Santa Rosa

Almost fifty-five miles north of San Francisco, lays the city of wine, Santa Rosa, standing tall with its impeccable beauty and grace. Santa Rosa is a town with a cool ambiance and vivacious culture full of life and energy. A person with a superlative taste of wine will definitely find a holiday in Santa Rosa pleasant and appealing. However, this region of impressive redwoods, high hills around the Pacific Ocean, features excellent mixtures of alternative leisure activities too. Situated right at the midpoint of Sonoma County wine sector, Santa Rosa domesticates first-class vineyards which created histories compounded with a delightful atmosphere. The Matanzas Creek distillery offers guests an opportunity to relish the fragrance of lavender which blossoms in June and July; however, the Estate Gardens and astounding backdrop are the main tourist attraction throughout the year.

1. Safari West

A night in the 400-acre land of African adventure with thrill and beguilement is a dream come true. Safari West in Sonoma County also known as Sonoma Savannah inhabits a large variety of wildlife and organisms. There are zebras, antelopes, cheetahs, giraffes counting to more than 800 animal lives from 80 various species. There are different tour operators with packages of jungle safari using trucks and buses to tour the Safari West home. Three years is the minimum age for entry. There are customized luxury and ordinary tents procured from Africa with bathroom, furniture and bed facilities to rest for a night here. Tour operators can also arrange for night camp chats, campfire, private adventures and school trips for children.

2. Charles M. Schulz Museum

Photo byWineCountry Media

The Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center is a fun loving place. It has an exquisite collection of cartoons, especially snoopy, created by the eminent cartoonist Charles M. Schulz. You can view the most fabulous collections of original Peanuts artwork of this highly talented man. Enjoy your day with hands-on experience by drawing cartoons in the education room; see the animated peanuts documentaries at the theatres, magnificent collection of original comic strips and Schulz’ contribution to the world of cartoons at the Schulz’s art studio. The museum is open on weekdays from 1 am to 5 pm except on Tuesday with an entry fee of $5 for students aged 4 yrs to 18 yrs, adults $12 an $8 for senior citizens aged 62 and above. It is free for children below 3 years.

3. Spring Lake Park

Photo bySandip Bhattacharya

Unlike regional parks of Sonoma County, the Spring Lake Park is noticeable because of it being an all-in-one activity center. Located in the eastern corner of Santa Rosa, along Trione-Annadel State Park, the Spring Lake Park covers a hilly area of 350-acre land. Here you can have a look at the spectacular scenery of lakes, ponds, greenery, meadows; open sky with oak woodlands, flowers well maintained blossoming all over. The Environmental Discovery Center here is an artificial pool for sea-creatures like the turtle and fish. Visiting hours are from 12 pm to 5 pm with 3 free of cost exhibits the “Habitat & Home,” “Down the Drain” and “Eco Kids.” The filtered spring water Lagoon and the 72-acre lake are another viewpoint here that attracts tourists from all over the world.

4. Howarth Park

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Locally known as the "Jewel" of Santa Rosa, Howarth Park is a place for leisure, fun time and recreational activities. Spread over an area of 138-acre land the park provides unlimited freedom and space for fishing, boating, playing, hiking, trekking and enjoying rides. The park boasts a beautiful lake for boating, a large field for sports, tennis court, picnic spots, playgrounds, jogging tracks, biking spaces and pony rides. You can take pests inside. Outdoor Activities also includes horseback riding, miniature train ride, carousel and other kinds. Due to the uneven road, wheelchair is not accessible. The place is neat and tidy with garbage bags alongside. You can find enough restrooms in the park for increased comfort service.

5. Luther Burbank Home & Gardens

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Luther Burbank Home & Gardens is a world known flower place built by horticulturist Luther Burbank who dedicated 50 years of his life to botany and experiments in plants. In the Docent-led Tour here, you will get to see the home of Luther Burbank with furniture's and his lifestyle preserved in the form of a museum. It also has a greenhouse with plants, carriage house museum and gift shop that are open to visitors from April to October. The garden is open all days with optional tours for children from morning 8 am to evening. Located in the corner of Santa Rosa, California, this place is the National, State & City Historic Landmark of the area.

6. Art Museum of Sonoma County

Situated in the center of southern Santa Rosa,Art Museum of Sonoma County
exhibits national and international modernized art that is highly acclaimed. The museum was opened in 2015 and showcases work of artists, in and around Northern California, who have become legends for their contribution to the artwork. It exhibits 15 to 18 art gallery per year covering exceptional world class dexterity of artists both living and dead. It is the only art collection museum in the North Bay. Covering an area of 4500 square feet, Art Museum of Sonoma County offers various educational programs as well. It is also a platform for creativity, artistry, and imagination. It is open all days from 11 am to 5 pm excepting Monday.

7. Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary

You cannot find any other spa in the USA that offers Cedar Enzyme Bath, the highly vital body rejuvenating therapy using Japanese ancient systems. It is part of Green Spa Network, has been providing unique and sensational healing touch through herbal and natural resources for 30 years, thereby, mastering the art of herbal healing. The ambiance of this place is in absolute balance with the nature. The spa services offer healing benefits that assure energy and strength to your mind, body and spirit. The state of the art offerings is the renowned Cedar Enzyme Bath that is eminent and well-known to all tourists who visit Santa Rosa. The ambiance of the sanctuary is friendly with homely staffs at your service. It is open all days from morning 9 am to 8 pm.

8. Platypus Wine Tours in Sonoma

The platypus wine tour will cost you $110 approximately. You can visit the wine yards located in and around Napa Valley. The tour includes stories on the lifestyle, history of the place, culture and civilization of the people and its place. Savor and relish some of the finest and leading branded wines that have acclaimed a name worldwide for its flavor and aroma. The tours are friendly and easy to go. Private wine tours generally include private individuals or groups of 8-10 people with a personal guide who will take you in a car. You can also opt to see your preferred wineries and even taste them as per your whims. The large group private wine tours generally have salon type buses, cars and vans to accommodate more than 8 guests.

9. Pacific Coast Air Museum

Photo bywiltshirespotter

The Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa exhibits more than 30 types of American military aircraft dating back to WWII collections. It is a non-profit organization, engaged in preserving all kinds of aircraft from the origin of the aircraft industry. The 5-acre area covers a fascinating collection of world's lightest jet fighters, a replica of a Pitts Special S1- world’s most exceptional aerobatic plane, fighter planes from the World War II, Korean and the Vietnam War. Apart from the exhibitions, it offers a lot of exciting information on aircraft safety operations, and academic sessions for visitors to understand the various aspects of flight, aviation history and aviation summer schools classes for students by offering the merit badge in aviation. Another significant activity is the crowd pulling "Wings over Wine Country" a two-day weekend annual air show, which celebrates in August. The air show will be a spectacular event, with biplane aerobatics, hang-gliding, skydiving, etc. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday (morning 10 am to 4 pm). It remains closed on major holidays.

10. Annadel State Park

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It is very favored, and famous park stretches over an area of 5200 acres with trails and path reserved for cyclists, bikers, and mountain hikers. The eight and a half mile bay ridge trail is very popular among the horse riders and trail riders. You can enjoy fishing at the Lake Ilsanjo with a spectacular view of varied birds at Ledson Marsh where you can witness more than 130 species of birds who inhabit the area. From the park, you can easily go to the Spring Lake Regional Park, and Howarth Park with the interconnection trails. The peak season here is during April to May when the spring has just set in with blossoms all over the place. It is open all days from morning 8 am till sunset.

◎ Closing

A holiday in Santa Rosa is something you can cherish for a lifetime. Being the urban center of Sonoma city, Santa Rosa is much more than just being a wine country known worldwide. Recently ranked in the list of top tourist destinations in the USA, the North Bay city has a lot more to offer than what meets the eye. Santa Rosa is a place of natural beauty with oceans, hilltops and scenery. In addition to the peanut cartoon, museum, parks, and art gallery, Santo Rosa offers exciting outdoor recreational activities, sports, and sparkling California scenic beauty of the mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Never miss availing the Sonoma County hot-air ballooning, a grandiose lifetime cherishing experience. You can start the tour with a quick glance at the California Welcome Center located at Historic Railroad Square.