Cowboy Core may be having a moment on fashion feeds, but in Sonoma County, the trend has considerably deeper roots. Ranching, horseback riding, Western wear and country music have long been part of the region’s culture. Now they’re becoming part of the travel experience, too.

In Windsor, Spur Saloon has opened as a country-western bar and live music venue with dancing, line dancing and karaoke. Grapevine Dance is bringing country line-dancing lessons to venues around the county, including the historic Washoe House and Twin Oaks Roadhouse. At Lake Sonoma, The Ranch at Lake Sonoma offers guided horseback rides through the 17,000-acre recreation area, with routes overlooking the lake, Dry Creek Valley and Rockpile wine region, including experiences that pair a ride with a picnic and local wine or beer.

The look can come home with you, too. Santa Rosa’s The Hattery is a working hat factory, showroom and museum specializing in Western hats and bespoke designs, while Blanton’s Boot & Hat in downtown Petaluma offers premium cowboy boots, custom hats, leather goods and Western apparel. On Sonoma Plaza, Large Leather has been crafting fine leather goods for more than 45 years, including belts with Western-style buckles, while Bosworth & Son General Merchandise in Geyserville has been selling Western wear since 1911. The historic mercantile remains a multigenerational family business and offers custom hat shaping, cleaning and restoration.

The Curated Take: This is where a social trend meets an authentic sense of place. Sonoma County doesn’t have to manufacture a cowboy aesthetic for visitors. It already has the ranches, horses, craftsmen, historic mercantiles and country music to support it. For travelers, that means Cowboy Core can be more than a pair of boots for the weekend. It can become a way of experiencing the region.

Photo credit: The Hattery

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