Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens (Photo courtesy of Visit Santa Rosa)

Discovering Two Sides of Santa Rosa:

Wine Country Luxury and Downtown Charm

By Chanelle Hayes-Sessions

When deciding where to go for a California getaway this past spring, Santa Rosa felt like the perfect choice. The timing couldn't have been better, either. Southwest Airlines had just launched a nonstop, 1-hour, 45-minute flight from Las Vegas to the Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport, named for the "Peanuts" creator who called the city home. I was lucky enough to be aboard the inaugural flight, where Snoopy welcomed passengers after landing.

From there, it was a short drive to my hotel for the night, Vinarosa Resort & Spa, a luxury retreat set on a 92-acre vineyard. Upon check-in, I was greeted with a glass of wine and noticed The Parlor, which transforms from a cozy café by day into a wine bar by night. On my way to my room, the cascading fountain along the pathway immediately set the tone for the peaceful evening ahead. I stayed in the Sonoma Premium King, which offered just the right amount of space, with an entryway leading to a spacious bathroom complete with a deep soaking tub, separate shower and dual vanity. Other highlights included a plush seating area, a fireplace and a private patio.

Arriving in the afternoon gave me a few hours to unwind before dinner at John Ash, the resort's signature restaurant. I enjoyed both the ambiance and the small, thoughtfully curated menu, which changes seasonally and features everything from steak, pasta, chicken and seafood to an award-winning wine list showcasing Sonoma County and beyond, including selections from France, Italy and Germany.  The resort also served as a convenient base for exploring several nearby wineries, including Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens, Paradise Ridge Winery and DeLoach Vineyards.

The following morning, I left the vineyard scenery behind and headed to downtown Santa Rosa for the next chapter of my trip. My home for the night was The Astro Motel, a retro boutique property dating back to the 1960s, located across from Juilliard Park on Santa Rosa Avenue. There's no on-site restaurant, but the motel offers a light breakfast each morning in The Astro Lounge. Thanks to an early check-in, I settled into my room, which featured artwork from local artists, adding a nice touch.

My goal on day two was to spend most of it exploring downtown on foot. My first stop was the Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, where the world-renowned horticulturist once lived. The grounds and museum are open to the public, with the gardens free to explore and guided tours available for a small fee.

From there, I continued along Santa Rosa Avenue to Old Courthouse Square, the outdoor plaza that serves as the heart of downtown. A 15-minute walk along Fourth Street took me past the Santa Rosa Plaza and into Historic Railroad Square.

Within the area is Grossman's Noshery & Bar, a New York-style deli that quickly proved why it's become a local favorite. As General Manager Matt Stern walked me through the menu, he explained that nearly everything is made from scratch, including the breads, house-cured meats and bagels, which are baked fresh each morning. He steered me toward the house specialties: corned beef, pastrami and the best-selling Reuben. I ultimately went with the pastrami and the fish and chips, which Stern said are best enjoyed family-style. After seeing the generous portion, I understood why. Since I was dining alone, it was more than enough for me. Next time, I'd also take him up on his suggestion to order the dumplings and crispy potato leek latkes. Although I visited later in the day, Stern said brunch is where Grossman's really shines, with weekend mornings regularly drawing 400 to 500 guests.

After lunch, I stopped by the California Welcome Center, housed inside a beautifully preserved historic train depot dating back to the early 1900s. Inside, I found local maps, travel guides, souvenirs and exhibits detailing the area's railroad heritage. Outside its doors is the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) downtown station, which conveniently led me to my next stop: the Charles M. Schulz Museum & Research Center.

It ended up being one of the most nostalgic parts of my trip. My favorite exhibit was the collection of original "Peanuts" comic strips, though I also enjoyed walking through Schulz's recreated working studio. Before leaving, I wandered through the outdoor garden and browsed the museum gift shop. Just across the street stood Snoopy's Home Ice, officially known as the Redwood Empire Ice Arena, an indoor skating rink built by Schulz.

My full day of exploring wrapped up with dinner at The Spinster Sisters, The Astro Motel's sister property. Like John Ash, the menu changes with the seasons. During my visit, I ordered the house-made wild nettle tagliatelle, one of the standout dishes of the trip. I dined inside, though the restaurant's garden patio looked just as inviting. The next morning, before heading to the airport back to Las Vegas, I stopped by Café Frida, now known as Café Little Deer, a cozy, stylish coffee shop with a beautiful courtyard, where I sipped a latte and took in the artsy atmosphere.

In just a couple of days, I experienced two very different sides of the city — one surrounded by vineyard luxury and another filled with retro charm, local restaurants and walkable downtown streets. Together, they showed me there's more than one way to experience Santa Rosa.