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Sonoma County
The
stunning and increasingly picturesque county of Sonoma
is comfortably situated on the northern coast of the
Golden State California. Coterminous with other counties
like Marin and Napa, Sonoma has the largest area of the
rest of the nine SF Bay Area counties. Sonoma is, in
fact, one of the best counties when it comes to
California’s ‘wine country region’. With over 13 of
America’s AVA situated here, Sonoma is a wine lovers
paradise. The county comprises of the city of Sonoma and
the well known Sonoma Valley, though the valley region
is not just limited to these. The county consists of
cities like St. Helena, Yountville Napa, and
unincorporated towns like Circle Oaks, Gordon Valley,
Chiles Valley, Deer Park, Dry Creek to name a few. The
largest city of this county is Santa Rosa.
Sonoma County has the
Pacific Ocean bordering it on the western side and North
Coast ranges on the other, thereby lending to the area a
scenic backdrop which attracts tourists by thousands
every year. The North Coast Ranges have to their credit,
peaks like the Hood Mountain and mounts like the Sonoma
Mountains and the Mayacamas. Besides this, the famous
Sears Point finds its home in the Sonoma Mountains as
does the Pygmy Forest in the Mayacamas. Besides this,
the mountains are even home to Historic parks and
Preserves. The county is bestowed with the bountiful
areas of woodlands, grasslands, marshes, forests, oak
savannas and coastal scrubs thereby providing the Sonoma
backdrop with an awe striking diversity. The county is
lucky to have natural areas like the California oak
woodland and spring creek watersheds and state parks
like Annadel State Park. You‘ll find these spots to be a
thriving centre of flora and fauna with some interesting
species flourishing here. The water bodies zigzagging
and running their course through the county are the
Russian River, Gualala River, Petaluma River and Goat
Rock Beach; they offer magnificent views and make for a
very reviving experience. The foliage of this area
comprises of trees like Douglas fir, California laurel,
Garry oak and Coast Live Oak. Few other commonly found
varieties are, coast silk-tassel and poison oak. The
county has its fair share of threatened species as well;
from the freshwater shrimp to the clapper rail including
the red-legged frog and showy Indian clover, the county
has it all! You can also find the California Tiger
Salamander here.
Talking about the weather,
you will find a lot of diversity here. As a result of
its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the weather here has
a fair degree of coolness to it. You are sure to enjoy
your Sonoma summers, basking in the sun, feeling the
cool breeze playing with your hair… the county can be
said to have various microclimates, all as a result of
the varied topography surrounding the area. It’s
nearness to the ocean, the Central Valley along with the
hills and mountains enveloping the area have played a
huge part in shaping the weather conditions of the
county. Fogs are a common occurrence here. The summer
season on this side of the country ranges from being
normal to a little high.
History of Sonoma
Talking about the
historical perspective of the county, its past can be
dated back to 5000 BC. The first people to ever settle
on these shores of the country were the Wappo, Pomo and
Coast Miwoks. They came to these lands somewhere between
the 8000’s to the 5000’s (BC) and their presence can
still be felt through the carvings they left behind. The
carvings were done on rock in, what experts call a
‘pecked curvilinear nucleated’ motif. The county of
Sonoma has witnessed not just these different tribes
setting their base here, but also others like Europeans,
especially Spaniards coming and settling on the gentle
shores of Sonoma. The years between the sixteenth to
nineteenth centuries had the Europeans traveling to
these shores in search for timber etc.
If one
is to go back year by year and century by century into
Sonoma County’s past then it will come to surface that
the county has been under the authority and control of
various countries. In fact; in all, six nations have
laid their supremacy over this county. The first were
the Spaniards, who claimed the area in the mid sixteenth
century, around 1542 to be more precise. After that, the
county changed hands with the Kingdom of England, which
had signaled a sea voyage on the Golden Hind under the
expert command of the famous Captain Drake. Once again
after this, the county passed onto the rule of the
Spanish Empire. It was only until Mexico became free
that the county area came under the supreme authority
and control of the Russian Empire. After this, Sonoma
was taken over by the First Mexican Empire, for two
years, and then by Mexican Republic. For a very short
while, that is from June to July, Sonoma was under the
California Republic. It was only on 9 July 1846 that the
county of Sonoma was finally under the United States of
America. And from then till now, it has been under USA
only. Thus it can be seen that the county had shifted
hands with a lot of varied cultures and different
societies. As a result, the character of the cities has
been molded as per the exposure it received. What a
tourist will find here is the combination off all these
customs… But the first people who deserve the credit for
settling base here permanently were the Russians, who
came here and set up a company named the
Russian-American Company. This brought in its wake
thousands of other people, settlers and travelers. The
company was set up in the Fort Ross area of the county
and is till date visited by a lot of tourists. Anyone
looking for a date with this dazzling county’s history
has to pay a visit to this old company. It has to be
mentioned that the county has seen more than its fair
share of battles; it was the home ground during the
famous Bear Flag Revolt between the locals and the
Mexicans.
Wines…
When it comes to wine, the
county has to its credit past that dates back to the
1800’s. The Sonoma wine region produces some of the most
delectable wines through the numerous vineyards that dot
t he landscape of the county. Some of its most well
known appellations are Alexander Valley, Dry Creek
Valley, Sonoma Coast and Valley, Knights Valley etc.
Places of interest
Sonoma County is a
mesmerizing blend of nature’s beauty. As mentioned
before, the milieu of rolling hills, impressive
mountains, green fields, lush green vineyards can take
anyone’s breath away! Sonoma County is a traveler's
paradise; you can choose to walk through the picturesque
landscape and relish the scenic atmosphere.
There
are a whole lot of fun things to do, once you get you
feet into the county. From beaches to bike trails,
Sonoma lays it all-out for the hungry traveler. Beach
bums can enjoy themselves at the various beaches that
dot the county area. With the cool waters of the Pacific
Ocean lapping on the sandy shores, the Sonoma Coast
State Beach is a wonderful place to be! With over
seventeen miles of shoreline area, the beach offers,
tantalizing glimpses of the setting sun and the whole
ambience around. Sit back, laze around, dip yourself in
the cool waters or just sunbathe while reading the book,
there are ample of choices you can make. The beach-scape
is made up of sandy beach area sporadically cutting
across the jagged rock-strewn seashore. The beach area
is perfect for those who relish the rush of adrenaline
pumping in their veins. Once here, you can opt for many
beachside/water activities that will definitely provide
you with the much needed thrill. Besides this, the
county has various other beaches, - Goat Rock Beach,
Arched Rock Beach and Gleason Beach. They provide for
numerous fun filled experiences and are a must if you
enjoy the feel of water threading through your feet! Few
other beaches are Pinnacle Gulch and the Doran Regional
Park. Talking about these, the county is not just
blessed with beautiful beaches, but also bays and lakes.
Some of the most visited and loved ones are Bodega Bay,
Lake Sonoma and Tolay Lake. The Bay of Bodega is a small
cove area situated near San Francisco and Santa Rosa.
Known for being somewhat rocky, it offers interesting
opportunities for indulging in some sports. The bay
gives way to few other water bodies like the Tomales
Bay, Estero Americano etc. Lake Sonoma graces the
northern part of the Sonoma County and as such is most
visited for its activity possibilities. Leisure time and
Sonoma are somewhat synonymous once you reach here.
Those traveling with kids, can actually have an amazing
session of sheer amusement and merrymaking and not to
forget great time bonding with t he family as they move
onto camping and hiking in this serene and gorgeous
area. A trip to this side of the county is wasted if you
don’t go for water sports/activities like swimming,
boating and fishing. There is nothing more wonderful
than baiting your favorite fish as you patiently sit and
drink in the wonderful surroundings. Undoubtedly, it
creates a fetching picture. You can also sign up for
activities like hunting and have a good time trampling
around the green side of the lake! Besides this, Lake
Sonoma also offers its visitors the pleasure of checking
out Milt Brandt Visitor Centre and the Warm Springs
Recreation Area. The area also has its own dam, famously
known as the Warm Springs Dam, and as such turns out to
be quite an educational yet fun.
If fresh water lakes are
more your style, then head towards the Tolay Lake.
Diametrically opposite to Lake Sonoma, this is huddled
in the southern part of the county, in the Sonoma
Mountains. The area is famous for the Tolay Lake
Regional Park. The park is an ecological preserve and is
a sure shot must visit! Once here, be prepared to be
dazzled with the impressive varieties of endangered
species. Nature lovers are sure to have amazing time as
they indulge in watching rarest of the rare animal
species lie the California red-legged frog, Western pond
turtle, Golden eagles,; and Western burrowing owl to
name a few.
If
nature is what you love then Quarryhill Botanical
Garden, Luther Burbank Home and Gardens and Jack London
State Historic Park should top your must-visit list!
Acres and acres of foliage so rich in color and so
distinct in shape and texture, anyone will be amazed!
Luther Burbank Home and Gardens is a state historical
landmark and is known to house the grave of the famous
agriculturist Luther Burbank. Situated in Santa Rosa,
the city park has an impressive line up fauna in its
garden and greenhouse- be it ornamental trees or herbs
having medicinal value, the place has them all. Come
here to gaze at hundreds of varieties of cactus and
roses et al!
The county also has The
Quarryhill Botanical Garden which is a research house of
one of the largest compilation of moderate Asian plants
in North America. It is absolutely spectacular in its
appeal and is sure to leave you stunned with its
collection! Holboellia coriacea, Acer pentaphyllum,
Cornus capitata, all find home here in this wonderful
place. Plants and seeds from all over the world can be
found here, you name it and they have it! Be it India,
China, Kuwait, Korea or Nepal. Yet another ‘green area’
which merits description is the Jack London State
Historic Park. Also a national historic landmark, it has
the Jack London home in it which is fondly referred to
as the Wolf House. Though now in ruins it is still quite
an imposing structure!
The county of Sonoma also
has a historic ranch house to its credit! The Rancho
Petaluma Adobe is an architectural pleasure and offers
lots of opportunities to click pictures!!!
Related websites and additional information:
Sonoma Valley Visitor's
Bureau
http://www.sonomavalley.com/
Sonoma County Guide
http://sonoma.com/
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