We’ve designed Best in Sonoma as a Visitors Guide for our Sonoma Valley vacation rental guests (and for our friends and families). In the past, our guests arrived in Sonoma confused about best things to do in Sonoma Valley and wasted a bunch of time trying to figure it out. This is our attempt to put perspective on the all the great things to do in Sonoma and to provide some suggestions along the way. – Byron & Julie
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The town of Sonoma is located 45 miles north of San Francisco in the heart of the California wine country. It is the gateway to the scenic 17-mile Sonoma Valley which is cradled between the Mayacamas and the Sonoma Mountain ranges. It runs as far north as the southern edges of Santa Rosa and as far south as the San Pablo Bay.
The crown jewel of the California wine country isn't a winery or vineyard: it is the 8-acre Sonoma Plaza, located at the center of the City of Sonoma. You can spend days exploring the historic sites; wine tasting rooms; restaurants; and shops that surround this iconic treasure. Download map of Sonoma Plaza (PDF).
Sonoma is a year-round destination with the greatest number of visitors in summer and fall. Springtime is glorious with beautiful wildflowers and mustard blossoms in the vineyards. Summer boasts unending days of clear blue skies, warm days and cool evenings. Autumn months are the busiest due to the excitement of the grape harvest. Winter is peaceful and beautiful with many sunny, 60 degree days.
Most visitors arrive in Sonoma via private car --- either their own car, a rental car, cab or limo. Currently, there are no regularly scheduled airport shuttles that will get you all the way to Sonoma. There are shuttles to nearby Petaluma and Napa, from which you can take a taxi.
Take your pick! You can drive your own car, rent a care, hire a limo or driver, take a taxi, rent a bike or even a trolley. And of course if you are staying near the plaza you can get around on foot for several days visiting all the sites of interest.
San Francisco Bay Area residents can now visit Sonoma for the day and return home in the evening without consuming a drop of gas. A public Electric Vehicle plug-in charging station is available at Sonoma's historic town Plaza.
It's a fact, Napa Valley is great too! So are our many other Sonoma County wine country neighbors. Best of all is that they are all within striking range for day trips from Sonoma. Here are a few pointers to get started exploring these other wonderful corners of the northern California wine country.
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