Sonoma

Sonoma is a city in the Sonoma Valley within Sonoma County, in the north part of the Bay Area of California. With its central location in wine country, the city of Sonoma, with little over 10,000 residents, attracts thousands of visitors from around the world for wine tastings.

Understand
The city is based around the Sonoma Plaza (locals call it "The Square" or "The Plaza") which is a historic landmark. Restaurants, bars, boutiques and local businesses cluster around the Plaza, with historic houses and residential neighborhoods surrounding it on the southwest and southeast sides, and hills and parkland on its northern end.

Besides being the center of the modern wine-making industry in Sonoma County, the city of Sonoma has a rich history dating back to the early 19th century. Spanish colonial settlers established one of their northernmost missions in 1823 when the Mission San Francisco Solano was founded by a Spanish priest, Father Joseph Altimira. The Mission was the first, last, and only California mission established under newly-independent Mexican rule. For a brief period in 1846, from June 14 to July 9, Sonoma was the capital of the short-lived California Republic. There is a monument to the Bear Flag Movement is on the Plaza.

The personality of Sonoma is different than its better-known and more ritzy neighbor Napa. "Sonoma Casual" is the fashion for fundraiser invitations, and wealthy retirees mix with wine industry celebrities and a thriving Latino population. Sonoma is also home to a large Nepalese immigrant community. It's an eccentric town that had a mayor who wore Birkenstock sandals and had long hippie hair; anti-war protesters can occasionally be seen in protests at the Plaza; and you never know when you might see a man riding a bike with a parrot on his shoulder. Sonoma, a small town where everyone knows everyone, is friendly, welcoming, and more affordable than Napa. And yes, particularly in the summer, there are lots of tourists.

Get in
There are no major freeways that go through or even close to Sonoma. The best way to get in is from California State Route 12 which goes directly through the city. Route 12 intersects with Highway 101 in Santa Rosa and I-80 east of Napa near Fairfield. Additionally, State Route 116 connects the city to neighboring Petaluma, to the west, and also connects to Highway 101.

Those traveling from downtown San Francisco or SFO should take Highway 37 to Sears Point in southern Sonoma, then take State Route 121 north, into the valley.

Sonoma County is served by direct flights to Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport from Seattle/Tacoma; Portland, Oregon; Denver; San Francisco;  Los Angeles; Orange County; Las Vegas (seasonal); Phoenix; and Minneapolis (seasonal). From that airport, it's about a 45-minute drive to Sonoma, except during commute hours.

You can also fly into Sacramento or Oakland  Airport as well as San Francisco International Airport. From any of those airports, it's much faster to take a car than public transportation, which is limited to buses.

Get around
Unless you plan on staying at Sonoma Plaza and making it the focus of your visit, Sonoma is a car-dependent city, also offering bike tours and locally owned taxi service. If you're staying at a hotel or resort the concierge can organize transportation for you, or you can arrange your own with some of the many options available in town.

By car
Many visitors rent cars, and take advantage of tour services for bringing them to and from wineries without risking drunk driving. Sonoma wine tour services include:


 * Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley, . A refurbished, gasoline-powered trolley that travels throughout Sonoma starting at $99/person.

By bicycle
Sonoma's mild climate and beautiful scenery make it great for walking or riding a bike. If you want to rent a bike or take a bike tour, there are three places in town:
 * Sonoma Valley Bike Tours 520 Broadway,.
 * Sonoma Valley Bike Tours 520 Broadway,.

By bus
Sonoma County Transit connects Sonoma to the surrounding towns in the county. Their website has information about how to purchase passes and taking your bicycle on to buses.

By taxi
If you find yourself stranded at a winery after too many tastes of Pinot Noir, it may be handy to have the number of someone who will pick you up.


 * Sonoma Taxi, . A Sherpa-owned and -operated taxi service.
 * Sonoma Taxi, . A Sherpa-owned and -operated taxi service.

See
Sonoma is home to the Bear Flag revolt, and the home of General Vallejo; his mansion is a historic landmark that may be seen on any day of the week. If you pay $2 you can get a pass to see his mansion, the Barracks (home of the military back in the 1800s), and the Sonoma Mission (the first church in Sonoma). These three sites are on or near downtown Sonoma plaza, one of the only Spanish-style plazas to be found in California. The Sonoma plaza is a large park which is great for families and it houses the impressive City Hall. Surrounding the plaza are various shops and five-star restaurants as well, if you feel like stimulating the economy.

Do

 * Have a picnic in the park - with a cocktail in the Plaza. Sonoma is one of the few parks in Northern California that allows visitors to drink alcoholic beverages every day of the week, dawn to dusk. Bring a bottle of wine or beer, plus a sandwich or bread and cheese, and enjoy people watching and the beautiful plaza.
 * Have a picnic in the park - with a cocktail in the Plaza. Sonoma is one of the few parks in Northern California that allows visitors to drink alcoholic beverages every day of the week, dawn to dusk. Bring a bottle of wine or beer, plus a sandwich or bread and cheese, and enjoy people watching and the beautiful plaza.



Special events and festivals

 * March


 * July


 * September

Wineries


The following wineries and wine tasting rooms are within the borders of the city of Sonoma. There are many more wineries throughout Sonoma Valley, some only a short car or bike ride from the Plaza.

Most wineries charge for tastings, but will waive fees if you buy wine. You can pick up tasting passes for free or discounted tastings at hotels and the tourism office in the Plaza. If you're a Visa Signature credit card holder you can also get free and discounted tastings throughout the area at some wineries.









Kids
Yes, Sonoma can be family-friendly too. Wineries can be somewhat boring for children - but many do offer sparkling or still cider to make the little ones feel a part of the grown-up fun.
 * Feeding (or chasing) the ducks on the Plaza is another family tradition in Sonoma. The Plaza has a group of odd-ball inbred ducks that have been living there for years. Some have poof balls on their heads that make them particularly appealing. Bring some stale bread from the nearby Basque Boulangerie Cafe and feed the ducks.
 * Feeding (or chasing) the ducks on the Plaza is another family tradition in Sonoma. The Plaza has a group of odd-ball inbred ducks that have been living there for years. Some have poof balls on their heads that make them particularly appealing. Bring some stale bread from the nearby Basque Boulangerie Cafe and feed the ducks.

Buy
West Napa Street is where most of the shopping is centered in the town of Sonoma. Most shops are locally owned, offering gifts, high end clothing and accessories. Wine shops and tasting rooms are plentiful, and bringing home a bottle of wine from a favourite winery, a corkscrew, wine glasses, or a Sonoma focused magnet is a must for any visitor.



Eat
The city of Sonoma is home to some amazing restaurants. You can get high end French-country food, fresh seafood from the coast, and affordable Mexican that is as good as what you'd get down south. Some of these restaurants reside in Sonoma Valley, versus the City of Sonoma, so grab a car or bike and get out for a great bite to eat.

Groceries, gourmet and take-out
Wine country is plentiful with fresh grown food, artisan cheeses, and other tasty morsels year around. This section is for those who want to "cook on the road," whether camping, renting a house, or perhaps just in the mood for a picnic.

Drink
People come to Sonoma usually for one thing: to drink. There are few very bars in Sonoma the town, as most establishments are tasting rooms or restaurants with bars. The few local bars in town bring out primarily local color, but live music and special events can frequently be found by checking local free papers and websites.



Sleep
Sonoma is home to many fine hotels and bed and breakfasts. There are virtually no "budget" hotels in Sonoma proper, but, you can find affordable options via private home rentals or couchsurfing websites. Another option is to stay in Santa Rosa, which is about a 30-40 minute drive north of Sonoma.

Cope

 * Yoga

Go next

 * Glen Ellen - The historic home and state park where Jack London lived and a tiny "downtown" with exclusive restaurants. Just north of Sonoma.
 * Napa - Head east to the town of Napa to start your wine country and Michelin rated restaurant journey in the most famous wine region in the world.
 * Petaluma - West of Sonoma with a historic downtown on a river and a laid back, artsy vibe.
 * Santa Rosa - North of Sonoma, the county seat and the home to Snoopy and Luther Burbank