9 Family-Friendly Wineries & Craft Breweries

With more than 130 breweries within its borders, San Diego County has become a hub of craft brewing. Yet one of its oldest craft breweries remains one of its brightest stars, with die-hard fans the world over.

Stone Brewing was founded in 1996 by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, two music industry guys who discovered they shared a mutual obsession with craft brewing. The duo’s bold, hop-centric Stone IPA immediately struck a chord with beer lovers, and the brewery has been expanding ever since.

After outgrowing its original San Marcos space, Stone moved to a 57,000-square-foot facility in Escondido. Over the years, the brewery has racked up too many awards and accolades to name, landing the top spot on BeerAdvocate’s list of “All-Time Top Brewers.”

Stone’s Escondido brewing complex is also home to Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, named by RateBeer Best in 2017 as “The Best Place for Beer in the United States." With its lush organic gardens, waterfalls, and cozy Adirondack chairs, the expansive outdoor patio is a great place to kick back and sample as many as a dozen Stone brews. Bring the kids, even, who can dabble their fingers in sparkling fountains and join you for a game of bocce on a pair of courts. After dark, an outdoor movie screen adds free entertainment for all, while fire pits warm the scene.

In addition to its tasting outposts throughout San Diego County—including the bistro at Liberty Station—Stone also has a facility in Pasadena and another in Berlin, Germany.

Tucked away in the southwest corner of Riverside County, this vineyard retains its traditional California ranch feel while still being only a hop, skip, and a jump from the beaches of Southern California. And it’s offers crazy-good fun for families.

First, there are lively Saturday night bonfires, offered on summer weekends. Kids can climb aboard a mechanical bull, get their faces painted, take a carriage ride around the property, and give you please-can-I-have-one looks for treats from snack bar. They just might get what they want after you’ve relaxed with a local glass of wine or craft beer. Kids can also visit with the ranch’s dogs and horses. Live music sometimes adds a nice touch (check the winery website for details).

Insider’s tip: Unlike some local wineries, this ultra-casual Temecula Valley charmer doesn’t require reservations for its wine tastings.

Book the Ultimate Tour at this picturesque vineyard, spilling down a vine-covered hillside on the outskirts of Healdsburg. To tour the rambling estate, climb aboard a Swiss military-style vehicle to bump and jostle across the hills. Next, follow your guide on a walking tour of Bella’s remarkable series of wine caves—including richly appointed nooks and crannies reserved for weddings and other special events—to an underground tasting room.

Back outside, relax under handsome oaks—maybe with another glass or two—while the kids romp on the lawn, toss beanbags, or give hula-hoops a whirl.

Adam Firestone grew up in the vineyards and cellar of his family’s namesake winery in the Central Coast, yet he developed a thirst for brewing at an early age. He carried out his brewing experiments using converted winemaking equipment—and the results weren’t always great.

Undeterred, Firestone continued fiddling with beer recipes and trying to convince others to buy into his dream of opening a brewery. He finally found a willing partner in David Walker, his brother-in-law, and together they conspired to create a brewery that would combine Old World craft with California innovation. In 1996, they opened Firestone Walker in Paso Robles.

The duo’s first release, a cask-fermented English-style ale called DBA (Double Barrel Ale), has become a California classic.

Along with the Paso brewery, Firestone Walker has outlets in Buellton and Venice, each with its own focus. The main location produces the flagship beers and vintage barrel-aged brews, and offers brewery tours (kids as young as 12 are welcome to come along).

The Barrelworks facility in Buellton focuses on eccentric wild ales. The Propagator brewhouse in Venice specializes in experimental beers and limited local offerings. Beer tastings are offered at all three locations, and each has its own restaurant, all of which are family-friendly: Menu items include big burgers, house-made pretzels, fish-and-chips, and pizza.

Four house beers, 20 local brews on tap, and over 100 different bottles are certainly the main draws at this temple to beer in the unfussy and laid-back Sonoma County town of Sebastopol. But a beer garden out back, with tables with umbrellas and twining grape vines hinting at surrounding wine country, makes an inviting retreat for families. Fire pits warm up chilly evenings. And you can warm up with a rich Cabernet Sauvignon or another Sonoma vintage by the glass.

A kids’ menu offers ubiquitous chicken tenders and mac-and-cheese, but adventurous youngsters can class it up pan-roasted salmon and a chock-full-of-fresh-stuff salad. HopMonk Tavern regularly books live music, so the little ones can show off their dance moves too.