It’s the Great New Destination, Charlie Brown!

Santa Rosa, California is a gem of a destination. First off, you land at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport – how cool is that?! Whether you are a Peanuts fan, a wine connoisseur, a movie buff, or hey all three, there’s plenty to enjoy in Santa Rosa! Here’s our top picks of what to explore.

Fun for All Ages

Of course, we have to start with the Charles M. Schulz Museum & Research Center. Featuring changing galleries of original comic art, a re-creation of Schulz’s studio, a 100-seat theater, a drawing room, and beautiful outdoor gardens with a labyrinth in the shape of Snoopy’s head, this is a must for any Peanuts fan. Next door is Snoopy’s Home Ice, an ice arena built by Charles M. Schulz in 1969 where you can go for public skating or even join a drop-in ice-skating lesson.

Snoopy and friends aren’t the only family fun attractions you can check out. You can enjoy ziplining through the Redwoods with Sonoma Zipline Adventures or explore a preserve dedicated to conservation of animals at Safari West Wildlife Foundation. I’ve spent about 20 hours already watching the giraffe cam (don’t tell my boss).

Wine and Dine

The only thing richer than Sonoma County’s history of wine is the wine itself. Russian colonists first planted grapes along the Sonoma Coast in 1812, and since then the area’s now home in over 495 wineries with over 60 different varietals available thanks to the different growing around Santa Rosa. This article could easily turn into a novel if we started going through every vineyard, but some of our top picks include the award-winning Francis Ford Coppola Winery, the Ledson Winery & Vineyards which features an impressive architectural showpiece known as the “Castle”, and Castello di Amorosa modeled after Italian medieval architect.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Looking at the picturesque fields and coast, you wouldn’t think Santa Rosa was the filming location for many Alfred Hitchcock movies. The Birds was filmed at locations you can still see today like Saint Teresa of Avila Church and the Potter School in Bodega Bay.

It’s not only thrillers filmed there! Classics like American Graffiti, The Goonies, Flubber, Die Hard 2, and The Beverly Hillbillies were also filmed around Santa Rosa. Honestly, the better question to ask is what wasn’t filmed there!

Whether taking the family on a trip to enjoy all things Peanuts, enjoy a friend trip to the many wineries, or scout out film locations from your favorite movies, there’s quite a bit to do in Santa Rosa. And Southwest is making it easier to get there when their seasonal nonstop launching October 3, with flights operating every Saturday. Book your trip today: southwest.com

(And if you do, tell the giraffes at Safari West I say hi).

Disclaimer: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport hereby disclaims any responsibility for any flight cancellations made by the airline. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport advises all customers to check with the airline for any cancellation information.