Explore Sonoma County’s history, with a trip to the town of Sonoma, home to Mission San Francisco Solano, the last Spanish-Mexican mission built in California.

Sonoma State Historic Park preserves the mission and the Sonoma Barracks, as well as the nearby historic home of General Vallejo and other sites. Sonoma was the site of the Bear Flag Revolt, when Californians declared their independence from Mexico.

Sonoma is also home to Buena Vista Winery, California’s oldest winery, and Gundlach-Bundschu, the state’s oldest, continually operating family winery.

Today, history walks in tandem with current times. Modern winemaking techniques are tucked away in buildings that were state of the art nearly a century ago, and wine tasting opportunities abound.

Shops, tasting rooms, restaurants, bakeries, and a historic theater line the streets around the Sonoma Plaza – an eight-acre town square, the largest in California. Venture beyond downtown to explore brew pubs, more shopping, art galleries, and more.