About Santa Rosa
Just 55 miles north of San Francisco and easy to reach via Highway 101, Santa Rosa is a delightful blend of big city and small town, offering the conveniences of urban life in an atmosphere that is warm and friendly. Incorporated in 1868, Santa Rosa is about 40 square miles in size and boasts a population of about half-a-million. The climate is quite moderate, with cool, comfortable summer days that rarely reach into the 80s and winters that enjoy a mean temperature of about 48 degrees Fahrenheit. Santa Rosa is the Sonoma County seat of government and is home to many state and federal offices. However, Santa Rosa is very tourist-oriented, offering visitors the opportunity to set up base in this splendid and enticing city in order to explore one of the premiere wine regions of the world. While the entire county is home to about 200 wineries, the city of Santa Rosa offers a handful of its own wineries, located in the city itself, including several whose names most visitors will easily recognize. Santa Rosa wineries are among the best in the state of California and you'll certainly want to stop by for a taste. If you've landed in Santa Rosa in hopes of enjoying some outdoor recreation, you won't be disappointed. There are miles and miles of wonderful state and local parks, jogging and biking trails, golf courses, and opportunities for camping and backpacking here. Santa Rosa activities can provide you with days of fun. Take a trip to pretty Annadel State Park and enjoy strolling among the wildflowers or fishing for black bass, or go swimming in the 3-acre lagoon after a picnic lunch at lovely Spring Lake. For the ultimate early morning activity, catch a hot air balloon and watch the wine country as it awakens and begins a new day. Arts and culture abound here as well, with the city offering everything from museums to excellent theater productions. Head for the Charles M Schulz Museum and learn everything there is to know about the creator of Peanuts. Railroad nuts will want to visit the Northwestern Railway Museum and culture seekers can purchase tickets to a show at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, the Actors' Theater of Sonoma County, or one of several other regional theaters in the city. In addition, Santa Rosa is a wonderful place in which to enjoy a number of fun festivals. From Kendall-Jackson's much anticipated Tomato Festival to the annual Olive Festival to the yearly Chinese New Year Celebration, you'll find a special event in Santa Rosa nearly every month of the year. Staying in Santa Rosa is a delight. Santa Rosa lodging is plentiful and varied, ranging from large hotels to pretty country inns, from elegant vacation rentals to economy accommodations. Santa Rosa restaurants are typical of the quality you'll find in a large urban area. The cuisine is diverse and runs the gamut from elegant steak and seafood restaurants to fun cafes, yummy bakeries, and small ethnic eateries. Santa Rosa is both family-friendly and the perfect place for an "adults only" vacation. Whichever you choose, this city is a must-see as you traverse the beautiful Sonoma County region.
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