I'm planning a family trip for 5. The Sonoma area is one of our options. My dad and brother are into Nascar, and there is a race they want to go to in Sonoma in June. I'm trying to find other things (attractions, day side trips, etc.) to try and sell my dad and brother on Sonoma (the other three of us would be content drinking wine for a week). Are we close enough to San Francisco for a day trip? Any suggestions would be great. My dad's not a real outdoorsy/hiker type... more of a window shopper, people watcher. We'd be staying for a week, staying in Sonoma. Thanks in advance!

Sounds like no problem to me! You can do plenty of wine tasting while they are at the races. You are less than an hour from San Francisco. Ditto the Pacific Ocean. Plenty of sight-seeing, including Muir Woods and all of Napa and the other wine areas, such as Russian River. Do it!

Are you staying in the city of Sonoma? If so, there is lots of window shopping in nice stores around the Plaza, as noted in the other post it is an easy trip over to Napa Valley with shopping, sightseeing in Napa, St. Helena, Calistoga and Yountville. Also as noted less than an hour (dependng on traffic) into San Francisco. Or you can avoid the big city and go into Petaluma, Santa Rosa, over to the coast at Pt. Reyes, or along the Russian River. Lots to do.

There's Jack London State Park, with the ruins of Jack London's Wolf House and the house that his wife Charmian built, containing memorabilia from their trip to the South Pacific. Benziger is near the entrance of the park for those who want to wine taste. Glen Ellen has a store that specializes in olive products, and has tastings of various locally made olive oils.

You are the drinkers, and since they like NASCAR, they can be your designated drivers!

Yes, stay in the town of Sonoma. Plenty of wineries within 18 miles. Lots of history in the pretty town with its Plaza from the Mexican days. The Buena Vista Winery, a mile or so out of town is where the Hungarian Count (Harazsthy?) brought the first European wine grape cuttings to California. The Plaza is ringed with old adobe buildings , now housing boutiques, hotels, etc.

If you have not decided on your lodging, go to elpuebloinn.com, my favorite reasonable place to stay, about a mile from the Plaza, free do-it-yourself waffle breakfast. Gardens and a pool.

And, as someone else mentioned, you are an hour, or less, from San Francisco. Great day trip.

look at winecountry.com

Thanks everyone! these are all great suggestions!!!