NWR: Help! Non-wine in Sonoma?

Hidie-ho, anyone have ideas for non-wine things to do in the greater Sonoma area?

I'm looking for things like the di Rosa Preserve, which has both outdoors and beautiful art, with no wine-tasting. That's technically just on the border, but it's close enough.

Are there concerts or shows, things like that?

Thanks much in advance.

Walt

Hidie-ho, anyone have ideas for non-wine things to do in the greater Sonoma area? Walt

Jack London State Park is pretty cool: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=478
or maybe
Safari West: http://www.safariwest.com/
or maybe
A ride up the coast to Sonoma Coast State Beach and Arch Rock: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonoma_Coast_State_Beach.

It depends on how far you want to drive and what tickles your fancy. Perhaps a leisurely coastal drive to Jenner for lunch with a stop in Duncan Mills for a little shopping and then dinner in Sonoma. Hoke probably has a few ideas, too.

former home to the voice of the Taco Bell chihuahua

You neglected to mention Deputy Garcia.

former home to the voice of the Taco Bell chihuahua

You neglected to mention Deputy Garcia.

Trivia overload can lead to acute bleferitis of the lower niautoputapu.

There's a safari in Sonoma! OK, that's almost unbelievable, I'll keep that in mind.

State Parks are another great place to go, thanks. I'll add that the birding in Santa Rosa is excellent, even right off 101.

Walt

Off 101 on Mendocino Ave exit, north end of Santa Rosa. Go up Fountaingrove, turn left at the (small) winery sign towards Paradise Ridge winery. Thomas Lake Harris Drive. Short drive through McMansions and just before the winery you'll come to an amazing little open-air sculpture garden. Displays change every few months, but they've often been compelling, and now there are enough permanent pieces from past exhibits that the place is always interesting to go to. Good views too.

And it's free.

Of course the most fulfilling recreation in Sonoma is going down to the Square and watching the tourists. We love it when they flitter their money around, then leave.

On the Square you can also rent a Segway for an hour and zoom around terrifying people. Free cheese samples at the cheese store, if you like processed cheese.

Hike through Jack London State Park.

If you go at night, and if it's open, there's a state park in Valley of the Moon, up beyond Landmark, or right around there, where they have a small observatory and you can look at galaxies and cool stuff.

Bocce courts. Few things more enjoyable than playing bocce with a bunch of old guys while you're getting slowly and gently plastered...oh, wait, you said no wine, I forgot.

And a cool thing we like to do is go down Hwy 121, past Gloria Ferrer, but not down to Cline/Jacuzzi, and check out the enclave of art/architecture and other shops. Relatively new. Neat place. Really neat. Worth spending an hour or two. Espresso shop there too to help you do that. Best dead shocking blue tree in Sonoma. Too late now, but during the holidays, everyone watches the slow, inexorable march of the Christmas Snowmen taking over the county.

Off 101 on Mendocino Ave exit, north end of Santa Rosa. Go up Fountaingrove, turn left at the (small) winery sign towards Paradise Ridge winery. Thomas Lake Harris Drive. Short drive through McMansions and just before the winery you'll come to an amazing little open-air sculpture garden. Displays change every few months, but they've often been compelling, and now there are enough permanent pieces from past exhibits that the place is always interesting to go to. Good views too.

And it's free.

I agree with Hoke, this is a really neat little excursion. Leslie and I make time for it on each of our trips. We especially like the little poetry house. We take time to sweep it out before we leave (per the instructions.)

Walt, it's just great that you're going to do all these neat things in SONOMA!!! Talk it up, help us unclog our crowded highways here in Napa by sending more people to that fair valley to our west. Great wineries, great people (think all like our charming Hoke) scenery and things to do galore, plus fine restaurants that are all inexpensive.

Well, Lou, January is one of the few times of year I would consider braving the Napa traffic, which can best be compared to the final shot in "Field of Dreams," where the cars stretch for miles along single lane roads. Corn instead of grapes, but otherwise dead on. If you pour it, they will come. In contrast, I figure Sonoma must be nearly deserted by now.

Hoke and Jeff, thanks for the insider's tips. Anyone can tell me that there's a Charles Schulz museum in Santa Rosa, but I'd never find a place with a poetry house on my own. Thank you!

Walt