Sonoma State Historic Park

I don't remember any of this, but I love the history. 

Sonoma Plaza stroll

Maybe it was the dim evening light but I had a hard time connecting this experience of the famous Sonoma Plaza with my earlier ones. They weren't matching up. In my memory the plaza was smaller with fewer trees and more sunshine. I get it that trees will grow over time, but do streets do that?

the girl & the fig

There's no question that this is a fine dining venue on Sonoma Plaza. I only regret that, due to its popularity, we had to be squeezed into a small patio table between two noisy parties. This is why I left New York City, although in the restaurant world the comparison is probably a compliment. Having said all that, I enjoyed my mocktail - a "fig hug" - and the crunchy garbanzo beans.

Inn at Sonoma, part 3

The lobby was the real heart of this inn - a pleasant seating area where a person could enjoy water, coffee, reading, games, and every afternoon wine and cheese.

Inn at Sonoma, part 2

The design of this property reminded me of the one we stayed in up in Jacksonville, OR: clean and minimal with lots of natural light. I also liked the attention to detail, such as reusable water bottles in the room and a water station in the lobby - a commendable victory over plastic.

Inn at Sonoma

While finding the place for the first time was tricky, I did appreciate that Inn at Sonoma was set back from the main road. It's an attractive, thoughtfully designed property in a good location.

"volunteers"

While visiting friends and getting a tour of their garden, the term "volunteer" came up, meaning a plant that just starts growing on its own. The conditions created by chance and mother nature favor such plants, which tend to be robust. I hadn't heard this term in a long time, and interestingly I overheard it used a second time on this trip - during our anniversary dinner of all places.