Just 55 miles north of San Francisco, Santa Rosa is a good base for exploring all that California Wine Country has to offer. Its thriving downtown boasts three distinct shopping districts, five historic residential neighborhoods, arts and culture, events, great restaurants, famous chefs, wine-tasting rooms, brew pubs, and a comfortable inviting atmosphere.
With its own airport, visitors can fly to Santa Rosa direct and let the adventure unfold. If that adventure includes wine-tasting, there's no need to fret – on certain airlines, your wine flies home for free!
Whether you’re a foodie, a wine enthusiast, or simply looking for a relaxing getaway, Santa Rosa is your gateway to the best of Sonoma County.
Things To Do in Santa Rosa, CA
Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California
Start your visit with these 5 Fun Things to Do in Santa Rosa, or stop at the Santa Rosa Visitor Center/California Welcome Center, located in an old railroad depot in Santa Rosa's Historic Railroad Square. Staff here can offer tips about what to see and do, and the neighborhood offers a charming mix of antique stores, specialty shops, coffee houses, and restaurants.
OutThereSR is another great resource, helping those looking for something a bit unexpected.
Santa Rosa is home to the Charles M. Schulz Museum, which celebrates famed cartoonist Charles M. Schulz’s life and work, and colorful street sculptures of Peanuts characters can be found throughout the city. On the museum’s campus is Snoopy’s Home Ice. And nearby you'll find the interactive Children's Museum of Sonoma County.
Family Fun in Santa Rosa, California
In the heart of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa is full of family-friendly events and activities. Popular open spaces include the 320-acre Spring Lake Regional Park, with hiking trails, a hands-on natural history center, and a seasonal water park. You might encounter more than 900 wild animals on a safari tour at Safari West, explore the historic home and gardens of hometown hero Luther Burbank, or take the whole gang ice skating with Charlie Brown and friends at Snoopy’s Home Ice. For more Peanuts fun, meet a cartoonist each Second Saturday at the Charles M. Schulz Museum, and make sure to check our calendar for other kid-friendly activities held at the museum throughout the year. The Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic is another annual event you won’t want to miss, as the Fairgrounds are turned into a magical wonderland, complete with an early-morning glow show and tethered rides.
The family dog is welcome in Santa Rosa too, at dog-friendly hotels like the AC by Marriott Santa Rosa Downtown and outdoor dining spots like Grossman’s Noshery & Bar. Dogs are also welcome on 19 miles of trails in 2,000-acre Hood Mountain Regional Park. Pack a leash and a water bowl, and explore Santa Rosa with your four-legged friend(s)!
Outdoor Adventures
Cycling enthusiasts from around the world are familiar with Santa Rosa, which offers a wide variety of bike trails for all levels of experience, and has hosted a stage in the Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race. Mountain bikers flock to the 40-plus miles of hilly, rugged trails in roughly 5,000-acre Trione-Annadel State Park, and each July, cyclists of all levels can enjoy the varying routes of Santa Rosa’s Giro Bello – including a 100-mile Century Ride.
There are plenty of hiking opportunities in Santa Rosa too, all across the city. Fun hikes in Santa Rosa include two that are flat, paved, and set downtown: The half-mile Prince Memorial Greenway, with outdoor sculptures, bridges, and tiled steps, and the 2.4-mile Santa Rosa Creek Trail, which connects to the Greenway and offers scenic views of nearby farms, vineyards, and mountains.
Eat & Drink in Santa Rosa, CA
Bird & The Bottle, Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the largest city in Sonoma County and a top culinary destination in the United States, with tons of popular places to eat and drink, from restaurants and food trucks to craft breweries and wineries. If you’re planning to eat and stay in Santa Rosa, we’ve got you covered.
Top restaurants in Santa Rosa include The Spinster Sisters, a farm-to-table spot where most ingredients are Sonoma County-sourced, and Bird & The Bottle, a stylish spot known for its hearty, creative comfort food and lively brunches. You might choose from Thai, Peruvian, or even the sprawling Mitote Food Park, with foods from all over Mexico. Shop for a picnic at Santa Rosa farms and farmers markets, which offer some of the best produce in Wine Country, and don’t forget that for cheese lovers, Santa Rosa is a slice of paradise, with the California Artisan Cheese Festival held here each year in March.
Santa Rosa’s many breweries include the Russian River Brewery Company, renowned for its legendary Pliny the Younger, a small-batch IPA released to great fanfare in the early spring, and Moonlight Brewing Company, known for its black lager Death & Taxes. Many local breweries offer beer-friendly bites like pizza and burgers, and some even partner with area food trucks.
Parts of Santa Rosa are set within the Russian River Valley AVA, a wine region known for premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Some Santa Rosa wineries offer elevated food pairings and scenic tastings, like the Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens, with its sunny patio, kitchen garden, and onsite chef.
Vineyards and Wine Tasting
In Santa Rosa, wine-tasting experiences range from urban to countryside, like Donelan Family Wines in a quiet industrial park, to DeLoach Vineyards, featuring its own sheep and sensory garden. Reservations are advisable at most Santa Rosa wineries, especially if you’re having a sit-down wine tasting or a food-pairing experience.
Santa Rosa is large enough to be home to three distinct AVAs, or wine regions. The Russian River Valley AVA is known around the world for its high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, from top Santa Rosa wineries like Benovia Winery, which uses both varieties to make its own sparkling wine. The small Fountaingrove AVA is known for few wineries and many grape varieties; its Zinfandel is used by Santa Rosa’s Carol Shelton Wines. The Bennett Valley AVA has long been known for Merlot and Chardonnay, both found at tucked-away rural spots like Matanzas Creek Winery.
Getting to Santa Rosa, CA
Santa Rosa is about a 50-minute drive from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, heading north on U.S. Highway 101 the entire way. Alternatively, it’s a 35-minute ferry ride from San Francisco to Larkspur, and from there, it’s about 1 hour, 45 minutes on the SMART train to Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square. Or, you could take Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor route (Sacramento-Silicon Valley) to the Martinez station, then hop on the Route 7-Eastbound bus for the 2-hour, 15-minute ride to the Amtrak Santa Rosa station.
Rather fly? Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS) is at the northern end of Santa Rosa, and is served by three airlines and a few rental car companies, as well as taxis, ridesharing apps, and the Sonoma County Transit bus. Another option is the Groome Transportation shuttle, which travels between STS and the larger airports in San Francisco (SFO) and Oakland (OAK), and takes about 3 hours.
Where to Stay in Santa Rosa, CA
Flamingo Resort & Spa in Santa Rosa, California; photo by @SipWithCellarMouse
Lodging options in Santa Rosa are found in the busy downtown, out in the country, and in quiet residential neighborhoods, ranging from casual to elegant. Unique Santa Rosa hotels include the retro-cool Astro Motel and the luxurious Vintners Resort, set amid 92 acres of vineyards. The chic Flamingo Resort & Spa has the city’s most glamorous pool, and rentals like WineCamp enable comfort and privacy. Camping more your style? The Sonoma County Fairgrounds RV Park is open year-round, and the Spring Lake Regional Park Campgrounds are open May through September. Whatever you’re after, you’ll find Santa Rosa lodging that suits all your needs.
Local Santa Rosa Businesses
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards
Santa Rosa
4th Street Deli
Santa Rosa
6th Street Playhouse
Santa Rosa
A’roma Roasters
Santa Rosa
Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant
Santa Rosa
Ace It Bike Tours Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa
Ace Rent a Car
Santa Rosa
Acme Burger – Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa
AFunRV Rentals
Santa Rosa