Santa Rosa
Howarth Park - Join local families playing in this large shady park (perfect for a hot summer day), especially good for toddlers and younger kids.
There's a big playground with lots of climbing structures, swings, sand/water play area, miniature train, pony rides, and carousel. Plenty of picnic tables, so bring your lunch.
Our favorite is the Animal Barn - When we visited, the barn had a miniature cow, two sheep, three goats, eight chickens, two ducks. Kids can go in the pens, pet the baby ducks and rabbits. Animal Barn is open in the summer.
Spring Lake Regional Park - In summer spend the day in Spring Lake Regional Park. Lots of picnic tables, so bring your lunch or dinner outdoors.
Rent kayaks and paddle boards (no swimming), and go out on the lake. Life vests provided, kids have a great time in their own kids size kayak.
Bike and walking path circles the lake, take a fun walk or bike ride.
Luther Burbank Home & Gardens – On a warm day, cool off in the shade with a stroll around the gardens of Luther Burbank. Burbank lived here in Santa Rosa, and created new kinds of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains. Most French fries use a potato which he developed.
There are picnic tables in the shade, bring your lunch. Gardens open daily.
Also, visit the Luther Burbank Gold Ridge Experiment Farm in Sebastapol. See 100 year old trees planted by Burbank, and on weekends taste fresh-made apple juice August - October.
Julliard Park – Across the street from the Luther Burbank gardens is a large green park, with lots of grass to run around, and a charming children's play area for little kids.
Muelrath Ranches Pumpkin Patch (3800 Walker Ave.) – Month of October, family fun for younger kids, and pick out pumpkins to bring home for Halloween. Haunted house, hay rides, pumpkin slingshot, toddler corn maze, picnic area. Open daily 10am - 6pm.
Charles M. Schulz Museum - Santa Rosa was home to Charles Schulz (nickname "Sparky"), creator of the beloved Peanuts cartoons.
Head upstairs to see Sparky's Studio, a replica of Schulz' office with his drawing table, and visit the Education room, where kids can practice cartooning (lots of blank paper, pencils and markers) and complete activities and puzzles. Don't miss the Snoopy labyrinth (try to find his nose and eye) out in front of the museum.
Tip: Often the weather is fine in the Sonoma Valley, but this museum
(and the ice arena) are great places to come on rainy days.
Snoopy's Home Ice - Right
across from the Schulz Museum is a lovely year-round ice arena (Redwood Empire Ice Arena). Little kids will enjoy the "Puppy Practice" session
for beginning skaters, and skates are available for rent.
Fun food
Santa Rosa Farmers' Market - Year round, Wednesdays and Saturdays, stop in the farmers market, located in the parking lot, next to the Veteran's building, across from the fairgrounds. There are food stands for snacks, and you can pick up fresh local produce, apples, oranges, strawberries, nuts, honey, breads and baked goods, all your picnic supplies. Market is open 8:30am to noon.
