SONOMA COUNTY

With more than 425 wineries, miles of rugged Pacific coastline, towering redwood forests, and its close proximity to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Sonoma County is a traveler’s dream vacation spot in California. Sonoma County represents the best of Northern California — premium wine, farm-to-table dining, unique resorts and spas, and over 50 state and regional parks.  Breathtaking Highway 1 delights visitors with crashing waves, sea lions and otters sunning on the beaches and fantastic sunsets that color the sky in brilliant hues. Tasting rooms in the world-class Sonoma wine region range from simple and rustic to elaborate wine castles. With the local Charles M. Schultz Airport, there's no need to drive far when you come and go!

 

Start your explorations with a quick geography lesson. There’s the town of Sonoma, with its historic Sonoma Plaza. Then, there’s Sonoma Valley, referring to the area between Santa Rosa and the town of Sonoma (and known as the Valley of the Moon), featuring individual wine regions such as Kenwood and Glen Ellen. And then there’s the entire region encompassing it all, officially known as Sonoma County.

An easy hour’s drive north of San Francisco, the journey through Sonoma County begins in the historic town of Petaluma, with its classic stone buildings. You could navigate straight up U.S. 101 to Cloverdale, the county’s northernmost town, but that would be missing the essence of this nook-and-cranny wine region—like the towns of Sonoma, Sebastopol, Santa Rosa, and Guerneville. It’s all about slowing down here, mingling with winemakers and locals, and knowing that it doesn’t get much better than this.

 

When to visit? Until a few years ago, agriculture-rich Sonoma County was primarily a summertime destination. But now the towns buzz year-round, thanks in part to festivals like January’s month-long Olive Festival, Spring’s winery open houses, and Autumn’s harvest events. Or come during the holiday season and you can ring in the New Year at boisterous parties at the County’s restaurants, wineries and storybook inns.  Learn more here.   

Source: www.sonomacounty.com

Visit the Sonoma County website for more information on upcoming events and things to do!