Great historical park in the Sonoma square behind the visitor center. Free admission and…read moreknowledgeable docents. Worth a stop

Stumbled upon this incredible FREE historic park in the heart of Sonoma. I was on vacation with the…read moreladies in my family here and we were walking around down by the Square of Sonoma and walked upon this spot. First of all, I love that this is a free attraction. So incredibly amazing. At first, I thought it was just the open area with some old buildings and a few signs that explained a little bit about the history. But as we continued walking down the street, we realized it was a lot more to see! There's a hotel you can look in and see how it was setup back in the day (1800s/early 1900s) which was so cool. They also had artifacts enclosed that you could look at as well. They even had a room where you could watch a movie playing that told more about the history of Sonoma. It was seriously such a cool experience and I honestly don't want to give too much away. A good experience even for kids to run around and see. Definitely think it's worth stopping to enjoy and love that it's free to the public!

We had an amazing time here earlier this month! The service was excellent (attentive without being…read moreoverbearing), and there was a ton of variety in what we tasted (with a group of eight that was much needed!). Do ask about the story of the naming of the wines! I would certainly recommend for most occasions-- the grounds and property is beautiful and you can easily spend an entire afternoon here.

Went to the winery for the first time and honestly really enjoyed it. We booked a last-minute…read morereservation on their website and it was completely painless. Super easy process and check-in as well. From what I saw, there were two main histoic buildings and both had a lot of character. The older architecture and stone details gave it taht classic wine country feel without trying too hard. There was plenty of seating and the space felt open and comfortable. The wine lineup was solid and well curated. They're known for their reds, but I lean more toward the whites and still found a good variety to enjoy. What stood out most for me was the special guided tour our Sommelier done for us. I loved seeing the antiques and hearing about the history behind the buildings and how the winery came to be. It made the whole experience feel more meaningful instead of just going in for a tasting and leaving. I didn't leave with bottles this time, but I genuinely enjoyed the experience and everything I learned. Definitely will be back! Also there are some really nice antique stores very close by, so it's easy to make a whole afternoon out of it.

This is a beautiful stop in Sonoma County. It features easy walks that allow you to learn about…read moreJack London and explore his homes, including the House of Happy Walls Museum and the ruins of his Wolf House. The trails are well-maintained and shaded by trees, with some minor uphill and downhill sections, making it a great outdoor activity for all ages. There is a vehicle entry fee to get into the park, but it is covered if you have a California State Parks pass. Highly recommend checking it out if you are in the area or need a break from wine tasting.

Jack London's gravesite and ruins of Wolf House. We came for the abandoned house and were very…read moreimpressed by the scale and size, Jack London must have been very wealthy for the time to have a house like this. The sad thing is it burned down right before completion so they never got to live in the house. The use of stones and rock kept a lot of the walls despite the fire and it reminds me of of an oversized version of a Greene and Greene style Craftsman Bungalow I saw in Pasadena, CA. If you are a fan of abandoned places you will like coming here. It's fenced off for safety so you can't go running around the structures but you can do a full 360 walk around and there is a platform you can walk on that's about in the middle of the house and you get a good view of the pool and different floors from here. The hike from the parking lot to the museum and to the grave sites and house are easy, my senior parents and young kids were able to do it easily. I would stop by the museum on the way back, there are some nice artifacts from Jack London as well as a scale model of what the hosue was supposed to look like.

The Maysonnave House belongs to the Sonoma League for Historic Preservation. It was built in 1910…read more While the house itself has been beautifully preserved, it's mainly an events venue&office space. Don't expect to see anything about life back in 1910 Sonoma. When you drop in, it feels awkwardly like walking into someone's private home. People use it for events- and that makes sense. It's an events space rather than a historic one. The people are friendly. It's historic, but not impressive. Its nearby cottage, also built in 1910, has been up for debate, and was nearly demolished back in December- http://www.sonomanews.com/opinion/5362964-181/editorial-maysonnave-cottage-raises-question Will the Sonoma League for Historic Preservation preserve and restore its companion?

Absolutely wonderful. We attended an event here for the Sonoma International Film Festival,…read moresponsored by Yelp, and it was fabulous! The employees (not sure if they work for Maysonnave, or if they were hired for the event) were so helpful and attentive! Would love to come again.

General Vallejo's House is located in Sonoma, CA, in the Sonoma State Historic Park…read more The grounds (including trails) and visitor center was free to walk about. Parking was free as well, they had a nice size parking lot. To view the inside of the house, it's $3. The visitor center was the carriage house nicknamed the Swiss Chalet. It was built in 1852. The timber came from Europe. It's now the museum with history information boards about the General Vallejo and his family. So you may ask, who is General Vallejo? What's the hubbub? Mariano Guadalupe Vallejwas born in Monterey, California, in 1807 as a subject of Spain. He served in the California military which was under Spain. He served as commander of various presidios and establishing them and the controversial workforce. His last command was the Sonoma presidio. The house is furnished and staged as it was in the mid to late 1800s. It was built in 1852, Vallejo lived there until his passing in 1890. The architecture is Victorian Carpenter Gothic. It was prefabricated back East and shipped around Cape Horn (pre railroad). The rooms are viewable through the barred doors. The fireplaces are made of imported marble. The kitchen was another building behind the house. The family cook lived onsite in a room adjoining the kitchen. Behind the kitchen is a body of water, a water reservoir. Back in the day, it was a natural spring. The General sold water to the town and folks by transporting the water in redwood pipes. It proved a steady income. He even tried his hand at winemaking. But suffered severe losses in the 1870s blight and didn't get his winemaking business off the ground. He never fully recovered to his previous economic heyday, living out the rest of his years modestly than before.

Great introduction by the park ranger! Enjoyed how they sell plant bulbs and fruit from the…read moregrounds ! I bought a delicious grapefruit! Plenty of signage regarding rattlesnakes.

Located on the Sonoma Plaza, this monument depicts General Vallejo sitting on a park bench. He is…read moreentirely approachable and if you wanted to, you could get a nice selfie sitting with the man. In 1833, Vallejo was dispatched north by the newly appointed Governor José Figueroa to visit Fort Ross and choose a suitable site for a presidio north of the Bay of San Francisco. The ten-year-old Mission San Francisco de Solano site in Sonoma was the location of Vallejo's approved military camp. Later, Vallejo was named military commander of all of California north of the Bay, director of colonization of the Northern Frontier, and administrator of the secularization of the Mission at Sonoma. Governor Figueroa sent an order to Lieutenant Vallejo on June 24, 1835, instructing him to found the Pueblo de Sonoma. He quickly designed Sonoma's main streets and started construction of a barracks to the west of the mission. Vallejo supported the successful proposal to outlaw slavery in California as well as the Californio proposal to maintain separate property rights for women. With this monument is a large plaque thanking the committee members, the major donors and this statement, "The General Vallejo Monument Committee dedicates this monument as a gift to the Citizens of Sonoma on Pueblo Day, June 24, 2017, which date is the 182nd anniversary of the founding of the Pueblo de Sonoma by then Lieutenant Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. A special thanks to the City of Sonoma for the allocation of this site on the Sonoma Plaza and for its support in helping make this project a reality." [Review 21009 overall - 526 in California - 1994 of 2023.]

Unbelievably good service from beginning to end. Our server was accommodating, super helpful, and…read moreknowledgeable. Ended up getting 3 flights and 5 bottles. I love me a good cab, and it's kinda their thing. The cellar was epic and the view from the hill was incredible. Truly a great place to spend an afternoon. Sometimes I wish I stayed in San Jose after college so I can be closer to wine country and visit more spots like this.

Service was attentive at the bar tasting which was just three wines. Ambiance is nice with lots of…read moreoutdoor tables and a cool tasting room in a historic building. But be sure to check the tasting fee waiver because we didn't and ended up paying $150 for two tastings, a pinot noir and a rose.

*Halloween themed review. Boooo!*…read more Stumbled onto this beautiful cemetery as it is right next to the Sonoma Overlook Trail. After hiking that trail down by the staging area where the cars are parked, I noticed an open gate leading to the cemetery which is in the same hills. I don't find cemeteries scary or creepy but rather reverent and humbling. Ive visited many cemeteries whether a family involvement or just to pass through and observe. And I have found that all are different, some are more interesting than others. I like ones with more landscape features such as hills, more plant life/trees, well laid out/organized. I don't care for one's next to modern commercial buildings or when there are more dirt or concrete than plant life. That is just a personal aesthetic preference. This Mountain Cemetery fits its name, as well as my eye and senses. It is beautiful just to stroll around if you are not scared of the nature and essence of death. Every culture handles it in its own ways and i can respect them all. It's how we honor and remember those who pass and gave is what's more important to me. The older headstones most with birthdates from the 1800s seemed to be higher up in the hills. The more recent ones seem to be lower. But I loved all the oak and cedar trees, lots of shade. There was even a thick patch of prickly pear cactus. There's also a veterans cemetery right below this public one. That one is very manicured and succinct. There are trails that weave through all this. To hike these hills, you will not only get a great dose of fresh air and exercise, but you may also get a moment to thank those that have lived and contributed; and more importantly to me, to appreciate those who are still currently here. A very humanizing experience.

One of the best "hiking" and historical cemeteries I have been to! Noticed the more older plots are…read morelocated higher up and meanders along the hillside. Beautiful walk, views and discoveries of families, years and stone styles. It is an active cemetery, so be respectful of the environment. There is a parking lot and it is connected to a bunch of trails. In fact there is a street sign in the middle of the cemetery guiding you to the main forest trail. By the parking lot, there is also a Veterans memorial and an open-field park. Peaceful and beautiful.

This town may be small, but it's truly beautiful and full of heart. Growing up here, it always felt…read morelike more than just a place--it felt like home. The people here are warm, welcoming, and many feel like family, which makes the community so special. The local food spots are amazing, with delicious options that bring everyone together. The schools are another highlight, with caring teachers who genuinely support and guide their students. It's also a town full of animal lovers, with shelters and people who truly care for animals. Over the years, I've watched this town grow and evolve into a more modern place while still holding onto the charm and close-knit feeling that makes it unique. It will always have a special place in my heart.

This plaza has everything in it and surrounding it! By that, I mean it has a playground that has…read morebaby swings and kid friendly, of course, and delicious eateries around! Sonoma city plays a lot of live music here and the plaza is well maintained. Ambiance is warm and a pleasure to simply be here. It's a great pitstop if one is wanting to eat and get a taste of the wine country life, leisurely stroll and explore a historical city in wine country all the while spending time with family and friends! How to put it - it's easy going in this plaza and taking in the culture of Sonoma!

Lots of details about this interesting corner of the Bay Area provided by our guide Dan G. He was a…read morewealth of information, pretty funny and as a local was able to share a lot of perspective on the islands changes. Great day trip and I wish we had more time to poke around.

Wonderful tour led by Jim. History + nature! A great morning spent on the island…read more For people who are looking to visit the Naval Museum on the island, it is no longer open, but this tour is operative and you get to see the naval chapel and walk around the area. I was originally looking for information about the museum and arrived at this page: https://www.mihpf.org/tours. I hope this will help you find their tour options and dates! All digitalized, no fuss. And it turns out I was the only who signed up for today's tour, and they did not cancel on me because of that. I really really appreciated it. One last thing, the money you spend on the tour goes into helping this foundation : ) Yay!