Russian River
Russian River
4
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River in the Sonoma region in California that offers resort communities along with great canoeing trips.
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4.0
33 reviews
Excellent
17
Very good
8
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
6
sommerlovin
Cincinnati, OH
We genuinely loved our three days in the Russian River Valley. We were in Northern Cali for the first time and had a ball touring all these "off the beaten path" vineyards. We actually had plans to tour Napa and Sonoma, and scratched those to go back to the Westside Road.
We loved spending a rainy day at Davis Bynum (tiny sign). Ask for Richard, he will tell you wonderful stories and really help novice wine drinkers out (we were clueless). Korbel is gorgeous and has a fun tour. Lambert Bridge should not be missed--exquisite wine and amazing vineyard and tasting room.
One side note: We are a heterosexual couple and not aware that we booked ourselves at a homosexual resort in Guerneville, Ca.. It turned out A-Ok, but you may want to ask before booking if staying in Guerneville. If I had to do it again, I'd stay in the Healdsburg area--the Guerneville town is a little different than anywhere else I've ever been.
We loved spending a rainy day at Davis Bynum (tiny sign). Ask for Richard, he will tell you wonderful stories and really help novice wine drinkers out (we were clueless). Korbel is gorgeous and has a fun tour. Lambert Bridge should not be missed--exquisite wine and amazing vineyard and tasting room.
One side note: We are a heterosexual couple and not aware that we booked ourselves at a homosexual resort in Guerneville, Ca.. It turned out A-Ok, but you may want to ask before booking if staying in Guerneville. If I had to do it again, I'd stay in the Healdsburg area--the Guerneville town is a little different than anywhere else I've ever been.
Written 13 August 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Less touristic wine country getaway than Napa and Sonoma. The Russian River, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek, and Healdsburg areas are a great wine country that are not crowded with tourists. The vineyards are visible along the 101 and smaller road. I particularly like the aspects of outdoor activities that are available (in Summer) along the river. There are so many nice vineyards that I wished I could stay overnight or do three-day trip. Chateau Souverain has a restaurant with great view of the valley. Korbel has a nice deli, again, with a view. Healdsburg is a nice small town filled with restaurants and shops. It was an awesome trip.
Written 9 August 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brooke D
Galt, CA
July 2014 • Couples
Visit the Russian River to see the collision of salt and fresh water. The seals hang out on the beach and the view is outstanding. You can see this beautiful river from several points along highway 1.
Written 1 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rachaelwrites
San Francisco, CA
May 2014 • Couples
If you are looking for a relaxing day.. get the heck away from the Guerneville area. I beg the hotels in the area to please adjust your nightly prices. Paying $250+/per night was very misleading considering the locals we had to be around to enjoy the river. The Russian River is pretty much the watering hole for everyone in the area. It is free and the only way to entertain oneself. To start, it is very very crowded. To continue, there were numerous families with young children blasting explicit music from speakers. These adults were also at times verbally abusive to their children. I ESPECIALLY did not enjoy the irresponsible pitbull owner who lost his dog on a leash. The pitbull ran up to another dog (mutt) and clamped down on its face. Everyone was screaming but mostly no one could do anything because we were all on the opposite river bank. Eventually the pitbull released and its STUPID IGNORANT OWNER proceeded to slam the dog onto the floor while screaming at it and starting beating it. Seriously. Because when an animal finally does what you want it to do.. beating the animal won't confuse it at all. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the next time this happened, the pitbull wouldn't let go out of fear that it will get beaten again. This area is filled to the brim with uneducated, ignorant people and I can't believe the hotels charge so much for you to be around them.
Written 27 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kwine
San Francisco, CA
Jan 2017 • Couples
Living in San Francisco means we are desperate to get away to nature for long weekends. The Russian River looks perfect on a map - one hour away, a beautiful river valley filled with Redwoods. Alas, our recent trip over the New Year confirmed my worst fears. The river is still dreadfully polluted, and very little has been done to protect it. You can't swim in it, and dogs have been dying after jumping in it due to a toxic bacteria. Signs are routinely posted to shower immediately after swimming, don't drink the water, etc. It's a total and utter disgrace that this once pristine river is so foul. Go elsewhere or be prepared to be disappointed.
Written 29 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
foothilllivin
Sacramento
Booked our rental of the Northwood Beach House back in February 2009 for our vacation end of June 2009. When we arrived we found the oven door broken and hanging open. Ice maker broken. Bed frame in one of the bedrooms broken. No fans as promised in the near 100 degree temps. No tv in master bedroom as promised. Toilet paper holder in one of the bathrooms on the floor. All of the many decks and deck furniture were filthy and in need of scrubbing. Rug and curtains in the living room smelled of pet urine. One of the promised boats was inoperable. Furniture in family room either in need of cleaning or replacing. CD/Radio/stereo broken. Called the Russian River Getaway office and talked to 2 different people each having different stories, but both non-chalant with little to no care for the unpreparedness of a rental they had known about for 6 months ahead of time, and in fact never once apologized. Honestly it was the no customer service attitude and arrogance of the office staff that made the whole ordeal worse than it had to be. They need to tone down their overly fabulous descriptions of the homes they rent, because they are setting people up for disappointment. Beware of the fabulous description of the Northwood Beach House and replace all their erroneous descriptions with the word rustic. Forget the great views of the river that they promise in their description, because they don't exist. The best view was obscured on a deck that was dirty and uninviting to be on. Again, what made it all worse was the customer no service and arrogance of the people who run the rental office. ON top of everything there were signs posted at the Monte Rio beach warning that the water was unsafe to be in. Needless to say after paying $400 a night for a well planned vacation to be subjected to that house and the Russian River Getaway staff's arrogance and lack of empathy or compassion was heartbreaking. Stick with VRBO for your vacation rentals.
Written 4 July 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kwine
San Francisco, CA
Aug 2015 • Couples
This beautiful river is no more. So used up, polluted, and gross that overabundant algae from too much winery runoff has not only killed a dog this summer, it has destroyed the water quality. It is shameful that the powers that be have let this once abundant river with clear, clean water be so abused. A disgrace and a dump. Go vacation elsewhere.
Written 12 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gweedore55
cotati
Feb 2013 • Friends
This can be a day trip or a extended stay depending on your situation, however, If your looking for beauty,solice,river rafting,hiking,laying around in the summer sun or just a easy peacefull stroll you can find it here, I have been coming here for years be it golfing at Nothwood or strolling through the massive redwoods at Armstrong woods and I've yet to be disappointed, a little bit of heaven in our own back yard.
Written 21 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marca98
Sacramento, CA
Sept 2012 • Friends
We had a great time again. The music and crowds were great. Too bad you have to wait in line for hours to get a good spot on the ground. But that's part of the experience. Gates open at 10am we got there at 9am waited in line for about 1 1/2 minutes before getting our wrist bands. I heard that people actually camp out the night before. The wine garden is a great fund raiser. But Korbel Champagne actually ran out of stock. The "winery" is very close by, why couldn't they just call someone to bring more. All the white wines ran out before the last 2 acts. 3 tastings for $10 not bad. But we went to a couple wineries in Healdsburg the next day and paid $8 for 6 tastings at Topel Winery.
Written 25 September 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
forevergypsy60
Santa Cruz, CA
Sept 2012 • Family
At Johnson's beach you can rent kayaks or paddle boats for the day. You can pay a set price for the day and trade the kayaks in for a paddle boat or vice versa if you get bored. The river was moving very slow when we were there and there was a fairly strong wind so paddling down river felt more like paddling up river! The river has a very fun vibe to it as everyone of all ages are having fun on the river. Guerneville is a quirky fun little town too!
Written 24 September 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gwen P
San Diego, California
We would like to camp and kayak down the Russian River. Is there a good campground (RV) and where would be convenient to put in and out of the river?
Written 22 September 2018
Burkes Canoe has a couple of spots but there is also Mirabel Camp that is right next to it. Both are just a few minutes east of Guerneville.
Written 11 June 2019
cohanzie65
Bonita Springs, Florida
Looking for a side trip from 5 days in San Francisco. Thought we would do 2 nights in Russian River area, will be with our adult daughter. I'm having a hard time finding much information on the area and particularly for short term stays. Looking at July 5-7, 2016.
Written 29 April 2016
I would like to hear so reviews or advice about fly fishing the Russian River from Healdsberg to Guernville. Thanks.
Written 30 January 2015
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