This museum offers a wide range of contemporary art show including, but not limited to, sustainable…read morefashion, traditional masters, different looks of religion and beliefs of the world, to intriguing and though provoking public art and educational programs.

The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art has two fascinating exhibits- Mexican art books (with subjects like…read moreSor Juana Ines de la Cruz&Mayan mythology) and Jack London's photography. One gets the international scope of Jack London's travels- from the leper colony in Molokai to the ravages of the Russo-Japanese War, along with the devastation of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake (that awakened Jack&Charmian in their Glen Ellen home) They give tours, local schoolchildren contribute to the exhibits, they have a small research library- but it looks like the Museum Cafe has been replaced with a gift shop. It IS surprisingly good for a small museum. The $10 admission is worth it. Their gift shop had an amazing coffee table book about the visionary art of New Mexican artists. If you have challenges finding them, they're next to a frozen yogurt/boba spot. A peaceful, artist oasis off hectic Highway 12.

Great historical park in the Sonoma square behind the visitor center. Free admission and…read moreknowledgeable docents. Worth a stop

My husband, our baby, and I visited this historical park today and were having a wonderful family…read moreday. Unfortunately, our experience at the small gift shop was very disappointing because of one employee's behavior. When we walked into the gift shop, the older woman working there immediately looked us up and down and continued watching us throughout the entire time we were inside. We were polite and respectful from the moment we walked in until the moment we left. As we were leaving, the younger employee standing next to her kindly said, "Thank you." We thanked the younger employee, and completely out of nowhere, the older woman said, "No hablo español." Nobody had spoken Spanish. Nobody had asked her a question in Spanish. Nobody had mentioned Spanish, language, or anything related to it. There was absolutely no context for that comment. As a Hispanic family, we found the comment extremely offensive and racist. The way we were looked at from the moment we entered, followed by an unsolicited "No hablo español" as we were leaving, made us feel singled out because we were the only Hispanic. Whether that was her intention or not, that is how her behavior came across to us. Thankfully, this interaction did not ruin our day. We still had an amazing time and made wonderful memories with our baby. However, that does not excuse the way we were treated. I hope management addresses this kind of behavior because every family deserves to feel welcomed and treated with basic respect, regardless of their ethnicity. We came to enjoy the park, just like everyone else, and we deserved the same courtesy.

This mission, the northernmost of all the missions, is remarkable most of all for the precious…read moreartwork bequeathed by the son of the artist, Chris Jorgensen. The artist and his wife, Angela Ghirardelli, also an artist, travelled the state for a couple years studying the landscape and perusing old documents so he could draw the missions as they originally appeared. All of them have been rebuilt over the years, most of them several times. It was a real pleasure to see these renditions. The collection has appeared in famous places including Washington DC. The mission contains other artifacts from the era and placards on he walls explain the history. At the entrance are the names of all the souls who lived and died there. All the names are Spanish, so clearly the natives were given Spanish names when they were baptized. Entrance is $3:00 per adult and gains you access also to General Vallejo's house and headquarters.

I would highly recommend going on the self-guided tour at the mission which has run by the state of…read moreCalifornia. It's part of the parks now and the fee is very low and well worth your time to see how California began as a mission of the Roman Catholic Church.

Just off of the bike path and in Depot park, this quaint museum offers local history, rotating…read morehistorical exhibitions, and a side room completely dedicated to Sonoma railroad history. Books and postcards on Sonoma history are available for sale on premises. I've immensely enjoyed the exhibitions. (Especially the one on the history of the Springs) Highly recommend!

The Sonoma Depot Park Museum is a hidden gem. Despite its close proximity to the Plaza, with the…read moremission&the presidio, it's relatively uncrowded. It's open only from Friday to Sunday. The volunteer docents are very friendly, and there's plenty of history on railroads in Northern California, the Bear Flag Revolt, the local Miwok/Pomo Indians, and a current exhibit on the Sonoma Valley hot springs as a tourist attraction until Prohibition. The Depot Museum also has 3 dioramas with creepy mannequins depicting the Bear Flag Revolt, an 1860s schoolhouse, and a typical children's nursery from the Victorian era.They're not that different from the ones at the Sharpsteen Museum in Calistoga, or the Bl. Junipero Serra one at the nearby California Missions Museum behind Cline Cellars. The Depot Museum is a fascinating, fun little destination. Educational and interesting.

The winery and grounds are stunning that is apparent. Austin was our server and he was so attentive…read moreand accommodating. They offer mocktails for people who want to take it easier on drinking and they were phenomenal! It's so wonderful to have an inclusive option like that. They were just as good as the wines! (Which are also amazing) Back to Austin and the service, he was kind, and helpful. He walked us through every wine and answered all of our questions with ease. We wandered the grounds after and he gave us a nice route to take. 10/10 service! Thank you !! They even sent us home with some lavender from their garden that made our car smell wonderful. Really appreciate all the wonderful people I encountered here!

2/5 stars -- Great art, careless guiding, not worth $190/person…read more We paid $190 per person for the Discover communal wine and food pairing with walking tour. A premium price that should come with premium service. It didn't. The start was promising: a glass of Rosé, an umbrella for the sun, and a knowledgeable guide named Mik who gave our group of four an engaging, well-paced walkthrough of the property's art installations while we waited for a second group running late. Once that group joined us, the tour continued smoothly enough. Then, at the maze installation, Mik simply continued to walk off with the other group while we were still going through. Sure we took some time to enjoy the art and took a few photos here and there. but no heads-up, no "catch up when you're done," nothing. We were left to find our own way back to the lobby with zero guidance, at an experience we paid nearly $200 a head to be guided through. We later found out that Mik had taken the other group ahead to see the final sculpture, a spider piece, without so much as circling back or mentioning it existed. We paid full price and missed half part of the tour entirely because Mik couldn't be bothered to keep track of his own group. The wine and food pairing afterward was adequate, but adequate isn't what you're paying for at this price point. Being abandoned mid-tour is not a minor slip. it's a basic failure of the one job a guide has. The two stars are entirely for the art and grounds, which are genuinely stunning. The guided experience itself does not currently justify the cost, and Donum needs to fix this before charging $190/person for it again.

General Vallejo's House is located in Sonoma, CA, in the Sonoma State Historic Park…read more The grounds (including trails) and visitor center was free to walk about. Parking was free as well, they had a nice size parking lot. To view the inside of the house, it's $3. The visitor center was the carriage house nicknamed the Swiss Chalet. It was built in 1852. The timber came from Europe. It's now the museum with history information boards about the General Vallejo and his family. So you may ask, who is General Vallejo? What's the hubbub? Mariano Guadalupe Vallejwas born in Monterey, California, in 1807 as a subject of Spain. He served in the California military which was under Spain. He served as commander of various presidios and establishing them and the controversial workforce. His last command was the Sonoma presidio. The house is furnished and staged as it was in the mid to late 1800s. It was built in 1852, Vallejo lived there until his passing in 1890. The architecture is Victorian Carpenter Gothic. It was prefabricated back East and shipped around Cape Horn (pre railroad). The rooms are viewable through the barred doors. The fireplaces are made of imported marble. The kitchen was another building behind the house. The family cook lived onsite in a room adjoining the kitchen. Behind the kitchen is a body of water, a water reservoir. Back in the day, it was a natural spring. The General sold water to the town and folks by transporting the water in redwood pipes. It proved a steady income. He even tried his hand at winemaking. But suffered severe losses in the 1870s blight and didn't get his winemaking business off the ground. He never fully recovered to his previous economic heyday, living out the rest of his years modestly than before.

Great introduction by the park ranger! Enjoyed how they sell plant bulbs and fruit from the…read moregrounds ! I bought a delicious grapefruit! Plenty of signage regarding rattlesnakes.

I think it's a primarily private event space or commercial space, but the gardens were just as nice…read moreas any botanical garden that charges admission. I was impressed by the gardens here. They were beautiful, clean, and modern. My favorite was the rose garden; It was very fragrant and so colorful. In addition to the roses, it had views of hills and vineyards in the background. Other highlights were the calming pond with the water, olive trees in the courtyard, pollinator garden, sculptures, there's a lot going on here. I think this stop is a must if going to wineries along route 12.

The new owners have done an amazing job getting this place reopened and looking great! The new food…read morechoices are amazing and the place itself is so relaxing.

Such a cute spot to walk around! The library is adorable and the restaurants smelled delicious,…read morehave yet to eat at them!

Located in the Jack London Village, the Sculpturesite Gallery showcases a variety of modern…read moresculptures both within their gallery space and outdoors, around the village. The village is located by a creek, and has a tranquil beauty that is complemented by the sculptures, many of which are kinetic. We had a lovely time walking around the village and seeing the sculptures and the outdoor nature.

My friend Karen, with whom I share an interest in the paranormal, joined me for the Sonoma Plaza…read morewalk, and we had a wonderful time! To be honest, I had expected something more of a "points of interest" tour (i.e. so-and-so hanged himself in that building in 1878, and people have reported cold spots and flickering lights in there.) Imagine my surprise to find the tour was a hands-on experience, with us not only getting to work with an EMF meter, divining rods, and even a spirit box, but interact with actual spirits as well. WOW! Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in ghosts and a desire for a fascinating, enjoyable time. Thanks!

My partner and I have toured with Ellen and Devin twice now, in both Napa and Sonoma. This last…read moretime we also took my son, who is the world's biggest critic. Here's what you can expect: 1. Gear. They've got you covered with L2 meters and dowsing rods; however, if you're a ghost hunting nerd like my boyfriend, you're welcome to bring your own. All devices work as expected, and the hosts are careful to explain how electricity from street lights, etc. can interfere. All guests are directed to place their phones on airplane mode (I did this with my Apple Watch as well) 2. History. These are historical tours and the hosts have done their research to provide an authentic educational experience. 3. Participation. You are part of the experience and will be asked to communicate directly with spirits! Both times we had a unique and fun experience. I've taken a ghost tour in Salem, Mass (and my kiddo went on one in Victoria BC with his dad) . I can unequivocally say that you guys are the best!!