Sonoma

Sonoma is no Napa. No limousines, no insanely expensive (many times overpriced) wines, no showoffs, and not too much glamour. Sonoma is Sonoma with its agriculture, organic produce, local markets, passionate people, and fantastic food (and wine) to enjoy. We have been lucky enough to develop a very special bond with the county of Sonoma as our friends, wine and food lovers, live there, and each time it is all about local and local times two. 

We arrived in San Francisco (read here) with the news of the Kinkade fires threatening people's lives and homes. With evacuations taking place, we didn’t know if we would ever get to see our friends. Every day was a question – are we going or not? We woke up in Yosemite waiting for an SMS from a friend - yes or no, should I stay or should I go? With the green light to come, we took the longest drive to Sonoma, standing in traffic on a highway with thousands of people returning home. Just 30 minutes from Sebastopol (the one in Sonoma), I got a message from my friends saying, “The power is back on, and no camping for us.” 

We arrived exactly the same day they were allowed to return home from the mass evacuation. This is something one has to take into consideration when traveling to California – it likes to burn, the same as Australia and other warmer parts of the industrial world. Still, it need not to be the reason not to go. Sonoma is a place to see and feel – with its ocean and cliffs, redwood forests, oysters, mountains with grazing cows, and the historic Hitchcock church in Bodega. Sonoma is breathtaking, and it needs at least four days to start to know it, with a promise to come back for 12 more, someday. 

Redwoods and Guerneville

We have our favorite spots there, and they quickly become anyone's favorite, once visited. Visiting the redwoods is one. More

Bodega Bay

Every time we are in Sonoma, we have one road to take – to Bodega Bay to try and see the whales but also purely for the simple thing of being there, tiny creatures in front of the giant called the ocean. More

Timber Cove 

North from there is the most magical spot called Timber Cove. The drive there is frightful as cliffs with no fences lead straight into the ocean, but it is an experience to enjoy. More

Tomales Bay 

We drove the winding roads from Sebastopol to the south side, entering Tomales Bay. We stopped at Nicks Cove and walked to the boat shack. More

Healdsburg

Healdsburg can be a separate day journey or just a place to stop by to enjoy some of the local food that happens to be excellent. More

Santa Rosa

The heart and soul of the region, this city is best explored by car and some walking. It is a very mixed bag, but there are addresses you should not miss. More

Sebastopol

Sebastopol is another story to tell. It is like a small bag filled with gold, and everything that happens in Sonoma stays in Sebastopol. More

Other things to try:
Buttermilk chicken at Backyard is amazing with a perfect, crunchy outside and juicy meat inside. I sat in the car (as we had takeaway) and did not care about my greasy hands when I took a piece. It is as divine as people say. 

It was our last day in Sonoma - in Sabstopol. We walked to Acre Coffee for breakfast and one final walk before departing. I drank my cappuccino, waiting for granola with yogurt and toast for the girls. We felt sad as this was the last day of our San Francisco, Yosemite, Napa, and Sonoma tour. We were blessed during this time – with the weather, people, food, and company. I tried not to cry when saying goodbye to our friends and the dog. I pretended to be fine, although I got into the car and put my sunglasses on to shed a tear. The three-month trip was coming to an end — the best-kept secret ever held from the girls (they found out the morning of departure). 

I looked for the places and my dear foodie and wine friend Marcy helped me, too. I knew I would think about it for a long time, most probably my whole life, as all we did and ate and drank and experienced was beyond exceptional. It was my third time back in Northern California, and it now felt somewhere between the known and unknown. Discovered and not. It was an amazing October with 29 degrees, sun at its fullest, and family at its best.

Story and pictures: Signe Meirane
Camera: Sony Alpha 7s
In partnership with Turkish Airlines Latvia