Come to the Russian River where redwoods tower over the forest, where you can relax in the warm afternoon sunlight and where the nights are clear and cool.
Sonoma Orchid Inn Bed & Breakfast sits on over 2 acres of meadow on a hill-top, below more stars than you’ve ever seen.
We’re close to local vineyards, where you’ll find premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Or take a short drive to the Pacific Coast.
The Russian River flows nearby, and Korbel’s vineyards surround us on the west and north. You’ll find it all here in Sonoma County – the Russian River Valley is a vacation playground for wine lovers, outdoorsmen, and anyone who enjoys the beauty of the Pacific Coast.
See the Sonoma Orchid Inn Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here
Sonoma Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals
Sonoma Wine Country is a popular couples’ weekend getaway, but what about LGBT couples? The LGBT hot spot of the West Coast, San Francisco, is only 55 miles (just over an hour) away, which makes Sonoma, and its largest city, Santa Rosa, perfect for a romantic weekend break.
In fact, Sonoma County was named as one of the top 20 tourist destinations for LGBT travelers in the entire U.S., and Huffington Post included it in its Top 10 LGBT Honeymoon Destinations.
I went to Santa Rosa and Guerneville to find out what Sonoma Wine Country has in store for queer travelers, from LGBT-friendly places to stay, things to do and which events are worth a trip.
This region of Northern California is primarily known for its many vineyards and wine tastings, but there’s a lot more to Sonoma County than just that: the Pacific Coast Highway, Redwood forests, river adventures, quaint little towns and beautiful beaches.
Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:
Come to the Russian River where redwoods tower over the forest, where you can relax in the warm afternoon sunlight and where the nights are clear and cool.
Sonoma Orchid Inn Bed & Breakfast sits on over 2 acres of meadow on a hill-top, below more stars than you’ve ever seen.
We’re close to local vineyards, where you’ll find premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Or take a short drive to the Pacific Coast.
The Russian River flows nearby, and Korbel’s vineyards surround us on the west and north. You’ll find it all here in Sonoma County – the Russian River Valley is a vacation playground for wine lovers, outdoorsmen, and anyone who enjoys the beauty of the Pacific Coast.
The Sonoma Orchid Inn is a historic 1906 farmhouse that has been completely renovated with wifi internet access, private bathrooms, hot tub, fireplaces and a guest kitchen open all day and night.
Step into our gorgeous living room and you’ll feel like you’re standing in the middle of the redwoods – floor to ceiling windows open onto coastal oaks and towering redwood trees on our grounds. Both the living room and guest kitchen are for our guests’ use – play a game on the oak table, curl up and read a book on one of our overstuffed chairs, and snack on fresh-baked cookies from the kitchen.
Chill a bottle of wine in the refrigerator for a romantic evening, or use the glasses, plates, silver and trays to put together a picnic to enjoy at our outdoor picnic-table in the shade of the coastal oaks.
Our Russian River inn offers ten guestrooms – each one has private bathrooms, pleasant colors and textures, and views of the redwood forest outside. Red chairs are sprinkled throughout our property – sit down and enjoy the mountain air
Stay with us at Sonoma Orchid Inn B&B and do it all, or do nothing at all!
One thing I loved about my trip to Sonoma Wine Country was seeing the vineyards during leaf changing season. I’d flown up from Los Angeles, the evergreen city with palm trees and summer weather even in December, and a short 90-minute flight later I found myself in fall weather again, just like in Seattle six weeks earlier.
I’d never seen grapevines with changing leaves – I am not sure I even knew they were changing colors! – and loved the bright red and yellow colors in each winery I visited and every vineyard I passed in my car.
The wine tastings I did were fantastic, too – at the Korbel Winery for example, where I sampled California champagnes, or Virginia Dare Winery, recently purchased by Francis Ford Coppola. I got to tour the wineries and see the entire production line from wine making to corking and labeling the bottles which was incredible, got to sample wines that aren’t available anywhere but directly at the winery, and learned so much about wine in those few short days that I feel inclined to do some further studying now.
If you have a passion for food and wine, we have found the event that will have you drinking straight from the source. Enjoy three days of exploration in the majestic Sonoma Wine Country, located just 45 minutes north of San Francisco.
Out In The Vineyard, a Sonoma-based LGBT Tour & Event Company, produces the annual Gay Wine Weekend. Immerse yourself in the culture and lifestyle of Wine Country living and make friends for a lifetime. Think Gay Ski Week, but for wine!
This year marks the fifth year that Gay Wine Weekend will take place; attracting people from all around the country to partake in VIP Wine Receptions, Winemaker Dinners, Winery Tours, a brunch and Wine Auction, along with a pool soiree and some very fun after parties! The signature event of the weekend is the hugely successfully Twilight T-Dance, where guests dance through the magic hour of the summer sunset and into the evening, literally Out In The Vineyards of Sonoma Valley Wine Country! This year at Sonoma’s iconic Chateau St. Jean Winery, located in the heart of the bucolic and historic Valley of The Moon.