It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Sonoma State Historic Park gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Sonoma, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I am a current client of this provider They take me to appointments and shopping. I like”
“I first had contact with Always Best Care in October of 2023, needing help for”
“I did not know a service like this even existed! Taking care of a parent with”
“Stephanie DeMartile has been an absolute pleasure to work with! She's very kind, knowledgeable and”
“Our sister was under the care of Stephanie DeMartile and her team and received superb”
“Always Best Care is such an amazing company. Helping meet our seniors needs and guiding”
“I am a past client of this provider The agency did all the leg work. Stephanie made”
“It was Christmas day when my In laws had fallen and both were in”
“I am a current client of this provider I have someone to walk with since I”
“After my Dad came to live with us rather suddenly it became clear that we”
“I am a past client of this provider She bathed and washed her up. She took”
“I am a current client of this provider It helps me because I can't be there”
“I am a current client of this provider They work really hard for me because my”
“I am a current client of this provider The caregiver only comes in once a week,”
“I am a past client of this provider They could have put their rates down a”
“I am a current client of this provider They help by readjusting the schedule if needed. I”
“I am a current client of this provider The interaction has been helping her the most. I”
“I am a current client of this provider They help me more than they help my”
“I am a current client of this provider They look for things to do when everything”
“I am a past client of this provider The therapist was very positive and encouraging to”
“I am a current client of this provider They have made my life a lot easier.”
“I am a current client of this provider The care is helping, and the client is”
“I am a current client of this provider She works well with my wife. We are satisfied”
“I am a current client of this provider The services have helped me the most with”
“I recently was faced with the dilemma of addressing care needs for my father. ”
“I am a current client of this provider They take me to appointments and shopping. I like the quality of the caregivers.”
“I first had contact with Always Best Care in October of 2023, needing help for my dear friend who needed a Board & Care after a hospital stay. I had the pleasure of working with Stephanie DeMartile who did an outstanding job helping me through every decision and stayed so organized. She was always calm and informative and many times went out of her way for me. She really is an asset to Always care. She found the perfect place for my friend, she was very well taken care of, which was a huge comfort to me. Even after she was at the Board & Care Stephanie stayed in touch with me & even visited my friend while she was there. Sadly my dear friend passed away, and again Stephanie was there to help me through it. I’d gladly work with Stephanie & Always Best Care anytime. Patti D.”
“I did not know a service like this even existed! Taking care of a parent with dementia is extremely difficult. My father has reached the point that he needs 24 hour care. Thankfully Stephanie stepped in and guided me through it all. I had so many questions, but yet didn’t know what to ask. I was lost. She took me to a few Board and Cares, explained all the differences between all the options out there. Stephanie even stepped in at the hospital, (with my permission ), to be sure my Dad wasn’t released too soon and all appropriate paperwork was completed. Stephanie is worth her wait in gold!!”
“Stephanie DeMartile has been an absolute pleasure to work with! She's very kind, knowledgeable and patient. Her experience makes for a smooth process. If you're thinking of choosing Always Best Care, let this be your sign to move forward! Highly recommend.”
“Our sister was under the care of Stephanie DeMartile and her team and received superb service. We couldn’t have asked for better care during her last days. We would highly recommend ABC to anyone seeking professional and loving care for themselves or their loved ones. We had our sister in several other facilities and she received very poor care until we got her home. The home care was wonderful! When it came time for her to enter the hospice part of the program, we were amazed at how loving and caring Stephanie’s team treated her. She was allowed to die pain free and with dignity. We were sad but grateful she had such great care and support in her end days.”
“Always Best Care is such an amazing company. Helping meet our seniors needs and guiding families through this exhausting process of needing care, finding care at home and then even helping finding long term solutions once things escalate past home needs! Stephanie DeMartile is very responsive, knowledgeable & helpful. Thank goodness for her experience to guide us through this process. She is a jewel. I can honestly say she is the main reason I keep coming back to Always Best Care!”
“I am a past client of this provider The agency did all the leg work. Stephanie made all the phone calls, and the first one she showed us we chose. She took the initiative and took a huge burden off of me and my mother.”
“It was Christmas day when my In laws had fallen and both were in the hospital. There was alot on problems with their care and services available but the one thing the hospital did right was by giving us Always Best Care. Stephanie DeMartile let me know what the costs and options were available. She made all the calls to find a care home that was affordable clean and could accommodate a couple. . She took a huge weight off my shoulders. Her service was the best, other services just gave me places to call. Thank you!”
“I am a current client of this provider I have someone to walk with since I was in the hospital because I fell when walking. I like the fact that I have someone to walk with me. There are little things that would not happen without the caregiver. In the beginning, several people came out, and then it settled on two providers. I think they needed more consistency at the beginning.”
“After my Dad came to live with us rather suddenly it became clear that we would need some help in the home. I was very apprehensive about having "strangers" in my home while my husband and I went to work. Trusting anyone else to care for my Dad was a huge leap for me. Lori came and did the intake evaluation and I immediately felt comfortable with her. She met Dad and was so gracious and personable with him. We needed help right away and Always Best Care did their very best to fill our time slots quickly. This was where there were a few bumps but I would encourage anyone to be patient with the process. We got a great rhythm of care going for Dad and he would daily ask "who's coming today?" Jessica would pop bye and check on him. Always so attentive to REALLY knowing how he was doing. He loved their chats. Tenesha and Carolyn became like family in our home. My fears of in home care, trusting others with my home and Dad quickly faded away with the dedicated and genuine care giving he received. We are forever grateful.”
“I am a past client of this provider She bathed and washed her up. She took care of her hygiene. The home care provider Shelby was proficient and well-trained.”
“I am a current client of this provider It helps me because I can't be there for my mom every day, and it helps her with cleaning. I would recommend them because they are very organized and professional. They are flexible and compassionate.”
“I am a current client of this provider They work really hard for me because my life is very hectic and crazy. They are very professional, hardworking individuals.”
“I am a current client of this provider The caregiver only comes in once a week, but she provides excellent care. She is like part of the family when she is here. They're dependable, reliable, and have excellent customer service and care. They've been outstanding in every aspect and they've never let me down.”
“I am a past client of this provider They could have put their rates down a little bit. I used them for 2 days, but it was too expensive.”
“I am a current client of this provider They help by readjusting the schedule if needed. I would recommend them because they are helpful, and they know exactly what I need.”
“I am a current client of this provider The interaction has been helping her the most. I like that we can make a list of what we need and that is what we are provided.”
“I am a current client of this provider They help me more than they help my husband, it gives me some relief. I'd recommend them because they always follow up, the follow-up in the office is good.”
“I am a current client of this provider They look for things to do when everything else is done. They do a good job of getting the caregivers here, and they are excellent caregivers.”
“I am a past client of this provider The therapist was very positive and encouraging to get me moving. I liked the nurses and physical therapists.”
“I am a current client of this provider They have made my life a lot easier. I don't have to do everything for myself now. I would like to see them improve at getting a caregiver who will be able to physically take care of me. My caregiver is a little lady, and I am a bigger lady so I think it would be better if they matched me with a bigger caregiver.”
“I am a current client of this provider The care is helping, and the client is happy. It has let me get the rest I need and peace of mind. The training for the caregiver could be better, she was not as knowledgeable as they said she was.”
“I am a current client of this provider She works well with my wife. We are satisfied with their help.”
“I am a current client of this provider The services have helped me the most with keeping up with my target. I like that they are professional.”
“I recently was faced with the dilemma of addressing care needs for my father. A very good friend recommended that I contact Always Best Care of Vacaville for assistance. What a godsend! Stephanie DeMartile made a daunting task manageable. She clearly explained my options for care and walked me through every step of the process even going as far as physically running down paperwork and visiting facilities when I was unable to. Truly exceptional service. I highly recommend her.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Maxwell Farms Regional Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local El Dorado Kitchen or visit Bear Flag Monument (California Historical Landmark #7), don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Sonoma, CA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Sonoma, CA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Sonoma, CA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
The first Bay Area outpost of celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s Chicken Guy! restaurants will open Thursday, Dec. 12, in American Canyon in Napa County.The 2,800-square-foot, 42-seat fast-casual restaurant is part of an exclusive 10-restaurant deal with Santa Rosa-based Chandi Hospitality Group to open the popular chicken tender restaurants across the San Francisco Bay Area and in Sacramento.“We are immensely proud to open our first Chicken Guy! location, marking the beginning of our 10-unit partnership with this exciting,...
The first Bay Area outpost of celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s Chicken Guy! restaurants will open Thursday, Dec. 12, in American Canyon in Napa County.
The 2,800-square-foot, 42-seat fast-casual restaurant is part of an exclusive 10-restaurant deal with Santa Rosa-based Chandi Hospitality Group to open the popular chicken tender restaurants across the San Francisco Bay Area and in Sacramento.
“We are immensely proud to open our first Chicken Guy! location, marking the beginning of our 10-unit partnership with this exciting, growing brand,” said Sonu Chandi, owner of Chandi Hospitality Group. “Chicken Guy! offers a flavor-packed dining experience that we know will resonate with Napa County locals and visitors alike, and we are confident it will quickly become a community staple as we expand the brand throughout Northern California.”
The chicken-centric menu — created by founders Fieri and Robert Earl, the CEO of Planet Hollywood — centers around battered and brined fried chicken tenders that are pressure-cooked and served with a selection of 10 sauces, including Fieri’s famous Donkey Sauce as well as bourbon brown sugar barbecue, buttermilk ranch, garlic Parmesan and Nashville hot honey sauce.
Sandwiches will include the Bourbon Brown Sugar BBQ with grilled or fried chicken tenders, pepper jack cheese, special sauce, slaw, pickles and barbecue kettle chips all stuffed under a bun; the Buffalo Mac ‘N’ Cheese with tenders, smoked bacon, buffalo mac and cheese and garlic Parmesan sauce; and the Pepperoni Chicken Parm.
The restaurant also features hand-spun shakes, loaded fries, pickle chips and fried chicken dumplings with smoked bacon drizzled with Donkey Sauce.
Chandi Hospitality Group currently owns seven Mountain Mike’s Pizza restaurants and oversees an additional 12 locations throughout Northern California. The group also owns Beer Baron Bar & Kitchen in downtown Santa Rosa, where it previously operated several additional restaurants, including Bollywood Bar & Clay Oven, which closed in 2020.
The first Chicken Guy! opened in 2018 at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The chain now has additional locations in Florida, as well as in New York City, Atlantic City and at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. There is also a Chicken Guy! at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, but that location is not considered a full restaurant since it has a limited menu and no kitchen.
The new Chicken Guy! restaurant at 200 American Canyon Road will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. chickenguy.com
Stay tuned for more details on additional Chicken Guy! locations in the Bay Area.
You can reach Dining Editor Heather Irwin at [email protected]. Follow Heather on Instagram @biteclubeats.
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Once upon a time, an unusual type of towering tree from the age of dinosaurs grew in groves around the globe, thanks to an amazing set of survival abilities. Gradually, they disappeared or were cut down, but some of the last of their kind are now huddled into a narrow strip along the California coast.Protected in parks around Sonoma County, groves of coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) offer cool summer shade, a touch of awe and wonder and a chance to contemplate beings who can live 1,000 years or more and reach heights of ...
Once upon a time, an unusual type of towering tree from the age of dinosaurs grew in groves around the globe, thanks to an amazing set of survival abilities. Gradually, they disappeared or were cut down, but some of the last of their kind are now huddled into a narrow strip along the California coast.
Protected in parks around Sonoma County, groves of coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) offer cool summer shade, a touch of awe and wonder and a chance to contemplate beings who can live 1,000 years or more and reach heights of 200 to 300 feet.
Below are some locations where you can spend time with these giants in Sonoma County’s Regional Parks. And before you go, here are some interesting features to know about these magnificent creatures.
Many find towers of redwoods magnificently beautiful in their natural setting, like graceful cathedral or temple columns. But what may be less obvious is that coast redwoods are also highly evolved. The features they’ve developed over the past 100 million years – special tissues, chemistry, engineering and growth and reproductive strategies – make them highly sophisticated marvels of survival.
First, redwoods have found ways to protect themselves from the mortal threats all trees face: fire, insects, disease and weather. The redwood’s thick spongy bark helps ward off passing flames, and the wood is rich in the chemical tannin, which not only gives the tree its distinctive color and is a natural fire retardant, but is also toxic to insects, fungi and diseases. It’s so effective, fallen redwood logs can take a few centuries to rot on the forest floor.
Coastal redwoods can face intense storms and winds. Surprisingly, coast redwood roots don’t grow very deep, often 10 feet or less. Instead, they form a massive woody base and underground extensions of up to 100 feet that interlock with their neighbors’. The entire grove or forest becomes a living, sturdy supportive network.
Redwoods produce seeds, roughly 100,000 a year for a full-grown giant. But they also form tissue growths on their trunks called burls, that are fully capable of growing trees themselves, like clones, should the parent tree topple or die.
And unlike oak, pine, fir and other common forest species, coast sequoias can sprout new trees from their stumps and their roots. Look for this in local forests that were logged in the 1800’s – you’ll find groups of tall trees now standing in a circle around the stump of the original giant tree.
Redwoods love and need lots of water and use intricate cellular plumbing to draw water molecules in long unbroken chains upward to its leaves. The tree has evolved different types of leaves, one of which can absorb water directly from the air. That allows them to take full advantage of coastal fog, which can carry surprisingly large amounts of water inland.
The other type of redwood leaf has a waxy surface and is also perfectly designed to ‘comb’ the fog, producing droplets that fall to the base of the tree. This “redwood rain” can dampen a campout, but it helps the trees, ferns and many other forest species survive many months without rain.
After living for about 20 million years, most of Sonoma County’s ancient redwood groves are gone, many of them harvested in the last 180 years. But fortunately, there are locations in the Regional Parks where visitors can spend the day, or even camp, under the forest canopy. Most are second-growth trees – regrown after the original trees were cut – but since redwoods can climb high in just a few decades, many new groves are already full and magnificent. Even skinny trees can be centuries old. Here's where to find some:
At the Mendocino County border, the Gualala River runs northwest through redwood-covered hills and canyons, and at the point it meets the sea, Gualala Point Regional Park campground offers a chance to sleep with and under a towering redwood grove. Several campsites let you place your tent within touching distance of the big trees. One ring of massive trees stands in bright green redwood sorrel, and they all happily drip when heavy fog rolls in.
Tucked between Jenner and Stewarts Point, Stillwater Cove Regional Park’s gorgeous Canyon Trail follows Stockhoff Creek inland through a full, living redwood forest. At first, you’re within sound of the surf (a trail spur heads west to the beach) but then climb modestly up the wooded canyon, which has abundant wildlife and wildflowers. The region was last harvested around 1850, so the second-growth trees are fully established and have grown to impressive heights and widths.
There’s a lovely small stand of redwoods in North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park & Open Space Preserve, situated on the rising slope of Sonoma Mountain on the east side of Sonoma County. The trees have found a sheltered canyon along the south fork of Matanzas Creek, which keeps them watered. From the parking lot, it’s a short walk on Ridge Trail, where you’ll find picnic tables, plenty of shade, a burbling stream and a chance to gaze up at the redwood tops far overhead.
Not far from Windsor and Healdsburg, Riverfront Regional Park holds an impressive grove of redwoods, standing in their native habitat along the Russian River. The park hugs a lake formed when miners dug out deep gravel deposits. Redwood Hill Trail wanders through redwoods near the parking lot, and the giant trees form awe-inspiring columns and canopy over tables at this popular picnic area.
Not far from the Russian River village of Monte Rio, the aptly named Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park and Open Space Preserve is a new Regional Parks addition, with 500 acres of redwood forest mixed with Douglas Fir, huckleberry, ferns and other forest dwellers. Dutch Bill Creek waters the canyon bottom and redwood stands, and several miles of trails climb uphill through redwood forest, across streams and canyons, providing a first-hand experience of the redwood’s natural habitat.
No mention of Sonoma County redwoods is complete without Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Guerneville. This is a state-owned property, not a regional park, but it is perhaps Sonoma County’s best-known destination for redwood viewing and includes the “Col. Armstrong Tree”, estimated to be 1,400 years old.
Stephen Nett is a Bodega Bay-based naturalist, writer and speaker.
Published July 2024
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