Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ONE MORE WAY TO CHANGE YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS
When Jack London built his Beauty Ranch in Sonoma County in 1904, he startled
his neighbors by growing grapes as well as raising cattle. Today, more than 60 per-
cent of Sonoma's agricultural output is grapes, making it one of the country's premi-
er wine-producing regions. Not only does it have more than 195 wineries, includ-
ing Buena Vista Winery, the oldest in California (dating from 1857), it also has
13 distinct American Viticultural Areas, including Sonoma Valley, Russian River
Valley, Alexander Valley, and Dry Creek Valley. Known for being a little more
laid-back than its sister county, Napa, on the other side of the Mayacmas Moun-
tains, Sonoma and its wineries offer tours, tasting rooms, B&Bs, and award-winning
chefs. Contact
Sonoma County Vintners, 420 Aviation Boulevard, Suite 106, Santa
Rosa, CA 95403, 707-522-5840, www.sonomawine.com.
Noetic sciences further the explorations of conventional science by rigorous inquiry into
aspects of reality—such as mind, consciousness, and spirit—that go beyond physical phe-
nomena. Over the years, IONS has sponsored hundreds of research studies on such topics as
the healing power of prayer, the physical and psychological effects of meditation, and distant
healing. During the 1970s, for example, it supported Carl and Stephanie Simonton, whose
groundbreaking work proved that meditation and biofeedback can positively affect terminal
cancer patients, and in the 1990s it helped develop the
Heart of Healing
book and PBS-TV
series.
IONS also is a membership organization that collaborates with other groups committed
to personal and societal transformation. Many of these groups offer public workshops, re-
treats, and conferences at the 200-acre IONS campus, which is set among oaks, hiking trails,
and rolling Sonoma County hills. Workshops range from a weekend of shamanic journeys to
weeklong workshops exploring states of consciousness. Room and board runs from $108 to
$135 per day. Because IONS' programs are so diverse and because the visiting organization
leading a workshop or retreat determines the price, the cost of instruction varies.
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH
Institute of Noetic Sciences,
101 San Antonio Road, Petaluma, CA 94952, 707-775-3500,
www.noetic.org.
