Before we talk about this weekend’s races, can we all agree that we saw some great racing last weekend? The NASCAR Xfinity Series put on a show in Portland and fans saw SVG battle to his first series win. Then, St. Louis once again did not disappoint with a huge crowd and a surprising win by Austin Cindric.
This weekend the Xfinity Series heads down the west coast to California and meets up with the NASCAR Cup Series as they travel cross country to Sonoma Raceway for some exciting road course action.
I have never been to Sonoma personally, but I love watching the races on TV. Of all the road courses NASCAR visits, Sonoma is my favorite. If you aren’t a road course fan, I’m sorry! You have to admit that the track has given us some epic battles for the win in years past.
I just wish the schedule would align so that the race weekend would fall when Sonoma is covered in lush green grass. If you see pictures, it is breathtaking what the area looks like in its peak. A girl can keep dreaming for a NASCAR schedule adjustment right?
If you are going to the races this weekend, have a fantastic time. I cannot wait to see all the fan pictures throughout the weekend!
ATTRACTIONS
- If you are looking to experience some thrills of your own, head to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Located just 20 minutes away from the racetrack, all ages will enjoy this amusement park. Between all the rides, animal encounters, and shows, everyone in the family will find something they want to do or see!
- An hour from the racetrack is the big city of San Francisco. Hit Route 101, cross the Golden Gate Bridge, and spend some time exploring the city. Make sure to take a photo with the iconic bridge in the background!
(Photo Credit: Golden Gate Bridge | Facebook) - Next, if you want to stay away from the traffic and congestion in San Francisco, there are numerous beaches you can drive to north of the city by taking Route 1 off of Route 101. The Muir Beach Overlook is a very popular sightseeing spot to get great pictures of the Pacific Ocean.
(Photo Credit: Brendel) - My last suggestion is to take a ferry over to Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay. The island is a state park with beaches, camping, hiking and biking trails. There is an immigration museum and part of Fort McDowell is still standing. The best part of the island is that from the top you have an amazing panoramic view of San Francisco and Alcatraz Island.
RESTAURANTS
- Pub Republic came highly recommended. If you like craft beers and a restaurant that uses locally sourced ingredients, this is your restaurant. I was told to order a sandwich or burger for lunch and splurge for a steak if you go for dinner. They are open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and serve a brunch on the weekends.
(Photo Credit: Pub Republic Petaluma | Facebook) - Finally, Buttercup is a family-run diner that is open from 7am to 9pm every day. For breakfast, the coffee cake is raved about and I was told they have fantastic benedicts. They have homestyle meals and Italian favorites on the menu for lunch and dinner. The best part is they offer a list of family meals that serve four people.
