Travel Log: Sonoma

Welcome to one of the most popular trips on the circuit. Sonoma is unlike any other stop during the season. The culture and environment surrounding Wine Country drips in character -- and scenery.

Acre after acre of vineyard sets the background. The road course in the Sonoma Valley is but one attraction of the must-visit stop on the schedule.

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DID YOU KNOW?
• Tribes first lived in the Sonoma Valley at least 12,000 years before Spanish, Mexican and Americans came to the region. According to the Sonoma Wine Country Web site, the term "Sonoma" stems from "noma," meaning "town."

• The California Republic was an independent government proclaimed on June 14, 1846, by settlers in the Sonoma region. The government formed when the settlers declared independence from Mexico. William B. Ide was named president. It lasted just 25 days -- the United States took over the government on June 23 and incorporated it as part of the nation.

• The Sonoma Plaza was designed by Mexican governor Mariano Vallejo in the 1800s. Today, it is the geographical center of Sonoma and considered a National Historical Landmark. Among the Plaza's known buildings are the home of Vallejo (La Casa Grande) and City Hall (popularized nationally by the television show Falcon Crest).

• Early films that were shot in Sonoma County include Salomy Jane (1914) and a 1915 Western by Broncho Billy Anderson, according to local publications. Today, the area hosts the annual Sonoma Valley Film Festival each April.

• Chardonnay is the nation's most popular white wine and accounts for a county-high 16,000 acres of vineyards in Sonoma County. Next on the list is Sauvignon Blanc, which accounts for 2,500 acres.

IN THE KNOW ...
Best Burger: Mike's at the Crossroads
Best Winery: Gundlach Bundschu
Best Restaurant: The Girl & The Fig

Admitted as a State: Sept. 9, 1850, as the 31st state
Capital: Sacramento
Nickname: Golden State
Population Rank: 1st
Largest City: Los Angeles

AT THE TRACK
Infineon Raceway is obviously unique NASCAR, being one of just two road courses on the Sprint Cup schedule. But it's also interesting in its display. Drive along one of the handful of two-lane roads that lead to the race track and you think you're headed to one of the many wineries in the Valley of the Moon. Not so, as the hidden facility emerges from a backdrop covered in character and beauty. It's a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon in Sonoma. The rest of the time? Study a map of the region's wineries and pick a spot.
• Sonoma County Winery Map

Weekend Schedules: Cup Series | Nationwide Series | Truck Series