Santa Rosa, California, is the unofficial Snoopy capital of the world and the longtime home of “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz.Visitors can explore the Charles M. Schulz Museum, skate at Snoopy’s Home Ice, and shop for “Peanuts” goods at Snoopy’s Gallery & Gift Shop.The city pairs its cartoon legacy with Sonoma County wine, local breweries, diverse dining, and quirky boutique hotels.
It’s hard to imagine the “Peanuts” comics without Snoopy, Charlie Brown’s beagle. But though the first “Peanuts” strip was released on Oct. 2, 1950, believe it or not, Snoopy didn’t appear in the comics for two more days.
It’s equally difficult to imagine Santa Rosa, California, without Snoopy. This Sonoma County town is in the heart of California wine country, yet it’s perhaps best known for its cartoon history. The unofficial Snoopy capital of the world, Santa Rosa is the adopted hometown of “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz, who was born in Minneapolis but spent much of his life in Sonoma County after moving to the area in 1958.
While you can find “Peanuts” attractions throughout Sonoma County, Santa Rosa is the epicenter of the phenomenon. “We’ve got a long history of ‘Peanuts’ here,” says Chelsea Wood, content and social media coordinator for the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber. “When Charles Schulz moved here back in the ‘50s, he got a lot of inspiration for his comics. We’ve become a worldwide hub, outside of the museum in Japan and his hometown in Minnesota. Santa Rosa has kept it going, leaning into the love that everyone shares for ‘Peanuts.’”
If you fly into Santa Rosa, you’ll be able to spot the theme from the moment you arrive. Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS) displays “Peanuts” artwork throughout the lobbies and waiting rooms, providing a glimpse into the world of the comic strip around every corner. “There’s miniature displays; they’ve got some statues and ‘Peanuts’ wall art,” says Wood. “Within the lobbies themselves, there are big, hanging airplanes with the Red Baron Snoopy, and they’ve got the Kite-Eating Tree.”
That journey continues at Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz Museum, the central nerve center for everything “Peanuts.” The museum hosts a variety of permanent and rotating exhibits on Schulz and his world-famous comic strip, allowing guests to interact with and explore pieces from the illustrator’s 50-plus-year career. “The Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center is a great archive of Schulz’s work,” says Wood. “Inside the museum, you can find archives of his comics, and you can create your own comics. They’ve got hands-on arts and crafts, and you can also watch movies and show clips at the minitheater there. It’s a huge campus.”
After perusing the museum, walk across the street for a visit to Snoopy’s Home Ice, aka the Redwood Empire Ice Arena. Schulz built this indoor skating rink in 1969, infusing the design with Bavarian charm. “That’s a piece Schulz gave to the area,” Wood says. “Being from back east in Minnesota, ice skating was a big thing over there, so he saw a need here and built it. It’s been a staple in the community.” Today, visitors can lace up their skates for public sessions and lessons, or cheer on the local Santa Rosa Growlers at hockey tournaments.
The arena is also next door to Snoopy’s Gallery & Gift Shop, your one-stop shop for “Peanuts” books, tee-shirts, plushes, and all the other merch you could imagine. Before you leave the rink to shop, though, you should swing by The Warm Puppy Café, the perfect place to thaw out after some time on the ice. “The Warm Puppy Café has got some great hot cocoa,” says Wood. There’s an entire hot cocoa section of the menu, in fact, and you can also munch on family-friendly fare like a Good Grief Grilled Cheese and a Snoopy Special hot dog.
While the museum and the skating rink are must-visits for anyone obsessed with Snoopy, you’ll also see plenty of everyone’s favorite beagle while you’re out and about in Santa Rosa. Peanuts on Parade is a town-wide public arts exhibition featuring more than 130 statues of the comic strip characters—a train conductor Snoopy stands on Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square, a Snoopy decked out with poppies welcomes downtown visitors, and a Snoopy with braces poses outside an orthodontist’s office, to name just a few.
Fortunately for “Peanuts” fans, Visit Santa Rosa has made a map to help visitors locate their favorite characters. “The statues include Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, and Lucy, and some bonuses,” says Wood. “We’re trying to highlight the additional cool, quirky things that ‘Peanuts’ lovers might enjoy discovering. We’re also in the works of creating a gamified digital passport that we’re planning to launch later this year.”
In the meantime, Santa Rosa has plenty of other entertainment on offer. Between comedy shows at Barrel Proof Lounge, the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, and shows at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, you won’t have to look far for your next activity, no matter what you’re interested in. Plus, “pairing all of these experiences with the beautiful food, wine, and beer enhances everything,” says Wood.
Naturally, given Santa Rosa’s location, some Sonoma County wine is a must. You can sample flights at locally owned establishments like Saint Francis Wine & Vineyards or the picturesque Matanzas Creek Winery. Wood also recommends visiting Santa Rosa’s breweries for drinks, particularly in February, or “Feb-Brewary,” a month-long celebration of the town’s craft beermakers.
As for eateries, you’ll have plenty of choices (in addition to the Warm Puppy Cafe, of course). The downtown La Rosa Tequileria and Grill is a local favorite for traditional Mexican fare, right across the street from Belly Left Coast Kitchen & Taproom, a buzzy, new American-focused restaurant helmed by chef Gray Rollin. “There’s always new stuff to try,” says Wood. “But, of course, they’ve got great classics. I’d recommend their burgers; they’re very good.” Other worthy options include the fusion spot Bird & the Bottle, Sea Thai Bistro, and the Jewish-style eatery Grossman’s Noshery.
Santa Rosa has an equally wide variety of overnight accommodations. Book a stay at the Flamingo Resort & Spa, part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection, or the boutique Hotel E, which consists of 39 plush rooms and suites in an unbeatable location. “It’s right on the Courthouse Square downtown in a historic building,” says Wood. You can also reserve a room at the quirky Astro Motel, a redone motel that looks right out of the ‘50s, but provides modern-day amenities like outdoor gathering spaces and wine tastings.
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