Santa Rosa
Around Santa Rosa
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Metro area · California · 485k people
Santa Rosa
Locals say Sonoma County · “The Rose City”, “Egg Basket of the World”
Santa Rosa · Petaluma
Where the river winds through redwoods and vines.
Pinot Noir WineRedwood Forest GreenGolden Hills
Welcome to Sonoma County, where the redwoods meet the coast and the wine flows. Whether you're here for the outdoors or the food, you'll find a laid-back vibe that's hard to beat.
Clubs for Santa Rosa
No clubs for Santa Rosa yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Santa Rosa. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Santa Rosa. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Sonoma Plaza Heart of Sonoma, with adobe buildings and a mission-era feel.
- Jack London State Historic Park Rugged trails and ruins of the author's home.
- Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve Towering old-growth redwoods near Guerneville.
- Bodega Bay Fishing village and beach town, famous for 'The Birds'.
- Russian River Swimming, kayaking, and tubing in summer.
- Charles M. Schulz Museum Home of Peanuts, with original art and memorabilia.
- Outdoors Hike Annadel State Park
- Outdoors Kayak the Russian River
- With kids Visit the Charles M. Schulz Museum
- With kids Take the miniature train at Howarth Park
- Evenings Live music at the Green Music Center
- Evenings Craft beer at local taprooms
- Locals love wineries and tasting rooms
- Locals love craft breweries
Through the year
- Sonoma County Fair July-August Carnival, livestock, and concerts
- Gravenstein Apple Fair August Celebrates the local apple with pies and cider
- Healdsburg Jazz Festival June Jazz performances in the plaza
- Sonoma International Film Festival March Independent films in historic theaters
- Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival April Blessing of the fleet, seafood, and crafts
Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Best: Spring and fall are ideal, with mild temps and clear skies.
Talk like a local
- “the coast”
- Bodega Bay
- “the river”
- Russian River
- “upvalley”
- Northern Sonoma Valley
- “downvalley”
- Southern Sonoma Valley
Getaways
- Napa Valley Wine country next door
- San Francisco City life and Golden Gate
- Clearlake Boating and fishing on the lake
- Ukiah Gateway to Mendocino
Local flavour
Rooting for San Francisco Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Golden State Warriors, San Jose Sharks
Eat and drink
- Wine tasting Sonoma County's world-famous Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel.
- Craft beer Home of Russian River Brewing's Pliny the Elder and Lagunitas.
- Petaluma poultry Petaluma was once the 'Egg Basket of the World'.
- Gravenstein apple pie The famous heirloom apples grown throughout the county.
- Sourdough bread A Bay Area staple with deep local roots.
Where people go
- Wineries and tasting rooms From grand estates to rustic barns, the heart of the county.
- Breweries A thriving craft beer scene in Santa Rosa and Petaluma.
- Farm stands Fresh produce, eggs, and local goods along the country roads.
- Redwood groves Towering, ancient trees in parks like Armstrong Redwoods.
- Coastal bluffs Dramatic cliffs and beaches just west of the valley.
Heritage and traditions
Sonoma County is proud of its deep agricultural roots, the birthplace of California's wine industry, and a laid-back lifestyle that blends redwood forests, coastal bluffs, and a vibrant farm-to-table food scene.
This time of year in Santa Rosa
- Harvest August-October Grape picking and wine events in vineyards.
- Sonoma County Harvest Fair October Celebrates the grape harvest with wine, food, and contests.
Say it like a local: “the River” — Russian River
Festivals
- Sonoma County Harvest Fair October Celebrates the grape harvest with wine, food, and contests.
- Sonoma County Pride June LGBTQ+ celebration with parade and festival in Santa Rosa.
- Petaluma Music Festival July Features local and national bands in a family-friendly setting.
- Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience May Weekend of wine and food pairings with top chefs.
- Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction September Charity wine auction and tasting benefiting local nonprofits.
- Luther Burbank Rose Parade May Floral parade through downtown Santa Rosa.
Landmarks with a story
- Mission San Francisco Solano Northernmost California mission, founded in 1823 in Sonoma.
- Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park Restored 1830s adobe ranch of General Mariano Vallejo.
- Fort Ross State Historic Park Historic Russian fur trading outpost on the Sonoma Coast.
- Sonoma State Historic Park Includes the mission, barracks, and other historic buildings around Sonoma Plaza.
- Healdsburg Historic District Charming downtown with Victorian architecture and a central plaza.
- Petaluma Historic District Known for its well-preserved commercial buildings and Victorian homes.
Food traditions
- Farm-to-table dining Restaurants source ingredients from local farms and ranches, reflecting the region's agricultural heritage.
- Artisanal cheese Sonoma County is known for small-batch cheesemakers producing everything from aged gouda to fresh chèvre.
- Olive oil tasting Local olive groves produce award-winning oils, often tasted at farm stands and mills.
- Dungeness crab feeds A winter tradition of cracking fresh crab, often at community gatherings or seafood restaurants.
- Grape stomping Harvest season activity at wineries where visitors crush grapes by foot, celebrating the vintage.
Music and arts
- Santa Rosa Symphony Regional orchestra performing classical and pops concerts.
- Healdsburg Jazz Festival Annual jazz event attracting world-class musicians.
- Sonoma County folk music Traditional and contemporary folk performances in clubs and festivals.
- Wine country painting Artists inspired by vineyards, rolling hills, and coastal landscapes.
A little history
- 1823 Mission San Francisco Solano founded
- 1846 Bear Flag Revolt in Sonoma, leading to the California Republic
- 1906 Great San Francisco Earthquake severely damages Santa Rosa
- 1950s-60s Counterculture movement brings communes and organic farming
- 1970s Wine industry boom transforms the region
Rivalries
- Sonoma vs Napa wine country Friendly banter over which valley is better.
- Santa Rosa vs Petaluma Friendly rivalry over local pride.
- High school football rivalries Montgomery vs Santa Rosa and others.
- Game day Attending races at Sonoma Raceway
- Game day Cycling events like Levi's GranFondo
- Outdoors Surfing or beachcombing at Salmon Creek Beach
- Outdoors Tidepooling at Bodega Head
- With kids Sonoma TrainTown
- With kids Petaluma Wildlife Museum
Locals speak with a typical Northern California accent, using terms like 'hella' for 'very.' They often refer to local landmarks by nicknames: 'the Valley' for Sonoma Valley, 'the River' for the Russian River, 'the Coast' for the Pacific shoreline, 'the Plaza' for Sonoma's central square, and 'the 101' for Highway 101. 'Harvest' is the busy grape-picking season in autumn.
Only here
- The Charles M. Schulz Museum is the only museum dedicated to Peanuts.
- Gravenstein apples are commercially grown almost exclusively in Sonoma County.
- The Sonoma Valley is the birthplace of California's wine industry.
- The Bear Flag Revolt started in Sonoma, creating the California Republic.
New here? A few tips
- Expect morning fog and afternoon sun in summer; bring layers.
- Traffic on Highway 101 can be heavy during commutes; plan accordingly.
- Learn to pronounce 'Healdsburg' (Hells-burg) and 'Petaluma' (Peh-tuh-LOO-muh).
- The Russian River is cold even in summer; bring a wetsuit if you plan to swim.
- Wine country weekends are busy; try visiting on weekdays.
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Nearby
Every areaNapaCaliforniaWhere every hill is a vineyard and every glass tells a story.VallejoCaliforniaWhere the river meets the bay, and the ferry hums home.ClearlakeCaliforniaLife moves at the pace of the lake.San Francisco–OaklandCaliforniaFog-kissed hills, salt air, and a city that never stops dreaming.UkiahCaliforniaQuiet redwoods, wild coast, good wine.SacramentoCaliforniaWhere rivers meet and every meal is from the farm.Yuba CityCaliforniaOrchards, river, and a world of flavor.StocktonCaliforniaWhere the Delta meets the valley's bounty.
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.