10 Things To Do In Santa Rosa
One of my favorite parts of traveling is getting to explore and experience new things! Last week we traveled to Northern California to visit my family and I thought it would be fun to create some travel content around my home town! As most of you who follow me on Instagram know, I’m from Santa Rosa, California. Santa Rosa is pretty close to San Francisco (about an hour north), making it a great spot to get away if you live in the city. Or if you’re traveling to San Francisco on vacation, it’s the perfect spot to spend a few days relaxing.
I compiled a list of 10 things to do the next time you’re in Santa Rosa. Rain or shine, my top recommendations for ways to explore, eat & relax in one of Sonoma County’s hidden gems!
Why Visit Santa Rosa?
Obviously I’m biased because Santa Rosa is my home town. But it really is an awesome city to not only live in, but visit on vacation!
Last year my home town was hit by a massive disaster. The Tubbs Fire was the most destructive wildfire to hit California, burning parts of Napa, Sonoma & Lake Counties. Simultaneously, there were about a dozen fires in eight different counties. By the time it was contained, over 36k acres burned and over 5600 structures burned down. Of those, over 2,800 were homes in Santa Rosa. Both of the homes I grew up in burned down. Tony and I visited in November and drove through the remains of the neighborhoods. It was almost surreal driving by neighborhoods that were packed with homes, seeing nothing for as far as your eyes can focus. As we drove through my old neighborhoods, I pointed out where hotels used to stand, where I used to ride my bike & even where massive structures like Kmart & drive through restaurants were.
That being said, this post isn’t supposed to be a sob story. The town is resilient & everyone has come together to not only rebuild, but show how much there still is standing! For instance, most people don’t know that Santa Rosa is the home of the Peanuts cartoons & was the hometown of Charles M. Schulz who created Snoopy! Santa Rosa has a ton of awesome restaurants, things to do & see; and if you like being outdoors, there is a ton of beautiful California scenery, with less crowds than a lot of other wine country towns. I also love how down to earth the town and everyone in it are.
10 Things To Do In Santa Rosa
Charles M. Schulz Museum
The Charles M. Schulz Museum was set up to showcase all of the amazing work of the Peanuts creator, aka Snoopy & Charlie Brown. When you visit, you get to learn all about his life and see a ton of work by the artist including hand down pieces and memorabilia. There are also other galleries showing the history of cartooning. It’s pretty cool learning about how the Peanuts comics were read around the world by families for over 50 years. Right now there is an exhibit called “My Favorite Peanuts”, about the life of Charles Schulz, his wife, kids, family & friends. The exhibit showcases all of their favorite Peanuts comics and the stories behind them.
You can also visit Snoopy’s Home Ice at the Redwood Empire Ice Arena. Snoopy’s is an ice rink that used to be owned by Schulz and is still decorated with tons of Snoopy memorabilia. After skating, you can grab a snack and some hot chocolate at the Warm Puppy Café! I actually grew up going here and even worked at the rink’ during holiday shows as an usher.
While you’re wandering around town, keep an eye out for all of the Peanuts statues on display too!
Jackson’s Bar & Oven
Jackson’s Bar & Oven is really special to me. Not only is it one of the best restaurants in Santa Rosa, but it’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up going to their old restaurant (that has since closed) called Syrah Bistro with my family. When I turned 16, I got a job working for Chef Josh & manager Ken as a hostess. I worked for them for about through my early 20s as a hostess, busser & server. It’s also where I met some of my best friends! To this day, I’m friends with everyone I used to work with and can’t imagine what my life would be like had I not worked there!
Fast forward to 2018, they now own Jackson’s (which is only a block away from where Syrah was). I love it because it’s “casually sophisticated”. Meaning they have amazing food in a relaxed atmosphere. Think fancy cocktails and elevated comfort food. Some of my favorite menu items are “The Burger”, Neoclassic Buffalo Wings, Grilled Skillet Bread from the Wood Oven, Rootbeer Float Cheesecake & Jackson’s Beignets.
Landmark Vineyards
There are SO MANY wineries and vineyards in Sonoma County. So how do you figure out which ones to visit? If you’re in Santa Rosa, I recommend heading to Landmark Vineyards in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains. They offer a ton of different tours, but I recommend having a picnic with them! They have a variety of local cheeses, charcuterie & other small bites you can purchase in their tasting room. There’s no charge for visiting, but they have a minimum $20 wine purchase per adult.
Railroad Square
Step back in time and take a walk around Santa Rosa’s Historic Railroad Square, where you can find antiques, shops, collectibles, coffee houses, vintage shops and restaurants. My favorite coffee spot in Santa Rosa, A’roma Roasters is the perfect spot to fuel up and grab a quick snack. They roast their coffee in house and regularly have live music. Railroad Square was influenced by the community in the late 1870s when the town revolved around the railroad depot. It feels kind of like you’re stepping back in time when you visit. They even have a passenger train that runs from through Sonoma County to Marin. It’s a great way to get to town if you’re coming from the south!
Armstrong Redwoods State Park
Visiting Armstrong Redwoods is a must if you’re visiting Santa Rosa. The redwoods are actually in Guerneville, just outside of Santa Rosa. You can walk through the amazing old-growth redwood forest and see some of the tallest, oldest trees in California. One of the trees is over 1400 years old! There are a ton of self-guided nature trails and spots for picnics. You can drive through, but I recommend getting out of the car and walking around to really experience it.
If you want to extend your stay, you have to check out the AutoCamp. One of my all time favorite “hotels”, it’s a resort made up of luxury Airstream campers, canvas tens & huts. All with totally modern, totally lux interiors and amenities. They even have pet friendly airstream trailers!
BELLY Left Coast Kitchen
“Left Coast” refers to the restaurants dedication to focusing their menu, beer & wines toward the five Pacific states: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California & Hawaii. I love that they get products from local farmers, breweries & wineries. I recommend heading to BELLY for dinner and ordering a ton of share plates. Don’t leave without ordering their Chorizo Brussel Sprouts! Another cool fact: the chef/owner of BELLY used to be a personal chef for a ton of famous musicians like Blink 182, Linkin Park, KISS, Motely Crue and Katy Perry!
The Vintners Inn
Looking for somewhere to sleep, eat and relax? Look no further, the Vintners Inn is a one stop shop! It’s definitely one of the best hotels in Sonoma, but is a great spot to relax & explore Sonoma County. It’s in a great location, actually right near where I grew up! The Front Room Bar + Lounge is a great spot where locals and hotel guests can hang out by the fire and grab a drink in a relaxed environment. They have an awesome happy hour and scouted drinks on Sundays! John Ash & Co is a the perfect spot for a romantic dinner. It was actually the first Sonoma restaurant to introduce the concept of cooking with seasonal, locally sourced foods and pairing them with wines from the area.
Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Francis Ford Coppola Winery is one of my favorite spots to visit when I’m in town. It’s more than just a winery, they have so much to see, experience and eat! They have a really cool Movie Gallery that displays movie memorabilia from Francis Ford Coppola’s career as a filmmaker. Everything from Academy Awards to Don Corleone’s desk from The Godfather. If you’re visiting when the weather is warm, book a reservation for their pools & cabines! In the center of the winery there are two swimming pools surrounded by lounge chairs. You can also reserve one of their cabins that has it’s own private shower, drinks and playing cards. A great way to spend a summer day relaxing by the pool, sipping on wine! Regardless of the weather, RUSTIC is a full service restaurant on the property that overlooks Alexander Valley.
The Cheese Trail
Ok guys, here’s where things start getting REALLY exciting! Literally, you can go on a trip exploring the cheese of California! You can head to their site to download the map, or even get their app! You can use the map to visit local artisan cheesemakers and family farmers. There are tons of tastings, cheesemaking classes and events to choose from!
Osmosis Day Spa
No vacation of mine is complete without a trip to the spa! Osmosis Day Spa is a Japanese style day spa and sanctuary surrounded by bonsai and bamboo gardens. It’s a relaxing spot with a a range of wellness treatments, massages and facials. It’s the only spa in America where you can get a Cedar Enzyme Bath! For the bath, you change into a traditional Japanese robe and go into a private garden where you’re served a blended tea made up of 25 different plants. The drink helps warm your body and get you read for the bath, where the enzymes work together to stimulate the metabolic process. d chest free. It’s a really unique and relaxing way to spend the day and unwind.
Want more travel tips? Check out my Guide to Old Town Scottsdale and my Staycation at Rancho Santa Fe!