1) Doughnuts, Anyone?
Enjoy handcrafted doughnuts made from wholesome ingredients at Johnny Doughnuts. Inspired by history, their recipes started with classic doughs from the 1920s that they play with based on seasonality and the freshest local ingredients they can find. In addition to doughnuts, Johnny Doughnuts also serves up Crodoughs (a take on Cronuts, or croissant doughnuts), Bismarck’s (aka jelly doughnuts), cinnamon rolls, wheat-free doughnuts, vegan doughnuts, and Equator coffee and tea.
1200 4th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 | 707-308-4836 | johnnydoughnuts.com
Individual doughnuts range in price from $4.00 to $5.00
2) Step Back in Time
Originally locating to Santa Rosa in 1875, see what life was like for Luther Burbank and his wife Elizabeth at the Luther Burbank Home and Gardens. This Santa Rosa city park contains the former home, greenhouse, gardens, and grave of noted American horticulturist Luther Burbank. More than an acre of gardens includes many of Burbank’s horticultural contributions. Special garden areas focus on medicinal herbs, cutting flowers, roses, wildlife habitats, and ornamental grasses. Many unusual varieties of plants and new horticultural introductions are represented. Most plants are labeled with both botanic and common names. Follow the story of Burbank’s career with a self-guided tour. The Gardens in downtown Santa Rosa are open to the public every day from 8:00 am to dusk.
204 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 | (707) 524-5445 | Luther Burbank Home & Garden
Adults $10; Children 12-18, Seniors and College Students with ID $8.50; children under 12 free with an adult.
3) Open & Out Summer Flix
Every Wednesday evening in July pack up the kids and enjoy Movie Night on the Square in Downtown Santa Rosa. This outdoor series of family movies start at sundown and jammies, blankets and snacks are A-OK. Schedule: July 7th: The Princess Bride, July 14th: The Sandlot, July 21st: Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and July 28th: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.
Courthouse Square, Downtown Santa Rosa, between 3rd and 4th Street | Open & Out - Downtown Santa Rosa
Admission is free. No reservations are necessary.
4) Beach and Barrio Food
The Charro Negro Food Truck is home to the best ocean-to-table tacos and tostadas in Sonoma County. Hands down. No question. Everything is super fresh. Inspired by Mexican style “mariscos” the Charro Negro food truck is filled with colorful, earthy, and high tide seafood flavors. Aguachiles are a specialty of the mobile kitchen, a juicy ceviche made with raw shrimp marinated in lime is $10.00
665 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, CA, 95407 | (707) 385-6465 |charronegrofood.com
Open Wednesday - Sunday, 12-8 p.m. at Mitote Food Park in the Roseland area of Santa Rosa.
5) Walk (or Bike) on the Wild Side
Trione-Annadel State Park is an amazing park in the heart of Santa Rosa and a favorite for hikers and cyclists, offering miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. With its 5,200 acres and over 40 miles of interconnected trails, including an 8 ½ -mile section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, it is a popular destination for the mountain biking community. For wildflower lovers, Trione-Annadel State Park offers a great variety of flowers from early Spring until early Summer, especially on a hike around Lake Ilsanjo.
6201 Channel Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95409 | (707) 539-3911 | Trione-Annadel State Park
There is a $7.00 parking fee for entrance to Annadel State Park with a vehicle, or alternately, you can walk or bike in for free.
6) Play to Learn
The super-fun Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, targeted to kids 10 and under, provides a place where children can learn about science and nature in a hands-on way. Highlights include the outdoor garden, where an exhibit on the Russian River Watershed lets children catch and release toy salmon in a gently cascading man-made creek bed. Other immersive play includes steel water tables where kids can twist and turn gauges to experiment with water pressure, dams, wave power, and flood plains. Indoors, there are exhibits involving everything from X-rays and dentistry to the life cycle of bees. A variety of public programming throughout the year enriches the museum’s offerings.
1835 W Steele Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 | (707) 546-4069 | Children's Museum of Sonoma County
Adults and children: $12.00
7) Chill Out at Snoopy’s Home Ice
It’s no secret that Charles Schultz, the creator of Snoopy the cartoon beagle (and the Peanuts comic strips that made the dog famous), had a passion for ice skating. A long-time Santa Rosa resident, Schultz grew up in Minnesota and featured ice skating and ice hockey in many Peanuts strips. Schultz later built the Redwood Empire Ice Rink, known as Snoopy’s Home Ice, which opened in 1969. Still going strong, Snoopy’s Home Ice has a variety of learning-to-skate options for children as young as 18 months and up through adulthood.
1667 W Steele Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 | (707) 546-7147 | Paradise Ridge Winery
Admission is free.
Santa Rosa is the happening hub for all there is to see, do, eat, drink, hike, bike, and explore in Sonoma County.
The list above is just a small sample, but as you can see, when you visit Santa Rosa, with so many things to do, trust us when we say you’re going to need more days.
