The Best Sights and Sounds in Santa Rosa, California Don’t-Miss Attractions for a Day Trip During Your Napa Valley Vacation

Known as “the urban heart of wine country,” Santa Rosa offers much to explore for visitors seeking the surrounding natural splendor and those who consider themselves more indoorsy.

Don’t be surprised to find something that piques your interest here when you take a day trip away from the rows of Napa hotels and embrace the unique sights and sounds just 55 miles north of San Francisco.

Experience the “Sonoma Serengeti” at Safari West
Climb aboard a safari vehicle and see 90 unique animal species up close in a 400-acre preserve. Spot rhinos, giraffes, wildebeest, cheetahs, lemurs, and more from your seat, alongside a professional tour guide.

Get even closer on a safari walk, where you might stroll past demoiselle cranes, colobus monkeys, and flamingos. You can even schedule a private safari or stay overnight! Every day is a new adventure at Safari West!

Find Safari West at 3115 Porter Creek Road. Call (800) 616-2695 for more information.

Stroll Through the Historic Railroad Square
In the heart of downtown Santa Rosa, visitors will find the Historic Railroad Square, a walkable area with international dining, theater, and vintage shopping – and it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Stop by the Depot, which serves as the welcome center, and snag souvenirs for your friends and family. Then, take a walking tour, during which you can imagine what life was like in Santa Rosa in 1904, the era of steam engines. Take note of where you want to revisit as you walk; you might want to come back to Hot Couture for old-school duds or Olde Towne Jewelers for a unique piece of estate jewelry.

Hungry? There’s something for everyone in the Historic Railroad Square, including classic French fare, coffeehouse snacks and drinks, or fresh pasta.

Channel Your Inner Child at the Charles M. Schulz Museum
Happiness is a warm puppy – and so is this museum devoted to Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz’s beloved comics. Walk through galleries of original art, experience a re-creation of the cartooner’s studio, and take in outdoor gardens planted in the shape of Snoopy’s head.

The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Find it at 2301 Hardies Lane. Call (707) 579-4452 for more information.

Engage with the Arts
Santa Rosa is home to burgeoning theater and performing arts centers, so don’t miss a show at either the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts or the 6th Street Playhouse.

The 6th Street Playhouse is the area’s pre-eminent live theatre company, offering professional-quality productions year-round, plus a fine arts gallery in partnership with the Windsor Arts Council. Find it at 52 W. 6th Street.

Recent performances at the Burbank Center include Fifth Harmony, Jerry Seinfeld, David Sedaris, and Elvis Costello, plus many works by local and regional artists. Find it at 50 Mark West Springs Road.

Explore the Night Market
Downtown Santa Rosa’s Wednesday Night Market is the city’s largest street fair, open during late spring and summer every Wednesday from 5 to 8:30 p.m., once the heat of the day has worn off.

Shop goods from local artisans, farmers, and craftsmen, while you enjoy entertainment throughout the Old Courthouse Square.

Fly through the Forest at Sonoma Zipline Adventures
Just 30 minutes west of Santa Rosa, strap in for an adventure of a lifetime! A “guided co-adventure” includes multiple zip lines, sky bridges, rappels, and more, as you tour Sonoma’s canopies during the day or night! Each course offers panoramic forest views, flights through world-famous redwoods, and over ravines and the forest floor.

An experience to behold for all ages, Sonoma Zipline Adventures requires reservations. Participants must be at least 10 years old and weigh a minimum of 70 pounds; the upper weight limit is 250 pounds.

Find it at 6250 Bohemian Highway in Occidental, California. Call (888) 494-7868 for more information.

Breathe in Fresh Air at Annadel State Park
On the eastern edge of Santa Rosa, visitors will find trails for mountain biking and hiking, plus fishing holes, picnic areas, and guided tours.

Stop to smell the wildflowers that bloom in early spring through early summer, especially around Lake Ilsanjo.

Just 60 miles north of San Francisco, you can find Annadel State Park at 6201 Channel Drive. Call (707) 539-3911 for more information.