Travel & Leisure says Sonoma County has "charming small towns, incredible wine, and a stunning coastline" offering a lot more than just wine. That's the one thing making Sonoma different from other wine regions, the opportunity to do more than just drink wine.
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| Goat Rock Beach |
There's history, miles of unspoiled coastline, a diverse landscape, not to mention world-renowned Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
History
Fort Ross, an early 19th century fort, is mostly a reproduction, though the commander's house is original and a national historic landmark.
The short-lived uprising against the Mexican rulers, the Bear Flag Revolt, started in the town of Sonoma, where you can also find the last California mission.
Coast
There's about 60 miles of sandy to rocky coastline of cliffs to beaches. You can see whales and sea lions at the right time of year.
Landscape
Besides vineyards and the coast, there are forests (including redwoods), a major river (Russian River), hills, mountains, and valleys.
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| Armstrong Redwoods |
Sonoma County is known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but the Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and Cabernet are also world-class though lesser-known. The topography and the cool ocean waters give the county a variety of microclimates and soil types, meaning just about any major grape variety grows somewhere in the county.
Beer
You can't miss the two dozen craft breweries in the county. The best-known are Lagunitas and Russian River.
Food
There are excellent restaurants and bakeries everywhere, even in the tiniest of towns like Freestone and Graton. Glen Ellen, population under 1,000, has the unpretentious Glen Ellen Star listed in the Michelin Guide.
Dairy is a major industry in the county, so you'll find lots of artisan cheese.
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| Sonoma |
Small towns
The charming towns of Sonoma and Healdsburg are known by many. In fact, Healdsburg often gets recognized as one of the country's best small towns. Others worth visiting are Cloverdale, Guerneville, Petaluma, Sebastopol, and Windsor. A special mention to the tiny village of Bodega (not the same as Bodega Bay) for Hitchcock fans. You'll recognize the buildings, especially the old schoolhouse, from The Birds.
Lodging
Conde Nast Traveler readers' choice awards named the Lodge at Bodega Bay as their number one hotel.
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