Many know Sonoma as one of the nation's premier wine growing regions. Like its neighbor, Napa, weekends are especially busy as the Bay Area crowd escapes the city to enjoy wine tasting, fine dining, spa treatments, golf and cultural activities in the rural setting.

You don't have to love wine to enjoy Sonoma's charm, however. Its architecture and history are well worth the visit, as well. From the beautiful Town Square shopping region with Sebastiani Theatre Building constructed in 1933 to the grounds Sonoma State Historic Park with Mission San Francisco Solano built as the northernmost and final mission under the direction of Padre Junipero Serra in 1823, Sonoma is steeped in California history.

For those who want to taste the wine, Sonoma County has over 40 wineries that include names such as Kenwood, Ravenswood, Sebastiani, Domaine Carneros and Chateau St. Jean. To accompany the great wines, chefs concoct fabulous meals with a variety of ethnic spices and flavors. Restaurants include Mexican, Italian, Thai, Himalayan, French and most feature flavors that will not be found elsewhere, courtesy of world class chefs.

Located 45 minutes north of San Francisco, Sonoma enjoys warmer, sunnier climate and cool nights, especially in the winter. Flights into Oakland Airport or San Francisco Airport with shuttle service or car rental are a great way to get to wine region. If driving, don't miss the beautiful countryside and coastline of Sonoma County. It is approximately an hour to 90 minutes west of Sonoma but well worth a day trip when visiting. Mill Valley travelodge, being one of the cheap hotels in San Francisco, makes an ideal choice for your stay.