A safe day to...
Travel to Santa Rosa, California
Situated 55 miles north of San Francisco, Santa Rosa is a wine country mecca that offers unique activities for children and adults who want to get outdoors. Beyond its many wineries and tasting rooms, Santa Rosa is home to the Safari West Wildlife Preserve and the Spring Lake Regional Park, which is right in town. Undoubtedly, there is no shortage of activities to entertain people of all ages.
Support Santa Rosa
The Tubbs Fire burned in parts of Napa, Lake and Sonoma counties in October 2017 and most heavily impacted the city of Santa Rosa. Shy of 100 acres of wineries burned in Sonoma County and Santa Rosa suffered severe structural losses. Early on, Sonoma County worked hard to debunk the myth that “it is wrong to visit now,” for they are still a thriving and beautiful area. The reality is that 91% of local businesses in Sonoma County are locally owned and these business owners rely on tourism for their income. Show your support for this lovely landscape and its community of local business owners by adding Santa Rosa to your bucket list.
Best Time to Visit Santa Rosa
The typical high season in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County as a whole is April through November with the warmest months being June, July and August. In spring, you’ll find an abundance of wildflowers and vines beginning to green. In later summer, you’ll see heavier vegetation. If you’re hoping to beat the crowds and have a more relaxed experience in Santa Rosa, consider visiting during the cooler winter months. You’ll experience much less traffic and won’t need to worry about booking accommodations so far in advance.
Travel Safely in Santa Rosa
Terra Frma strongly believes that disaster prone towns and cities deserve to be visited and supported. Some of the most spectacular areas in the world happen to be disaster prone areas. If we stop visiting them, we stop seeing the world at its fullest. Just as you deserve to be resilient at home, you deserve to be resilient while traveling as well.
Travel safely to Santa Rosa by taking these simple preparedness steps, which include packing smart and researching helpful resources ahead of time.
Pack the following items
- Disaster Deck
- Vehicle Kit
- Printed map of Sonoma County
- On-Foot Kit in day pack for visiting beaches
Local safety resources for Santa Rosa, CA
- Santa Rosa city Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Sign up for the Santa Rosa Emergency Alert System (you can unsubscribe at any time)
- Sonoma County Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Sonoma County Major Earthquake Fault Zones Map
Santa Rosa is at risk for
- Earthquake
- Tsunami
- Wildfire
A Day in Santa Rosa
Spend a day in beautiful Santa Rosa where the wine flows and the air is fragrant with California blooms. No matter what time of year you visit, bring along your Disaster Deck and even your Grab + Go Box for extra security.
Downtown Santa Rosa
Take a break from the wineries of Santa Rosa to enjoy the downtown area, which features museums, art galleries, boutique shops, a variety of bars and restaurants, mall shopping and relaxing spaces to picnic or people watch. Locals consider downtown to be the eastern portion of the city at Mendocino Avenue between 3rd and 4th streets, where a large open plaza with trees, grass and plenty of benches hosts events like the farmers market, depending on the season. On the western side of downtown is the historic railroad square where many of the shops and restaurants are housed in turn-of-the-century buildings. Here you’ll find coffee, boutiques, antique stores and much more.
Santa Rosa Art Scene
Charles M. Schulz Museum is perfect for both art fanatics and the casual observer. The Charles M. Schultz museum celebrates the life and work of Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip. View the world’s largest collection of original Peanuts artwork, explore a recreation of Schulz’s studio, learn about his impact on the development of comic strips and visit the hands-on education center.
Get Outside in Santa Rosa
Gunsight Rock and Mount Hood Trail is a 7.8-mile, out-and-back day hike that sets out from Hood Mountain Regional Park. If you are in the mood for a climb well worth the rewarding view, this will be the perfect hike for you. Enjoy views of San Francisco from the top of Gunsight Rock and relax knowing you can bring your furry friends along.
Redtail Trail at Taylor Mountain Regional Park is a 1.2-mile looping path leads through beautiful oak woodlands and grassy meadows at Taylor Mountain Regional Park. This walk is well-suited for younger children or anyone excited about getting outside but not interested in something too strenuous.
Santa Rosa Recommended Restaurants
The Omelette Express offers friendly, fast service with large portions, check out this historic railroad district staple since 1977. Omelette Express has been voted a neighborhood favorite and reviewers love the interior decor featuring some of the owner’s favorite cars and Peanuts characters.
Brew Coffee & Beer House. If you’re an avocado toast connoisseur, then plan a trip to Brew where you’ll find the best toast in town. Pair it with coffee, tea or a beer and we guarantee you’ll be satisfied. Check out Brew's Instagram for mouth-watering samplings, events and more.
St. Francis Winery & Vineyard is known for its beautifully presented wine-pairing luncheon. Many patrons tout this experience as the highlight of their trip to Santa Rosa calling the lunch unforgettable. The food is fresh, seasonal and masterfully crafted to compliments its wine pairing perfectly.
Where to Drink in Santa Rosa
Matanzas Creek Winery adds a little something extra to your vineyard experience. Matanzas boasts some of the best views from their picnic grotto and also offers a delightfully aromatic experience from their fields of lavender on the property. Play bocce and explore the beautiful lavender barn that makes for a very enjoyable day.
Russian River Brewing is considered one of the best breweries in the United States. Their most famous beer, Pliny the Elder, was considered the best beer in the US for nine years in a row. While this double IPA brings many patrons in from all over the country for samples, pints and six packs to go, you can also expect a wide variety of other inventive and delicious beers to try while there. Don’t miss out on all-day happy hour on Sundays either. A word to the wise: because of Russian River’s popularity, you can expect a long wait getting in the door, so plan accordingly. Learn about beer production and weekly events on their Instagram and Facebook pages.
Flying Goat Coffee's coffee is globally sourced and so good it won the 2013 Coffee Category in the Good Foods Awards out of 200 best roasters around the United States. They’ve been conveniently located in the historic railroad square district for almost two decades and their chic updated space will make you want to to hang out all day. Flying Goat Coffee has several locations in southern California and during the California wildfires in fall 2017, they opened all of their locations to serve as shelters and meeting points for anyone in need. Take a peak at what's new on their Facebook and Instagram pages.
Jackson’s Bar and Oven is well known for its innovative cocktails and features an impressive wine list for those so inclined. They are self-described as “kid-friendly, casually sophisticated, with an emphasis on quality ingredients.” Don't take our word for it; their Facebook and Instagram pages are filled with praise.
Where to Stay in Santa Rosa
Whether you are camping, renting, or staying at a hotel, we recommend you learn the safety procedures in place at your accommodation and print a map and highlight routes from your accommodation to the nearest designated safety shelter.
Hotels and Bed & Breakfasts
Hotel Azura is located 15 minutes from historic downtown and close to wineries and the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Hotel Azura, which is completely smoke-free, is a boutique hotel with wine country convenience, as it’s close to local shops, artisan breweries, museums and historic landmarks and wineries.
The Astro was not yet open during the events of the Tubbs fire; however, with a temporary occupancy permit granted by the city, it became a refuge for evacuees in October 2017. It has since been a FEMA-approved site for eligible fire survivors. The Astro also has Shinola Bikes on site for rental, staff who can make repairs and the motel is conveniently located just minutes away from the Santa Rosa Creek Trail, which offers a car-free route to get to and from the downtown area.
Vintners Inn offers relaxation and a true Santa Rosa experience. Soak up a serene, pampered experience on 92 acres of vineyards in Russian River Valley wine country. Rated one of the best hotels in Sonoma County and awarded the Environmentalist Level in the California Green Lodging Program (which ensures the hotel meets seven environmental best practice standards), Vintners Inn offers luxurious rooms and suites, a spa and walking path through the surrounding vineyard, vegetable gardens and olive tree orchard.
Camping in Santa Rosa
Spring Lake Regional Park offers a great camping experience while remaining close to Santa Rosa. The park features 31 sites for tent camping, RVs and trailers. Each campsite has a table, fire ring and close access to potable water and restrooms with electrical outlets, showers and flush toilets. Bear in mind that there are no RV hookups. The park also has three sites with sleeping cabins. The cabins accommodate four or six people. Recreate right from your campsite by choosing to walk one of the many trails around the lake, take a dip in the swimming lagoon, or bring your kayaks or paddle boards to enjoy the lake.
The Grab + Go Box
No matter where you live or where you travel, the Grab + Go Box is your resource for practicing vital steps to outsmart any disaster. It is the only step-by-step product that prepares you before and guides you during any natural disaster. Interactive expert resources and wellness-focused guidance help build physical and emotional resilience in you and your family.
