This isn't the half of it. Jack London State Historical Park in Glen Ellen is a destination itself. See the remains of the great author's Wolf House and the museum exhibiting many interesting artifacts from London's and his wife Charmian's adventures in the South Seas and his youthful Alaska journey that produced The Call of the Wild. Picnic there on the shady grounds -- but look out for poison oak and rattlers. Come evening, go to the town of Sonoma and cruise around the square on foot a time or two, before eating at one of some terrific restaurants.
Great article. Good towns not mentioned are : Geyserville- the Geyserville Inn is a great value, Sebastopol , Calistoga and ever Guernville. Also go to the coast and check out Sea Ranch. Great backroad biking out of Geyserville in all directions. New growth after the fires is amazing.
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Wow, what a great shout out about Getaway Adventures, they are great! We were directed to the article as it looked like they were going to mention the horseback riding tours in Sonoma County! The views of the Vineyards and Mountains are amazing at The Ranch at Lake Sonoma, just 15 minutes from Healdsburg! Maybe next article perhaps...www.theranchatlakesonoma.com
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For those imbibers who are not wine enthusiasts, SoCo also has excellent craft breweries (e.g. Bear Republic and Russian River) and distilleries (Young & Yonder Spirits, inter alia). But before long, I suspect, the leading cash crop will be cannabis.
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Can't believe you omitted mention of artist Patrick Amiot, whose eccentric sculptures of recycled materials are a constant in Sonoma County! Visitors can take a lovely little break by taking the 3-block walk on Florence Ave. (where Amiot lives) between Healdsburg & Bodega Aves. Neighbors have allowed Amiot to place his art in their front yards - a delightful free show that has delighted every guest I've brought to see it.
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You are so right about Amiot's work. I also take our visitors for a tour of Florence Ave. Then there's Bohemian Creamery and Howards in Occidental. We have so very many festivals and lots of Slow Food events. There are no shortages of non-embibing opportunities here in Sonoma County. @Jeane
Cornerstone is worth a visit.
The farmer's markets have first-rate produce and it's fun to interact with the locals--the vibe is relaxed and friendly.
Sonoma County has become a stereotype of well-off residents and tourists driving up the cost of living beyond the reach of most who live here.
Look at rents and housing prices -- insane, even before the SR Fire created shortages. Restaurants that charge tourist prices, like $20 on up for a salad.
Only those who have "made it" cam afford it. One will never read a travel article promoting the region that acknowledges rising poverty and homelessness, nor the New Barrios populated by poor families whose "breadwinners" toil in nearby vineyards (i.e' the stretch running from Sonoma itself up Highway 12, among others).
It once was a dream, filled with jaw-dropping beauty. Now, it's a traffic-jammed, over-priced, out-of-reach playground for the well-off, badly-run by local government.
Another California Dream crashed to earth. Another travel article selling an illusion.
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Teetotaler's Guide to Visiting Wine Country:
Leave.
Go home.
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Speaking as a (mostly) teetotaler who has an aversion to wine — and the weird, snobby culture that has blown up around it — I think this is a great idea for an article. Sonoma Valley used to be a funky, friendly, kind of “crunchy”place, back in the 1970s and most of the 1980s. Big Wine (and Big Money) has changed the overall feel of the region, but there are still pockets of wonderfulness to be found there.
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@Passion for Peaches........You obviously haven't been to visit Geyserville! We're funky, we're friendly, we've got high end stuff and we've got junk! We've even got a peach orchard! Head on over to Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys in N. Sonoma county north of Healdsburg we're still the real thing!
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@Dallas
Alexander Valley has much better wines than Sonoma and/or Napa! I had to buy and serve a lot of wines for my past job at Stanford University and I know what I'm talking about.
I lived in Sonoma county for several years as a teetotaler. Marvelous place to live or visit. Those who can't make it should take a look at this: https://www.amazon.com/Impressions-Wine-Country-Richard-Sheppard/dp/0984...
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@David Sheppard It's not like you're out of "wine country," David, if you live in Healdsburg :-)
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@dolly patterson You're right, Healdsburg is the center of Sonoma's wine country. But I'm 77 and spend time with both my son and daughter. For the last few years I've been with her in Atlanta. I've been planning to go back to California some time soon, but then I had a TIA stroke, and I'm reassessing my options. Somehow I can't bring myself to change my location on the NYTimes. California is still my psychic location. I grew up there.
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You don't need to focus on wine at all to visit the "Wine Country" -- focus on olive oils and fruits and vegetables (ie, tomatoes and basil is wonderful right now), peaches are also great currently. There is a plethora of lands growing these other food items that are exceptionally tasty.
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We have lived in Sonoma County for 29 years. Every day I am grateful to live here. Even with the devastating fires last October, this is still the most magnificent place to live. In Santa Rosa we are a 45 minute drive to the Pacific Ocean on roads incredibly beautiful. One road named Joy Street is the loveliest drive through the redwoods to get to the ocean. Along that road you will find a great farm stand in front of a beautiful property. No people manning it, just a little pail for money if you choose to take some of their freshly picked produce or flowers. Everything is here including wonderful people and some great schools as well. Santa Rosa Junior College is one of the countries best community colleges. Sonoma State University is a high quality university that 30 years ago pioneered the field of humanistic psychology.
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Sonoma County is an outdoor lover's paradise -- I know, because I live here and write about the outdoors. We actually have more parks than you mention: 50+ Sonoma County Regional Parks and 11 California State Parks, one of which runs for miles along the Pacific Coast (Sonoma Coast State Park). Favorite sports here involve hiking, cycling, horseback riding, paddling of all sorts (including SUP), tidepool watching and sandcastle building... Thanks for the nice article.
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Sonoma County is beautiful. Going there for the wine alone is like visiting NYC for the street foods.
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The back roads of Sonoma County offer marvelous cycling opportunities. When I was there in 2012, my partner and I did two days of riding using the Santa Rosa Cycling Club's "Ten Great Rides" as our guide. They have turn by turn directions for rides that are incredibly scenic and spectacularly traffic free. I have very fond memories and pictures of our time there.
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