Photo by George Rose
A vast wetland that spreads across southern Sonoma County, and the only wine growing region shared with neighboring Napa County, the Carneros region is more than a name on a wine bottle. It is the second coast, the quiet coast compared to the miles of dramatic Pacific Ocean coastline. Rather than the roar of crashing waves, here the bay tides whisper as they wash in and out. Where the Pacific has whale watching, Carneros offers bird sightings. The rugged headlands of the Pacific are answered here by flat trails through tidal marshes and farm land.
A large portion of the area includes the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Part of the San Francisco Bay, the waters here ebb and flow with the tides, and receive flows from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers that drain parts of the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Petaluma River and the Sonoma Creek join the San Pablo Bay within the confines of Sonoma County.
The term carneros refers to the sheep that once grazed there, and farms, ranches and dairies attest to the richness of the area. Small farms stand against the green slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains, and as the land changes from pastures to marsh the lowing of happy cows is replaced by the quacks of waterfowl and the songs of migratory birds. The quiet coast is a stopover for birds on the Pacific Flyway, the north-south route for birds moving from far northern climes to far southern ones. An ongoing restoration of the marsh lands includes native plantings to encourage natural wildlife diversity.
Below the waters, the Bay holds fish like striped bass, perch, sturgeon, flounder, leopard shark, and anchovy. Sport fishing is popular, as is sailing on the shallow waters to the San Francisco Bay.
Enjoy a weekend exploring the wildlife and serene waterways in this Southern Sonoma County paradise with a stay at the Sheraton Petaluma or Metro Hotel. Both properties offer easy access to this undiscovered paradise.
The quiet coast is accessible from Highways 37 and 121, and the Lakeville Highway.
