Guerneville is a charming forest town located along the Russian River in Sonoma County.

Known primarily as a queer holiday destination, Guerneville is beloved by LGBTQ+ travelers and their families who come to enjoy water activities on the river and relax in the lush nature of Sonoma County. Guerneville is a small town that packs tons of fun and activities to do. Here’s a 48-hour rundown of things to do that make for a perfect weekend in Guerneville.

 

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The beaches in Guerneville are all located along the wide, glittering shores of the Russian River. Mother’s Beach (or Mom’s Beach) is the largest and most popular in the area, which is actually located in Forest Hills, about six miles east of Guerneville. It lies on a wide sandbank nestled where the river bends. Mother’s Beach is sunny and sandy, though it does get crowded. It’s great for swimming, as there are parts that are deeper than others, and you’ll watch tons of people float by leisurely down the river. Another big plus is that it’s dog friendly!

Johnson’s Beach is the next most popular spot, and the best part is that it’s located in the heart of Guerneville off River Road. At Johnson’s Beach, there are kayak and canoe rentals and even a snack bar selling cold drinks and goodies. Expect to find lots of families and groups partaking in water activities with lots of swimmers and kayaks coming down the river.

If you’re looking for a beach that’s less crowded, there are multiple access points to the Russian River along Neely Road. The one we frequented was near the cross-section where Guernewood Road merges with Neely Road (behind an area where many of the Airbnbs are located), which was quiet with gorgeous views of the mountains beyond the river. There are smaller spots that have a private beach feel, which are perfect for reading, picnicking, and chilling on a floatie in the glimmering waters of the river.

As soon as you open your eyes, many of the folks in Guerneville head over to Coffee Bazaar for the first bite and coffee boost of the day. Coffee Bazaar is the perfect neighborhood coffeeshop that supplies everything you need to get you charged in the morning, from good brew, smoothies, juices, pastries, and hearty breakfast items like sandwiches and quesadillas. It has a cute patio out front that’s almost always packed with friendly locals, dogs, and vacationers who are relishing the wonderful community vibe that Guerneville has to offer.

Around lunchtime (or whenever you fancy a bite), slither over to Piknik Town Market, which is perfect for both picking up something quick on-the-go or sitting down to a fresh, wholesome meal. Piknik has the seasonal homemade plates that Sonoma County is best at offering, like cashew and currant chicken salad with fig vinaigrette, or a French baguette with provolone, prosciutto, arugula, and aioli. There’s a fun selection of artisanal sandwiches, like a brioche grilled cheese with ham, cheddar, garlic aioli, and caramelized onions, or the veggie-friendly Headlands Hiker with mixed greens, cucumber, and both beetroot hummus and cashew kale pesto.

Main Street Bistro is the perpetual oldie but goodie in town. The bistro presents a tasty mix of organic Californian and hearty Italian fare. Think fried curried calamari and a baked cambozola charcuterie board. The pizzas feature fresh toppings you only find on pizzas in California, like kale, maitake mushrooms, and Meyer lemons. The best part is, Main Street Bistro even becomes a live jazz and blues venue in the evenings, as well as a cabaret on the weekends!

Of course, there’s a wine club in Guerneville that’s dedicated to fighting for equal rights for all! Equality Vines is a wine label that exclusively works with winemakers who share the founders’ commitment to fighting for civil rights for marginalized groups. For every bottle that’s sold from the Equality Vines collection, the label makes a cash donation to an organization they partner with. You can find their tasting room on Main Street, where you can enjoy tastings from their current wine portfolio along with charcuterie plates.

The world-renowned Korbel California Champagne was founded in Guerneville, and the Korbel winery can still be found down the road from the main town. The historic (and gorgeous) winery offers free walking tours that don’t require a reservation as well as tastings of their California champagne.

El Barrio is the snazziest place in town to get a swish cocktail on Main Street. El Barrio designates itself as a mezcal lounge, with an ample selection of craft mezcal cocktails, along with 10 different types of margaritas and varied signature cocktails. You can order Mexican bar snacks like nachos, tacos, quesadillas, and quesos to go with your drinks. The only thing is the bar at 9 PM, which is on the earlier side for a cocktail bar.

When it’s time to hit the town for the night, there’s the one and only Rainbow Cattle Company. The Rainbow Cattle promises every patron a gay old time with a spacious dance floor that wraps around the bar, along with a back patio where you can smoke and mingle with friends both old and new. On summer nights, the bar is packed, and the patio is buzzing with a fun mix of locals and vacationers. After a full day of river activities, the Rainbow Cattle Company is the best place to both wind down and get rowdy.

There’s quite a bit of shopping to do in Guerneville, especially if you’re after the rustic river chic aesthetic. Bonzo is the best boutique for cute Guerneville-themed clothing items and souvenirs. At Bonzo, you can get candles that have scents inspired by Guerneville and Sonoma, cute nature-y hats and t-shirts, as well as socks with campy phrases and hair clips shaped like burritos.

There are a handful of vintage clothing shops in town that are great to peruse and offer unexpected, fun finds. Seconds First has tons of quirky secondhand clothing items and accessories that adhere to the crunchy, nerdy, hippie Northern California vibe. Think old army jackets with crocheted cat prints, drug rug hoodies, and whacky shirts of all prints and colors. There’s also rio rio which offers more elevated vintage clothing, but is still rustic chic nonetheless. Here you can find fun print t-shirts, old-timey dresses, hipster pants, and one-of-a-kind outerwear with bold patterns and textiles.

Fife Creek Antiques is a homey mom-and-pop antique shop where you might just find the next piece of old costume jewelry, antique furniture, or old-school kitchen appliance (like a butter churner) that you didn’t know your home needed. Don’t sleep on the art galleries either, as there are multiple galleries in Guerneville that showcase excellent local talent. Blue Door is a sunny and welcoming space that displays gorgeous and textured collages that are meant to spark joy. The Pop Culture Art Gallery is another fantastic gem, which exhibits fun and playful art that offers something for everyone. You can find hauntingly beautiful nature still life frames by Barloga or stenciled street art of colorful fish by Novy.