Interesting artifacts of all kinds can be seen at the Sonoma Barracks
Wine country visitors to Sonoma County often skip the town of Sonoma altogether, limiting their discovery to the many many wineries throughout the county. And the wineries are pretty interesting in and of themselves.
But so is the lovely town of Sonoma. In fact, the Sonoma Plaza is itself a National Historic Landmark. For a glimpse of California history, it's just chock full of options, including the Mission San Francisco Solano, the northernmost of the 21 Franciscan missions and the last one built along the California coast.
But history abounds on the Sonoma Plaza and includes the lovely old Toscano Hotel, built in the 1850's. Now closed as a hotel, it's open for tours.
The Toscano Hotel is actually one of my favorite sites on the plaza. Maybe that's because of the charming volunteer docents who so lovingly share their wealth of knowledge with each visitor.
Or maybe it's just the easy ability to visualize the workers who stayed there in its early days.
Or the ladies who had their own entrance, away from the bar, and a separate visiting room with plenty of space for their chaperones.
Or maybe it's just the innkeeper in me who finds the kitchen's wonderful original stove and amazing collection of cookware and spices to be fascinating.
In fact, the dining room is set today just like it would have been when it last served up Italian fare nearly sixty years ago.
Easy to see why it would have been a local favorite.
Altogether it's one of the more intriguing spots on the plaza. And at my all time favorite price: docent tours are available each Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 1 to 4 PM and they're FREE, although donations are greatly appreciated.
Of course, when it comes time for lunch, there's never a shortage of options anywhere in Sonoma. But for a take out lunch to enjoy on the grounds of the beautiful plaza itself, it's tough to beat the Sonoma Cheese Factory.
Great sandwiches but also great cheese, breads, and salami all packed and ready to go. They definitely know the way to the Fabulous Frenchie's heart.
And if you want to take some wine home with you, be sure to check out the amazing selection at the Wine Exchange of Sonoma. Great prices, too.
