|
The time of year is just around the corner when the weather mellows, chirping birds invade the mornings and daffodils raise their golden heads — if it hasn’t already arrived by the time you read this. And with the change in season comes a myriad of activities to enjoy in Sonoma and the surrounding areas. Below are a few suggestions for fun things to do during Sonoma’s springtime.
Train Town
Sonoma might be known for more adult activities such as wine-tasting, fine dining, or indulging in the services of a spa – but Train Town, a old-fashioned scenic miniature railroad, attracts adults and children alike.
Located on 10 acres, with one-and-a-quarter miles of track, Train Town boasts being “the most well-developed scale railroad in the Americas.” From the moment you enter Train Town and see the 47-foot clock tower and station modeled after Oakland’s 16th Street Depot, you know you’re in for a special treat, harking back to the days long before cell phones and video games.
Boarding takes place at the station, the whistle blows, and then you’re on your way to the hamlet of Lakeview, where the scale is three inches to the foot. Your journey will take you over bridges, through tunnels and past all kinds of views.
Train Town also has three full-sized cabooses, dating from the 1930s and ‘40s, which you can explore at your leisure. There are also some vintage amusement rides and a petting zoo. Trips take 20 minutes and run every half hour.
Train Town is currently open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 20264 Broadway, Sonoma, (707) 939-3912. Fares are $3.75 for all ages.
Wildwood Farm Nursery and
Sculpture Garden
What better way to celebrate both nature’s springtime show and the world of art than a trip to Wildwood Farm Nursery and Sculpture Garden in Kenwood. Here, you’ll get to admire works by some 20 different sculptors, in an exhibit which changes twice a year, all set in a lush garden.
“We specialize in Japanese maples,” says Ricardo Monte, who owns the facility with his wife Sara. Indeed, there’s a huge collection of Japanese maples and dogwoods, as well as many other rare plants and shrubs.
“People are overwhelmed by the amount of inventory in the nursery,” he adds. “If you like plants and you like art, you’ll love it here.”
Wildwood Farm Nursery and Sculpture Garden will feature a new ceramic arts exhibit beginning in May.
Wildwood Farm Nursery and Sculpture Garden, 10300 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, (888) 833-4181. Open Tuesday-Sunday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Hours will change in mid March to 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bartholomew Park Winery
One of the best-kept romantic and historic secrets in Sonoma is Bartholomew Park Winery, a beautiful 680-acre rural property, which has a colorful history and even claims to have a resident ghost.
The winery is in a secluded setting off the beaten track and therefore makes for a particularly relaxing retreat. After wine tasting and exploring the small museum that explains the winery’s absorbing past, you can have a picnic outside in the gardens.
The picnic grounds at Bartholomew Park look west over the vineyards and Sonoma Valley. There is an extensive lawn, as well as several secluded, oak-shaded picnic tables, where you can enjoy a quiet al fresco lunch and bottle of wine.
If you have something more active in mind, the hills behind the winery boast approximately three miles of marked hiking trails. Hikers will see a variety of indigenous California vegetation, such as oaks, redwoods, manzanita, and madrone. At this time of year, there are also fields of spring wildflowers. And, on a clear day, the view from Bartholomew Park’s trails extends all the way out to San Francisco.
Bartholomew Park Winery, 1000 Vineyard Lane, Sonoma. (707) 935-9511.
Goodtime Touring Company
If you want to enjoy the springtime scenic beauty of this area by bicycle, visit some wineries in Sonoma and nearby Kenwood and have a gourmet lunch served in the vineyards, Goodtime Touring Company can be your guide.
The company organizes small, personal, and completely guided van and bicycle excursions for bike riders of all abilities. The journey makes use of established bike routes with little or no traffic.
“These excursions are designed for people who want to ride through the Valley but who don’t ride much,” explains owner Doug McKesson. “It’s not masochistic!”
Bikes are delivered to your home or hotel. Riders are provided with a new 21-speed mountain bike, a helmet, and transportation of any wine purchases or help with shipping. A five-hour guided tour, incorporating three wineries, scenic routes and places of interest in a group limited to six people, (including wine tasting and a set lunch with wines) costs $125 per person. Reservations are essential.
For more information, call (707) 938-0453.
Robert Ferguson Observatory
The glory of the spring sky awaits your viewing at Robert Ferguson Observatory, located at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Visitors are welcome for public viewings during the day (solar viewing is free of charge) or stargazing ($2 admission for adults, children can gaze for free) at night.
The observatory also offers a series of classes ($23 per class) on the spring seasonal sky, during February, March and April, which is designed for everyone from total beginners to experienced amateur observers.
Organizers say the focus is on learning to appreciate the night sky in a “geographic” sense, appreciating our solar system, spiral arm, Milky Way, local galaxy cluster neighborhoods and more, when looking up into the night sky.
For detailed information on all programs and docent-led events offered at the Robert Ferguson Observatory, see their web site at www.rfo.org or call (707) 833-6979.
Robert Ferguson Observatory, Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood.
And here are two additional activities for your calendar:
April: Oak Hill Farm
Starting April 1, fill your basket with heirloom vegetables, field-grown flowers and other seasonal delights at Oak Hill Farm, an old-time barn and farm set on 700 sloping acres in Glen Ellen.
About 45 acres are actively farmed, producing flowers and floral greens, and produce for local and wholesale markets, and all farming is done under a sustainable agriculture/organic farming model. This means no chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers are used.
The rustic Red Barn Store at the Oak Hill Farm is a 100-year old dairy barn, featuring a bounty of produce for the community to purchase. Crops at this busy time of year will include spring lettuce mix, leafy greens, garlic greens, carrots, and broccoli.
Oak Hill Farm, 15101 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen, (707) 996-6643. Open Wednesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting April 1.
May: Mortons Warm Springs
If you love lazing in heated water, outdoors and under oak trees, take note! Morton’s Warm Springs Resort is now taking reservations for the 2006 season, and the facility will reopen on May 13.
Known for its healthy, and some say rejuvenating, geothermal mineral swimming pools and its unique picnic areas, Morton’s Warm Springs Resort has an 80-year-old history of providing relaxation and recreation in a natural setting.
In addition to the popular mineral pools, the 20-acre resort also boasts a variety of sports fields, picnic sites, group recreation areas, and a snack bar/cafe.
Morton’s Warm Springs Resort, 1651 Warm Springs Road, Kenwood. Call for more information, including times and admission rates (707) 833-5511, or visit its Web site at www.mortonswarmsprings.com.
|
Train Town passengers ride off to a miniature village.
Photo: Rebecca Gosselin
|
