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Get SMART: Explore the Sonoma-Marin area via SMART, to save gas money and discover new spots. Ride it all the way to San Rafael, the last stop, for quirky shops, an arthouse movie theater, great (and cheap) falafel and kebabs and the pretty pink Mission San Rafael Arcangel, which has been gracing the North Bay city for more than 200 years. For more fun things to do close to SMART stations, click here. (Crissy Pascual)
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Hit the beach: Consider thoroughly planning your beach day so you don’t take an hour to get there and then leave after 30 minutes. If you're spending some quality time by yourself, bring watercolors and try your hand at painting, or hike to the best vista to take in the sunset, and snap photos of it. If you're going to the beach with friends, bring cards, a frisbee, blanket, and plenty of snacks. For a beach with spectacular views and free parking, make your way to Bodega Head. For sand dunes (and free parking), spend the day by Salmon Creek. (Christopher Chung)
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For more local beaches to explore, check out our guide.
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Hit up P-town: Grab a friend and head to downtown Petaluma to take pictures, spend the day in a great coffee shop, or simply explore the picturesque town. Play tourists and stop by the Petaluma Visitors Center (210 Lakeville St) for a list of 38 stops (all within a few blocks) on a self-guided tour. If nothing else, visit the chicken mural (226 Petaluma Blvd N) and call it a day. (Chris Samson)
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In need of a coffee break during your Petaluma adventures, perhaps some great pastries? We lined up a few coffee shops locals love.
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Get some goat time on the calendar: Volunteer with Santa Rosa’s Goatlandia, a sanctuary farm for rescued farm animals such as goats, pigs and chickens. Volunteer regularly (12-week minimum) by applying on their website, or schedule an appointment to help out on a one-time basis with no longterm commitment required. The Santa Rosa sanctuary was evacuated during the 2017 Tubbs Fire and has since opened a second location in Sebastopol to house animals who were displaced during the fire. If you're lucky, you'll meet Poppy, the three-legged therapy goat. (John Burgess)
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Spend a lazy day by the river: Even though you’ve probably been to the river before (senior ditch day?), try re-crafting your Russian River outing to make it more unique. Before you go, stop by Target or another store of similar caliber and buy a floatie or inflatable tube. As long as you don’t splurge on the Instagram model swan, you can keep it to around $5. And unless you're there on an unlucky day, the Safeway in Guerneville sells a dozen day-old donuts for two dollars. (Christopher Chung)
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Go local: Want to treat your tastebuds to local foods but can't afford to dine out? Head to your local farmers' market. Buying local is just about the best way to spend your dollars and you can meet the people who made or grew your food. As an added bonus, most of the farmers' markets offer free music performances and other entertainment. If you’re new to the farmers market scene, start with Santa Rosa’s Wednesday Night Market. Another great way to sample some tasty food while having a lot of fun is the Sonoma County Fair (Aug 1-11). Don't miss the funnel cake! (John Burgess)
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Window shop and garden stroll: Spend an afternoon at the Cornerstone Sonoma marketplace, strolling in the pretty Sunset gardens and checking out the cute boutiques. While many things for sale here may be outside of your budget, window shopping is free of charge. Grab a snack from Public Kitchen while you’re here (they have some spectacular cheese plates). If you want to do some real shopping (maybe some back-to-school outfits), get thrifty at the many local secondhand stores. Here are a few Santa Rosa favorites. (Thomas J. Story)
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Catch the golden hour: Hike to the top of Helen Putnam Regional Park for an incredible view of the sunset. Since the park is pretty well-marked, it won’t be the end of the world if you have to walk back down at dusk, plus, the grassy fields look stunningly golden during this time of day. (Courtesy photo)
