Sonoma, California Luxury Hotels & Destination
Sonoma, CA
Sonoma, CA is a small town that is world famous. Luxury hotel guests love this seeming incongruity: Sonoma is at once an elegant, world-class luxury hotel destination, while also having rural roots and a small, down-home population. Sonoma has a rich history for luxury hotel guests to discover as well: as the site of where California was initially claimed as an independent republic from Mexico, this small town has remained united and prominent ever since. The small size of Sonoma belies its cultural offerings, and luxury hotel guests find that every kind of amenity they could want from an elegant luxury hotel destination is available in Sonoma. From some of the most prestigious wineries in the United States to historic dwellings and buildings, Sonoma will charm and entrance all luxury hotel guests.
Sonoma Plaza
The heart of Sonoma is the Spanish-style historic plaza that is centered in the middle of the downtown district. This graceful, tree-lined plaza is small but luxury hotel guests will find they can spend lots of time exploring the boutiques, cafes and wine shops that dot the area. One favorite all-in-one shop that luxury hotel guests will enjoy is Junipero and Co, which has culinary antiques, vintage wine country mementos, and, of course, cheese, olive oil and wine, the trinity of the Sonoma dining scene. Another great place for luxury hotel guests to visit in Sonoma is North Bay Made, which features food products that are grown and manufactured in the North Bay. From a mouthwatering chocolate merlot fudge sauce to plum butter, this stop is sure to satisfy even the most sophisticated palate of luxury hotel guests. One of the most popular spots on the Sonoma Plaza is Sonoma-Enoteca. This tasting room has different varietals of wine from over twelve different wineries, making it the perfect stop for luxury hotel guests who would like to gain an overview of the Sonoma wine region. Another great way to get a feel for the local foods and the local culture on your Sonoma luxury hotel vacation is to attend the twice weekly Sonoma Farmers Market, which many claim is the best way to truly sample the edible offerings of Sonoma. From high-quality to mustards to sweet honey, the Sonoma farmers market brings in travelers from far around to sample the wares and enjoy the beautiful outdoor setting.
Sonoma Wineries
Every Sonoma luxury hotel vacation should include a long and leisurely exploration of the surrounding wineries. There are many Sonoma wineries to choose from on your luxury hotel vacation, and each has their own charm: some are small and provide wine to local restaurants and tasters only, while some wineries are seen on every wine list in the world. Among many, many others, stand-outs in the Sonoma winery scene include: Buena Vista Carneros, which luxury hotel guests will find initially striking simply because of its location: a towering mansion perched on a hill and overlooking the whole valley, this winery features outdoor patios and an elegant setting. Another winery that luxury hotel guests will love is Viansa Winery, whose Mediterranean style building is covered in elegant climbing ivy. On a beautiful sunny day, luxury hotel guests might enjoy a private tour through any number of Sonoma wineries that can often be arranged through your luxury hotel concierge. The Jacuzzi Family Winery is another local favorite that luxury hotel guests will want to visit: as a bonus to eco-conscious luxury hotel guests, the Jacuzzi family farming practices are sustainable and responsible. Listing the outstanding Sonoma winery scene could take quite a while: luxury hotel guests are well advised to discover their favorite for themselves. Luxury hotel guests will discover while wine tasting in Sonoma that many wineries offer a very small production with an ultra high quality. One winery that exemplifies this is Petroni Vineyards, which is small and unassuming, but whose wine and olive oil has won prestigious awards and has been a favorite among luxury hotel guests.
Sonoma History
In the quaint town of Sonoma lies a lot of history. California was formed in this tiny little place, and luxury hotel guests who want to explore this history will find their interest tugged by the various historical monuments and sights. The most famous historic site to visit on a Sonoma luxury hotel vacation is the Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma, which is the last of the 21 famous missions that dot the California coast. The mission is located right on the Plaza, which makes visiting this site easy for luxury hotel guests. The original portion of the building that has survived since 1823 is the quarters of Father Jose Altimira, and is available for guided tours. The adobe chapel which is the most prominent feature of the mission was built in 1840 and is open for tourists to peruse as well. Another historic site to visit on a Sonoma luxury hotel vacation is just up the road at the Jack London State Historic Park. Luxury hotel guests need not be familiar with the work of this famous author to enjoy seeing the ruins of Wolf House, an opulent mansion that was destroyed by fire before he and his wife could move in, and the subsequent House of the Happy Walls, a magnificent home that is now a museum.
Sonoma Festivals and Events
Many luxury hotel guests enjoy planning their luxury hotel vacations around local festivals and events, and Sonoma is the perfect town for this to be case. From Christmas festivals to Fourth of July parades, the local events are a great way for luxury hotel guests to get the feel for this always elegant destination. The Olive Festival is a three month long Sonoma affair that celebrates everything olive. From olive curing workshops to an olive oil massage, the Olive Festival is a great time for every luxury hotel guest. Christmas brings Christmas at the Mission, which combines a love for the holiday season with community history. One of the more prestigious festivals that Sonoma luxury hotel guests will enjoy is the Sonoma International Film Festival, which gains in prestige every year and annually brings in over 12,000 filmgoers who watch an average of 40 feature films and 34 short films. The Sonoma Jazz Festival is a great time for luxury hotel guests to celebrate fine music, food and wine in beautiful downtown. Like most of Sonoma, everything is done with an eye on style and class: never rowdy but always elegant, the Sonoma Jazz Festival brings in elite musicians and sophisticated music lovers from all over the world. In the middle of Indian summer, at the end of September, the oldest festival in California comes to downtown Sonoma: The Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival. This is a great way for luxury hotel guests to sample and enjoy the many local wines. Starting with an elegant gala, luxury hotel guests will find that this festival supplies endless amounts of delectable cheeses, mustards, olive oils, as well as a varied assortment of high-end foods.
There are many reasons why Sonoma has become a popular destination for luxury hotel guests. With a stylish yet simple approach, Sonoma is the best place for luxury hotel guests to explore the North Coast wine country. Always elegant and just a little bit rugged, Sonoma delights and fascinated luxury hotel guests.
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