Sonoma Valley, California, USA
Sonoma Valley is a region in California, United States, known for its picturesque landscapes, vineyards, and wineries.
Sonoma Botanical Garden at Quarryhill: 12841 Sonoma Hwy, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Jack London State Historic Park: 2400 London Ranch Rd, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Sonoma Plaza: 453 1st St E, Sonoma, CA 95476
Date Picture Taken: December, 2022
Sonoma Valley is a prominent part of California’s Wine Country, along with the nearby Napa Valley. The region is renowned for its vineyards and wineries, producing a wide variety of wines, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The region is filled with many, many, and many vineyards.
Another vineyard
Yet, another vineyard
A preserved scenic area
Sonoma Botanical Garden at Quarryhill. Quarryhill Botanical Garden is renowned for its extensive collection of plants, especially those native to Asia. The garden was established in the late 1980s, and since then, it has focused on collecting and cultivating a diverse array of Asian plant species.
The pictures were taken in the first week of December 2023, and the colors of the leaves were beautiful.
A short distance from the garden is Jack London State Historic Park.
It is a park dedicated to preserving the memory and legacy of the famous American author and adventurer Jack London. The park encompasses the house where Jack London lived and wrote, as well as various other structures and landscapes associated with his life.
This was his residence, and now it is a museum of him.
Some of his famous books:
“The Call of the Wild” (1903): This is one of London’s most popular and enduring works. The novel tells the story of Buck, a domesticated dog stolen from where he lived in California and sold into the brutal life of an Alaskan sled dog during the Klondike Gold Rush.
“White Fang” (1906): Another well-known novel by London, “White Fang” is a companion piece to “The Call of the Wild.” It follows the story of a wild wolfdog’s journey to domestication and explores themes of nature, civilization, and the relationship between humans and animals.
“To Build a Fire” (1908): While not a full-length novel, this is one of London’s most famous short stories. It’s a gripping tale of a man’s struggle for survival in the harsh Yukon wilderness and is often considered a classic of naturalist literature.
To upstairs
Out from the house and to his grave and Wolf House Ruins.
The park features several miles of hiking and walking trails that wind through the scenic landscapes of Sonoma County. There are also beautiful gardens, including the Cottage Garden and the Orchard.
The author’s grave. Visitors can pay their respects at the grave site.
Now to the “Wolf House,” which was Jack London’s dream house but tragically burned down before he could occupy it.
The “Wolf House”
Walking back to the parking lot
On the way to Sonoma Plaza, the main town center, I stopped at this neighborhood because the leaves of the trees were beautiful.
Arrived at the Sonoma Plaza. It is a town hub featuring a green space lined with 1800s buildings, restaurants, tasting rooms & shops.
At one corner of the plaza is Mission San Francisco Solano, which is the last and northernmost of the 21 California missions established by the Franciscan Order.
The mission was founded on July 4, 1823, by Father José Altimira. It was the last of the California missions to be built and the only one established after Mexico gained independence from Spain.
Like other California missions, San Francisco Solano was established with the goal of converting Native Americans to Christianity, as well as to serve as a center for agricultural and economic activities.
The center of the plaza is a park.
And the park is surrounded by stores and restaurants.
