Day Trip Ideas
Family Fun
With curiosities piqued, imaginations expanded, bellies full, and bodies tired, child exhaustion accomplished.
The best family vacations happen when kid-friendly hotels are paired with incredible activities and it is for that reason Santa Rosa is the perfect hub to explore Sonoma County with your family. We guarantee that from sunup to sundown the entire family will be entertained in Santa Rosa. Here are just a few possibilities...
Kids—and kids at heart—will love a visit to the home of Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and his friends at the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center or a stop next door at the Redwood Empire Ice Arena, better known as Snoopy’s Home Ice. With exhibits designed for children ages ten and younger, The Children's Museum of Sonoma County is the perfect destination to learn, play and explore. Or head out to the ocean and get a taste of the salt air and the gorgeous, rugged Sonoma coast. You might even find yourself on an African Safari complete with giraffes, rhinos and hundreds of exotic animals on the Sonoma Serengeti, also known as Safari West Wildlife Preserve.
Check out the Pacific Coast Air Museum (PCAM), a family-friendly, easily accessible, open-air museum. The PCAM displays over 35 well-cared-for historic, vintage aircraft, intended to educate and inspire both young and old about our aviation heritage and space technology while honoring our service veterans.
Want to learn how to fly in a different way? Nestled in West County, deep in the redwood forest, Sonoma Zipline Adventures is completely unlike anything you've ever experienced. Sonoma Zipline Adventures offers you and your family the chance to push your comfort zone by seeing the Redwoods at 200 feet above the ground! You’ll experience seven ziplines, speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, sky bridges and a rappel! Round that out with an enjoyable educational experience with a great guide, and everyone will want to do this more than once!
Santa Rosa can also boast about Poppy Bank Epicenter, the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex on the West Coast which features a restaurant, sports bar, fitness facilities, basketball courts, indoor soccer fields, an upscale bowling alley, and world-class arcade game zone all under one roof.
Dive into the heart of fun at Howarth Park, the ultimate outdoor Santa Rosa spot for family joy. Let your kids' imagination run wild amidst miniature town facades, hop aboard the iconic miniature train for a whimsical ride, or take a spin on the merry-go-round. Experience the magic of spring and summer with the seasonal petting zoo and pony rides. For outdoor-loving little ones, paddle boating offers a serene lake escape, while the plethora of trails, both paved and unpaved, promise endless exploration.
