Driving Tours

Just an hour south of San Francisco, follow Highway 280 toward the coast, then take Highway 1 to Pescadero Creek Road. Three miles in, you’ll spot the goats grazing at Harley Farms on your left. Stroll the gardens, greet the goats through the fence, and watch cheesemaking in action. The farm shop offers its cheeses—famous for their flower-studded decorations—alongside unique handcrafted items. For a closer look, book a guided tour in advance.
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If you’re traveling on a Saturday, continue an hour south to Royal Oaks and visit Garden Variety Cheese, a small sheep dairy. Book a farm tour online ahead of time, or stop by its Saturday farmstand to pick up cheese.
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Round out the trip in Salinas with Schoch Family Farmstead, an organic cow dairy making the only Monterey Jack still produced in Monterey County. Its cheeses and other dairy products are currently available at the Monterey farmers market on Fridays and the Aptos farmers market on Saturdays. An on-farm shop is planned, so check for updates before you go.

Start in historic San Luis Obispo at the drive-through shop of Cal Poly University Creamery. Pick up cheese made by students with milk from some very well-educated cows. 🐄
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In nearby Paso Robles, stop at the Central Coast Creamery shop for artisan cheeses you’re unlikely to find in grocery stores, plus cheesy sandwiches and more.
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If you’re ready for another stop, head toward the coast and arrange a farm tour at Stepladder Creamery in Cambria. A couple of miles off Highway 1, this hidden gem offers a chance to meet the goats and taste the cheese. The ranch also has avocados, cherimoyas, and a farm stay.
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There’s no need to fit it all into one day. Start at any stop and explore at your own pace.

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Begin in Escalon, near the northern end of the Central Valley, at Stuyt Dairy Farmstead Cheese. The family brought its Dutch cheesemaking traditions to California, and you can pick up a variety of Goudas, fresh cheeses, and whatever new creations they’ve been making. Peek through the window into their tiny, small-batch creamery while you’re there.
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Just a few minutes away, another Dutch family, the Bulks, makes cheese at Oakdale Cheese. Choose from an array of Goudas, order a toasted Gouda grilled cheese sandwich, and linger over a picnic near the animals in the outdoor petting zoo.
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Then head south toward Modesto and Fiscalini Farmstead Cheese Company. Cows surround the creamery where Fiscalini makes its award-winning Bandage Wrapped Cheddar. Stop at the tiny office shop to take some home.
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About half an hour farther south, Hilmar Cheese Visitor Center offers a change of scale. Hilmar Cheese Company, founded by dairy farmers, is one of the world’s largest creameries, making more than two million pounds of cheese a day. Watch videos about cheesemaking, explore the hands-on exhibits upstairs, and see curds being packed into 200-pound blocks. There’s a restaurant, too. It’s a stop you won’t want to miss.
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You don’t have to do the whole loop in one day. Pick a few stops, then come back for the ones you missed.

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Start in Clovis with a Saturday visit to Rocky Oaks Goat Creamery. Book ahead to meet the goats, taste the cheese, and take some home. You might even catch one of their occasional goat yoga classes. Ooh!
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Then head about half an hour south to Vintage Cheese Company in Traver. Part cheese shop, part treasure hunt, it has antiques and “junktiques,” animals, picnic tables, and a shop full of goodies. Time your visit right and you can watch cheesemaking through the window.

Embark on a scenic journey through Marin County, where cheese and nature combine for an unforgettable adventure. From iconic creameries to quaint towns and picturesque landscapes, this tour is filled with delicious stops and stunning views.
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• Marin French Cheese: Begin your tour at the oldest continually operating cheese company in the U.S. Sample their famous bries and camemberts. Pick up picnic supplies or sandwiches and enjoy a meal by their romantic pond.
• Nicasio Valley Cheese: Just outside Nicasio, this creamery offers delightful cheeses like Tomino and Foggy Morning, made with milk from their nearby dairy. Peek through the creamery window for a behind-the-scenes look, then explore the tiny one-block town of Nicasio. Check their website for upcoming tours from April through October.
• The Cowgirl Barn: Located in Point Reyes, this spot is the original home of Cowgirl Creamery. It now houses West Marin Ferments and has a delightful cheese counter.
• Palace Market: Also located in Point Reyes, this grocery store has a curated cheese case highlighting cheeses from California’s small creameries.
• Heidrun Meadery: A half-mile north of Point Reyes, visit this charming meadery for a tour or tasting of their sparkling honey wine in a beautiful outdoor setting. Check the counter in the back of the store for Valley Ford Creamery’s oh-so-delicious soft serve, made with Jersey cow milk.
• Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.: Just north of Point Reyes, this award-winning farmstead offers stunning views of Tomales Bay. Drive up the scenic road to the Giacomini Dairy and visit their cheese market. Book a tasting for an immersive cheese experience.
• Straus Home Ranch: If you’re looking for accommodations, especially for a small group, check out this historic ranch and home overlooking Tomales Bay for a cozy and scenic stay in the heart of cheese country. Tours are available by appointment only. Bonus: The owners of Straus Home Ranch created the Cheese Trail.‍
• Toluma Farms and Tomales Farmstead Creamery: Book ahead for a public tour on the first Sunday of the month, or arrange a private group tour for an unforgettable look at goat farming. Meet and play with the goats, watch them being milked, and taste small-batch cheeses.
  
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Make time for this one: the drive brings together ocean views, redwood groves, cheese, and a very good ice cream stop. Plan on at least two days so you can enjoy the scenery along the way.
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Begin in wine country at Pennyroyal Farm. Tour the farm to meet the goats and sheep, see where the cheese ages, and settle in for a tasting. You can enjoy the cheese with wine, too—the co-owner is part of the Navarro Winery family.
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As you travel north, leave room for unplanned stops. Wander through historic Ferndale, where small dairies dot the surrounding landscape, then stop in Loleta for locally made ice cream at Jersey Scoops. Near Eureka, Spring Hill Farmstead Goat Cheese welcomes visitors to its small goat creamery by appointment on Sundays.
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Continue north to Crescent City, just south of the Oregon border. At the Rumiano Cheese shop and creamery, watch cheesemaking and pick up Dry Jack or one of its organic cheeses. About 15 minutes farther north, take a self-guided tour of Alexandre Family Farm to see how its A2 cows are born, raised, and fed.
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Start in Petaluma at Petaluma Creamery & Cheese Shop, next to the creamery. Pick up cheeses from both Petaluma Creamery and Spring Hill Jersey Cheese before heading into the countryside.
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If you’ve planned ahead, make the short drive to Achadinha Cheese Company. Schedule a visit through its website to meet the family farm’s goats and cows, see the creamery, taste the cheese, and take some home.
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Then follow the road toward the coast and the tiny town of Valley Ford. At Valley Ford Cheese, watch the cheese wheels through the window and choose from its award-winning Swiss-Italian-style cheeses. Stay for lunch, gather picnic supplies, or treat yourself to homemade soft serve. The milk for its products comes from son Jim’s nearby herd of Jersey cows.

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Hidden in an unassuming industrial building in South El Monte, Gioia Cheese is the kind of place you might drive right past. Don’t be shy: knock on the door, and you can buy fresh mozzarella and burrata in small or bulk quantities. It’s hard to believe there isn’t a line around the block.
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If you email ahead for an appointment, add Di Stefano Cheese in Pomona to your trip. Yes, Lucy, there’s cheese in Los Angeles!

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