10 Fun Things to Do in Santa Rosa, California

Nestled in the heart of Northern California’s wine country, the city of Santa Rosa offers a lot of attractions and things to do to have an unforgettable experience.

From scenic parks and historic sites to world-class wineries and eclectic shops, here are ten fun things you won’t want to miss while in this charming city.

Vineyard in Santa Rosa, California — Photo by Jaime Casap on Unsplash

Santa Rosa is a vibrant city that offers a perfect blend of culinary delights, outdoor exploration, family-friendly attractions, history, and culture. This city promises to inspire and captivate your senses.

Explore Santa Rosa Wineries

Sonoma Country wineries are amazing, it has over 495 wineries spread out and over 18 unique appellations. With this variety, the million-dollar question is where should you go?

Grapes on a vine — Photo by Hari Nandakumar on Unsplash

Our first advice is to figure out what type of experience you are looking for. It could be a tour tasting or a short class of wine education. The important thing is that you need to book your reservation in advance. To help you with the search and the decision-making process, we bring you the task done.

Top 5 Wineries to Visit in Sonoma Country

1. St. Francis Winery and Vineyards: Offers private tours and tastings of Cabernet and Zinfandel wines at reasonable prices, with friendly and kind staff.

2. Coursey Graves Estate Winery: Ideal for celebrating a wedding anniversary or a weekend getaway, featuring private tours with a knowledgeable host.

3. Matanzas Creek Winery: Known for its stunning lavender gardens, this winery offers a delightful tasting experience and friendly staff, especially beautiful in late June and July.

4. Paradise Ridge Winery: Combines great wine with art, featuring a friendly staff and an impressive sculpture park worth exploring.

5. Hook and Ladder Winery: A highly recommended spot in Santa Rosa for wine tasting, with beautiful grounds to relax and enjoy wine and snacks.

Outdoor Activities in Santa Rosa

Hiking trails and Nature Parks

Santa Rosa has gorgeous parks and world-class hiking trails around the city with easy access for tourists looking for breathtaking views and memorable natural experiences. We made a guide for you with the best hiking trails in the area:

Taylor Mountain Regional Park-Western Route is a great option for beginners and families looking to hike in the area. This trail is easy to hike and also offers a beautiful view of Santa Rosa.

Armstrong Woods State Park: In this park, you will see some of the tallest and oldest trees remaining in this part of California, such as the Parson Jones Tree (310 feet high) and the Coronel Armstrong Tree (more than 1400 years old). In addition, the best way to experience the dramatic effect of the towering redwoods is to park the car in the lot at the park entrance and walk in.

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve — Photo by Tyke Jones on Unsplash

Gunsight Rock in Hood Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve: It is a 4-hour challenging trail, but worth it for the overlook. You will find the best views of Sonoma Country that any trail in the area can offer.

Trione-Annadel State Park is a breathtaking natural wonder nestled in the heart of Santa Rosa. With over 5000 acres, this park offers a diverse landscape of rolling hills, lush forests, rocky paths, and tranquil lakes. If you hike in this park, you will discover a rich biodiversity as you encounter native wildlife.

Experience Hot Air Balloon Rides: This is a must-do fun activity if you visit Santa Rosa. Enjoy the magical experience of a smooth and quite lovely floating over the vineyard.

Fun Family-Friendly Attractions

Santa Rosa offers a diverse array of fun family-friendly attractions specifically designed for teenagers. Here are some of them:

Visit the Charles M. Schulz Museum: This captivating museum celebrates the life and legacy of cartoonist Charles M. Schulz through interactive exhibits, original artwork, and immersive experiences. Teens can explore Schulz’s creative process, admire rare comic strips, and even try their hand at drawing their favorite characters. It’s a must-visit destination for families looking to spend family time.

A Wildlife Safari Adventure: If you want to have an experience unlike any other zoo and feel what a safari is like, this is the place to be. You will have an incredible experience, guided by staff who are passionate about animals.

With opportunities for photography, animal encounters, and educational experiences, this activity offers a fun and unforgettable journey into the heart of Africa.
Safari family-friendly activity

Photo by Hu Chen on Unsplash

Best Events and Festival

No matter the day you visit this city, Santa Rosa always has something to surprise you. Here is a list of the best events and festivals in the year.

Month	Activities
January	Winter Wineland Chowder Day Bodega Bay
February	Cloverdale Citrus Fair Lake Sonoma Steelhead Festival Sonoma Country Restaurant Week
March	Wine Road Barrel Tasting California Artisan Cheese Festival Sonoma Internacional Film Festival
April	Alexander Valley Film Festival Passport to Dry Creek Valley Apple Blossom Festival and Parade
May	Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival Castles & Kites
June	Taste of Sonoma Country Summer Music Festival
July	All American Zin Day Red, White, and Boom! Wine and Dixieland Jazz Festival
August	Gravenstein Apple Fair Bodega Seafood, Art, and Wine Festival Art in the Redwoods Festival
September	National Heirloom Exposition Old Grove Festival Sonoma Country Wine Auction
October	Sonoma Country Harvest Festival Pinot on the RiverHealdsburg Crush
November	Wine & Food Affair
December	Luther Burbank Holiday Open House

These are some of the best events and festivals of the year. If you want to learn more about it, you can check this site.

Culinary Delights

In a few words, Santa Rosa is a foodie paradise, with authentic and vibrant food culture. As soon as you step into the Downtown District, you will be enveloped by the smells of gastronomic delights of many restaurants. There are some of them you must visit to have an unforgettable dining experience.

Farm-to-Table cuisine — Photo by Josh Bean on Unsplash

Belly Left Coast Kitchen & Tap Room: Enjoy delightful plates made with seasonal products from local purveyors.
La Rosa Tequileria & Grille: This restaurant mixes traditional Mexican flavors with contemporary Latin flavors. Some of their famous plates are Scallops and Chorizo Ceviche or Ancho Chile Salmon. In addition, one of the best things about this place is that you can come with all your group of friends, they can fit large groups in the restaurant.

Ausiello’s 5th Street Bar & Grill: It is one of the local favorites. With its familiar atmosphere, you will feel at home.

If you are interested in learning more about Santa Rosa’s food culture, a foodie tour is a must-do stuff to do in this city. Here are some activities we highly recommend to make your foodie itinerary full of flavors.

Request A Table Near The Farm: Santa Rosa is the epicenter of California’s food and wine scene. Enjoy delicious plates of farm-to-table cuisine. Eat like the Santa Rosa lifestyle!

The California Cheese Trail: In this trail, you can connect with Santa Rosa cheesemakers and their tours, cheesemaking classes, and cheese events throughout Sonoma County.

Coffee and Dessert: Santa Rosa has more local coffee shops than Starbucks. Enjoy the coffee culture of Santa Rosa, check its page all about coffee and tea. Or if you prefer desserts like cupcakes, macarons, or ice cream, Downtown Santa Rosa is your place, you can find stores like Sift Dessert Bar or Noble Folk Ice Cream and Pie Bar. In general, they are highly recommended for sugar and sweets lovers.

Take a cooking class: Improve your cooking skills at the renowned culinary art program at Santa Rosa Junior College and Bakery. You can also take your cooking class at locations like Relish Culinary Adventures or Ramekins.

Cultural and Historical Sites

Interesting museum — Photo by Jessica Pamp on Unsplash

Santa Rosa is full of museums and historical landmarks you can enjoy on your visit. Here are some fun stuff to do in Santa Rosa, California:

Visit the Museum of Sonoma Country: Located in Downtown Santa Rosa, this museum welcomes visitors to experience regional history and contemporary art. It opened its doors in 1985 housed in the historic 1910 post office, a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.

Luther Burbank Home and Gardens: It honors the work of famed horticulturist Luther Burbank, who introduced over 800 new plant varieties The site includes an acre of gardens with many of the naturalist’s creations, a beautiful greenhouse he built in 1889, and his Greek Revival home. Certainly, it would be a fun and educative experience for those interested in learning more about horticulture or for those who just want to learn a little more about this place.

Snoopy’s Home Ice: Founded by Charles Schulz, it is a beautiful arena surrounded by Peanuts decor. If you like to ice skate, this is the place for you. Rent skates or bring your own, you won’t regret it, and it is a great place to go when the weather is bad.

Railroad Square Historic District: It is the most old-fashioned part of Downtown Santa Rosa. There are numerous restaurants, antique shops, and other shops in the area as well.

Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery: Ranked as one of the “creepiest” cemeteries in the US, it is an interesting place to explore. The city created a full self-guided tour, with maps available at the cemetery or online, plus markers for significant sports like Julio Carrillo’s grave, one of the founders of the city.

Exciting Adventure Activities

Are you an adrenaline lover? Santa Rosa offers some fun and breathtaking activities you going to love.

Kayaking is not only a fun thing to do in Santa Rosa, Calibut it is also the best and cheapest way of transportation in Santa Rosa. The Regional Parks River Shuttle travels a loop from Tom Schopflin Fields, 4351 Old Redwood Hwy., in Santa Rosa to Steelhead Beach Regional Park and Sunset Beach River Park in Forestville.

Kayaking is a fun thing to do in Santa Rosa — Photo by Christian Bowen on Unsplash

Kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding are also popular on the Russian River or go bioluminescent kayaking at sunset. You get to choose if you float down the river at a slow pace, enjoy a tour that takes in wildlife, or experts can burn calories with a more vigorous tour out on the ocean.

Zipline Adventures is another incredible eco-adventure where you can see panoramic forest views. This is a perfect activity for families and individuals of all ages.

Another interesting adventure is horseback riding in Wine Country. There are many opportunities to ride over the dunes and along the beach, while other trails go up into the hills for spectacular views of the coast. Likewise, take a guided horseback ride in Jack London State Historic Park, or ride your horse on the trails through the giant, old-growth forest of Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, or in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.

Horseback riding in Santa Rosa, California. — Photo by Elisa Pitkänen on Unsplash

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