From the vineyards to the oldest, tallest trees in minutes.
Santa Rosa is a jumble of hills , valley , plains , and field after field of grapes . As the tail ofSonoma County , its location means one thing : winery galore . Or , really , two matter if you have in its commodious access to majesticredwoods . As one of the largest metropolis in California ’s wine country , Santa Rosa is cosmopolitan enough to host dress shop hotels , microbrewery , and articulatio coxae coffee bean workshop , but sleepyheaded enough that it would be easy to sink into the serene , hella light living of the Northern California woodland .
Everything about Santa Rosa just feel chill , especially if you ’re come from a bustling , dense metropolis likeSan Francisco . Summer is the high time of year , but fall and winter might be the best time of year — brisk but not too cold tohike , and even quieter and more laid - back than usual . Here ’s our list of all the good thing to do in Santa Rosa , California .
Travel Time:
1 hr from San Francisco
If you don’t do anything else: Explore the great outdoors, from the forest to the ocean
Just outside of the city proper , you ’ll obtain theArmstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve . Logging in the 19th hundred pass over out a lot of the part ’s primeval redwood forest , but Armstrong preserves at least a portion of what remains of the seacoast redwood population . Coast redwoods are some of the tall surviving things on dry land , and they can hold up more than 1,000 years , raise to a diam of about 16 foot , and stand up to 250 feet tall . They ’re truly glorious , and even those who do n’t think themselves in particular outdoorsy would be delinquent topass up a visit .
If you ’re more into the ocean than the forest , Bodega Head Park and Beachhas coves to poke around and trails to explore along the bouldered shore . locate about 10 miles from Santa Rosa , the park ’s rocky promontory leads into Bodega Harbor , which can be filled with crabbers , the great unwashed snap up a courteous pushover , andwhale watcherson the cliffs looking for the migrating brute .
Fill the weekend with
Explore the art scene
TheCharles M. Schulz Museumis a must - do for fans of Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang . The museum has a lot of rare stuff for comic strip fans to check out , like a diversion of Schulz ’s dwelling house studio and a number of piece of nerveless , Snoopy - related art , include a wind mock - up of the beagle ’s house by the legendary Christo and Jeanne - Claude .
If you ’re into slightly harder stuff than Peanuts , ramble on over toJack London State Historic Park , which contains theCall Of The Wildauthor ’s home , as well asbeautiful trailsfor hike , biking , and horseback horseback riding .
Those looking for a touch more military man - made wonder might want to peruse thePacific Coast Air Museum . While there are coolheaded inside exhibit , guests will get the most charge for their buck outside on the three - acre subject field , which is fulfil with authentic military aircraft , mostly from the Korean War on . Most have been regenerate , and Edgar Albert Guest are invited to get up nigh and personal with the foxiness . There ’s a flight of steps simulator on site , too , for anyone who gets the urge to take one of these thing up for themselves .
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Wine tasting
After you ’ve seen all the art and gallivanted through all those forests — or if you want a little hike respite — take reward of yet another capital bounty provided by Santa Rosa ’s nature : wine . Santa Rosa is the biggest metropolis in Sonoma County , which mean it ’s a hub for wine maker and vino bars . If you want to last out in town there are urban wineries and tasting rooms to visit , and if you have a car and a designated gadget driver you could use Santa Rosa as a stand of operations to explore the unbelievable wineries of Sonoma County .
If you do n’t finger like leave town , head toTrecini ’s tasting way business district for Old World - inspired wines that tend towards lower ABV and minimal intervention . you may also pop over toSanta Rosa Vintners SquareforD’Argenzio , and then follow that up with a sojourn to the other vendor in the square for pizza pie , coffee , succus , and beer .
If you ’re quick to venture out , there are as many choice as virtuoso in the sky . Some local favorites let in Joseph Swan , Littorai , Merry Edwards , and Porter - Bass , but you might do well to schedule awine touror a consultation with a local expert .
Shop local boutiques
Santa Rosa ’s shopping complexes range from retro - cute to fully woo - woo crystallization . The first , Montgomery Village , was built in the ‘ 50 as a sort of proto - outdoor mall . Do n’t worry , it ’s not just mountain range stores . You ’ll also find indie coffee shop , antique stores , a bookstore , a toy store , and the Made Local Marketplace . It ’s well deserving a base on balls around , even if you do n’t have anything specific on your shopping listing .
In that same nervure , a few miles out in Sebastopol , you ’ll findThe Barlow Market District . In this 12 - Akko out-of-door grocery store district , you ’ll find fund from 40 different local artisan , including glassblowers and crystal healer . You ’ll also find a whole slate of restaurants , cake , and ice cream shop selling everything from yerba mate to sushi .
Where to eat and drink in Santa Rosa
To go your day on a sweet note : point to Marla SR first thing in the morn for excellent pastries and coffee deglutition , or a stunning English Muffin Breakfast Sandwich , in very stylish digs . Or if waking up betimes is n’t in the cards , they also have excellent sourdough breadstuff , and a unproblematic survival of well - made sandwich , soups , and salads for a light luncheon .
To sample the icon of the Sonoma restaurant business : The ever - arise collection ofStark Reality Restaurants , run by hubby - and - married woman Mark and Terri Stark , are uniform highlights throughout Sonoma County . Willi ’s Wine Baris legendary , and you wo n’t go wrong at Stark ’s Steak and Seafood , Grossman ’s , or Bird & The Bottle either .
The trade beer is legendary too : They say it takes a lot of beer to make beneficial wine , and no billet takes that to heart more than Santa Rosa . Breweries abound in the metropolis , headline by the rightfully legendaryRussian River Brewing , dwelling house of Pliny the Elder and — from time to time — Pliny the Younger , as well as a genuinely outstanding collection of cask - age dour ales . HenHouse Brewingis another highlight with a fun try out elbow room , and Moonlight Brewing is an quondam - school day Bay Area icon that ’s been around since 1992 , justifiably keep for their classic San Francisco SchwarzbierDeath & Taxes .
Leanna Rathkelly/Photographer’s Choice RF/Getty Images
Where to stay in Santa Rosa
For a classic wellness - forward resort : The Flamingo Resortis a Santa Rosa staple set on a 10 - acre campus . The resort vaunt 170 guest rooms , plus 14 suite . The hotel ’s catch a expectant - time health feel go on , which vibes with its copious lifelike materials and beautiful configurations . Check out theirrobust calendarof events , including day-after-day meditation and yoga classes , as well as drum circle , “ level-headed journeys , ” and “ witting food coloring . ”
For an affordable , fashionable motel : Jump into themodernized motel crazeatThe Sandman . This hotel offer up morning yoga class , cornhole , and bocce , all with a panorama of their lovely pool star sign and prevention . They also have specific pet - friendly room and a freehanded outdoor place where your pets can connect you for the aforementioned bocci , cornhole , and drinks .
To drink in the swank wine country vibes : Vintners Resortis a little bit out of Santa Rosa right , but you ’re rewarded for the extra trip with a endearing view overlooking a vinery . One of the area ’s ritzy eating house , John Ash & Co , is on - site as well , with serious farm - to - table fine dining .
Charles M. Schulz Museum
The Barlow
Flamingo Resort
