California cheese road trip to Sonoma and Marin County  – Travel Photo Mondays

 

One of the fun things to do around West Sonoma County and also going towards Napa is to do the delicious cheese trail, one of the fun things to do in Sonoma that will be a fun and foodie experience to enjoy around the county.

 

Cheese Road trip to Sonoma and Marin County in California

Cheese Road trip to Sonoma and Marin County in California

Ah so moist, delicate with fruity flavorings – no, I’m not talking about the delicious wines being served up here in Sonoma county a place that everyone equates to wine country,  but more so the amazing creameries that you find through most of West Sonoma and Marin County in northern California. The area is blessed with green rolling hills, fat cows and dairies that are a perfect environment for the creameries. Dotting a scenic area in both counties, the area hosts a wonderful cheese trail for cheese fanatics to explore and enjoy artisanal producers of creamy, cheddar, jack and a variety of specialty cheeses.

 

Petaluma Cremery, a century year old cremery in downtown Petaluma

Petaluma Creamery, a century year old creamery in downtown Petaluma

 

You can start the cheese tour either from Marin county or on the other end at Sonoma – one of the easiest starting points would be at the century old Petaluma Creamery at 711 Western Avenue in downtown Petaluma. The creamery is has been an institution creating a variety of goat cheese, curds, jack cheeses and cheddar cheese. The creamery also sells artisanal cheese from Spring Hill Cheese varieties like flavored jack and cheddar cheeses .

 

 

Flavored Jacks and other specialty cheeses at Petaluma Creamery

Flavored Jacks and other specialty cheeses at Petaluma Creamery

 

Afterwards, we head out of downtown Petaluma to Marin county across Petaluma Hill Road. Outside of town, you are quickly transported to rolling green hills and beautiful pastoral landscapes filled with cows. Here you will find a variety of creameries open to the public and some available by appointment.

 

Gorgeous rolling hills in West Sonoma County

Gorgeous rolling hills in West Sonoma County

 

The cows out number people in this area of West Sonoma county

 

 

Following the leader in Petaluma Hill road in Sonoma county

Following the leader in Petaluma Hill road in Sonoma county

 

Marin French Cheese, 7500 Red Hill Road on Petaluma Hill Road. The creamery is about 7 miles south of Petaluma and heading out to Marin County and Point Reyes area.  At the tasting room, you can sample a variety of delicious soft cheese made on the premises. This includes Brie, Camembert, Triple cream Brie and flavored cheeses like their Triple Crème Brie with Truffles. Just outside the shop is a nice pond and picnic tables to sit and enjoy some of the cheese and other snacks you can purchase in the tasting room, it’s so nice to just slow down, sit and enjoy some delicious cheese out in the country.

 

 

Delicious Marin French Cheese to sample or purchase

Delicious Marin French Cheese to sample or purchase

 

You can have a picnic by the pond and grassy area with daisies

 

 

Ponds and picnic area at Marin French Cheese

Ponds and picnic area at Marin French Cheese

 

 

Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, 5300 Nicasio Valley Road. Fairly close to Marin French cheese and off Petaluma Hill Road, you detour at Nicasio Valley Road to get to Nicasio Valley Cheese company. Here at the tasting room,  they offer soft ripening cheese to sample and purchase. These include their popular line of camembert style cheese like Formagella and Halleck Creek to Fontina like San Geronimo and Nicasio Square. All the cheese available to sample are delicious: soft, creamy, rich and ripe in some instances.

 

You have arrived Nicasio Valley cheese

You have arrived Nicasio Valley cheese

 

Ah yes, who doesn’t like sampling soft, creamy and flavorful cheese.

 

Tasting room at Nicasio Valley Cheese company.

Tasting room at Nicasio Valley Cheese company.

 

Driving further into West Marin county into the little hamlet of Point Reyes Station you enter the town and at the far end of town is Cowgirl Creamery, 80 4th Street, Point Reyes station.  Their soft organic creamy cheese are named for famous natural landmarks in Marin County like the popular Mount Tam, Chimney Rock, Inverness and Devils Gulch. They produce a variety of cheese including cottage cheese, crème fraiche, frommage blanc and quark. I  also wrote a post earlier about Point Reyes station, it’s a cool and fun little town to explore, take a look at my post here. 

 

 

Cowgirl Creamery at Point Reyes sSation

Cowgirl Creamery at Point Reyes Station

 

 

Exploring the cute hamlet of Point Reyes station – yes please!

Point Reyes Station

Point Reyes Station

 

This is just a small sampling of cheese shops and tasting rooms open to the public throughout West Sonoma and Marin County. There are many cheese locations to visit on the Cheese tour in Sonoma and Marin county, some are open to the public and others by appointment. You can download the free cheese trail map here.

If you enjoyed this post check out these other Sonoma places to visit

West Sonoma county photo essay

Sonoma Dry Creek Valley road trip

California cheese road trip

St. Francis winery food and wine experience

Things to see in Sonoma city

Cool designs at Cornerstone in Sonoma

Visiting Hip Healdsburg in Sonoma

The Luther Burbank Gardens

Visiting the Russian fort at Fort Ross

Kendall Jackson winery and gardens

Wines and gardens at Ferrari Carano

Conclusion to the California cheese tour at Sonoma and Marin Counties

Hope that this post on Sonoma cheese trail was inspiring and that you will get to explore the many fantastic attractions, historic sites and landmarks to visiting the national parks around the state. If you enjoyed reading the post, please do bookmark it or share it with any of the social media buttons below.

 

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