The Sonoma Coast has long been famous for its wineries and vineyards, but there is much more that makes the area a unique and wonderful place to live for people of all walks of life. Sonoma County, once thought to merely be an extension of the Bay Area, stands on its own as a place that can offer many of the benefits of an urban environment without the overcrowding or unpleasantness that comes with city life.
Northern California’s Panorama of Natural Beauty
Sonoma County, unlike many other counties in the Bay Area, is not an endless corridor of cookie cutter urbanity. Instead, it is a place with many different, diverse communities that each have their own unique charms. Part of this is because the very landscape of Sonoma County is so diverse. The southeastern edge of the county looks like a page ripped right out of a Mediterranean travel guide with its golden hills and bright blue skies, complete with vineyards punctuated by olive trees. The northwestern portion, by comparison, is a dense redwood forest situated along the massively beautiful Russian River. Along the far western edge of the county are some of the cleanest beaches around, and on the northwestern edge are some truly awe-inspiring cliffs that overlook the beautiful Pacific. The more inland reaches of the southwestern quarter are home to beautiful rolling hills and pastures – the true country experience – and a dreamy scrub forest that feels like the backwoods. All of these wonders can be experienced through the huge wealth of parks and bike trails that cover the county.
Santa Rosa and Petaluma – The Best Parts of City Life and Then Some
The center of the county is home to the more truly urban areas – Santa Rosa and Petaluma – which both offer fantastic restaurants, clubs, bars, movie theaters and other amenities while losing none of their unique charm. The county is home to the second best community college in the nation and a superb state university, as well as a law school of some renown and a University of San Francisco campus. A staggering number of quality independent boutiques and shops compliment the abundant corporate retail outlets and two large malls in Santa Rosa. Most of the restaurants in the area are locally owned and often use local produce in their first-rate fare. The county has its own local chain of nature focused groceries and another local chain of regular supermarkets.
Sonoma County – A Modern Paradise
All of the cities and towns of Sonoma County have a flavor all their own. Almost anything you can think of doing, buying, seeing or experiencing can be found in Sonoma County. A new adventure awaits around every corner, complimented by an easy going and relatively stress-free lifestyle and friendly atmosphere. It is truly a unique and delightful place to live, a largely undiscovered jewel and as close to a modern paradise as you can get.
