Fall settles in softly here. The mornings come with a cool mist drifting through the redwoods, the vineyards turn golden and deep red, and the air feels calm — like the whole county has taken a deep breath after summer.

The grape crush winds down, and the roads quiet just enough for slow drives along the Russian River. You’ll pass rows of vineyards glowing in the light, roadside farm stands piled with heirloom tomatoes and winter squash, and maybe even a sign for mushroom foraging tours that pop up after the first rains.

Sundays are for the Sebastopol Farmers Market, where locals gather rain or shine. You can smell the baked bread before you even hit the plaza. There’s cider, coffee, laughter, and tables full of seasonal bounty — it’s less a shopping trip, more a weekly reunion.

Out on the Sonoma County Farm Trails, you’ll find places that remind you how simple things can be when they’re done with love. At Bees N Blooms, there’s a lavender labyrinth, farm tours, and a stand stocked with local honey and blooms. Over at Zannah Farms, you can pick your own bouquet or find the perfect pumpkin to bring a little autumn home.

And when the day starts to fade, stop by Horse & Plow for local cider and wine, maybe a charcuterie board topped with local cheeses — it’s the kind of place that makes you want to stay just a little longer.

By night, the redwoods grow dark and still, the stars show off a little, and the air smells faintly of woodsmoke. It’s the perfect kind of quiet — cozy, grounding, and full of that familiar fall feeling that never gets old.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to visit, this might be it. Fall in Sonoma County isn’t just beautiful — it’s peaceful, unhurried, and made for slowing down.