Sonoma

Take out your frustrations with our maddening traffic and push your foot down hard on the accelerator at the Sonoma Raceway Racing School. On California’s longest track you can drive your own car learning safety and professional driving techniques, test out F-3 racing machines, even take a spin at Go Karting. Prices start at $495. […]

Now that the coastal fog has (hopefully) lifted and the evenings have not gotten too wintry you might want to consider kayaking along our version of Scotland, the rugged Sonoma Coast located 20 miles from Guerneville where the Russian River makes a final dive into the Pacific. Sunset Kayaking Tours offers 5-hour two-person adventures plus a […]

Follow your nose this weekend for the final, fragrant days of lavender season at the Sonoma Lavender Barn in Kenwood near Chateau St.Jean. Its five acres of 7,000 plants are available for you to cut your own bouquets. In their Market find hundreds of lavender products at 20-50% off. Open 12-4. Mildly scientific research indicates the […]

Weather permitting you can head heavenward at the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic on June 18 and 19 at Keiser Park in Windsor. Expect at least 30 wildly colorful, even comic, balloons to be soaring above the vineyards. Gates open VERY early at 4am and launching usually happens around 6. After the first lift […]

Bay seniors with an eye on the local gallery scene as it expands far beyond SOMA are encouraged to see two new exhibits coming to the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art this month. Starting on March 17 check out Modern Twist, 38 bamboo sculptures from Japan that elevate the idea of “craft” to new levels. […]

Bay seniors wise enough to know that the least crowded, most serene time to visit wine country is right now, might consider checking out the 13th annual Sonoma Valley Olive Festival which runs until January 31. Events include a Blessing of the Olives Ceremony at the Sonoma Mission, an olive comedy night, a martini contest, […]

Bay seniors might want to move Shiloh Ranch State Park near Windsor in Sonoma County up towards the top of their list of Great Local Trails. Its 850 acres are mostly shaded and rolling, especially the Pond Trail to the top of Shiloh Ridge. The steeper Ridge Trail leads to Cinerama views from Healdsburg to […]

Bay seniors feeling overwhelmed by the varieties of autumnal merrymaking might want to consider heading up the coast to Fort Ross. The Harvest Festival there on October 18 is a curious mix of native American, Russian and Sonoma traditions. Beginning with songs, dances and apple picking in the historic orchard it moves on to cider […]