Where to Eat
Upon my arrival, we met with Brad Calkins, the Executive Director of Visit Santa Rosa at one of the city’s newest restaurants, The County Bench. It’s located on 4th Street, one of the main thoroughfares in downtown, just across from the Old Courthouse Square. The interior of the restaurant combines modern touches–like the concrete bar–with the original exposed brick walls.
They encourage ordering family style and sharing amongst the table, which we did. Their menu is eclectic and diverse, with offerings as varied as the deviled brussels sprout to a three-finger-thick ribeye. One thing all their dishes have in common is their use of local ingredients wherever possible. For entrees, we tried the pork chops and braised chicken thighs–which ended up being the favorite dish. Of course, this being Santa Rosa, they have an extensive wine list, and Sommelier Matt Dulle is on hand should you need a suggestion.
Santa Rosa isn’t just filled with high-end eateries, though, and the city seems to have a soft spot for older, small cafes as well. Some of the highlights from the trip were Dierk’s Parkside Cafe for Grandma Dierk’s Pull-Apart–a sugary, fried bread creation–and their corn beef hash. Just be sure to show up hungry, as the portions are huge! It’s the perfect place to load up for a long day on the trails.
Omelette Express is another good option for those with empty bellies. It’s located on the Railroad Square on the west side of downtown. Service was lightning-fast, even with the large dining room. For something lighter–a coffee and a pastry–the stylish Flying Goat Coffee is just down the block from Omelette Express.
For a casual lunch, check out Jeffrey’s Hillside Cafe. It’s a couple miles east of downtown, but it’s close to the trails of Annadel, making it an ideal place to stop after a morning ride.
Where to Drink Beer
If you’re in town on a Tuesday, be sure to go by Third Street Aleworks. Every Tuesday they have $2.50 pints ($9 pitchers) as well as $2.50 bratwursts. The beer was solid, but for me, the food was the standout here–much better than your typical pub grub. When we visited, the place was packed because it was a Tuesday, and the San Francisco Giants were playing the Oakland A’s. I was there with the Annadel Mountain Bike Group after their weekly ride, and even though we had a dozen people at our table, service was quick.
Just a block away from Third Street Aleworks is the Russian River brewery. We actually didn’t get the chance to visit during this trip, but be sure to stop in to try their Pliny the Elder Double-IPA. Or pick up a bottle of it at a local store–it’s not to be missed!
After a trip to the Osmosis Spa–more on that later–Susan and I stopped at the HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol, about 15 minutes west of Santa Rosa. The sprawling Tavern was a former powerhouse for the railroad that ran from Petaluma in the south, through Sebastopol, to Santa Rosa. In addition to the dining room, there’s a huge beer garden with picnic tables, comfy chairs, couches, and multiple fire pits.
HopMonk also has a music venue onsite, called the Abbey. Looking at their calendar, there are between four and five shows every week, including an open mic night on Tuesday. We got the chance to catch a Songwriters in the Round Series show, which they do every third Thursday.
Where to Drink Wine
You can’t leave wine country without drinking some wine, right? Luckily, finding a tasting room here is about as easy as it gets.
One of the closest wineries to town was just up the hill from our hotel. Paradise Ridge sits high above the town, and their tasting room has a huge porch to take in the view. The Byck family started the winery in 1978, and it’s still run by the family today. Son, Rene Byck, was a gracious host and filled us in on the history of the winery, and the region as a whole.
Apart from the vineyards and tasting room, there are numerous sculptures on the property for visitors to enjoy. The grounds are curated by the Voigt Family Sculpture Foundation and are changed on a yearly basis–an impressive feat once you see the size of some of the pieces in person. Paradise Ridge would be a great place to take the family, as there is something to keep everyone occupied.
As you move north from Santa Rosa, it quickly turns from urban to rural. Nearly everything to the west of Highway 101 is a vineyard or farm of some sort. Susan and I spent an afternoon exploring the area around Healdsburg, 15 miles from Santa Rosa. As soon as we turned onto Dry Creek Road, we were surrounded by wineries. There are too many to list, but you wouldn’t put a foot wrong stopping at any of them. The three that we chose to visit were Trattore Farms, Lambert Bridge, and Quivira. In my opinion, Trattore had the best view, Lambert Bridge had the best tasting room, and Quivira had the best wine. But again, these were just three we picked at random. Wherever you go, don’t miss the Dry Creek General Store for lunch on your way back to town.
If you’re unfamiliar with wine tasting, don’t be intimidated. In our experience, everyone was hospitable and helpful. If you have questions, they’re more than happy to answer them. It’s not some pretentious, snobbish experience, and there’s no wrong way to do it.
Other Things to Do
There’s more to do in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County than just eating, drinking, and mountain biking. The Russian River is nearby and has opportunities for canoeing and kayaking. It’s a wide, calm river, so it’s suitable for novice paddlers. Burke’s Canoe Trips offers a 10-mile self-guided trip with return shuttle for just $65 per canoe. Along the way there are rock beaches to pull out on for a picnic or swim break.
If you continue on River Road following the Russian River towards the Pacific Ocean–a beautiful drive in itself–you’ll reach Guerneville, home to the Armstrong Redwoods Reserve. Here you’ll find towering redwoods up to 310ft tall and 1,400 years old. We opted for a quick hike along the Pioneer Trail, which was flat and easy, but takes you by the biggest and oldest trees in the park. There are much longer and strenuous hikes throughout Armstrong and the attached Austin Creek Recreation Area.
Eventually, River Road will dead end into Highway 1 where the river meets the ocean. Highway 1 runs along the entire west coast, with stunning views pretty much the entire way. Heading south towards Bodega Bay, there are numerous beaches to pull off at. Just keep in mind that it’s much cooler at the coast than inland–you’re probably not going to go for a swim. When it was 90+ in Santa Rosa, it was in the low-60s and windy at the beach!
For something completely different, there’s the Osmosis Day Spa in Freestone, halfway to the coast from Santa Rosa. Here, Susan and I got to experience their signature cedar enzyme bath. This wasn’t a bath in the typical sense, although you do get naked (optional). Basically, you get buried up to your neck in a steaming mixture of shredded cedar, rice bran, and enzymes. The mixture is essentially composting, and heats itself up to 160-degrees. It isn’t nearly as splintery as it sounds, since the shreds of cedar are tiny and rendered soft by the heat. After 20 minutes or so, it’s time to get out, brush yourself off, and shower. Once we were clean, we had a half hour of sound therapy to cap off the visit. I was so relaxed, I dozed off.
There’s a meditation garden with a koi pond onsite, if you want to hang around a little while longer after your bath. Osmosis also offers massages, aroma therapy, and facials, should you want to get really fancy.
Families with kids, or anyone really, may want to check out the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. Schulz was the creator of the Peanuts comic strip and made his home in the area for over 40 years. Even if you don’t visit the museum, you’ll still have random sightings of Charlie Brown and Snoopy around town.
Whether you’re on a solo trip, one with friends, or have the family in tow, Santa Rosa can deliver. You could spend all your time riding and drinking beer, or mix in a variety of activities from hiking to wine tasting. No matter what route you choose, you’ll enjoy your time there!
