Petaluma/Santa Rosa

Petaluma / Santa Rosa offers many great choices for dining out. In Petaluma, try the farm-to-table cuisine at Central Market or enjoy Italian favorites at Sugo Trattoria. Santa Rosa has the renowned Willi's Wine Bar, or you can experience the rustic charm of the Farmhouse Inn Restaurant just 15 miles from Santa Rosa in Forestville. Visitors, newcomers, and locals alike come and stay for this area's amazing food and world-renowned wine.

Absolutely! Many Greystar apartments in the area welcome pets. Petaluma offers the spacious Rocky Memorial Dog Park, while Santa Rosa features the popular Taylor Mountain Regional Park for scenic walks.

Both cities offer convenient public transportation. Petaluma has the Petaluma Transit system, while Santa Rosa is served by Santa Rosa CityBus. For regional travel, the SMART train connects both cities to the rest of North Bay.

Nature lovers will find plenty to explore throughout Sonoma County. Petaluma's Shollenberger Park offers beautiful wetland trails, and the Petaluma River—ideal for fishing—winds through the city's downtown. In Santa Rosa, Spring Lake Regional Park also provides swimming, hiking, and boating opportunities.

The region hosts many cultural events throughout the year. The Petaluma Arts Center holds numerous exhibits and activities for the public, while Santa Rosa is home to the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, which features live performances from standup comedy to symphonies.

Yes, both cities are excellent for families. Petaluma City Schools and Santa Rosa City Schools serve their respective areas with an emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and opportunity. Santa Rosa also has the Children's Museum of Sonoma County.

Petaluma's historic downtown offers locally owned boutiques like Threads, while Santa Rosa's Montgomery Village features both small-scale and major retailers.

When it comes to wine, few places in the world compare to Sonoma County. Bordering Napa Valley, the Santa Rosa/Petaluma area is home to excellent wineries like Keller Estate Winery and DeLoach Vineyards. The area's rich viticultural heritage attracts connoisseurs from all over the world.

Both cities offer an array of employment options. Petaluma City Schools is the city's No. 1 employer, with the Petaluma Valley Hospital and agricultural sectors having large shares of local workers as well. Besides the County of Sonoma, Santa Rosa's major employers are the Santa Rosa Medical Center, Santa Rosa Junior College, and the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

The Sonoma County region enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The average temperature ranges from lows in the high 30s during the winter to the low 80s in the summer.