I’d
like to share with you some of the finds I have made during
my twenty plus years in Sonoma County real estate. Naturally,
this is a totally biased unscientific list of what I like
about one of the best places in the world to live. This
is not an advertisement for anyone on the list and they
do not know I am recommending them. I hope you find something
new and enjoy it as much as I do.
Great fall color
display (especially if you’re originally from the
Northeastern USA):
Arnold
Drive just South of Glen Ellen at the Sonoma Developmental
Center, just drive through, perhaps on your way to Jack
London Park.
Most spectacular spring color
display:
One
of the best kept secrets of the county is the Sonoma Horticultural
Nursery on the aptly named street Azalea Lane, off McFarlane
off Hessel Road, South of Sebastopol. There are several
acres of exquisitely landscaped gardens of Azaleas and
Rhododendrons with a large pond. It’s free to walk
around the trails. Best to go in April or May.
Best outdoor swimming:
Hands
down Lake Ilsanjo in Annadel State Park. (shortest hike
to it is the Viet Nam Vets trail off Annadel Heights Rd.,
then take the Spring Creek Trail up -- it’s about
2 miles)
Best Sonoma County stretch of Russian River to canoe:
Alexander
Valley to Healdsburg. Rent from Trowbridge in Healdsburg.
This stretch has mild rapids, Great Blue herons, turtles,
fish and more. Do get out on the beach where they will
pick you up. The last distance to the bridge in Healdsburg
is against the wind. Pack extra clothing or food in water
proof bags.
Little known source for amazing in season peaches:
Dry
Creek Peach and Produce, off Dry Creek Road on Yoakim
Bridge Road.
Best foccacia bread and fruit turnovers:
Downtown
Bakery and Creamery in Healdsburg on the Plaza. Everything
else there is also great in this Chez Panisse inspired
bakery.
Best park to sight a golden eagle:
Yes,
they are here. Hood Mountain Park. You may also sight
a rattlesnake or a mountain lion.
Most windy spot where you can get winded:
Point
Arena lighthouse. (O.K. not strictly in Sonoma County,
but it’s still a great place and the ride on the
coast is great. Climb the stairs for fun and do not miss
the frenel lens or the view from the top.
Most weird California gift for visiting friends or relatives:
A
mud bath experience in Calistoga, you’ll be very
hungry afterwards -- have a lunch in one of the unusual
restaurants in town. (my current favorite Katahoola--
post modern decor - Cajun cuisine.) Second choice, take
them on an antique carriage ride in west county. Call
John Jenkel at Romantic Horse Drawn Adventures in Sebastopol.
Tacky tourist attractions that you probably would never
consider going to but would actually find interesting
and glad you went to:
The
Petrified forest on Porter Creek Road, the Old Faithful
Geyser just North of Calistoga, the Ripley Museum.
Lightest gnocchi (that great Italian potato dish) served
by a waiter with a real Italian accent:
Della
Santina just off the square in Sonoma. Dine in the open
patio. Try it you’ll like it.
Best gondola ride to a mountain top west of Lake Tahoe:
Sterling
Vineyards in the Napa Valley. They also have an excellent
winery tour.
Best smelling winery:
Matanzas
Creek on Bennett Valley Road also grows beautiful and
fragrant fields of Lavender.
Best day to attend the Harvest Fair:
Friday.
That’s the day the wines are organized by variety
so you can easily compare the best chardonnays, cabarnets,
etc. Of course, by the third variety it all tastes quite
good. Bring a designated driver!
Best wildflower display:
There
is no one best. In a good year you can be dazzled anywhere.
I do like the meadow at the base of the Bald Mountain
Trail in Sugarloaf state park. There is a great wild iris
display on Coleman Valley Road just as it begins its descent
to the ocean.
Best sushi this side of Tokyo:
Yao
Kiku restaurant in Bennett Valley, surprisingly located
in an unglamourous strip mall next to Long’s Drugs.
Sam, the owner is a genius of sushi and fun to watch.
Hikes you can only get to with permission:
Join
the Sonoma Land Trust, one of the premier non-profit conservation
groups dedicated to preserving open space habitats and
agriculture. (In the interest of full disclosure, you
should know I serve on its Board of Trustees as a volunteer).
Members can have the opportunity to hike on some of the
over 10,000 acres we have already protected. Also your
donation is tax deductible and will help to further preserve
what we all love in Sonoma County.
Most Scenic Drives:
I have three bests...
1)
Coleman Valley Road from Occidental to the coast.
2) Geyser’s Road. Take Alexander Valley Road to
Old Winery Road to Geysers Road. It winds up to Geysers
geothermal plant which you can see from the road. Steam
rises out of the ground and some of the many pipes.
The views are stunning and the chaparral terrain is
unusual and dramatic.
3) West Dry Creek Road, from Healdsburg take Westside
to West Dry Creek and go north. I like it in the fall
when the vineyards and trees show their fall color.
Great wineries along the way too.
Best view of the Russian River:
Hike
the Pomo Canyon Trail. It’s steep for the first mile
and relatively flat thereafter. Park at Shell Beach parking
lot on Hwy. 1 and then cross the road to the trail head
which is directly opposite. You’ll overlook the river
and hike through two beautiful stands of redwoods. They
are odd in that they are very narrow and seem to have
been planted out of place like you might see in a theme
park. However, they provide a beautiful fern habitat and
a taste of what the whole area was once like. The trail
itself is supposed to be an old Miwok-Pomo trade route
used by the Native Tribes long ago.
See a giraffe without leaving the continent:
Safari
West on Porter Creek Road has tours available on their
75 acre wild animal preserve.
Most impressive yet easily overlooked natural wonder:
Armstrong
Woods has many impressive trees including two over 300
feet tall. After logging for many years Colonel Armstrong
decided to leave a little bit for all of us with his name
on it. Take Hwy. 116 to Guerneville (don’t pronounce
it “Guerneyville”) and turn north on Armstrong
Redwoods Road go to the end.
Best Ice Cream:
Located
just steps from my office, Screamin’ Mimi’s.
On the corner of Hwy. 12 and 116 in Sebastopol. Mimi’s
mud must be tried at least once in your life.
Best Place for Cheese outside of France:
Whole
Foods, especially at the Santa Rosa store on Yulupa Ave.
Best Sonoma County real estate broker:
If
you don’t know by now ignore this list.
