Sonoma County is a premium food and winemaking area in Northern California. It’s proud of the produce grown locally, as well as the history found within its cities. A car rental from Sonoma County Airport will open up the region and allow you to discover Santa Rosa and the city of Sonoma itself. Be sure to take advantage of the 55 miles of Pacific coastline and plan a roadtrip to one or more of its beaches.
Santa Rosa is the closest city to the airport and contains lots of attractions to appeal to the whole family. Stop by the Charles M Schulz Museum, where you can see original cartoon strips drawn by the Peanuts creator, as well as some of his other work. The Children’s Museum of Sonoma County has interactive exhibits and an explorative garden.
Drive your Sonoma County car rental down to Old Sacramento and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. This riverfront district retains its Gold Rush era buildings, cobblestone streets and is even served by horse-drawn carriages. If that’s not enough nostalgia for you, then visit the Sacramento History Museum and Railroad Museum to delve further into the area’s past.
The city of Sonoma is a treasure trove of historic attractions waiting to be discovered. It’s centered around the colonial era Sonoma Plaza, where you’ll find lots of tempting restaurants and bars. Once a week, the square comes alive with the energy of the farmers’ market. The 19th-century Mission San Francisco Solano and Sonoma Barracks are remnants of a Mexican military presence in the area.
Renting a car in Sonoma County will allow you to travel further afield and San Francisco lies an hour and a quarter’s drive down the US-101 toll road. The City on the Bay is full of iconic sights, such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. Take a ride on the last manually-operated cable car system in the world to the top of one of its many hills for incomparable views. One of the routes stops off at Lombard Street, which is known for its zig-zagging shape.
Don’t overlook San Jose, which is within two hours of Charles M Schulz-Sonoma County Airport. The city is an unusual mix of historic buildings and forward-thinking tech. The Italianate International Order of Odd Fellows Building is instantly recognizable from its intricate facade dating back to the 1880s. At the other end of the spectrum, the Tech Interactive is a hands-on museum that enables families to explore the technology of tomorrow. The kids can even design and build their own robots.
Make Yosemite a stop on your trip to California, as it is one of the most popular national parks in the US. It was established in 1890 and its distinctive rock formations and giant sequoia trees attract four million people every year. Climbers like to take on the sheer rock face of El Capitan, but if you’d rather just gaze upon beauty than tackle it head on, Yosemite Falls is well worth a visit. Measuring 2,425 feet, it’s the tallest waterfall in the park and is particularly impressive in the spring, when snowmelt offers peak flow.
A small car is a good idea if you’re going to be looking for parking spaces in cities.
Charles M Schulz-Sonoma County Airport
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July, with an average 448 hours.
December, with an average 160 mm.
California’s Artisan Cheese Festival, Sonoma International Film Festival, Apple Blossom Festival and Parade