Santa Rosa is a charming city north of San Francisco that has grown to become a preferred wine country destination in Sonoma County. Santa Rosa's top three things to see include museums, and a wild animal reserve guests can tour and even stay at in African-style tent cabins. Home to the Luther Burbank home and museum, the Charles Schulz Museum, and Safari West, there's lots to see and do in Santa Rosa, making it a popular vacation.
Luther Burbank Museum and Flower Gardens pay tribute to a famous resident whose work and inventions were significant to horticulture. You can visit the house that contains a gift shop, and gardens filled with beautiful plants and flowers.
The hotels are plentiful, providing a wide variety of options for a stay when visiting to tour the wine country, or coming to see a concert. Santa Rosa's performing arts center attracts name acts ranging from pop & rock to Country Western.
Many events and conventions are held in Santa Rosa so there's often an influx of visitors staying for a variety of activities and interests.
A friendly California Welcome Center near the train depot downtown provides great tourist information to get you going on your trip. Be sure to stop buy, then buy a meal and do a little shopping in the downtown area where you can park your car and walk to everything.