Want to visit wine country but are put off because you don’t drink alcohol? Come anyway. Though wine initially put this region on the map, the tourism and agriculture industries have kept it there, ensuring that visitors are kept interested both before and after the tasting room. As a result, there’s now a plethora of non-wine-related activities for those who just want to take a relaxing trip to the California countryside to do some nonalcoholic sampling and seeing. Here’s how to get the wine country experience without the wine. Note: For nonalcoholic attractions in addition to these, also see the itineraries for foodies, history buffs, art aficionados, and outdoor enthusiasts. START: Twin Hill Ranch, 1689 Pleasant Hill Rd., Sebastopol. Distance: About 40 miles (64km), doable in a day.

1 * [kids] Twin Hill Ranch. Keep the doctor away with a visit to this Sebastopol operation that’s been growing, packing, and shipping apples since 1942. In its country store (a perfect place to buy a gift for teacher), taste the ranch’s signature apple bread, plus pies, cookies, juice, sauce, butter, and jelly, all made with the potassium-rich fruit grown on this ridiculously fertile land. Tours show you how the ranch produces and distributes 10 apple varieties, including Gravenstein, Gala, and Fuji. 1689 Pleasant Hill Rd., Sebastopol. Tel. 707/823-2815. www.twinhillranch.com. Call ahead for tour appointments and pricing. Mon–Sat 8:30am–4:30pm (open Sun Thanksgiving to Christmas).

Go west on Pleasant Hill Rd., which becomes Bloomfield Rd. Turn right on Lone Pine Rd., then right on Gravenstein Hwy./Hwy. 116. Turn right on Stony Point Rd., then right on Jewett Rd., then left on Pepper Rd.

2 ** Garden Valley Ranch. Did you know that apples are a member of the rose family? Continue the theme at this 9-acre (3.6-hectare) Victorian ranch, which has more than 8,000 rosebushes, a fragrance garden, and a test garden (where rosarians try to develop new species). On spring weekends, the ranch hosts tours ($35; call ahead to make an appointment), during which lunch is served alongside an assortment of teas in the fragrance garden, which overlooks thousands of roses. There’s also a retail nursery where you can buy a variety of flowers, from antique, climbing, and miniature roses to floribundas, hybrid teas, and colorful annuals, as well as gardening supplies, seeds, and books. 498 Pepper Rd., Petaluma. Tel. 707/795-0919. www.gardenvalley.com. Self-guided tours ($5, including a descriptive booklet) Wed–Sun 10am–4pm; nursery open Wed–Sun 10am–5pm. Guided tours ($10, including a descriptive booklet) by appointment and require a minimum of 10 people.

From Pepper Rd., get on Hwy. 101 S. Take Hwy. 116 E, then turn left on Frates Rd., which becomes Adobe Rd., which becomes Hwy. 116 again, then becomes Hwy. 121.

3 ** Cornerstone Festival of Gardens. Nine acres (3.6 hectares) of 20 gardens were designed mostly by prominent landscape architects. These walk-through outdoor spaces are aimed at those interested in high-concept gardening—but they’re enjoyable by all, as are the on-site shops and galleries. The Barn Gallery displays information about each installation and designer, while A New Leaf Gallery (Tel. 707/933-1300) displays and sells beautiful indoor and outdoor modern sculptures by more than 50 artists. Translations (Tel. 707/938-0888) sells outdoor furnishings and Asian-inspired landscape elements, and Artefact Design & Salvage (Tel. 707/933-0660) offers antique garden pieces and found objects. 23570 Hwy. 121, Sonoma. Tel. 707/933-3010. www.cornerstonegardens.com. Free, though docent tours for groups of 10 or more cost $6 per person (reservations required).

4 * Cornerstone Market Café. The seasonal lunch menu at this cute food shop lists pannini sandwiches, soups, and salads; order from that or put together a meal from the artisan foods sold in the grocery section. 23584A Hwy. 121, Sonoma. Tel. 707/935-1681. $.

Take Hwy. 121 northwest, then turn right on Watmaugh Rd. and left on Broadway. Turn right on E. Napa St.

For a more comprehensive sit-down meal, c4B ** the girl and the fig, just off Sonoma Plaza, is highly acclaimed. Cheese sampling at the restaurant’s well-stocked salon de fromage is a great alternative to wine tasting. 110 W. Spain St. Tel. 707/938-3634. $$. See p ###.

5 ** [kids] Sonoma Barracks. Cross 1st Street again to get to this landmark, also part of Sonoma State Historic Park. Vallejo, whose assignment it was to secularize the mission, kept his Mexican troops here to guard against Native American tribes and rebuff possible threats (though none ever developed) from Russian settlers. During and after the revolt, these barracks were the Bear Flag Party’s headquarters. When the U.S. took over, American soldiers moved in for a spell. Since then, it’s been a winery, a law office, and a private residence, among other things. It became state property in 1958, and today there are two museum rooms and a theater in which you can catch the 22-minute video about General Vallejo. History buffs will appreciate the gift-shop merchandise. Tip: If possible, coincide your tour with the every-other-Saturday 2pm firing of the cannon. E. Spain St. & 1st St. E. Tel. 707/939-9420. www.parks.ca.gov. Daily 10am–5pm. $2 admission for adults. Children under 17 free. Admission also includes Mission San Francisco Solano.

6 The Cheese Shop. Try everything from international artisanal cheeses to olive oils, hard-to-find spices, honey and other condiments. 423 Center St. Tel. 707/433-4998. Call for hours.

7 * Sonoma Cheese Factory. If you’re not sick of sampling cheese yet (and, really, who could be?), walk across the plaza to this third-generation family enterprise, which was the first cheese producer west of the Mississippi to win a gold medal from the authoritative Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. 2 E. Spain St., Sonoma. Tel. 800/535-2855.

From Spain St., turn left on 1st St., then right on Napa St. Make a slight right on Sonoma Hwy./Hwy. 12.

8 ** Oak Hill Farm. Head to this 45-acre (18-hectare) farm and its Red Barn Store. This business has existed since the 1950s and still grows its amazing heirloom vegetables entirely sustainably. The real highlight here is the century-old dairy barn housing the Red Barn Store. More than just an old-fashioned farm stand (though it’s that, too), this is a unique place to buy organic produce, fresh flowers, beautiful wreaths, and handmade gifts amidst the farm’s bountiful fields. 15101 Hwy. 12, Glen Ellen. Tel. 707/996-6643. www.oakhillfarm.net. Apr–Dec Wed–Sun 11am–6pm.

9 B. R. Cohn Winery. Yes, this is a winery, but the estate also specializes in gourmet (and pricey) olive oils and handcrafted vinegars. Taste them in the small tasting room, which is filled with framed platinum albums from vintner Bruce Cohn’s other job as manager of the Doobie Brothers. His property is graced with groves of rare olive trees, terraced hills of plush lawn, and several picnic tables. Many musical events happen here; check the website. 15000 Hwy. 12, Glen Ellen. Tel. 800/330-4064. www.brcohn.com.

10A * Glen Ellen Inn Restaurant. This homey dining room serves seasonally changing cuisine. Reservations recommended. 13670 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen. Tel. 707/996-6409. $$$. See p ###. Another local option is 10B * Wolf House, a classy-but-relaxed joint with local food and warm service. 13740 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen. Tel. 707/996-4401. Reservations recommended. $$.