Kenwood
Wine enthusiasts and nature lovers alike will find a great base of operations in the town of Kenwood (pop. 1,028), located in eastern Sonoma County at the north end of the picturesque Sonoma Valley.
Wine tasting — and more — is available at in-town tasting rooms or in the world-renowned wineries along the outskirts of town.
Shop for hand-made folk art, artisan wine racks, and garden and pet supplies at Swede's Feeds. You'll recognize it by the colorful metal-welded animal sculptures standing in the store's front yard: at times the metal menagerie has included a 10-foot-tall dinosaur or 12-foot-tall giraffe.
Explore the outdoors at nearby Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, home to miles of trails, a waterfall, and Bald Mountain. It's also home to the Robert Ferguson Observatory.
South of town, Wildwood Nursery features sculptures scattered on trails throughout five lushly-forested acres. The nursery showcases more than 250 varieties of Japanese maples, many of them rare, as well as dogwoods, ginkgos, conifers, edible plant starts, and bonsai-style beech, maple, and evergreen trees.
Kenwood offers a range of lodging options, including bed and breakfast inns, vacation rentals, and winery cottages. The Kenwood Inn and Spa, a Mediterranean villa-style resort, consistently receives awards from Conde Nast Traveler and other travel publications.
When dining out, enjoy farm-to-fork Wine Country comfort food inspired by southern cuisine at Tips Roadside, or burgers, barbecue, pizza, and other New American cuisine at Palooza Brewery & Gastropub, or the global California eatery and oyster bar, Salt & Stone.
Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa was settled by Missouri farmers and frontiersmen and stood as a stronghold for the Confederacy in a Yankee county during the Civil War. The center of a farming area, Santa Rosa grew to 50,000 people by 1970 and then, bolstered by well-to-do commuters and retirees, doubled in size in less than 20 years.
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Sonoma
The city of Sonoma is the birthplace of the California wine industry. Sonoma Valley’s quaint towns glow with as much character as the local wines. Sonoma is a historically significant city in California; its historic town plaza is a remnant of the town’s Mexican colonial past. Today, Sonoma is the home of the Sonoma International Film Festival.
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Rohnert Park
Rohnert Park is one of the first planned communities in the United States. The city was designed with families in mind, with the focus being on children. Each Rohnert Park neighborhood was designed around a city park and elementary school, and the tree-lined streets are connected by bikeways and walkways. The city is also home to Sonoma State University, which offers 9 credential programs and eight undergraduate and graduate certificate programs. Although the original designer's focus was children, the needs of seniors were not left out.
Rohnert Park Details »Guerneville
Surrounded by ancient redwoods in the heart of Sonoma County and just a few miles inland from the spectacular Sonoma Coast, the Russian River area invites you to explore, play or just relax. This region has embraced travelers since the railroads linked it to San Francisco in 1877. Today, charming towns like Forestville, Rio Nido, and Guerneville welcome visitors to their local shops and galleries. Or maybe you're looking for a cup of coffee, a homemade pastry, or a farm-to-table lunch in Monte Rio, Cazadero, and Duncans Mills – the whole county is known for great wines and locally made foods.
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Oakmont
Oakmont is a 55+ community located in Sonoma County and features three pools, three recreation centers, two 18 hole golf courses, over 3300 homes and approximately 5500 residents. miles of hiking trails, over 100 clubs and organizations and much more!
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Petaluma
Petaluma is easy to find, straight up Highway 101, 32 miles north of San Francisco. It is the portal to Sonoma County, making Petaluma an ideal base for excursions to the Wine Country, the dramatic Sonoma Coast, and the majestic redwood groves.
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