WINE COUNTRY LIFESTYLE
Unmatched Beauty
If you could live anywhere in the world, Sonoma County would have to be near the top of your list. The climate is mild and pleasant year ’round and the land is so beautiful and scenic it will take your breath away. You can visit the ocean, kayak down the Russian River, hike in the redwoods, see wild animals, go mountain biking or explore our extraordinary selection of wineries and restaurants — all in the same day!
Rural Life
Our population is spread across one good sized city (Santa Rosa), several smaller towns and then disseminates throughout the countryside into rural life at its finest.
Agriculture
We have a great agricultural heritage and our farmers have led the way toward organic, sustainable, biodynamic and small craft farm products.
Something for Everyone
We have world class performing arts, friendly retirement communities, great medical facilities and overall, a pretty tolerant community. Many excellent artists make this their home and exhibit and perform at the many galleries and venues across the county.
Whether you have a love of outdoor activities or a penchant for oenology and culinary experiences, Sonoma County has an unbeatable lifestyle.
Sonoma County Communities
Population: 8,454
Cloverdale offers a great location for those who wish to work and relax away from the rush of the big city! The City of Cloverdale is an attractive community surrounded by oak-studded rolling hills and offers incredible recreational opportunities with a small town ambiance. Cloverdale is framed by towering redwoods to the north and picturesque vineyards to the south. The City enjoys proximity to many major Northern California destinations while at the same time maintaining its autonomy in a lush, natural setting.
Population: 7,384
Cotati mixes all the benefits of living in a small city, with the cultural advantages of being located near major urban centers and a highly acclaimed state university. Cotati’s roots are steeped in agriculture and music, and citizens are proud of the diverse and charming community that has been shaped by over 100 years’ history. Cotati is home to a very clean light industrial area and is proud of its mixed-use development and “Green Building” program. There are a variety of events and celebrations that take place throughout the year that are sure to please. The annual Kids’ Day Parade and Festival, the Cotati Accordion Festival, our wonderful summertime Farmers’ Market, and the Cotati Jazz Festival all take place in historic La Plaza Park, in the heart of Cotati.
Population: 3,293
Forestville is located in the coastal section of Northern California in the heart of Sonoma County. A quiet little community half an hour from the Pacific coast and about an hour north of San Francisco, Forestville retains a low-key family-oriented atmosphere. Longtime residents and new arrivals work together to constantly improve the quality of life for all. Surrounded by gently rolling hills, stately redwoods, lush vineyards, and the majestic Russian River as it winds its way to the Pacific Ocean, Forestville maintains its rural character and scenic beauty while allowing for a responsible level of growth.
Population: 541
Fulton is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sonoma County, just north of the city limits of Santa Rosa and 7 miles north-northeast of Sebastopol. Fulton has a post office with ZIP code 95439, which was established in 1871. The community is named after Thomas and James Fulton, who founded the community. There are a set of railway lines which go through the town boundaries, used by Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit (or the SMART Train).
Population: 784
In the heart of Sonoma Valley, the charming village of Glen Ellen is steeped in a blend of Sonoma County wines, local dining delights, and the valley’s natural beauties. Glen Ellen is also famous as the last home of Jack London, author of “Call of the Wild” and numerous other books, who lived there from 1905 until his death in 1916. London’s Beauty Ranch is now the 39-acre Jack London State Historic Park.
Population: 4,534
Guerneville is a recreational playground, centering on the very magical Russian River. It is located just minutes from the Pacific coast and about 20 minutes west of Santa Rosa. Guerneville began as a summer getaway for San Franciscans and many of the original riverfront homes are still there. The river is the heart of the town and is still a popular tourist draw. The town hosts annual Jazz and Blues festivals each year, and attracts big name headline entertainers. Summer holidays here are unforgettable but it’s an even more unique place to live year round.
Population: 11,254
Nestled along the Russian River in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country, Healdsburg combines small-town charm, stunning vistas, and award-winning vintages with an eclectic mix centered around a charming town plaza lined with shops, restaurants, tasting rooms, galleries, and bars. Healdsburg CA is a wine and culinary epicenter. Sitting at the juncture of three prime winegrowing regions — the Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley wine appellations — this charming town makes an ideal base of operations for wine tasting.
Population: 1,152
Along the banks of Sonoma County’s Russian River, the hamlet of Monte Rio rolls out the welcome mat with flair. Tourists flocked by train starting in the 1870s, then came by the thousands in the 1930s and ’40s to hear Big Bands play in the town’s outdoor pavilions. Today, a historic 1950s-style neon sign arches overhead, proclaiming “Welcome to Monte Rio Vacation Wonderland.” Located on the north end of the 10-mile scenic stretch known as the Bohemian Highway, this little burg spreads out on both sides of the river. It’s home to the Monte Rio Amphitheater, an outdoor showcase for concerts, theater under the stars, and other events.
Population: 2,522
Located just east of the Highway 101 corridor in central Sonoma County, tiny, bucolic Penngrove offers a slice of small-town life in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country. Penngrove’s downtown Main Street — only a few blocks long — boasts an eclectic array of local shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and bars, in a variety of historic buildings.
Population: 56,727
Experience the charm of one of the oldest cities in California, with one of the best preserved Historic Downtown Areas, on the National Register of Historic Places. Victorian homes and iron front buildings surround this charming riverfront town. Centrally located 32 miles north of San Francisco in Sonoma County Wine Country, Petaluma is the ideal base for exploring more than 195 wineries, the redwoods, dramatic coast, Point Reyes National Seashore and the entire Bay Area.
Population: 43,027
Located in Sonoma County’s southern central plain, Rohnert Park is the county’s third largest city. Thoughtfully designed for families, it is one of the first planned communities in the United States. Bikeways and walkways connect its tree-lined boulevards and attractive neighborhoods. Each neighborhood is designed around a park and elementary school. The city itself is surrounded by farms and grazing land where nationally sought after organic and boutique vegetables, fruits and cheeses are grown and produced.
Population: 157,145
Welcome to Santa Rosa, where everything in Sonoma County comes together. This is the county seat, the heart of local government and the main shopping Mecca for the entire county. Wine country and farm country, redwood forests and rivers, lakes and ocean, this is a good place to start to explore Sonoma County. In the center of Santa Rosa, our charming downtown is lined with intriguing shops and restaurants that delight casual diners and epicureans alike. So come, dip into California’s Cornucopia, and fill up on our place of plenty. Just 55 miles north of San Francisco, this vibrant city overflows with all you love about California.
Population: 7,753
The City of Sebastopol is a charming and quaint community in the western hub of Sonoma County, offering something for everyone from the rolling hills on the west to the Laguna de Santa Rosa wetlands on the east. The varietal apple orchards speak to our agricutural heritage as do the modern day rows of colorful vineyards. Organic crops, featured at the Sebastopol Farm Market, celebrate the diversity of the area. Visit the original experimental farm of Luther Burbank or the many speciality nurseries along the Sonoma County Farm Trails. Sebastopol is an A+ community featuring the arts, antiques, agricultural diversity and ambiance. Known for fine restaurants; great wine appellations; musical festivals and concerts; unique spas and alternative sensory experiences. Eco- tourism opportunities abound – from biking and hiking our many trails to bird watching along the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Sebastopol feels like your home away from home.
Population: 9,893
Located in the heart of one of the world’s premier wine producing regions, Sonoma is a working town with about 9,500 residents and a rich cultural heritage. The adjacent scenic hills and agricultural valley provide a setting of unparalleled natural beauty. The San Francisco de Solano mission and other historic buildings that surround the central Plaza complement the area’s viticultural prominence and visual beauty to make Sonoma a distinctive and successful tourism destination. The City serves as the economic hub for the rural Sonoma Valley, which has a population of about 39,000.
The town of Sonoma and the Sonoma Valley offer numerous attractions for visitors, including shopping in the historic plaza, wine tasting, golf, spas, hiking and more. The agricultural bounty of the area has resulted in a vibrant restaurant scene. Dining choices range from casual cafes to five-star restaurants, with ethnic choices including Italian, French, Mexican, Thai and Nepalese. Local artisan cheeses, organic produce, fresh bread and the fine wines of Sonoma Valley are right at hand, making for memorable meals.
Population: 26,011
Each year thousands come to Old Downtown Windsor, CA to enjoy the popular, free outdoor concerts and moonlight movies and to shop and dine in the many boutiques, restaurants and cafes that line the Windsor Town Green and nearby Old Downtown streets. There’s the annual Easter Egg Hunt, Kid’s Movies on the Green every Tuesday night in the summer months, the Windsor Day Parade that proceeds straight down McClelland Drive, plus sidewalk sales, Shakespeare on the Green and the annual Holidays on the Green Christmas Tree Lighting Festival. And there’s no resisting the spectacular bounty of the Windsor Farmers Market vendors every season, as they proudly display tables overflowing with fully ripe fruits, vegetables and specialty home-grown items.
Marin County Communities
Population: 1,176
Bolinas is an unincorporated coastal community and census-designated place in Marin County with its own distinct culture and offbeat charm. Bolinas is known for its landscape — the beaches, the famous Patch area where surfers find some of the best waves in Northern California, and the Bolinas Lagoon. Village residents are a bit reclusive, and they’ve been known to remove road signs directing people there from Highway 1. The area can quickly become congested during event dates, since there is limited parking and no traffic lights. But visitors will find a rich food scene once they’re there.
Population: 1,924
Lagunitas-Forest Knolls is a census designated place made up of two unincorporated areas in a mountainous part of Marin County, west of San Geronimo and Woodacre. The two towns are seen locally as separate, each with its own small commercial town center, but are counted together in the census. The community is residential, known for its transquil life in lush coniferous forests on the eastern border of Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Hiking and horseback riding are popular activities.
Population: 400
Marshall, California is an unincorporated community in Marin County on the northeast shore of Tomales Bay, six miles south of Tomales. The community is named for four brothers who set up a dairy industry there in the 18750s. Straus Family Creamery is based there, so some dairying still exists in Marshall. But the area is better known now for its renowned oyster farms, as a tourist center for people visiting Tomales Bay and Point Reyes Peninsula.
Population: 81
Nicasio is one of the most beautiful places in Marin County. The Nicasio Valley’s rolling hills create a secluded feel with hidden side canyons where the land is still used for agriculture, for horses, cattle, small vineyards and organic farming alongside sense redwood and fir forests. It’s a census designated place in the heart of Marin County with a population under 100, but with 600 to 900 more people living in the surrounding area.
Population: 895
Point Reyes Station is a small unincorporated town in Marin County located at the southern end of Tomales Bay, along Highway 1. The town is home to a creative and engaged population, situated near the dramatic views of Point Reyes National Seashore, with its ocean vistas, dramatic cliffs, forests, and meadows full of wildlife.
Population: 187
Tomales is a picturesque census-designated place in Marin County along State Route 1, 16 miles west of Petaluma and 58 miles north of San Francisco. Tomales has a rich history with charming quiet streets surrounded by rolling hills and farmlands and easy access to coastline beaches like Dillon Beach. It’s also known for its local food culture, with oysters from Tomales Bay and nearby agricultural lands supporting farm-to-table dining, rooted in organic and sustainable farming. Residents enjoy a slower pace of rural life with history and local charm.
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