West Sonoma County – Photo Friday
West Sonoma County – Photo Friday
Early summer time in West Sonoma County, California and I’m taking a nice road trip exploring the back roads of the county along the Point Reyes Petaluma Road. With rolling hills, small lakes and lots of agriculture, it’s nice to see this part of Northern California left unchanged in this agrarian landscape. What we get to enjoy in this undeveloped region is beautiful countryside and a proud agriculture heritage. Even stopping to pick up some fresh produce from a roadside vendor is such a pleasant experience and worth supporting local farms in the area.
Picking up produce at a produce stand in West Sonoma County
Wildflowers blooming in West Sonoma County
It’s a wonderful time of the year when all the California wild flowers are in bloom. It’s easy enough to find a nice spot on the side of the road to enjoy the views and take some photos of the colorful landscape of blooming poppies, native broom and California iris.
Stafford Lake with California Poppies
Along the way is Stafford lake, another nice spot to enjoy the lake and even more California wildflowers covering entire hillsides all the way down to the edge of the lake. There are some scenic hikes around the lake that are easy to do, with nice water views and rolling landscape. The morning I was there, I was the only one visiting outside of the large population of geese that seem to be also enjoying their visit.
Wildflowers by the Nicasio reservoir
Days like these are meant to be outdoors and enjoying a nice and easy road trip somewhere around West Sonoma County.  If you’re a cheese fan, it might be fun to visit some of the amazing creameries in the area to sample some of the delicious artisanal cheese made on the premises.
Nicasio Valley Creamery on Novato Blvd.
On this type of drive, there’s really no destination in mind in the end, it’s just about enjoying nature and being outdoors on a road trip, don’t you agree? Â Have you taken a back roads drive recently – what was it like?
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Noel, I just got back from the Berkshires and indeed those rolling hills, cows, barns and poppies were all a part of the landscape. They even have their own wine and cheese trail now! I love your landscape photos, they capture the mood so effectively. It’s easy to see why visitors enjoy a good road trip in the area.
I LOVE Sonoma! and your pictures really showcase its beauty and simplicity. Makes me want to pack a bag and go there right now!
What a beautiful time of year to visit. Such a green and lush landscape – as others have said, it reminds me very much of home (that’s England for me) also.
Awesome pictures! Makes me miss home…we are from Napa and spent a lot of time in Sonoma.
It’s so crazy that great minds think alike as with all the other comments my first reaction whenever I saw the first picture of Sonoma County was that this was taken on a beautiful day in the English countryside. But given that we don’t get many days like that with the weather being so beautiful, it doesn’t surprise me that this is California. This is such a wonderful collection of pictures and definitely makes me want to go here and relax for a few days!
I can see how this can easily be mistaken for English countryside or even some European countries, but it definitely is California with beautiful blue skies during most of the summertime, making it ideal for a road trip like this.
I mean to be complimentary in saying this could be England!! Amazing just how similar the scenery is to some of the countryside near me between London and the south coast! But you have the extra draw of countless vineyards… We only have a few!!
Gorgeous photos. I particularly love the poppies. And the first one could have been taken near here, by the South Downs in England. Hope I get the chance to go out and enjoy the Sussex countryside soon!
Absolutely love Corinne’s comment above, and entirely agree with her. I also love cows, amongst my almost eternal list of animals that I love, and your photos are, as always, spectacular. I love to see nature in photos of places that I have never been to.
Wonderful! I’ve spent a lot of time in northern California, but usually ended up in Napa on my trips to wine country. Now I’m wishing we’d explored further afield! The scenery is gorgeous!!
Noel, I was planning on a weekend of writing, but your photos make me want to go for a drive out in the countryside…oh how I love cows! Great photos!