Sonoma Farm Stay
Collect eggs, feed goats, and let the kids run on a working farm while grown-ups relax.
1.25 hrs drive · 2 days · Best for toddlers to big kids · Mar–May & Sep–Oct
Day 1: Farm life
- 3:00 Check in and do evening animal chores
- 6:00 Farm-to-table dinner
- 8:00 Stargazing
Day 2: Valley fun
- 8:00 Egg collecting and a big breakfast
- 10:30 Train Town in Sonoma
- 1:00 Picnic on Sonoma Plaza
From parents who have been
- At TrainTown, admission and parking are free. You pay per ride, and every rider, including babies and the adult riding along, needs a coupon. Buy the 5-coupon pack instead of single coupons. 510 Families
- The 20-minute train ride stops at a little western town where kids feed goats and sheep. Bring coins for the animal feed. 510 Families
- The TrainTown coaster scared one parent's 3-year-old, though older kids loved it. Take hats off before riding. Lines are longest in the first few hours after opening. 510 Families
- TrainTown's snack stand is retro with few healthy choices, so pack snacks and water. For lunch, drive to Sonoma Plaza, which has playgrounds and a duck pond. 510 Families
- On the Plaza, Sweet Scoops is a favorite with parents for ice cream. The Sonoma Cheese Factory around the corner has samples and picnic food. Hopmonk Tavern, a short drive away, has a casual patio and a kids' menu. 510 Families
- On farm stays, warn kids about poison oak before you walk the farm trails. One Sebastopol farm's tour included egg gathering and even shoveling manure. Tinybeans
Good to know
- Book farm stays 1–2 months ahead
- Rain boots are a must
- Train Town is best for ages 2–7
- TrainTown is open daily only in summer; the rest of the year it's weekends only and closes on rainy days