Day Trip to Santa Rosa California

Santa Rosa, California, in the heart of Sonoma County, is an ideal destination for farm-fresh food, handcrafted beer, wine, and artisan goods. Just 55 miles north of San Francisco, the city features several farmers’ markets, museums, and numerous outdoor activities. Visitors can explore five historic walking tours, enjoy a charming downtown arts district, and take advantage of many parks and nature trails. Both on-road and off-road cyclists will appreciate the abundant biking opportunities and local bike shops in Santa Rosa. Here are some highlights for your visit:

Downtown Santa Rosa Art and Shopping

Downtown Santa Rosa is a designated Arts District with many public art fixtures. The Downtown walking tour can guide visitors to all the art installations. The Sonoma County Museum is also located in the Arts District. Visitors can view historical photographs and 19th-century paintings or stroll through the sculpture garden. If they’re in the mood for some shopping, downtown Santa Rosa offers a range of stores, from high-end to casual.

Explore The Luther Burbank Home & Gardens

A mile south of Santa Rosa’s downtown district is the Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, the former residence of famous horticulturist Luther Burbank. For roughly 50 years, Burbank lived and experimented here, developing hundreds of new edible plant varieties and ornamental flowers. The property is a Registered National, State, and City Historic Landmark. Among his many achievements, Burbank is best known for creating the spineless cactus, Burbank Russet potato, and his beloved Shasta Daisy. Luther Burbank Home & Gardens 204 Santa Rosa Ave, Santa Rosa, California. Website.

Charles M. Schulz Museum Santa Rosa

Another popular Santa Rosa attraction is the Charles M. Schulz Museum. Home to the most extensive collection of original Peanuts artwork, the museum is excellent for children and adults who grew up with Charlie Brown and the gang. Visitors can view original Peanuts comic strips, learn about the art of cartooning, draw their cartoons, and watch animated Peanuts specials and documentaries. Occasionally, the museum will host events that allow visitors to meet expert cartoonists and learn different professionals’ cartooning techniques. Charles M. Schulz Museum 2301 Hardies Ln, Santa Rosa, California. Museum website.

Howarth Park Santa Rosa: Jewel of Santa Rosa

Younger children may prefer a trip to Howarth Park, often called the “jewel” of Santa Rosa. This wonderful park offers plenty of recreational activities or a chance to relax in this scenic community park. In addition to the lake, Howarth Park spans 152 acres and includes hiking trails, playgrounds, a miniature train ride, a carousel, pony rides, and an animal barn with pigs, goats, chickens, and other critters. Most attractions are limited to weekends, and the animal barn is open only during the summer months. Park website.

Pacific Coast Air Museum Santa Rosa

The Pacific Coast Air Museum is a short drive up Highway 101. It displays more than 30 vintage aircraft. Every third weekend of the month, the museum hosts Climb Aboard, where guests can sit in the cockpit and learn about the aircraft from restoration crew members. The museum is at One Air Museum Way, Santa Rosa, California. Its website is.

Wine Tasting Sonoma County

Although Napa Valley is nearby, northern Santa Rosa provides its wine-country experience with plenty of prosperous vineyards and wine-tasting tours. Santa Rosa is close to numerous wineries. Consider visiting places like St. Francis Winery & Vineyards for a more intimate tasting experience or Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens for a tour of beautiful gardens alongside wine tasting. If beer is your preference, there’s no shortage of handcrafted microbrews in Old Courthouse Square near Downtown Santa Rosa.

Courthouse Square Santa Rosa

Visit neighboring Courthouse Square for other shops and a variety of restaurants. Bookworms will want to browse the extensive mystery selection at Copperfield’s in Montgomery Village and the wide assortment of used books at Treehorn Books on 4th Street.

Russian River Brewing Company

Visitors can smell the beer from 4th Street and try a pint (or a pitcher) at the Russian River Brewing Company. They can also visit Third Street Aleworks to sample the award-winning Blarney Sisters’ Dry Irish Stout.
Unique and exciting retail shops are easy to find, especially on one of the city’s walking tours. Railroad Square has several antique, vintage, and secondhand shops for bargain hunters, while Montgomery Village to the east is great for contemporary, upscale shopping.

Santa Rosa, California Nearby Attractions

Safari West Wild Animal Adventure

Take the 12-mile drive to Safari West for a more exotic animal adventure. Visitors can experience an African safari much closer to home as they tour the park. While promoting conservation and environmental education, Safari West cares for animals, including giraffes, zebra, lemurs, wildebeest, and much more. Website.

Glen Ellen, California

Pretty Glen Ellen has a population that hovers around just 1000 souls. Nevertheless, this peaceful Sonoma town offers those who want off the beaten track plenty of opportunities to eat, drink, and de-stress. And you couldn’t ask for a more picturesque place to do so. Glen Ellen is located in the northeastern corner of Sonoma County.

Sonoma Coast State Park

Sonoma Coast State Park is dedicated to preserving this unique environment and offers a variety of activities for families, couples, and seniors. The park stretches 17 miles along the coast, from Bodega Head to four miles south of Fort Ross. Many of the trails and paths are well-marked and easy to access. The terrain is diverse, featuring sandy beaches interspersed with rocky outcrops.