The Ultimate 3-Day Santa Rosa Itinerary with Kids
Planning a family-friendly Sonoma County getaway or staycation? This 3-day Sonoma County and Santa Rosa itinerary is perfect if you are traveling with kids (and a dog too) It is the right mix of outdoor adventures, lazy days by the pool, enjoying great food and exploring the unique things Sonoma County has to offer.
Sonoma County is known for its beautiful mix of wine country, rugged coastline, outdoor recreation along the Russian River, charming small towns and farm-to-table food. It’s often considered a more laid-back alternative to neighboring Napa Valley.
Where to Stay in Santa Rosa:
We stayed at the iconic Flamingo Resort and Spa. Originally opened in 1957, this resort wears it’s mid-century influence on its sleeve. Unlike many of the wine-focused hotels in the area, this one feels like something out of an idealized version of Las Vegas or Palm Springs. You can spot its iconic retro rotating flamingo light-up sign from miles away. The famous pool is the centerpiece of the 10-acre property.
Resort highlights include:
A large year-round heated outdoor pool. We spent most of our time outdoors going from the swimming pool to the hot tub. The pool is huge! It has a shallow end for little kids, a mid-deep section to play and a 9-foot-deep section to cannonball into.
Bird House Cabanas. You can rent a cabana for the day which includes: a TV, power station for charging, secure safe for valuables and poolside service from the Lazeaway Club. You can order poolside bites and drinks from the edge of the pool and never have to leave! Each cabana comes with a complimentary fruit plate and bottle of Rose (or ice cream if you aren’t wine drinkers)
Lounge chairs line the pool and are available on first-come, first-served basis.
On-site Dinning at the Lazeaway Club. Enjoy delicious California-inspired food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Full service spa, complete with a sauna, steam room and hot tub. You can book specific varying spa treatments for a price and time.
Fitness club and wellness programs. Enjoy complimentary cycle classes and aqua fit.
Pickle ball courts – complete with complimentary paddles and balls.
Adult Lap Pool
Garden area with a large chess set and connect four game for the kids to play.
We had the most amazing time at the Flamingo Resort, my kids are already asking when we can come back and stay! Normally we pick hotels for the sites nearby and just need a place to rest our head at night. What we loved about this hotel was that fact that we really didn’t have to leave. From delicious dining and endless entertainment to the incredible pool, club, and spa, it was the perfect place to slow down, relax and enjoy quality time together as a family. I highly recommend staying at this hotel.
3-Day Itinerary
Day 1:
Pack a lunch and explore the Russian River
The Russian River is one of Sonoma County’s most beloved destinations. Known for its laid-back atmosphere, towering redwood forests, and calm waters with plenty of opportunities to stop at sandy beaches along the banks of the river to swim, picnic or relax. There are lots of different ways to explore the Russian River. You can float, kayak, swim or skip rocks and just hang out by the waters edge. Or my favorite; a little bit of everything.
For a big adventure, Burke’s Canoe Trip is a fun option. I am saving this one for a trip without kids or just my older ones. It’s a 10-mile, self-guided canoe or kayak trip down the Russian River, starting at Forestville and ending near Guerneville. A return shuttle is included so you don’t have to worry about arranging transportation back to your car.
For a smaller, kid-friendlier option, choose Steelhead Beach to Sunset Beach in Forestville. It is a two-mile stretch with a convenient shuttle. During the summer months parking lots fill up fast so this shuttle is a great option. The river shuttle travels a loop, departing every 30 minutes between 9am-6pm. The shuttle leaves from El Molino High School, 7050 Covey Road in Forestville to Steelhead Beach Regional Park and Sunset Beach River Park. Floating takes about 4 hours. An all-day ticket is $5, ages 18 and under ride for free.
Or if you just wanted to find a sandy spot to swim and hang out for the day you can hang out at Sunset Beach like we did. We got there early enough in the day (before 10am) to find parking in the lot. We parked and then walked down the dirt path to the river. It took about 10 minutes. We loaded up our stuff for a beach day including our paddle boards to float.
Helpful Tips:
Arrive early, especially on weekends.
Bring sunscreen, water, snacks or a picnic and a dry bag for your phone and valuables.
Wear water shoes or sandals that can get wet.
Plan for 4–5 hours total if you want to stop and enjoy the river along the way
Wagon is helpful to transport items
Blow up your paddle boards down at the river (it’s a long walk to carry them)
Grab dinner at Montgomery Village on your way from the river to the hotel. Supergreens for mom and Shake Shack for the rest of the family. Make sure to stop in Sonoma Outfitters to see one of the Peanut Statues.
Check-in to the Flamingo Resort and Spa – fun night swimming session.
Day 2:
Grab breakfast on the go
Visit the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County
This museum was so cute and engaging! My kids ages 3-11 spent hours here and didn’t want to leave. It features interactive indoor and outdoor exhibits focused on science, nature, art and imaginative play. Open 9am-4pm CLOSED on Tuesday.
They are currently fundraising for their UP! Campaign, which will bring:
· A 7,400 sq. ft. new building that doubles indoor play space
· Six new STEM exhibits, plus programs for older children
· Improved accessibility, more restrooms, and support spaces
· Room for 2xthe number of school field trips
They plan on breaking ground in less than a month.
Head back to the Flamingo Resort and spend the rest of the day hanging out at your bird house cabana or pool side recliners swimming, sun bathing and ordering yummy pool-side treats and drinks.
Enjoy Dinner at the Lazeaway Club located on-site.
Put back on your swimsuits and enjoy the hot tub. Parents, switch off taking the kids and use the free amenities at the wellness center and spa. Sauna, steam room and hot tub, say less!
Day 3:
Wake up and play pickle ball at the courts, working up an appetite to eat breakfast at the Lazeaway Club located on-site.
Take one last dip in the pool before you check-out.
Visit the Charles M. Schulz Museum
Whether you’re a lifelong Peanuts fan or not, this is a must-visit! It celebrates the life and work of Charles “Sparky” Schulz, creator of the famous comic strips Peanuts, who lived and worked in Santa Rosa from 1969 until his death in 2000. He claimed Sonoma County as inspiration for his famous comic strip. Open Mon-Fri 11am-5:00, Sat & Sun 10am-5pm CLOSED on Tuesday.
Not knowing this ahead of time, we were very surprised to see the many larger-than-life statues of Snoopy around town, plus statues of Charlie Brown, Woodstock and Lucy. The city of Santa Rosa has created a Peanuts on parade statue map to help you track down over 90 unique statues. From Downtown and Railroad Square (where we found the most in the closest radius) to local parks, business and beyond! Your kids will love walking around and finding these fun characters around town.
Other things to do in Santa Rosa with Kids:
Safari West – A one-of-a-kind safari where you can see giraffes, zebras, rhinos, cheetahs, and hundreds of other animals on an open-air guided tour. It’s often called the “Sonoma Serengeti” and is one of the area’s top attractions.
Howarth Park – A local favorite with an imaginative playground, miniature train, carousel, pedal boats, seasonal pony rides, and an animal barn. It’s easy to spend half a day here.
Spring Lake Regional Park – Great for picnics, stroller-friendly walking trails, kayaking, paddleboarding, and in summer, the swimming lagoon and inflatable water park at Spring Lake Lagoon.
Snoopy’s Home Ice – A fun year-round ice rink with public skating sessions, skating aids for beginners, and the Warm Puppy Café overlooking the rink. It’s right across from the Charles M. Schulz Museum.
Dillon Beach – the ultimate family-friendly beach located just outside of Petaluma, along the coast.
Napa – read my blog post about 8 things to do in Napa besides wineries
I hope you find this guide helpful as I tried to showcase a good mix of what Sonoma County has to offer as well as keep it pretty simple with traveling with kids (and a dog)
Whether you’re staying for a long weekend or a day trip, if you’re looking for a fun laid-back California destination staycation that still feels fun and special, Santa Rosa is a great choice.
