Sonoma
 

I will be spending several days with friends in Sonoma next month. Other than wineries ��, any suggestions for must see places either around Sonoma or on the coast, or should not miss places to eat. We are pretty casual about dining. Thanks.

I would drive over to Bodega Bay, have lunch at Fisherman's Cove or the like, take a hike, or at least walk up the hill. The drive is beautiful, and the bay is gorgeous.

I've heard Jack London State Historical Park is really nice, but I haven't been.

If you like charming downtowns, don't miss Sonoma (the city, as opposed to the county or the valley) and Healdsburg.

Look up these names and put together a nice leisurely drive through the region:

Head west to Bodega Bay and north to

Jenner (where the Russian River ends - lots of good vistas as you drive west / north along Highway 1)

Consider lunch at River's End Restaurant

Then up to Fort Ross, a former Russian establishment that looks like the picture-book example of a fort from the old West - look it up, and when you get there, walk to the far right where a bell still shows Russian inscriptions - a reminder of the history that is behind all that "Russian" stuff in the area.

Then drive through Guerneville and Rio Nido and back down to Sonoma with whatever other stops or sidetrips come to mind.

ditto to all of the above. Plus Armstrong Redwoods . . .

Thanks for the driving tips. We spent a week with our family at Bodega Bay last summer and did the trip to Ft. Ross. Beautiful drive, but the twisty turns are not for the weak of stomach, I will take a pass on doing it again so soon.

Thinking more about Tomales Bay instead.

We'll, if you decide on Tomales Bay, I'd highly recommend barbecued oysters (actually barbecued anything) at the Marshall Store. Their barbecue sauce is fantastic.

The Jack London State Historic Park, the Vallejo homestead near the town of Sonoma, and the main square of the town itself are all worth a visit.

Jack London State Historic Park.

<B>http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/22755-2/</B>

Fort Ross & Sonoma Coast

<B>http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/fort-ross-and-the-sonoma-coast/</B>

Point Reyes Lighthouse

<B>http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/point-reyes-lighthouse-point-reyes-station/</B>

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Oh, and Sonoma Square.

<B>http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/sonoma-square-surroundings-sonoma/</B>

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