Sonoma County lures shoppers with unique gifts

There's something so alluring about shopping in Sonoma County: The thrill of the hunt for a bargain; the crafty little bag that's one of a kind; the watercolor that's so delightful it sang to you from the wall of the gallery.

Whether you're looking for quaint or quirky, simple or sophisticated, Sonoma County's charming communities are chock full of locally owned boutiques. Shopping here is all about experiencing a locale. Pick a place and be amazed at the galleries and boutiques that offer handcrafted or unique items.

While this is by no means a complete list, these locations will tempt you to explore. Each town and area has its own unique character and collection of shops, restaurants, coffee shops, brewpubs, and nearby wineries. The difficult decision will be which one to visit first.

Sonoma

Shopping in Sonoma's historic Plaza – and beyond – is a step back in time, then back to the present. Historic landmarks, hidden alleys, courtyards, and charming adobes offer a mix of shops, galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and other attractions.

• Find the right fit with an array of clothing stores for everyone, from tiny tots (Half Pint), men (Eraldi's), women (Bear Moon, Artifax, Bossa Nova), or feet (Sox de Vine).
• Find that one-of-a-kind gift, be it sparkly (Vineyard Jewelers, Halem & Company, Sonoma Silver Co.), leathery (Large Leather), papery (Readers' Book), fair trade (Global Heart), or for the young and young at heart (Tiddle E. Winks Vintage 5 & Dime, Hopscotch Gifts & Gallery).
• Embrace both the food culture of Sonoma and Wine Country living by hunting for cooking items (Sign of the Bear Kitchenware & Tableware, Williams-Sonoma). Food can be next on your list (Sonoma Market, Vella Cheese Factory, Figone's Olive Oil, Savory Spice Shop, The Chocolate Cow).

When you've had your fill of shopping, duck into one of the tasting rooms on the Plaza to sample some wines. Rest your feet after an afternoon of shopping by taking in a movie at the Sebastiani Theatre, a 1930s-era movie theater that serves up first-run films, cold drinks, and hot popcorn.

Cornerstone Sonoma

Cornerstone Sonoma combines shopping, boutique wineries, one-of-a-kind gardens, and an event center in the southern end of the lush Sonoma Valley.

• Discover “once in a lifetime objects” for home and garden décor (Artefact Design and Salvage, Chateau Sonoma, Eurasian Interiors, Potter Green & Co.).
• Find innovative and distinctive clothing and accessories (Nomad Chic, The Loop).
• Explore the dreamy and colorful world of romance and flowers (Tesoro Flowers)
• Taste small-production, limited-release wines (Keating Wines, Meadowcroft Wines, Poseidon Vineyard, and Paradise Ridge) and handcrafted spirits (Prohibition Spirits Distillery Experience)

Be sure to explore Sunset magazine's Outdoor Kitchen and Test Gardens, designed to inspire home chefs and gardeners. Then stroll through the nine Cornerstone Gardens, an ever-changing showcase of innovative ideas from international and local landscape architects and designers. When you're ready for a bite to eat, Park 121 Café & Grill offers a seasonal menu made with the freshest local ingredients.

Petaluma

Built on secure bedrock, the riverside town of Petaluma was one of the few Bay Area communities undamaged by the 1906 earthquake. Today, its well-preserved downtown offers an engaging mix of antiques, boutiques, and other specialty shops, many in historic buildings.

• Hunt for that perfect antique or vintage item (Chelsea Antiques, Doll Mercantile, Military Antiques & Museum, Petaluma Collective, Richardson's Relics, Sienna Antiques, Summer Cottage Antiques, Vintage Bank Antiques).
• Dress in style (Ethical Clothing, Nicole's Fashion Boutique, Velvet Ice Boutique, Zoe & Kid Exchange). North of Downtown, Petaluma Village Premium Outlets is a must for the serious shopper looking for designer outlet stores like Tommy Hilfiger, Ann Taylor, BCBG Max Azria, Sketchers, and Nike.
• Find gifts galore, including lovely sparklers (Hollingsworth Jewelers Gallery, Robindira Unsworth Boutique, Rocklin Jewelry); home and garden décor (Artful Arrangements, B Street Mercantile, Marisa's Fantasia, Old Shanghai Décor, Truck & Barter); or imports from around the world (One Planet Global Handcrafts, Red Lotus Tea & Gifts).
• Discover work by local artists (Alchemia Gallery, Barry Singer Gallery, Gallery One, Petaluma Arts Center, Riverfront Art Gallery, Tutto Amiano Galleria, Warren Percell Studio).
• Shop for seeds at the bank: in the Sonoma County Bank building, built in the 1920s, Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company's West Coast location features more than 1,200 heirloom seed varieties, as well as books, local art, herbs, handmade items, gardening tools, and gifts.

Stroll through downtown or along the Petaluma River, and find a local café for a quick bite to eat. A foodie haven, Petaluma offers a delightful mix of ethnic cuisines, from traditional to fusion, using the best local ingredients. Taste wines at local wineries, or take a free walking tour led by a volunteer from the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum.

Sebastopol

Located at the crossroads of state highways 12 and 116, this laid-back, western Sonoma County town blends a small town vibe with a trendy, global awareness for a unique shopping experience.

• Dive into a total-immersion retail experience by shopping, dining, and tasting on 12.5 acres of industrial chic at The Barlow, a 220,000-square-foot culinary and arts center on the eastern edge of downtown Sebastopol.
• Take home a hungry plant from California Carnivores, the largest carnivorous plant collection nationwide.
• Explore Antique Row, where hundreds of dealers offer vintage and antique items in more than a dozen locations along two-lane Highway 116.
• Wander charming downtown Sebastopol, shopping for clothing (Aubergine, Buddies, Silk Moon); jewelry (Artisana Functional Art); gifts and home and garden décor (Aurora Colors, Cultivate Home, Lynn's Lavender & Lotsmore, Milk & Honey, Rose and Thorn); books (Copperfield's Books and Mockingbird Books); and art (Abstract Blackbird Gallery, C14 Contemporary Arts, Kitty Hawk, Lauri Luck Art Gallery, Sebastopol Gallery).

Whether it's pizza, barbecue, vegan, Asian, Indian, Himalayan, Mexican, pub grub, or farm-to-table foodie delights, find it in Sebastopol's dynamic restaurant scene. Be sure to drive along three-block long Florence Avenue, where whimsical junk sculptures by artists local Patrick Amiot and Brigitte Laurent create a fun outdoor art gallery.

Bodega and Bodega Bay

These two towns so inspired Alfred Hitchcock, he used them to film his classic thriller, “The Birds.” Nestled among rolling hills and along the stunning Sonoma County coastline, these small communities provide a rich variety of retail delights.

• In a pretty valley four miles inland from the coast, tiny Bodega offers the work of artists and artisans (Artisan's Co-Op Gallery, Bodega Landmark Studio Collection, Cypress Gallery); picnic supplies and Hitchcock memorabilia (Bodega Country Store); antiques and collectibles (Sea Gull Antiques); and surfing supplies (Northern Light Surf Shop).
• On the coast, the fishing village of Bodega includes stores offering wine and gifts (Gourmet au Bay); candy and toys (Candy & Kites and Patrick's Salt Water Taffy, Second Wind); gifts, artwork, and other treasures (Harbor View Gifts, Eclectic Amanda Coastal Treasures); and surfing supplies (Bodega Bay Surf Shop).

Fresh seafood is definitely on the menu here, along with barbecue, burgers, sandwiches, Italian, Mexican, and farm-to-table foodie delights, including a “casual neighborhood spot” that's earned a Michelin star. Explore the 17 miles of bluffs and beaches that make up the Sonoma Coast State Park; watch for seals and whales from the rocky outcropping known as Bodega Head; or tour the Bodega Marine Laboratory.

Duncans Mills

Located a few miles inland from where the Russian River empties into the Pacific Ocean, this tiny town often enjoys blue skies while the surrounding hills are covered by heavy fog. A shopper's delight, Duncans Mills is a great place to find one-of-a-kind gifts and souvenirs.

• Uncover that hard-to-find antique, vintage, or collectible item (Antiquarian/Florabunda, Jim and Willie's Antiques and Collectibles, Sparky's, Thistledown Antiques).
• Discover delightful artisan crafts, jewelry, home décor, and other gifts (Mr. Trombley's Table, Mr. Trombley's Tea, Pig Alley, Studio Nouveau, Treats and Toys, Worldly Goods).
• Explore art galleries offering work by local artists and museum-quality California painters (Christopher Queen Galleries, Main Street Gallery, Quercia Gallery).

For a break from shopping, taste wine at Sophie's Cellars, and then enjoy fine coffee, wood-fired pizza and pastries, new-southern-style cuisine, or American grill and seafood in local eateries.

Santa Rosa

Blending the Wine Country lifestyle with urban amenities, Santa Rosa is Sonoma County's largest city, and offers the widest variety of retail recreation.

• Stroll historic Railroad Square, providing an authentic old town ambiance with a delightful mix of antique galleries, specialties shops, coffee houses, and restaurants.
• The neighborhood around the cosmopolitan Courthouse Square is considered the heart of Santa Rosa. Stroll down Fourth Street and find shops, galleries, coffee houses, outdoor cafes, and delis.
• Shop more than 120 brand-name stores and restaurants in the indoor, two-story Santa Rosa Plaza Mall.
• Discover Montgomery Village, a premier open-air lifestyle shopping center, features both local, one-of-a-kind shops and well-known retailers.
• Explore more than 60 brand-name and specialty shops in the indoor Coddingtown Mall.

Windsor

The most difficult thing about Windsor's Town Green and the greater downtown area is making a choice of where to eat and shop. Located in central Sonoma County, this small town lives big.

• Discover great jewelry (Images, Something Special Jewelers, Ubeadquitous, Vintage Jewelers & Gifts); books (Pages on the Green); candy (Powell's Sweet Shoppe); flowers (Artellis Flower and Gift Shop); art (Lamplight Gallery); and fashion (Mirror/Mirror).
• Explore antiques and collectibles (Robert's Relics); unique home decor (Greencycle and Sonoma Mancave); and toys (Kaleidoscope).

Dining options provide something for everyone, from fast food and coffee shops, to ethnic cuisines and fine dining establishments. The pedestrian-friendly Town Green hosts more than 30 free annual events, including summer outdoor movies nights, concerts, and a farmers market.

Healdsburg

Casually trendy and delightfully rustic, Healdsburg is a wine and culinary epicenter, and the shops and galleries surrounding its historic town square offer hours of retail therapy.

• Explore art of all types: With about two dozen art galleries within walking distance of the town plaza, Healdsburg is an art lover's dream spot.
• Go antiquing (Antique Harvest, Farmers Mercantile, Healdsburg Vintage, Mill Street Antiques Plaza, Shoffeitt's off the Square).
• Find the perfect kitchen gadget (Healdsburg SHED, Mugnaini Pizza Ovens, Plaza Gourmet, Uniquely Chic Floral and home); home or garden décor (Dovetail Collection, Gardener, Prickett's Nursery, Seasons of the Vineyard, Urban Lumber Company); or handcrafted décor and other items from local and global artists (Mr. Moon's and One World Fair Trade).
• Hunt for fashion for men (Ereloom, Outlander Healdsburg, Rete), women (Bella, Bowdon Designs, Danielle Nicole Boutique, Favorites, Looking Glass, OSKA, Rete, Susan Graf, Xtravagance, Yasuko, Zizi), and children (Cupcake Children & Maternity). And don't forget shoes (Healdsburg Running Company and Rainsong), jewelry (Options Gallery), and other accessories (Clutch and Chris Foley Fine Leather & Accessories).

Sample wines in the many tasting rooms around the town Plaza, or drive (or bike) through glorious countryside to visit the abundant local wineries. The nearly 100 restaurants in the area offer something for everyone, from basic burgers to ethnic fusion and farm-to-table gourmet dining.

Geyserville and Cloverdale

Located in the heart of Wine Country in northern Sonoma County, these two communities combine rural charm with upscale flair.

• Just a few blocks long, Geyserville offers wooden boardwalks and shops inside Wild West storefronts. Buy a snazzy pair of cowboy boots at a former buggy shop (Bosworth & Son General Merchandise); find the perfect antique or vintage collectible (gin'gilli's Vintage Home collective); or discover local art and artists (Russian River Atelier, Dallas A. Saunders Artisan Textiles).
• Named one of “America's Coolest Small Towns,” Cloverdale offers antiques (Ratto's Uniques and Antiques); home furnishings (14 Feet); books (Cover to Cover Books); fabric (Bolt); fashion (Voss Signature Vintage); art (Towers Gallery); and pottery (Architectural Ceramic Design).

From basic to gourmet, dining options in Geyserville and Cloverdale include burgers, barbecue, pizza, Italian, Mexican, Asian, and seasonal farm-to-table cuisine. Check out the more than 30 outdoor sculptures on the Sculpture Trail in both towns.

Other Options

Most wineries have well-stocked gift stores that have works of art that rival the wines. Go for the wine, stay to discover an amazing souvenir to take home. Suggested stops include the gift shops at Korbel, Valley of the Moon, Francis Ford Coppola, Hop Kiln, Imagery, Gunlach-Bundschu, and Clos du Bois.

While driving around Sonoma County, stop in one of several country stores. You'll discover locally made jams and sauces, wines from the immediate area, gift items, and even lunch. Suggested stops include Jimtown Store in the Alexander Valley, Dry Creek General Store in the Cry Creek Valley, and Kozlowski Farm Store in the Russian River Valley.

Sonoma County is located just 30 miles north of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. To order a free visitors guide or information on hotels, wineries, events, spas, attractions, and dining in Sonoma County, visit www.sonomacounty.com or call 800-576-6662.