Destination Fun

Revel in the Russian River

You live in the eclectic Bay Area– so where do you go when you want to step up the fun a notch?

Funky, free-spirited Guerneville awaits. This warm, sunny playground along Sonoma County’s Russian River is custom made for rafting, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and floating on an inner tube while sipping from a can (yes, a can!) of wine. Later, seek out your options for food, drink, revelry, and slumber in Guerneville itself — rich in LGTBQ culture, filled with family adventure, utterly down to earth.
It’s waiting. Don’t disappoint it.

Where to stay: Boon Hotel + Spa,
14711 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville, CA

boonhotels.com

Romance takes on a new meaning at this 14-room boutique hotel on the outskirts of town. In another life it played home to gold miners, and today pays homage to the area’s rich history — adding ultimate modern comfort highlighted by Coyuchi linens, Malin + Goetz bath products, and a minibar stocked with local fare. If you’re not feeling the trip to the river, Boon has you covered with a relaxing pool and hot tub flanked by palm trees.

Note: Boon is not kid-friendly, so if you’re bringing the littles along, you’ll have to stay elsewhere.

Where to eat: Boon Eat + Drink
16248 Main Street, Guerneville, CA

eatatboon.com

The Boon’s in-town restaurant offers a well-curated menu heavy on local fare, plus gardens both on-site and at the hotel itself. Food & Wine called Guerneville “a wine-country food hub” based on this establishment alone.

Where to drink: El Barrio
16230 Main Street, Guerneville, CA

elbarriobar.com

In a town known for its dive bars, this “modern Mexican cocktail lounge” offers a refreshing upscale scene. Reminiscent of the bars you might find in the Mission or Hayes Valley, El Barrio combines rustic with modern, including a glowing altar of jewel-toned liquor bottles behind the bar and choice Mexican-themed touches. But you’re coming for the cocktails — thrilling tequila and mezcal concoctions crafted by proprietor Crista Luedtke. With ingredients such as firewater bitters, absinthe rinse, and citrus basil bitters, the drink menu hits 10 on the sublime-o-meter.