"Sonoma - Heart of the Wine Country" a Sonoma Travel Page by Rixie

Sonoma is a pretty little historic town located 50 miles northeast of San Francisco in the heart of the Northern California wine country. Established in 1823 as the last of the 21 California missions, it is set in a valley among rolling hills and vineyards.

The Sonoma Valley, also known as The Valley of the Moon, today is famous for its fine wines. A friendly rivalry exists between Sonoma Valley and the nearby Napa Valley, known locally as The Other Valley. Well, maybe the rivalry isn't so friendly after all... :)

Tourists flock to Sonoma on weekends and in summer to go winetasting at local wineries, to attend annual events like the Vintage Festival and the Salute to the Arts, or simply to escape from the San Francisco fog and relax in the Plaza.

During the summer months, a Farmer's Market is held every Tuesday evening in the Plaza in front of Sonoma City Hall. It's a festive occasion, with live music and vendors selling fresh produce, handicrafts, and takeaway food. The crowd is a lively mixture of tourists and local families. Buy yourself a bouquet of sunflowers, a bag of beautiful red tomatoes, and a homemade peach pie; sit on the grass and listen to the music. My current favorites: Petaluma cheese, and Beezolio's skin balm made from beeswax and olive oil.

Sonoma Plaza is a wonderful place to picnic or people-watch, and there are always places where you can find a private moment in the middle of the crowd.

This mural, on the side of the Lynch Building on First Street West, reflects Sonoma's cultural heritage and the importance of the grape harvest to the Valley.