Things To Do In Santa Rosa
Santa Sore is the second-largest city in the Sonoma County wine region. It’s located about 50 miles north of San Francisco, and it’s known for its hot springs and redwood forests. You’ll find vineyards, wineries, breweries, spas, and more. There are also plenty of things to do here if you’re interested in history or botany. Here are 21 things to do while visiting Santa Rosa:
Safari West Wildlife Preserve and African Tent Camp
Safari West Wildlife Preserve and African Tent Camp is a wildlife preserve and African tent camp located in Santa Rosa, CA. The preserve has over 300 animals from all over the world, including giraffes, rhinos, wildebeests, and cheetahs.
Safari West is open year-round.
Charles M. Schulz Museum
The Charles M. Schulz Museum is located in Santa Rosa, California, and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days per week. Admission costs $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for children ages 3-12; kids under 3 are free with a paying adult. The museum offers discounts on admission if you’re also visiting the adjacent Peanuts Gallery & Store or the Great Pumpkin Patch (both located within walking distance of each other).
The museum exhibits Mr. Schulz’s original artwork spanning his entire career as well as personal artifacts such as letters, photographs, first editions of his books and strips, awards he received over the years, and various awards that characters from Peanuts won over time (including Snoopy’s WWI fighting ace helmet). There are also interactive exhibits like “Snoopy vs Red Baron” where you can test your skills flying an airplane against Snoopy himself!
Luther Burbank Home and Gardens
Luther Burbank was a famous horticulturist whose work helped develop the modern fruit industry. He created hundreds of new plant varieties, including the Shasta daisy, spineless cactus, and Santa Rosa plum. The Luther Burbank Home & Gardens is open to visitors who want to learn more about this remarkable man and his legacy by touring the gardens which feature many of his most famous plants.
The gardens are peaceful and quiet; they are filled with many different flowers, ornamental trees, and shrubs that will delight all those who visit them.
Lake Ralphine
Lake Ralphine is a great place to go for a hike. You can rent boats and kayaks at the lake, or you can bring your boat and launch it from the lake. The lake is located in the Santa Rosa Valley, which has many winding roads and beautiful scenery that make it perfect for driving around in an open-top vehicle (such as a convertible) on a warm summer day.
Lake Ralphine also offers picnic areas where visitors can sit down with their families or friends and enjoy a nice meal together outdoors.
Petaluma River Walk
The Petaluma River Walk is a great way to see Santa Rosa in a new light. Explore the waterside path, stopping at various points along the way. You can start at the Greenway Center, located just across from City Hall, or make your way through the park on your own (you’ll find maps of both routes online). When you reach DeRuyter Park, take a break and rest on one of its many benches while enjoying views of mountains and water.
Annadel State Park
If you’re looking for a day of hiking and biking, Annadel State Park is the place to go.
With its 16 miles of hiking trails and 15 miles of biking trails, this park provides plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities. There are even picnic areas where you can relax in between your outdoor adventures.
Trione-Annadel State Park
Trione-Annadel State Park is a state park in Sonoma County, California in the United States. It is located within the Annadel State Park and is administered by the Sonoma Ecology Center, a non-profit organization.
The park contains two large reservoirs (Lake Ilsanjo and Lake Nokomis) created by one of several earthen dams built to provide water for Santa Rosa, California when it was first founded in 1843. The original dam was constructed between 1875 and 1883 by San Francisco lumber barons who made their fortunes harvesting redwood trees from Humboldt County, California then floated them down rivers to San Francisco for use as construction material for buildings like City Hall.[2]
Crane Creek Regional Park
The Crane Creek Regional Park is a park in Santa Rosa, California. The park is located at 1155 Westside Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404.
The park features several hiking trails, picnic areas, and a playground.
Spring Lake Regional Park
Spring Lake Regional Park is one of the best places to hike in Santa Rosa, especially since several of its trails are open year-round. The park also offers some great birdwatching and biking opportunities, as well as swimming at its sandy beach. If you have time to explore it all, there are plenty of nature trails for hiking and mountain biking throughout the park.
Wine Country Trails by Horseback
Wine Country Trails by Horseback is a wonderful way to relax and enjoy the beauty of Sonoma County. Riders are taken on trails through mountains, valleys, and forests. The horses are calm, quiet, safe, and surefooted—perfect for kids or beginners. Riding gives you a terrific cardiovascular workout while being great fun with friends or family!
Balletto Vineyards
Balletto Vineyards is a family-owned winery that has been producing wine in Sonoma County since the 1970s. The winery is located in the heart of Sonoma Valley, just north of Healdsburg. Balletto Vineyards produces varietals that reflect their cool climate and include Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel grapes as well as Chardonnay and Syrah. The tour takes you through two vineyards where you get to see exactly how the grapes are grown before being harvested and pressed into juice for fermentation into wine! After learning about how this process works, you’ll head back into their tasting room where they have several options available including sparkling reds made from Pinot Noir or white wines made with Chardonnay grapes — both of which are great choices when paired with food!
Kistler Vineyards Tasting Room
Kistler Vineyards is a family-owned winery in Sonoma County, California. They are known for their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which have won numerous awards over the years. The tasting room is located in downtown Santa Rosa at 3355 Industrial Drive, Suite C (the back of their production facility). The tasting room is open daily from 11 am to 5 pm and there are no tours available on Sundays or Mondays.
Rochioli Vineyards & Winery Tasting Room Downtown Santa Rosa
- Rochioli Vineyards & Winery is a family-owned winery in Sonoma County, California. Founded in 1968 by the late Robert Rochioli and his wife, Joanie, the vineyard has grown to become one of the largest family-owned wineries in Northern California.
- The winery is located in the town of Windsor on Highway 12 between Santa Rosa and Napa Valley, making it a perfect stop for visitors who are looking to combine wine tasting with an afternoon at nearby vineyard parks or local restaurants.
- They have a tasting room and a picnic area that can accommodate groups of up to 50 people for events like weddings or birthday parties (reservations required).
DeLoach Vineyards Tasting Room Downtown Santa Rosa
In downtown Santa Rosa, DeLoach Vineyards Tasting Room Downtown Santa Rosa is a winery that’s been producing award-winning wines for over 50 years. This vineyard is located in the Russian River Valley and offers tours, seminars, and tastings.
DeLoach Vineyards Tasting Room Downtown Santa Rosa: 885 E Napa St., Sonoma County CA 95476
Joseph Jewell Wines
Joseph Jewell Wines is a winery that produces excellent Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, located in Sonoma Valley. Joseph was the founder’s grandfather, who first planted grapes for sale to local customers when he moved to California from Missouri. The winery is currently run by his son, who focuses on making high-quality wines from local grapes.
The tasting room offers tastings of all of their wines, including several different varieties of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for both red wine lovers and white wine enthusiasts alike. If you like what you taste at the tasting bar then be sure to purchase some bottles to take home with you!
Russian River Valley Winegrowers Winery Tasting Rooms Near Santa Rosa, CA…
- Russian River Valley Winegrowers Winery Tasting Rooms Near Santa Rosa, CA
- DeLoach Vineyards Tasting Room Downtown Santa Rosa – About half a mile from downtown Santa Rosa, this tasting room offers a chance to sample wines made with grapes grown in the area. In addition to wine tastings, it offers tours and gift baskets for purchase.
- Joseph Jewell Wines – Located in the heart of downtown Santa Rosa’s wine country, this winery and tasting room is open daily during business hours. It features an outdoor patio perfect for sipping on California reds while enjoying views of the vineyards surrounding it. When you’re through sampling its offerings (which include reds made by both Napa Valley and Sonoma County vintners), head next door to Rochioli Vineyards & Winery Tasting Room Downtown Santa Rosa!
Takeaway:
Santa Rosa is a great place to visit. You can go wine tasting, eat delicious food, shop for unique items and walk around the city center. There are several hiking trails and bike paths that you can use to get outside and see the beautiful landscape. The Sonoma County area has many spas where you can relax before or after your day of activities!
If you’re planning on going on vacation soon, Santa Rosa is a great choice!
Conclusion
We hope this list has given you some ideas for what to do in Santa Rosa. Some of these are day trips and some are weekend trips, but all of them are great ways to get out of the city and enjoy nature while still being close enough to come back when you need to rest up. Whether you’re looking for a romantic retreat or just want time away from work and family responsibilities, there’s something here that will fit your needs!
