Ten Places to Visit in Sonoma County

I was reading a Wine Enthusiast article about 10 Places to Visit in Napa Valley and thought Sonoma needs one of those lists! Okay, there are probably a few of those out there already. Here's another.

Sonoma Coast State Beaches
There are 55 miles of shoreline and over two dozen beaches with free access. Some are great for sightseeing, some for picnicking, some for hiking, a few are sheltered enough to allow suntanning (coast temperatures are usually pretty cool).

Armstrong Redwoods
This is what's left of the old growth redwoods in the county. Seeing this preserve one can only imagine what the western part of the county was like before the lumbering operations.

Safari West
A privately owned 400 acre wildlife preserve known for its African species. You can book a "safari" during the day or even stay overnight and listen to the nocturnal birds and beasts.

Healdsburg
Too many tasting rooms to visit in a long weekend, too many great restaurants to visit in a week tells you what you need to know. Don't forget to walk a block north to Costeaux French Bakery for bread.

Sonoma Plaza
The largest town square in the state is a green oasis hosting many special events and is an outdoor public space that allows alcohol (you can enjoy your wine with a picnic). Numerous tasting rooms, restaurants and historic sites surround the square.

Jack London State Historic Park
There are a few state parks and several regional parks in Sonoma County. Jack London provides a nice mix of easy and short to longer and more difficult trails plus some history.

Dry Creek Valley
When coming to Sonoma County for wine tasting it is always best to pick one region to visit so you don't spend so much of your time driving around. If I was going to choose one grape growing area to spend a day in it would be Dry Creek Valley for wines, natural beauty, and ease of getting around. Oh yeah, and for Zinfandel.

Mystic Theatre or Green Music Center
Check out the music scene at the funky Mystic in Petaluma or the new world class venue, Green Music Center, in Rohnert Park.

A Brewery
You came for Russian River Brewery and maybe Lagunitas, but don't miss Henhouse and Cooperage.

A Roadhouse
There are dozens of great eateries in the county. Hopefully, one of the reasons you're visiting is to sample some of the great food. You might consider getting a bit of the Old West with your dinner by visiting one of the old taverns still in business (El Verano Inn, Fork, Stormy's, Twin Oaks, Washoe House).