The Good Life in Sonoma County, California

My favorite thing about living in Sonoma County is that I'm able to enjoy all the best parts of Northern California. Sonoma County rests in the lap of California Wine Country. To the north are the famous groves of giant California redwoods. To the west are the rocky cliffed coasts. Just to the east is the Sacramento Valley, and beyond that is fabulous Lake Tahoe, ringed by many fine ski resorts. South of us is the cultural city center of San Francisco. Treasures can be found everywhere you turn. People are coming in droves to live in this area—and if you've visited, you know why.

Quick Tips:

If you're coming here for wine-tasting, try to get beyond the vineyards. Ask the folks at the wineries what they like to do in the county, where they go for a nice dinner, or how to get to a place for a nice hike. I can guarantee you'll uncover entertainment and beauty beyond what's inside your wine bottle.

Best Way To Get Around:

This is California--it seems we drive everywhere we go. Although there is enough public transportation for us, we're used to the freedom our vehicles give us. It is also possible to enjoy the county on foot. There are plenty of regional and state parks criss-crossed with walking trails, and every town is worth a stroll in the tiny shops, restaurants, and galleries that are easily missed by passing cars.

Langley's is famous. Where I work, we all know what's on the menu during what season. My coworkers recommended it, and now I'm just as hooked as they are. Everything I have ever ordered or tasted has been impressive. I mean, their dishes leave your mouth wondering how it is possible to blend imaginative flavors, quality of ingredients and perfect balance and quantity. Wow! Before serving the entree the server brings out a 'taste from the chef', a sample of something exotic not even available on the menu. And after every meal each guest is given a small bag with a fresh pastry for the next morning to remember Langley's by. It's those little extras that make the place so memorable.

Oh, and one hint: I made a huge mistake the first time I went to Langley's. Everyone at my table ordered their own starter along with a menu items. Langley's will not scrimp on their portions, even on their starters. So everyone at my table was full to the brim - surprising for a restaurant of such high quality. Rather than list every dish that I've personally had, go to the website and read what you can order now (their menu is online, with photos!)

But as one example of the kind of food you'll find at Langley's, on my most recent trip there I ordered the Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Grilled Artichokes ($26.95) and my date had the Mongolian Pork Chop with Scallion Mashed Potatoes and Miso Salad ($24.95). My sea bass was phenomenal! The thin fillet was lightly breaded and cooked perfectly, with lots of crisp flavor. Over it, was a heap of artichokes halved and drizzled with a Meyer Lemon sauce. I'm usually disappointed when I order something with artichokes because there's never enough on the plate, but Langley's literally piled it on. And my date's platter was no different. His huge pork chop was probably the largest I've ever seen, and he had plenty of scrumptious potatoes and salad on the side. It's rare to find such high quality of food without the usual tiny portions that comes with it.

Langley's on the Green

I have been coming to Yao Kiku since I moved to the Santa Rosa area in 1998 (I used to live down the street). Since then, I have tried every Japanese restaurant this county has thrown at me, and I still find Yao Kiku to be the best. Don't be fooled - Yao Kiku is located in a shopping center tucked away next to a Long's Drug Store. You might even miss it on the first pass. Even on the inside it's tiny. For that reason, for a Friday or Saturday dinner, you might want to make reservations. Even the menu isn't as huge as some others I've seen.

But you don't go to Yao Kiku to load up on mediocre food. It's enough to order one item, one sushi roll, and one desert... and you'll be in heaven. When I'm in the mood for a traditional Japanese dinner, I order the hamachi ginger miso. It is delicious (oishii, as they say in Japanese), down to the garnish of cold noodles and perfectly steamed broccoli. There is nowhere else I would rather go to savor a spicy tuna roll - it is hands-down the best I've tasted, and I have tasted many. Prices are fair, service is consistent, and all aspects of the food, from the presentation to the platters they serve it on, make for one incredible dining experience.

Yao Kiku's Website

Besides being a wonderful place to sample many speciality home-brewed ales, The Aleworks (as most people call it) offers fine food at good prices. The daily specials are always tempting enough that I've rarely ordered off the regular menu. I've had a killer pumpkin fennel soup and fresh butternut squash raviolis. There is also an open-faced crabmeat and artichoke sandwich. Try it with any one of the delicious sides; my favorites are the sinful garlic-crusted french fries or the mashed potatoes (again, garlic added).

Hands down, the best part about The Aleworks is Wednesday night, when BBQ'd oysters are on the menu. These bad boys come in a thick garlic butter sauce, creamy pesto or classic barbeque sauce. These suckers are HUGE, so at a $1.25 each you can really load up. They begin serving at 5pm and end when the oysters run out. And another good part about Wednesday nights here is that Santa Rosa's Wednesday Night Market is right down the street. It's a lot of fun, but parking can be a drag.

So, when in wine country, why not jump off the normally beaten path and try the other alcoholic beverage Sonoma County is known for: BEER!

This is a sushi bar that my boyfriend and I frequent. Most of the time, going out to eat sushi means an expensive meal, but not here. UNI is great because of their all-you-can-eat option. It's the best value and always delicious.

All-you-can-eat takes on a whole new meaning at this restaurant, because the entire menu is offered. This means that folks who don't love sushi as much as I do can still get a great meal. Appetizers, including miso soup, cucumber salad, seaweed salad, chicken teriyaki, dumplings, mussels, tempura, and a variety of other choices are all offered as all-you-can-eat selections. My favorite from this part of the menu is the ienoki which is a delicious sizzling platter of sautéed mushrooms.

As sushi goes, the menu is varied and creative. Most varieties of nigiri (raw fish over rice) are offered, along with a slew of rolls. My favorite is the Las Vegas Roll, a deep-fried roll filled with broiled eel, crab meat, avocado, and cream cheese. The Volcano Roll is tasty and unique. It's a California Roll (crab and avocado) covered in spicy salmon and broiled in a toaster oven. It's literally served hot and spicy! Another choice is the Tiger Roll, which is a simple roll of shrimp tempura with a small amount of spicy tuna. A sweet sauce is poured over the top, so the end result is a mildly sweet, spicy, and crunchy roll!

The environment at UNI is relaxing and laid-back, with soft music always playing in the background. The sushi chefs are kind and very attentive, so the food keeps coming until one can't consume another piece. For every meal purchased, you get one stamp on a card, and when you reach ten, you enjoy a free all-you-can-eat on them! What a deal. Prices are decent at $15.95 for lunch and $21.95 for dinner. Just do the math and it's easy to see what a steal it is to eat here. Hint: Every week in the local paper, the Press Democrat, there are coupons for $3 off! The restaurant is open every day at 11:30am, except Mondays, when they are closed, and Sundays, when they are only open for dinner.

Safari West is a zoo/preserve in the Mark West Springs area of Sonoma County. On a tour, guests are able to go on real safaris through the large animals' enclosures, allowing close contact with rare and beautiful creatures, most of which are endangered. At Safari West, there are animals everywhere you look--even outside the enclosures!

The most popular way to see the animals is by the 3-hour tour by safari vehicle--a two-level jeep-type vehicle that easily tackles the toughest terrain on Safari West's property. Beyond this, there is a walk-through bird sanctuary. Birds of all different types--many I'd never even seen--scramble under your feet and fly all around your head. There's a nice island enclosure for ring-tailed lemurs and a pasture enclosure for a pair of beautiful cheetahs.

According to Safari West, luxury accommodations and gourmet dining are also available, although I haven't had the priviledge to try either. The bungalows are set around the animal enclosures, so the idea is that when you wake up and look out your window, the animals are right there! I'd like to go back for dinner and a room sometime.

Contact info, tour, room, and food pricing available on theSafari West website.

Whether you want to relax or embark on one of the many hikes available at the park, Sugarloaf is a beautiful spot. The drive there alone, through the wine country and finally up a shady canyon full of wildlife, is just gorgeous. The views from Sugarloaf are amazing.

Even if you don't leave the campsite area, you'll be able to enjoy the quiet and clean stream that goes through the park. Each site also enjoys nice views of the mountains and hills of the park.

I suggest taking the "Canyon Trail" through the woods among mossy boulders and meandering streams to a gorgeous 25-foot waterfall. Start the trail a small ways down the main road from the front entrance. The hike is less than a mile, although the return hike is steep and during the dry summer, the waterfall may not be as impressive.

There are many other trails throughout the park and a small map of all of them costs $1. Bundles of firewood are available at the main entrance for $5 each, though the wood is mostly pine and burns somewhat quickly (but smells nice).

While we were there for two days, we saw many deer with their babies, several species of bird and a gorgeous gray fox who wasn't afraid of us at all. The wild flowers in June after late rains were amazing and there were more species than I'd ever seen. We lost our unopened bag of popcorn to a group of vultures who opened it for us while we were away for less than 10 minutes.

The park is very family-oriented (there were all kinds of kids there having a great time), and there were more rangers than you'd expect at a park of this size. This was a great getaway location, and I'd suggest it to anyone.