Located in Sonoma County, Santa Rosa is a quaint little city about 65 miles from San Francisco. It is most well-known for its Charles M. Schulz Museum (creator of Charlie Brown) and of course the wine! Santa Rosa makes for the perfect Bay Area day trip. So keep reading for ideas on how to spend one day in the heart of wine country.
Getting to Santa Rosa
Located off the 101 freeway, the area is surrounded by well-known cities such as Napa and Healdsburg. Due to the Bay Area’s traffic, you’ll want to leave as early as possible to jumpstart your day.
Driving time From:
- San Francisco: ~1 hour
- San Jose: ~1 hour 45 minutes
- Sacramento: ~ 2 hours
Start with coffee and a light breakfast at Land & Water Coffee
Once you get to town, start with coffee and a light breakfast at Land & Water coffee. They’re a specialty coffee roaster that has ethically and sustainably sourced beans. I was immediately sold on the authenticity of the macchiato and the smooth coffee flavor!
- Address: 621 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
- Note: There are two locations, make sure you head to the downtown one as it’s most conveniently located.
- Food: Offer pastries and a few different toasts
Check out the lavender fields & go wine tasting at the Matanzas Creek Winery
Most well-known for their Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot, the Matanzas Creek Winery has been around since 1977. The beautiful property features a tasting room, lavender field, and a small shop. We knew we had to go immediately when we discovered it was lavender season! The lavender fields are in bloom end of June through July.
- Address: 6097 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
A few notes from our visit:
- Reservations are required to visit the property.
- On the website you’ll find a few different package options depending on what you want to do. We booked the lavender field visit + glass of wine for $20/pp.
- They don’t sell food on the property, so plan to bring your own picnic.
Explore the historic downtown and go antiquing
The historic downtown is quite walkable and is home to quite a few shops and restaurants. There are quite a few vintage and antique shops where you can find some unique items! Start on 4th street (the main street) and explore from there.
Other downtown spots to check out:
Have afternoon tea at the Tudor Rose English Tea Room
I am a huge fan of afternoon tea. We discovered the Tudor Rose English Team Room while looking for lunch options and were so glad we added this to our day trip last minute! Prices are super reasonable and there was a wide variety of savory options perfect for lunch.
- Address: 733 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
- Notes: Tea starts at $20/pp
Grab tapas at Bird & The Bottle
Before heading home, stop for drinks and tapas at Bird & The Bottle. It came highly recommended by quite a few locals, so of course, we had to check it out! This historic home was remodeled and now features an extensive menu of shareable plates.
- Address: 1055 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
- Our Order: The artichokes, kale mac & cheese, sliders, and asparagus
If you want to spend the night: stay at The Sandman Hotel
We actually ended up spending the night at The Sandman Hotel (about an 8-minute drive from downtown). It was named one of the top 5 best roadside motels in the US and it was so clear why! Major aesthetic, relaxing pool, and s’mores at night. This is a good option if you decide you prefer to extend your stay.
