Santa Rosa sits at the southwestern gateway to the Sonoma and Napa Valleys of California's famed Wine Country. Many wineries and vineyards are nearby, as well as the Russian River Resort Area, the Sonoma Coast along the Pacific Ocean, Jack London State Historic Park and the redwood trees of Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve.
The performing arts in Santa Rosa are represented by the Santa Rosa Symphony, the Wells Fargo Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Luther Burbank Center), and the Santa Rosa Players and the Actors Theatre, both performing in the G. K. Hardt Theatre at the 6th Street Playhouse. Santa Rosa is the home of the North Bay Theatre Group, an alliance of some 40 theatre companies, theatre departments and individual performance companies from five North Bay counties.
The Sonoma County Museum, and numerous independent art galleries represent the visual arts. The Arts Council of Sonoma County is based at the Museum. The annual ARTrails event showcases the work of local visual artists from around Sonoma County, who open their private studios for two weekends in the fall to the public.
A huge part of what people love about the area is the outdoor activities. The area has wonderful state parks, local parks, jogging and biking trails, and of course the blue Pacific Ocean is just minutes away. Golf courses, fishing, and just enjoying the beautiful summers here are just a few of the great recreational opportunities.
Downtown Santa Rosa, including the central Old Courthouse Square and historic Railroad Square, is a shopping, restaurant, nightclub, and theatre area. Downtown also includes City Hall, State, and Federal office buildings, many banks, and professional offices. The Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital medical center area is just to the east.
|