Sonoma County’s biggest city — its urban heart — is often just a pit stop for visitors eager to move on and explore Wine Country. But Santa Rosa has gained traction in recent years as a destination-worthy place all on its own, a city with walkable neighborhoods and plenty of exciting new restaurants and other stops.
If you’re planning a weekend getaway, your home base is a no-brainer — the Flamingo Resort & Spa, the recently revitalized historic motor lodge built in 1957. This midcentury mod motel’s refresh has brought new life to this family-friendly, accessibly-priced property with just enough retro cool mixed with modern upgrades to zhuzh things up.
With banks of rooms fanning out from it like a blooming flower, the pool at the center of the property is the focal point of activity here. The pool’s large shallow section is a splashy play zone for the littles. Grown-up poolside loungers surround the deeper section, which is conveniently close to the little bar cart slinging glasses of icy watermelon frosé and spicy Angry Bird margaritas ($13). And the Wild Bird poolside menu offers casual fare that ranges from strawberry-spinach salad and buttermilk-fried chicken to kids’ quesadillas.
Meanwhile, the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus at the resort’s Lazeaway Club is just adventurous enough to keep adults intrigued and kids happy, too. Think fried Brussels sprouts ($10) with toasted coconut, spicy chicken bao ($15) and kalua pork sliders — and mac and cheese, too. And for brunch, try the gochujang-spiced baked eggs ($19) served in a giant cast-iron skillet.
Summer time at The Flamingo brings Sunday Sessions poolside, with live DJ parties every Sunday afternoon through the end of September featuring Mark Farina, Avi Snow, Truthlive and more. Tucked inside, between the airy lobby and the restaurant, is the resort’s nighttime music venue, Vintage Space. The lounge has just launched a country music night — dubbed “Space Cowboy!” — the first Friday of the month with local country-rock musician Dustin Saylor plus line dancing lessons.
A fun way to explore town with the whole family is by taking a citywide “Art, Wine and Redwoods in Santa Rosa” scavenger hunt with Let’s Roam. The hunt is app-guided and brings you to pockets of town that offer a variety of landmarks, historical sites and quirky trivia-laden spots with challenges you solve as a team.
Many of the stops are near areas you’ll want to explore anyway, such as the South A Street Art District, known as downtown’s SOFA district, which has Sonoma County’s highest concentration of art studios. Depending on your timing, there’s a great spot to refuel nearby, too. Chef Liza Hinman opened the very popular dinner-only Spinster Sisters in 2012 and recently launched Marigold, a pop-up lunch spot with fried chicken sandwiches, seasonal salads and drinks such as blackberry lemonade.
Before or after — or midway through — the hunt, swing by Russian River Brewing for a pint of Pliny or to sample your way through the line-up. Opt for the full taster board experience and you try 2-ounce pours of California style and Belgian inspired brews.
Whatever you do, don’t miss the city’s Historic Railroad Square, complete with a depot built in 1904, train service and all kinds of attractions. Santa Rosa was cartoonist Charles M. Schulz’s home for more than 30 years. You’ll see sculpture homages to his memorable Peanuts characters across the city — but especially here. Find Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and more in Railroad Square, then browse the boutiques, restaurants and antique stores that fill this historic district.
Duck into Goblin Brothers game shop for board games, cards, role-playing games and whatever-number-sided die you might need. Head for the Cast Away Yarn Shop for colorful skeins and other knitting and crochet supplies, craft kits and gifts that range from felt strawberries to Yarn Tarot. Yes, tarot — so you, too, can divine the mystical with cards depicting the Queen of Wands with a crochet hook and the Hermit with a ball of golden yarn.
You’ve been walking for a while now, so duck into Grossman’s Noshery & Bar, directly across from the train station. This traditional New York deli concept is all about big portions of nostalgia, from the mile-high pastrami sandwiches ($17) on housemade rye to the entire “Bubbies Favorites” section of the menu. They do delicious Mediterranean food here, too, including a rainbow-hued Sabich Board ($22) with falafel, perfectly fried eggplant, quinoa tabbouleh and all the dips and tender pita you could want. And the bar, with its house-infused vodkas, is intriguing.
Terri and Mark Stark opened Grossman’s in March of 2020, just as lockdown began, but the place has thrived — clearly, we needed comfort food then, and we still do. It’s one of eight popular restaurants run by the couple’s Stark Reality restaurant group in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg. The list also includes Bird & the Bottle, Willi’s and Augie’s French, which opened last fall.
Another great place to stop for a bite — or a treat — is Amy Brown and Joe Wolf’s Marla Bakery. The bakery first opened in San Francisco, where it gained a popular following, but closed in 2019. Late last year, it reopened in the historic Railroad district. Be sure to check out their famous Crebble ($5.50), a twisted, knotted croissant with maple sugar and sea salt, as well as the giant sandwiches. Friday nights mean fried chicken ($28), and they do a Sunday supper series with local winemakers, guest chefs and special menus, served in their chic, modern space.
And if it’s a proper pint you crave, head over to The Goose & Fern. The pub vibe, complete with dark wood, green walls and proper-sized pint glasses, will transport you across the pond. The menu of classic English pub fare is topped by tempting fish and chips ($24), reputed to be the best in in town, and a killer wine list.
If You Go
Flamingo Resort & Spa: Rooms start at $237. Find the hotel at 2777 Fourth St. in Santa Rosa; www.flamingoresort.com. Check out the Lazeaway Club menu at https://lazeawayclub.com and the Vintage Space lineup at https://vintagespacesr.com.
Let’s Roam: This 90-minute, 1.4-mile scavenger hunt in Santa Rosa is $13 per person; www.letsroam.com.
The Spinster Sisters: Open from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, with a to-go lunchtime pop-up, Marigold, open from 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Tuesday-Friday at 401 S. A St.; thespinstersisters.com.
Russian River Brewing: Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily at 725 Fourth St.; www.russianriverbrewing.com.
Goblin Bros. Games & Gear: Opens at 11 a.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. weekends at 129 Fourth St.; https://goblinbros.com.
Cast Away Yarn Shop: Open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Monday at 100 Fourth St.; https://castawayyarnshop.com.
Grossman’s: Open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at 308 Wilson St.; https://grossmanssr.com.
Marla Bakery: Opens at 8 a.m. Thursday-Sunday at 208 Davis St.; www.marlabakery.com
The Goose & Fern: Open from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. or later Wednesday-Sunday at 116 Fifth St.; https://thegooseandfern.com.