The top near-town outdoors destination is 375-acre Bartholomew Park, off Castle Rd, where you can picnic beneath giant oaks and hike 2 miles of trails, with hilltop vistas to San Francisco. The Palladian Villa, at the park’s entrance, is a re-creation of Count Haraszthy’s original Pompeian residence. There's also a good winery, independently operated.

Sadly the wildfires of 2017 affected this park and at the time of research it was closed until further notice.


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1. Bartholomew Estate Winery

Formerly Bartholomew Park Winery has transformed into Bartholomew Estate, set to open in its new form in spring 2019, ushering in a change of ownership,…

2. Ravenswood Winery

1.03 MILES

With the slogan 'no wimpy wines,' this buzzing winery pours a full slate of estate Zinfandels. Novices welcome. Tours at 10:30am daily; reservations…

3. Gundlach-Bundschu Winery

1.91 MILES

California's oldest family-run winery looks like a castle but has a down-to-earth vibe. Founded in 1858 by a Bavarian immigrant, its signatures are…

4. Sonoma State Historic Park

1.95 MILES

This park in Sonoma is comprised of multiple sites, most side by side. Founded in 1823, Mission San Francisco Solano anchors the plaza, and was the final…

5. Mission San Francisco Solano

1.96 MILES

At Sonoma Plaza’s northeast corner, the mission was built in 1823, partly to forestall Russians at Fort Ross from moving inland. This was the 21st and…

6. La Haye Art Center

1.96 MILES

At this collective in a converted foundry, you can tour a storefront gallery and meet the artists – sculptor, potter and painters – in their studios.

7. Sonoma Barracks

1.98 MILES

The adobe Sonoma Barracks was built by Vallejo between 1834 and 1841 to house Mexican troops. Today, interpretive displays describe life during the…

8. Toscano Hotel

2 MILES

Toscano Hotel opened as a store and library in the 1850s, then became a hotel in 1886. Peek into the lobby and, except for the traffic outside, you’d…