Cheese travel
Cheese in California
Start in West Marin and southern Sonoma, an hour north of San Francisco. Marin French Cheese has made brie near Petaluma since 1865 and its shop is open every day, and Point Reyes Farmstead runs seated tastings above Tomales Bay. On the coast south of the city, Harley Farms in Pescadero lets you walk in and see the goats. Further north, Pennyroyal Farm in the Anderson Valley pairs its goat and sheep cheeses with its own wine.
Cheese Tastings
See all worldwide
Cheese Tours
See all worldwide
Cheese Shops
Cheese Trails
See all worldwideThe Cheese Regions
Most of the state's small cheesemakers sit in the cool, foggy dairy country of West Marin and southern Sonoma, where cows and goats graze on coastal hills. Around Point Reyes Station, Nicasio and Tomales you will find bloomy rinds, blues, tomas and fresh goat cheese, and most makers sell from the farm. Petaluma is the market town for the area and has two cheese shops of its own.
The San Mateo coast has Harley Farms, a goat dairy in Pescadero. Mendocino County's Anderson Valley has Pennyroyal Farm, and the Central Valley has Dutch-style Gouda makers around Escalon and Oakdale. On the Central Coast, Stepladder Creamery in Cambria runs goat farm tours, and in Los Angeles County, Gioia in South El Monte sells fresh burrata from its factory door.
When to Go
The Marin and Sonoma shops open all year. Spring is the best time for goat farms: Harley Farms runs baby goat tours from February to June, and from July to November its tours show cheesemaking instead. Toluma Farms in Tomales opens for a public tour on the first Sunday of every month. Point Reyes Farmstead's Marketplace is closed on Sundays, so plan Marin for a weekday or a Saturday.
A Two-Day Route From San Francisco
Day one: cross the Golden Gate and drive to Marin French Cheese on the Point Reyes-Petaluma Road for samples and a picnic by the pond. Continue to Nicasio Valley Cheese, then on to Point Reyes Station and a booked tasting at Point Reyes Farmstead, just north of town. Day two: spend the morning in Petaluma at the Petaluma Creamery shop, visit a farm such as Achadinha or Toluma if you have booked, and finish at The Barlow in Sebastopol for a cheese board at Wm. Cofield. Our Marin and Sonoma cheese trail page has the stops in order.
With an extra day, drive Highway 1 south to Harley Farms in Pescadero, about an hour from the city, or head north on Highway 128 to Pennyroyal Farm in Boonville.
Getting Around
You need a car. The farms are spread along two-lane country roads with no useful public transport, and mobile signal around Point Reyes is patchy, so download your directions before you leave. Most farm tours are booked online in advance and few take walk-ins.
Other Creameries and Cheese Shops to Visit
| Place | Town | What you can do | When | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicasio Valley Cheese | Nicasio | Farm shop for its organic farmstead cheeses, such as Foggy Morning and Tomino | Daily, 10am to 5pm | nicasiocheese.com |
| Toluma Farms and Tomales Farmstead Creamery | Tomales | Public goat and sheep dairy tour with tasting; private tours $300 for up to 6; self-serve cheese shop by the front gate | Public tour first Sunday of the month, 1 to 3pm | tolumafarms.org |
| Achadinha Cheese Company | Petaluma | Farm tour with tasting ($45, about 1 hour 45 minutes) and cheesemaking classes ($120); no drop-ins | Set Saturdays at 11am, booked online | achadinha.com |
| Petaluma Creamery | Petaluma | Creamery store with free cheese and ice cream samples, Spring Hill cheeses and a $5 grilled cheese | Daily, 9am to 5pm | springhillcheese.com |
| Petaluma Cheese Shop at Taste Petaluma | Petaluma | Cheese with Barber Cellars wines in a downtown tasting room, 120 Washington Street | Wed and Thu 3 to 10pm, Fri and Sat 3 to 11pm, Sun 3 to 8pm | barbercellars.com |
| Wm. Cofield Cheesemakers | Sebastopol | British-style cheeses, cheese boards and an outdoor area at The Barlow | Thursday to Monday, 11am to 6pm | wmcofieldcheese.com |
| The Epicurean Connection | Sonoma | Hands-on cheesemaking classes with cheesemaker Sheana Davis; the shop opens during classes | Scheduled classes, booked online | theepicureanconnection.com |
| Stuyt Dairy Farmstead Cheese | Escalon | Gouda and curds from a Dutch family dairy; seated tasting of five cheeses and three pairings, $20 in advance | Shop Mon to Fri 8am to 5pm, Sat 10am to 2pm; tastings Thu to Sat | stuytdairycheese.com |
| Stepladder Creamery | Cambria | Guided tours of a goat ranch and creamery in a 100-year-old barn, and guided tastings | Several tours a week, booked online | stepladdercreamery.com |
| Gioia Cheese | South El Monte | Fresh burrata and mozzarella sold at the factory | Mon to Thu, 9:30am to 6pm | gioiacheeseco.com |
| Rocky Oaks Goat Creamery | Clovis | Goat farm visits and cheese | Seasonal Saturdays and special events | rockyoaksgoatcreamery.com |
Cowgirl Creamery closed its last shop, in Point Reyes Station, in 2022, and Bellwether Farms and Laura Chenel do not take visitors.
Where to Stay in California
We may earn a commission when you book through this map, at no extra cost to you.
Questions People Ask
Where is the best place for cheese tasting in California?
West Marin. Marin French Cheese near Petaluma gives free samples every day, and Point Reyes Farmstead near Point Reyes Station runs seated tastings from $45 a person, booked online.
Can you still visit Cowgirl Creamery?
No. Cowgirl Creamery closed its last shop, in Point Reyes Station, in September 2022. Its cheeses are sold in stores, and the area's other makers, such as Point Reyes Farmstead and Nicasio Valley, are open to visitors.
Which California goat farms offer tours?
Harley Farms in Pescadero, Pennyroyal Farm in Boonville, Toluma Farms in Tomales, Stepladder Creamery in Cambria and Achadinha in Petaluma all run tours, mostly booked online in advance.
Is there a cheese trail in California?
Yes. The Cheese Trail publishes free driving routes, including Marin, Sonoma, the North Coast, the Central Coast and the Central Valley. See our Marin and Sonoma cheese trail page for the most visited one.