A Perfect Day Trip Itinerary to Guerneville, California

If you’re looking for the perfect little Northern California getaway that feels worlds away but is still totally doable in a single day, Guerneville is calling your name. This funky, woodsy town tucked into Sonoma County’s Russian River area has it all: towering redwoods, quirky charm, and some seriously delicious food. 

Here’s exactly how I spent the best day trip to Guerneville (and yes, it involves mini golf and ice cream!).

Want Quick Details? Here’s a snapshot of a perfect day trip itinerary:

• Grab Sandwiches at Piknik
• Picnic + Hike Amongst Giants at Armstrong Woods
• Play a Round at Guerneville Pee Wee Golf
• Shop + Stroll Downtown
• Pre-Dinner Cocktail at El Barrio
• Dinner at Trillium
• Ice Cream Dessert at Nimble & Finn’s
• Make it an Overnighter at boon hotel + spa or Highlands Resort

Guerneville Day Trip Itinerary

Grab Sandwiches at Piknik

First stop? Lunch! We popped into Piknik, a gourmet deli that also doubles as a boutique for cute home goods and local finds. Since we were heading to Armstrong Woods, it felt like fate that they had an Armstrong Woods Sandwich on the menu. It came stacked with chicken salad, currents, cashews, apple, garlic aioli, and greens on hearty whole-grain bread.

Perfect picnic fuel! (Also, I may or may not have been tempted by their Guerneville trucker hat—it’s that cute.)

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Picnic + Hike Amongst Giants at Armstrong Woods

Sandwiches in hand, we drove just a couple of miles down the road to Armstrong Redwoods State Park. The picnic tables near the entrance are tucked right into the redwoods, so we ate lunch literally surrounded by giants—it doesn’t get better than that.

Afterward, we wandered along the Pioneer Nature Trail (an easy 1.6-mile loop). Highlights? The Colonel Armstrong Tree, a jaw-dropping 1,400-year-old redwood that’s 308 feet tall, and the Forest Theater, a natural amphitheater where plays are sometimes performed. 

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Play a Round of Pee Wee Golf

Okay, hear me out: mini golf in Guerneville is an experience. Pee Wee Golf & Arcade is funky, nostalgic, and delightfully weird—in the best way possible. Built in the late 1940s and 50s, the course has kept much of its retro charm, but the new owners (a sweet local family) are lovingly restoring it.

Yes, it’s a little crumbly in spots, but that’s what makes it so fun. Plus, they’ve added extras like ping pong, corn hole, and BBQ areas.

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Shop + Stroll Downtown

Downtown Guerneville may be small, but it’s mighty. Don’t just stick to the main street—wander down the side roads too.

A few of my  favorites:

• Books & Letters: A cozy bookstore with an old community typewriter where you can leave a little message (how charming is that?).
  
• Fife Creek Antiques & Collectibles: This shop is filled with everything from retro records and vintage jewelry to Native American art, antique glass, and quirky garden décor.
  

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Pre-Dinner Cocktail at El Barrio

Next up: cocktails. El Barrio is a mezcal, tequila, and bourbon-focused cocktail lounge with major style points. Think Mexican tiles, colorful decor, moody lighting, and one of the coolest bar bathrooms I’ve ever seen (yes, you read that right).

I had the Rosita gin cocktail, which was perfectly balanced and full of flavor. Strong, smooth, and exactly what I wanted before dinner.

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Dinner at Trillium

For dinner, head to Trillium, a cozy spot with an oyster bar and wine bar. Their menu leans into seafood, salads, and creative small plates, plus a nice selection of local wines.

We ordered the Ahi Poke with sesame oil, cucumber, and chili crunch (so fresh and flavorful) and the Stuffed Focaccia Pastrami Sandwich, layered with provolone, roasted garlic, sauerkraut, and arugula. I could eat that focaccia every single day of my life.

Note: Another great place for dinner is Boon Eat + Drink. You truly can’t go wrong with either of these.

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Ice Cream Dessert at Nimble & Finn’s

No perfect day trip ends without ice cream, right? Nimble & Finn’s, located in the beautifully restored Guerneville Bank Club, is where I got my sweet fix.

The flavors are playful and creative—lavender honeycomb, rose cardamom, passionfruit caramel—alongside classics like chocolate and vanilla. I went for the Peanut Butter Chocolate Broken Cone and let’s just say… zero regrets.

Between the vintage bank setting and the handmade small-batch ice cream, it’s the sweetest way to wrap up a day in Guerneville.

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Make it an Overnighter

If you decide to turn your Guerneville day trip into an overnighter (which I highly recommend!), you’ve got some incredible options that I recommend. 

boon hotel + spa is a modern, adult-focused boutique retreat tucked among the redwoods of the Russian River Valley. It’s the kind of place that blends affordable luxury with total relaxation—think lounging by the solar-heated saline pool, sipping local wine while playing lawn games, or cruising to town on one of their signature orange bikes. You can even unwind with a massage at their on-site spa or just cozy up in your room with organic linens and a vinyl record spinning in the background.

Another great choice is the Highlands Resort, a quiet, adults-only getaway surrounded by towering redwoods. It’s walking distance from downtown Guerneville and Johnson’s Beach, but it feels like a peaceful hideaway. Mornings start with a homemade continental breakfast—fresh granola, breads, fruit, and local Flying Goat coffee—and the lobby is stocked with local wines and snacks for later.

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More Day Trips from San Francisco

• The Perfect Day Trip to Point Reyes, California: 12-Hour Itinerary
• How to Spend One Day in Sebastopol, California: 12-Hour Itinerary
• A Laidback One-Day Itinerary for Bodega Bay, California
• All San Francisco Day Trips

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