'''Sonoma County'''[http://www.sonomacounty.com/], located in California's North Coast in the San Francisco Bay Area, is about 45 minutes north of San Francisco. As such, it suffers from what could be dubbed the "Middle Child Syndrome:" Its main cities of Petaluma and Santa Rosa are small and provincial when compared to San Francisco; yet the area is not the untamed wilderness of California's North Coast. Sonoma County is not as well-known or touristy as the neighboring Napa Valley, which takes most of the credit for driving California's wine industry, nor as cosmopolitan as nearby San Francisco.

It would be a mistake, however, to pass up an opportunity to visit Sonoma. The area has the same post-60s flavor of Marin County, and the same sophisticated oenophilia as Napa to the East. Its coastal region is beautiful and rugged, and the agricultural pastureland is some of the most quintessentially beautiful to be found in California. As the crowds of tourists clog the roads of Napa Valley, Sonoma's appeal grows.

Cities

  • Bodega Bay
  • Boyes Hot Springs
  • Cazadero
  • Cloverdale
  • Cotati
  • El Verano
  • Eldridge
  • Forestville
  • Geyserville
  • Glen Ellen
  • Graton
  • Guerneville
  • Healdsburg
  • Jenner
  • Monte Rio
  • Occidental
  • Petaluma
  • Rohnert Park
  • Santa Rosa
  • Sebastopol
  • Sonoma
  • Windsor
  • Other destinations

  • Sea Ranch
  • Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
  • Understand

    Talk

    Get in

    Get around

    See

  • The Russian River
  • Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park. 325 Adobe Road , Petaluma CA. 07-762-4871. ttp://sonomacountytravelguide.com/directory-cat_id-7-cat_name-Recreation.htm. Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park was the main residence of Rancho Petaluma, the agricultural empire that General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo one of the most powerful men in the Mexican Province of California from 1834 to 1846.

  • The Sonoma Valley Chorale. erform at Veterans Memorial Building, 126 1st St. , Sonoma CA. 07-935-1576. ttp://sonomacountytravelguide.com/directory-cat_id-14-cat_name-Entertainment.htm. The Sonoma Valley Chorale is a 110-voice community chorus offering three annual concerts. Music for its programs includes classical, folk, pop, gospel, Broadway show tunes and more.

  • 6th Street Playhouse. 2 West 6th Street , Santa Rosa CA. 07-523-4185. ttp://sonomacountytravelguide.com/directory-cat_id-18-cat_name-Cultural%20Activities.htm. This newly renovated live theatre located inside a 100 year old brick warehouse in Historic Railroad Square, is home to the two longest running theatre companies in Sonoma County--Actors Theare and Santa Rosa Players.

    Itineraries

    Do

  • Up & Away Ballooning. indsor CA. 07-836-0171. ttp://sonomacountytravelguide.com/directory-cat_id-5-cat_name-Activities.htm. You will experience a professional, yet fun and adventurous ballooning excursion that cannot be matched.
  • West County Museum. 61 S. Main St. , Sebastopol CA. 07-829-6711. ttp://sonomacountytravelguide.com/directory-cat_id-6-cat_name-Museums.htm. The West County Museum opened in this building in 1993 with an exhibit on the Railroad. The Depot was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1996.
  • Retreat Resort & Spa. 4711 Armstrong Woods Rd , Guerneville CA. 07-869-2706. ttp://sonomacountytravelguide.com/directory-cat_id-15-cat_name-Spas%20and%20Massages.htm.

    Eat

  • Glen Ellen Inn Oyster Grill And Martini Bar. 3670 Arnold Drive , Glen Ellen CA. 07-996-6409. ttp://sonomacountytravelguide.com/directory-cat_id-2-cat_name-Restaurants.htm.

    Drink

    Sonoma's 250-plus wineries are the main attraction. Main wine varieties produced include zinfandel, pinot noir, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc (also called "fume blanc"), cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah.

    3 world class Brewpubs, Third Street AleWorks & Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa, Bear Republic in Healsdburg and Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastopol.

  • Annapolis Winery. 6055 Soda Springs Road , Annapolis CA. 07-886-5460. ttp://sonomacountytravelguide.com/directory-cat_id-9-cat_name-Wineries%20And%20Breweries.htm.

    Sleep

  • Doubletree Hotel Sonoma Wine Country. ne Doubletree Drive , Rohnert Park CA. 07-584-5466. ttp://sonomacountytravelguide.com/directory-cat_id-1-cat_name-Lodging.htm. Newly Renovated, Mission-style Hotel Features 245 Guest Rooms, Appointed With Rustic Wood And The Warm Red And Gold Hues Of The Countryside, Offering A Distinct Sonoma Wine Country Feel.

    Stay safe

    Recently, there have been murders involving the local Sureno and Norteno gang rivalry; As a tourist, you're unlikely to be affected; still, avoid overtly solid colored clothing in certain areas, especially some of the lower class areas in Sonoma County (Boyes Hot Springs, Roseville, parts of Petaluma, etc.)

    Get out

    ----