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9 FREE THINGS TO DO IN SONOMA CALIFORNIA'S WINE COUNTRY

Okay, the economy stinks right now (excuse my choice of words, but I know we're all having a rough time of it)! But even - make that especially - during hard times, we all feel a need to take a break, right? Sometimes we just have to escape the realities of life, if only for an hour or two.

So here are 9 free, or nearly free things you can do in and around Sonoma's Wine Country.

1. Of course, there are wine tasting experiences galore in Sonoma! But, did you know that most of Sonoma's wineries still offer free tastings? And even for those that have a tasting fee, it's usually nominal and can be applied towards the price if you make a purchase.

2. Take a history lesson: Stroll around Sonoma Plaza to see Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma, the Blue Wing Inn, Presidio de Sonoma (Sonoma Barracks), the Toscano Hotel, the Servants Quarters (all that's left of La Casa Grande) - and nearby - Lachryma Montis (General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo's home). The strolling is free; the fee for entrance to Sonoma Mission, the Barracks, the Hotel, & the General's home is $2.00 per person over 17 (no charge for those under 17).

3. Before, during, or after your history lesson, feel free to window shop the Plaza and meander through the specialty shops, boutiques, galleries, and wine tasting rooms & stores. Also be sure to explore the little alleyways and all the nooks & crannies!

4. Grab a free Farm Trails Map from the Visitors Bureau on the edge of Sonoma Plaza park and head out to visit farms and experience a little taste of the goodness of farm-life at some of the most diverse farms anywhere. Buy fruits and veggies from the farmer, visit the animals, & enjoy seasonal adventures like summertime berry picking, pumpkin patches in the fall, Christmas trees in winter, & baby animals and flower fields in spring!

5. Take the kidlettes to TrainTown, a magical place with a scale-sized railroad complete with roundhouse & turntable. A train ride will take you through 10 acres of woods, over 5 bridges & trestles, through tunnels, past waterfalls, and into the little town of Lakeville. In addition to the train rides, there are amusement park rides, a petting zoo, and a refreshment stand. General admission to the area - where you can explore much of it on your own - is free, though you must buy tickets for the rides (the 20 minute train ride is $4.75/person, regardless of age).

6. Explore the backroads: Take Arnold Drive north out of Sonoma, through Glen Ellen (pick up a picnic lunch at the Glen Ellen Village Market), join Highway 12 briefly, then turn right onto Trinity Road. Stay left on Trinity Road as it becomes Dry Creek Road, then Oakville Grade Road. Turn right on Highway 29 to Yountville. From there you can either head south on 29 to Napa, or slip over to the Silverado Trail & take that more scenic route into Napa. Either way, you will have traversed some of both Sonoma Valley's and Napa Valley's most scenic & dramatic tableaus!

7. Another choice from the Glen Ellen area is to visit Jack London State Historic Park, a memorial to the famous author of White Fang set among some of the most beautiful countryside you'll ever see! You'll find the cottage residence where London wrote many of his books, the House of Happy Walls/museum that his wife built, London's grave, Wolf House, (London's dream home which was destroyed by fire before he ever got to live in it), and a myriad of hiking trails for your enjoyment. The only fee is the $6.00/vehicle for developed parking - after that, you're free to explore.

8. If you're looking for something fun and free to do in February, check out the Sonoma County Pruning Championships at the end of the month! This event is held to recognize the tremendous skill and speed with which vineyard employees carry out this important task every year.

9. And in mid-October, there's ArtTrails: and open studios, free, self-guided tour of up to 143 artists' studios - meet local artists, learn about their processes, and participate in hands-on demos as you explore the world of art.

As you may know, Sonoma can be quite an expensive place to visit, but even here you can find wonderful things to do and places to see that are either free for the "taking" or as close to it as you can get!

by: Suzi Rosenberg

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