The total trip described on this page took 17 days including transportation from one's home airport. Suggested visit times and attractions are only listed as options for someone roughly following this itinerary. Any names of hotels or motels I stayed at have been included along with contact information. Day 1 : Stay at a motel near your home airport. This saves the hassle of driving to the airport on that same day that you are flying, unless … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Attractions & Activities
Santa Rosa and Sonoma County are home to a variety of attractions, museums and outdoor activities. This is a hub for wine country of course but the Santa Rosa area has much more to offer in addition to wine. The following is a list and brief description of activities and attractions primarily in Santa Rosa - but also some elsewhere in in Sonoma County. 9th Street Rookery Charles Schulz Mus Russian River Santa Rosa Creek … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Nearby Towns
Santa Rosa is by far the largest city in Sonoma County - the hub if you will in which all the other towns radiate out on the 'spokes'. Along with Santa Rosa, the 101 corridor is home to the largest cities in the county including Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Windsor. Other towns in the county are generally small. There is a marked difference between the west county and the interior of the county (related to the frigid Pacific Ocean) which … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Neighborhoods
Bennett Valley (named after a resident in the area James Bennett - who lived here in the 1860's) is a mostly residential part of Santa Rosa spread out southeast of downtown with prominent roads in this neighborhood being Bennett Valley Road, Bethards Drive, Tachevah Drive and Yulupa. Located only about a 10 minute drive from downtown Santa Rosa. If there was a 'heart' to this neighborhood it would be where two shopping centers are located across … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Parks
The following are the most popular community, neighborhood or state parks found either within Santa Rosa or among the surrounding area. Nearly all of the ones located outside of the city limits listed below are within a 10-30 minute drive of downtown Santa Rosa (unless otherwise noted). Camping - for information about camping please visit the Sonoma County Parks Website here. Annadel State Park is located east of Santa Rosa off … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Wineries
Sonoma County, while not the first destination in the state for growing commercial grapes (that being in Los Angeles County), is certainly one of the state's most historical viticultural regions and posseses a heritage that the county does not necessarily promote as much as they should. While not the first wineries founded in the state, two of the oldest ones still in existence are both in Sonoma Valley - Buena Vista (dating from 1857) and the … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Golf Courses
Sonoma County is home to a diversity of golf courses - some 16 are listed here (every golf course in the county); we have personally visited 15 of them. Most are public, but some are private and a number are membership based. The private very prestigious Mayacama Golf Course is located just east of Windsor. Jack Nicholas (who designed the course) teed off on opening day in 2001 to many cheers from the on looking crowds. This private course was … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Annual Events
This is only a partial listing of events. Music, arts, wine and food. Common themes. In addition to the annual events listed below, a number of seasonal events are held in Santa Rosa throughout the year. Looking no further then downtown, the weekly Wednesday night market is held from early June to early September. Vendors fill and pedestrians fills some of the space at Old Railroad Square and part of 4th Street is closed to vehicular traffic. … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Restaurants
The Santa Rosa restaurants listed below are just a fraction of the many restaurants in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. We have eaten at nearly all the restaurants listed below. All are in Santa Rosa unless otherwise specified. Prices are subject to change without notice. Have a suggestion for a Santa Rosa restaurant not yet listed here? Are you a Santa Rosa Restaurant owner who has been in business at least 5 years and would like your … [Read more...]
Nepal – Yaks
Yaks to the Nepali's are like cars to most people. They use Yaks for everything. The Nepalese people in the mountains and outside of the main towns get their milk from Yaks which can be used to make a variety of dairy products. In addition these animals produce their fuel, wool for clothing and are transportation. Disturbing a Yak is not to be taken lightly. Yaks are sacred in the mountains. Yaks are larger and stronger then domestic cattle and … [Read more...]