Attractions and Places To See around Temelec - Top 12

Fern Lake is a modest reservoir bordered by grassy shores, encircled by trees and wild vegetation. It’s an excellent spot for observing local wildlife. Located just beyond the boundary of Jack London State Historic Park, the lake also connects to one of the park’s trails.

Sonoma Plaza is the main square in the center of Sonoma. Along with City Hall, there are several shops and restaurants in the plaza.

Fern Lake is a small reservoir with grassy banks. It's surrounded by weeds and trees and is a great place to spot wildlife. The lake is just outside the Jack London State Historic Park boundary and offers access to one of the park trails.

Schocken Hill is a great lookout over Sonoma via the Sonoma Overlook Trail. It is a well-graded hike with creek bed crossings, trees, and some stretches through grassland. At the top, there is a stone bench with a plaque in honor of Robert Bootzin (Also called "Gypsy Boots").

This is a cool historical place and $5 to enter, but fun to see!

Wide bike lanes on both sides of the eastern frontage road with no traffic as it deadends at a farm; though bikes can cross under the freeway bridge to continue south on the western frontage road to Olompali

Rancho Petaluma Adobe is a historic ranch house built in 1836 from adobe bricks by order of Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. It was the largest privately owned adobe structure built in California and is the largest example of the Monterey Colonial style of architecture. It was headquarters of a working ranch and defense against the Russians then living on the California coast or native tribes. In 1834, California Governor José Figueroa ordered Lieutenant (Teniente) Vallejo and his soldiers from the Presidio of San Francisco to move north of the Bay. He granted Vallejo the Rancho Petaluma. Construction cost $80,000 between 1836 and 1839, at least 2,000 Native Americans made bricks, haul lumber, build buildings, cook, farm, make tools, tan hides and tend the large herd of cattle. Vallejo's family lived in the town of Sonoma. The ranch included a tannery, smithy, and grist mill. From 12,000 head of cattle one quarter was slaughtered each year. The main products - hides and tallow - were shipped on the Petaluma River to San Francisco Bay. Most meat was wasted. Vallejo made about $24,000 yearly on hides and tallow (equivalent to much more in today's dollars). The ranch had up to 3,000 sheep for wool. Candles, soap, wool blankets, boots and shoes for military troops under Vallejo’s command, saddles were manufactured by native artisans in ranch shops. In the 1846–48 US-Mexico war Vallejo was imprisoned for his position in the Mexican military, while John C. Frémont stripped the ranch of horses, cattle and grain reserves for the California Battalion. Many of the natives, his main labor force, fled from the soldiers. The ranch declined in profitability every year. Vallejo sold the building and 1,600 acres (6.5 km²) to William Whiteside for $25,000 circa 1857 who sold it to William Bliss. The southeast half of the adobe deteriorated and the Bliss family could not afford all repairs. In 1910, Native Sons of the Golden West purchased what remained of the house. The restored historic site was turned over to the State of California in 1951. In 1970, it was registered as a National Historic Landmark. 80% of the adobe brick is original, most of the wood has been replaced. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rancho_Petaluma_Adobe $3 includes the Sonoma Mission, Sonoma Barracks, Toscano Hotel, General Vallejo Home and Petaluma Adobe on the same day. Open 10 am-5 pm every day at all venues. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years Day. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=474

The marketplace of Sonoma certainly has its charm. Around the large marketplace, some cafes and restaurants invite you to stop by.