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.
The Petaluma area was part of a 66,000 acre (270-km²) 1834 Mexican land grant by Governor Jose Figueroa to Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo called Rancho Petaluma. In 1836, Vallejo ordered the construction of his Rancho Petaluma Adobe a ranch house in Petaluma, which his family often used as a summer home, while he resided in the neighboring town of Sonoma. Vallejo's influence and Mexican control in the region began to decline after Vallejo's arrest during the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846.
Pioneers moved to Petaluma from the eastern United States after James Marshall found gold in the Sierra Nevadas in 1848. The town's position on the Petaluma River in the heart of productive farmland was critical to its growth during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Sailing scows, such as the scow schooner Alma (1892), and steamers plied the river between Petaluma and San Francisco, carrying agricultural produce and raw materials to the burgeoning city of San Francisco during the California Gold Rush.
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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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.
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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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