|
Neighborhoods
Sonoma County is on the northwest coast of California and in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Sonoma County is the southwestern county of California's Wine Country region. It has thirteen approved American Vita cultural areas, Napa, Mendocino, and Lake counties as well as over 250 wineries surround this beautiful area. In 2002 Sonoma County ranked as the second county in the United States in agricultural production. Sonoma County is the home of Sonoma State University and Santa Rosa Junior Collage. As of 2007, Sonoma County has rich agricultural land witch has preserved forested areas, coastal habitat. Santa Rosa Santa Rosa, the largest city in Sonoma County and the fifth largest in the Bay Area, is located just 55 miles north of San Francisco and is surrounded by nearly 200 vineyards and wineries, and within 30 minutes of the famed redwood groves, the Russian River, and the spectacular Pacific coastline. Santa Rosa has every attraction expected within a major city, with its symphony, performing arts center, theater productions, internationally-recognized restaurants and a healthy mix of businesses in the technological, retail, medical, agricultural and service sectors. Yet, while having a population of more than 150,000, Santa Rosa still retains the warmth and small-town feel of decades past with an extraordinary quality of life for its residents and visitors. This warm and friendly city, an urban blend of art and culture, food, wine and recreation, is the perfect location for families and all travelers to stay for a relaxing and adventurous vacation. Notable residents Charles Shultz (Creator of Charlie Brown and Snoopy) Sonoma The town of Sonoma boasts a relatively quiet setting. Sonoma was laid out in the standard form of a Mexican town, centered around the largest plaza in California. This plaza is surrounded by many historical buildings and the early 20th-century city hall at the plaza's center, and still in use, was designed and built with four identical sides in order not to offend the merchants on any one side of the plaza. The plaza is a National Historical Landmark and still serves as the town's focal point, hosting many community festivals and drawing tourists all year round. About eight miles south of the city is the Infineon Raceway. Notable residents Jack London Agoston Haraszthy (The father of California Vitulture) B.R. Cohn (Business manager to the Doobie Brothers) John Lasseter (Pixar Animation Studios) The Sebastiani Family Healdsburg When you long for small town charm, come to Healdsburg. Envision a town with the best qualities of turn-of-the century America, yet with the ambiance of a European countryside. Tucked between three lush valleys and surrounded by over 60 wineries, Healdsburg is nestled in the heart of the wine country. We're only 65 miles north of San Francisco on Hwy. 101. Our early residents, the Pomo Indians, built their villages in these open fertile valleys along the Russian River. The wild 1800's and California Gold Rush brought new settlers to the generous farming land here. One early entrepreneur, Harmon Heald, envisioned a grand plan for the village that would be his namesake. In 1857 he constructed a store and post office, sold lots "downtown", and plotted a town complete with a Spanish-style Plaza. Healdsburg was officially incorporated ten years later. The extension of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad in 1871 brought visitors and increased commerce to our booming town. Cloverdale Cloverdale lies in the northern part of Sonoma County along the Russian River. Cloverdale is a gateway to the three surrounding wine appellations: Alexander Valley, Anderson Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Mendocino County wine. Cloverdale is home to popular annual events, fine restaurants, B&B inns and hotels, and panoramic views of the wine country. Cloverdale has a colorful history dating back to the opening of a trading post and tavern for travelers and pack trains. Come find out what brought people to this rural part of northern California. Forestville At the crossroads of America's finest wine-producing region and the world's most magnificent stand of trees... Forestville, California (pop. 1776) is truly the town "where the wine country meets the redwoods." Situated beside the picturesque Russian River, Forestville is the gateway to the rugged recreational areas of western Sonoma County... a world-class Mecca for campers, fishermen, hikers, bicyclists, birdwatchers, naturalists, and whale watchers. At Steelhead Beach, the rippling blue river winds through a pristine stretch of verdant wilderness, where once a Pomo Indian band lived in harmony with the forest. The unincorporated town of Forestville is located 15 miles northwest of Santa Rosa, California and 70 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Logging operations flourished in the areas where Guerneville and Korbel Vineyards are located today, bringing the railroad across western Sonoma County Sebastopol Situated amidst a landscape of apple orchards, vineyards, forests, and meadows, Sebastopol offers a "farm fresh" and "family friendly" atmosphere to locals and visitors alike. Add to this mix a mild climate, a thriving agricultural community, unlimited recreational activities and an eclectic array of the arts. The result is a spirited, generous community with a progressive eye on the future. Armstrong Woods National Park Armstrong Woods National Park, ancient stands of giant sequoias rise above the shaded forest floor to form a fragrant canopy. Scenic vineyards lie nestled among stately redwood, oak, pine, and madrone trees... and, close by, blanket the gently rolling hills of the Russian River and Alexander valleys. A stylish resort community arose along the Russian River. Forestville became a popular train stop for loggers and vacationers making the rugged journey from Santa Rosa to Stumptown, now known as Guerneville. Today. Annadel State Park The park, 60 miles north of San Francisco on the eastern edge of Santa Rosa offers miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and trail riding. For wildflower lovers, Annadel Park offers a great variety of flowers from early Spring until early Summer, especially on a hike around Lake Ilsanjo. The best months to see the park's wildflowers are April and May, but there are some plants in bloom as early as January and as late as September. Petaluma Experience the Charm of one of the oldest cities in California, with one of the best preserved Historic Downtown Areas, on the National Register of Historic Places. Victorian homes and Iron Front buildings surround this charming Riverfront town. Centrally located 32 miles north of San Francisco in Sonoma County Wine Country, Petaluma is the ideal base for exploring more than 195 wineries, the redwoods, dramatic coast, Point Reyes National Seashore and the entire Bay Area. Glen Ellen There are many picturesque wineries in the Glen Ellen and Kenwood areas of the Sonoma Valley. Some of the beautiful wineries in this township include; Benziger Winery, Chateau St. Jean Winery - first vintage 1974, St Francis Winery - growing wine grapes since 1971, making wine since 1979, Ledson Winery and Vineyard whose Sonoma Valley landmark winery is known as "Ledson Castle" and The Glen Oaks Ranch located on Highway 12 just east of Glen Ellen, is now on the National Register of Historical Landmarks. Notable Residents Charles V. Stuart General Mariano Vallejo Russian River The Russian River is located a short drive from the San Francisco bay area and Sacramento. For over a 100 years it has been the preferred getaway for these great cities. Come for the wine, river, redwoods and coast. Come to relax in the grandness of nature. Windsor Whether you are a resident of Windsor, or just visiting, you will admire the beauty of our countryside Town with its oak-covered hills and valleys, fields of vineyards, soaring hot air balloons and distant plumes of the geysers. As Sonoma County's fourth largest town, Windsor offers the convenience of modern shopping centers; youth, senior & community centers; health care centers and updated schools. Cotati Cotati has long been considered the "Hub" of Sonoma County by virtue of its central location and its historic hexagonal plaza. Cotati has been an integral link in Sonoma County for generations and continues that trend today. Cotati's diversity is evident in everything from its rural neighborhoods to its proximity to Sonoma State University. Cotati is home to a very clean light industrial area and is proud of its trend toward mixed-use development and "Green Building." We envision ourselves as continuing a leadership role in Green Building with our future Rail Station and Walk able designs. We encourage you to come and visit our treasures. Enjoy one of our many cultural events. We are home to the Annual Kids Day Parade and Festival, the upcoming 15th anniversary of the Cotati Accordion Festival, the delicious Farmer's Market, the wonderful Cotati Philharmonic Orchestra, Rohnert Park Located in Sonoma County's southern central plain with 42,550 residents, Rohnert Park is the county's third largest city. Thoughtfully designed for families, it is one of the first planned communities in the United States. Bikeways and walkways connect its tree-lined boulevards and attractive neighborhoods. Each neighborhood is designed around a park and elementary school. Farms surround the city itself and grazing land where nationally sought after organic and boutique vegetables, fruits and cheeses are grown and produced. Rohnert Park is a sports and recreation destination in Sonoma County's Wine Country. It has more public and private recreational facilities and opportunities per capita than any other city in the North Bay. There is the added attraction of two performing arts centers and Sonoma State University. Bohemian Grove Bohemian Grove, a secluded campground in California's Sonoma County, is the site of an annual two-week gathering of a highly select, all-male club, whose members have included every Republican president since Calvin Coolidge. Current participants include George Bush, Henry Kissinger, James Baker and David Rockefeller -- a virtual who's who of the most powerful men in business and government. In fact, official business is conducted there: Policy speeches are regularly made by members and guests, and the club privately boasts that the Manhattan Project was conceived on its grounds. Bodega Bay Bodega Bay is a small shallow, sand-choked inlet of the Pacific Ocean on the coast of northern California northwest of San Francisco and 20 miles (32 km) west of Santa Rosa. The bay straddles the boundary between Sonoma and Marin counties. Bodega Bay is protected on its north end from the Pacific Ocean by Bodega Head, which shelters the small Bodega Harbor, separated from the main bay by a small spit of land. The village of Bodega Bay sits on the eastern side of Bodega Harbor. The bay connects on its south end to the mouth of Tomales Bay. Bodega Bay was also the setting of the Alfred Hitchcock film, The Birds. There is some speculation that Bodega Bay may have been Sir Francis Drake's Nova Albion landing location on the California coast. Napa Napa, once the producer of many different crops is known today for its wine industry, the combination of natural beauty, pleasant Mediterranean climate make this region one of the most desirable areas in which to live. Estates in the county, particularly those with views of San Pablo Bay have been known to sell for nearly ten million dollars. The Napa wine country was the inspiration for the fictional Tuscany Valley on the nighttime soap opera Falcon Crest. |
