The only thing better than getting lost in a good book is getting lost in Sonoma County while following the footsteps of literary greats.
Readers’ Books (130 E. Napa St.) is only half a block from the historic Sonoma Plaza, and the perfect starting point for a literary road trip.
U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón on the bench dedicated to her outside her former workplace, Readers' Books(Courtesy of @sonomareadersbooks)
A Sonoma institution since 1991, Readers’ Books is where Ada Limón, the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States, worked while attending Sonoma Valley High School. On your way inside, check out the bench the city dedicated to her. The inscription, “Say you’d still want this: us alive, right here, feeling lucky,” from her poem “The Conditional” in the book Bright Dead Things reminds us to embrace the world, even when it’s challenging.
Whatever you like to read, you’ll find it here. Grab a paperback—and maybe even a cup of coffee from the family-owned Ohm Coffee Roasters (117 E. Napa St.) across the street—and hit the road.
In just over seven miles, you’ll reach the Sonoma Valley Botanical Garden (12841 Sonoma Hwy) in Glen Ellen. Before you arrive, though, learn more about it from Ada Limón herself: She narrates a short video about the Asian and California native botanicals planted here, describing the plants as bringing beauty, joy, wonder, and a sense of well-being. Limón refers to the Sonoma Valley Botanical Garden as “a living museum” and a place “flourishing with plants, pollinators, and people.”
Stroll along the winding paths with your new book in tow, pause under lush canopies, and find a peaceful spot to read—maybe next to one of their many ponds. Much like Ada Limón herself, the garden’s mission is to inspire.
The Wolf House Ruins at Jack London State Historic Park(Courtesy of Sonoma County Tourism)
Just under three miles to the southwest, you’ll find Jack London State Historic Park (2400 London Ranch Rd.), named after—you guessed it—the legendary author of The Call of the Wild, The Valley of the Moon, and White Fang. The 1,400-acre state park is home to the wood-framed cottage London shared with his wife, Charmian, and where he wrote many of his later stories and novels.
Also in the park is the House of Happy Walls Museum, which showcases exhibits about the adventurous lives of Jack and Charmian, and the Wolf House ruins, London’s 15,000-square-foot dream home, which included nine fireplaces and 26 rooms, one of which was a library measuring 19-feet-by-40-feet. Devastatingly, the house burned down in 1913 before he ever moved in.
For literary buffs who also love hiking and wine, there’s Sonoma Hike and Wine Tour #4 with Active Wine Adventures, an easy four-mile hike or moderate five-mile trek on which you’ll stroll through redwood forests, visit memorable historic sites with vineyard and mountain views, and hear tales of Jack London's career and real-life escapades. Plus, it comes with lunch and a private wine tasting at a historic Sonoma Valley winery.
Glen Ellen is also home to the author of The Art of Eating and How to Cook a Wolf. M.F.K. Fisher lived at Last House, less than three miles from Jack London State Historic Park in Bouverie Preserve (13815 Sonoma Hwy), for over 20 years. She spent her time writing, cooking, and hosting friends in the small, two-room home with signature red walls and built-in bookcases holding more than 2,000 books. Her garden reflected her love of simple, seasonal, and local ingredients.
MFK Fisher at Last House in Glen Ellen's Bouverie Preserve(Courtesy of MFKFisher.org)
Fisher’s work encompassed more than just recipes; her modern writing used food to explore different aspects of life, love, and identity. She penned hundreds of essays and dozens of books over 60+ years. While Last House isn’t open for casual visits anymore, you can still take a guided nature walk in the preserve to experience the landscape she lived in and wrote about.
On your way back to Sonoma Plaza, stop off for a little afternoon wine and modern fiction at Cline Family Cellars (24737 Arnold Dr., Sonoma). Fred and Nancy Cline founded the winery in 1982 and raised their seven children on the 350-acre former horse farm. One of them, Emma Cline, grew up to be one of the most celebrated authors of her generation. Cline wrote the award-winning fiction The Girls; her fourth novel, Switzy, is scheduled for release this September.
If you have extra time for wine, add Dry Creek Vineyard to the itinerary (3770 Lambert Bridge Rd., Healdsburg). They have two nautical-themed bottles—“The Mariner” and “The Mariness”—that carry words from 19th-century poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Also in Dry Creek Valley is Dutcher Crossing Winery’s Sips & Stories Book Club (8533 Dry Creek Rd., Geyserville), a quarterly meeting for book lovers that features a curated reading selection with matching wine and bites.
If you’re ready to hit the road right away, don't miss the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival at Sonoma Plaza (453 1st St. E.), May 1st through 3rd, a fun three-day event bringing people together to hear authors from varied literary genres.
'Sips & Stories Book Club' at Dutcher Crossing Winery(Courtesy of @dutchercrossing)
