enough time to dine at every restaurant, I will tell you about three of my favorite restaurants in Sonoma Valley! You really can’t go wrong at any of these.
First up is the girl & the fig, a renowned spot in Sonoma known for its innovative take on California cuisine. Their menu changes seasonally, showcasing the freshest local ingredients. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff is incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and wine pairings. It’s the perfect place for a special occasion or a romantic evening out, and it’s located on Sonoma Plaza with the wheelchair accessible entrance at the back of the restaurant. Many options on their menu were tempting, but a friendly local told me that the girl & the fig has the best burger and I should try it, so that’s what I chose. The burger was perfectly cooked and had fig jam on it, which sounds odd, but it was literal perfection. I haven’t stopped thinking about that burger since I ate it.

For a more casual vibe, I loved heading to Murphy’s Irish Pub. This lively pub offers a classic Irish pub experience, complete with dark wood paneling, Guinness on tap, and friendly bartenders. They also have outdoor seating, which I really enjoyed since the weather was perfect when I visited. Their menu features hearty pub fare like shepherd’s pie (I had this and it was so delicious!) and bangers and mash, perfect for soaking up any lingering effects of wine tasting.


Finally, if you’re looking for something truly special, Layla Restaurant is a must-try. This restaurant is located in the MacArthur Place Hotel, which is actually where I stayed while in Sonoma Valley. The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I was able to enjoy a spectacular dinner at Layla. The chefs use seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to create dishes that are both innovative and delicious. I loved the salmon tartare and Parker House rolls for starters, and I had the ribeye steak for my entree. Everything was exceptional and Layla Restaurant was an unforgettable dining experience. It’s the perfect place for celebrating a milestone or simply indulging in the best that Sonoma Valley has to offer.

Revisit your childhood at the Charles M. Schulz Museum
The Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa was a must-do on my recent trip to Sonoma Valley. As a lifelong Peanuts fan, I couldn’t wait to step into the world of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the whole gang. The museum itself is bright and welcoming, and from the moment I rolled in, I was transported back to my childhood, eagerly pouring over the comics and watching the various Peanuts shows.

Upon my arrival to the museum, I had the honor of meeting Jean Schulz, the widow of Charles M. Schulz. She shared with me how she continues to let his legacy live on and she even told me that the museum is constantly striving for greater accessibility. She was so kind and welcomed me to the museum with open arms. I was also surprised to hear that Jean has an office in the museum and works there pretty much full time. She even runs a blog and you can check it out here.

The museum has so much to see and I spent a couple hours exploring it. In the main exhibit hall, you can see a massive collection of original Peanuts strips. Seeing Schulz’s actual artwork up close, with the subtle pencil strokes and handwritten dialogue, was fascinating. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the detail and humor that he put into each comic.

Another one of my favorite parts of the museum was the recreation of Schulz’s art studio. Rolling into the space, complete with his drawing table and furniture, felt almost surreal. It was easy to imagine him sitting there, bringing his beloved characters to life.

There is a theater onsite as well, playing some of the classic Peanuts cartoons and documentaries. I really enjoyed sitting in the theater, which was larger than I expected, and watching some cartoons for a while. When you arrive to the museum, just check the showtimes to see what is playing at what time.

Navigating the Schulz Museum as a wheelchair user was a breeze. The entire building is wheelchair accessible with wide hallways, elevators to access multiple levels, and accessible restrooms. You can also find accessible parking spots near the entrance of the museum. I had a comfortable and enjoyable visit, and it was clear that the museum is passionate about Schulz’s work and dedicated to making the museum accessible to everyone.

The museum and surrounding area offers much more as well, but I didn’t have time to see everything, unfortunately. Down the street from the museum is the Schulz Campus. On the campus, you can visit Snoopy’s Home Ice, which has an ice skating rink, the Warm Puppy Cafe (Charles Schulz ate here every day and you can too!), and Snoopy’s Gallery & Gift Shop, where you can buy all of your Peanuts souvenirs.
Where to Stay in Sonoma Valley: MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa
While in Sonoma Valley, I stayed at MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa and I can honestly say that it was one of the nicest places I’ve ever stayed. It was founded over a century ago as a family estate, vineyard, and working ranch, but today, it is one of Sonoma’s most luxurious resorts.

Spread across the five acres of MacArthur Place, there are beautiful gardens, fire pits, pools with accessible lifts for wheelchair users, and a full spa. This is the ultimate place to get away from it all and relax, but I also liked that all of the best attractions and restaurants in Sonoma Valley were just a short drive away. It was a perfect location for my first-time visit to the area!


I stayed in a wheelchair accessible suite and it was quite impressive. It had a spacious living area and a queen sized bed. The bed had plenty of clearance underneath for a hoyer lift/hoist, so if you need that accommodation, you should be set.


In the main bathroom, there was a pull-under sink, grab bars by the toilet, and a roll-in shower with a fold-down shower seat. The bathroom worked perfectly for my accessibility needs.
However, my favorite part of my room was the fact that it also had an outdoor shower that was completely accessible. It was a huge roll-in shower with a handheld shower wand and I took a shower outside every morning. I have never seen an accessible outdoor shower, so I was absolutely in love with it.

As I mentioned earlier in this blog, MacArthur Place has a spectacular restaurant on-site called Layla. There is also The Porch, a coffee bar and marketplace with fresh grab-and-go options, and a full bar, where you can get a variety of cocktails or craft beer.

There is nowhere else I’d rather stay in Sonoma Valley and I’m already looking forward to returning to this amazing property one day in the hopefully not too distant future. If you’d like to learn more about this hotel and check rates, just click here.
You can also view my short video all about MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa below –
While my time in Sonoma Valley was short, I packed as much into my itinerary as possible and had a great trip. I discovered just how much the area has to offer for visitors of all abilities and I cannot wait to return and experience even more of Sonoma Valley!
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*Thank you to Visit California and Sonoma Valley for working with me on this trip and showing me the best of wheelchair accessible Sonoma Valley! While my experiences were complimentary, all opinions expressed are authentic and my own.
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