by Ian Farquharson

Created on: March 17, 2010

Fun Places to go in Santa Rosa, California

Everyone likes to have fun and in Santa Rosa there are a range of attractions which can be visited for a great day out. The city is the county seat of Sonoma County in California and has a population of roughly 160,000 residents. Its history dates back almost 200 years with the city originally being founded in the early 1800’s. The first known settlers were the Carrilo family who built a homestead just to the east of the area which was to become downtown Santa Rosa. From these early beginnings the city grew steadily and has become a thriving community. It is an excellent place to visit with many things to do and places to see. If you are planning a visit to the city and are looking for some things to do the following should hopefully give you some ideas.

Safari West

Most people visiting Santa Rosa would not be expecting a little touch of Africa but this attraction provides just that. It is a 400 acre reserve which is home to many exotic animals and brings the heart of Africa into the American countryside. It is privately owned and was set up by Peter Lang in 1989 with the aim of wildlife preservation. It features many African animals including cheetah, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and many others. Rather than being a zoo, it is a reserve where the animals are largely allowed to roam free in the countryside. You can visit for a day safari where you will be driven through an African scene and see the animals in a natural setting. The cost for this is $68 for adults, $30 for children 3 to 12 and $10 for infants. There are around seven safaris a day starting at 9.00am and running though to 4.00pm although in the winter months there is a reduced schedule from 10.00am to 2.00pm. The reserve also has lodgings available if you want to spend an overnight stay and wake up to the sounds of the African plains. This is an excellent place for an unusual day out and further details can be found at http://www.safariwest.com/home/

Matanzas Creek Winery

Santa Rosa is in the heart of wine making country and if you enjoy a glass of wine visiting the Matanzas Creek Winery can make for a great day out. The tasting room at the winery is open daily from 10.00am to 4.30pm and you can turn up to this without an appointment and for $5 get a taste of 4 to 6 wines hosted by one of the hospitality staff. If you are looking for a little more, for $10 you can book an appointment which will get you a 60 minute tour of the winery and also a taste

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