Support Sonoma County by Visiting for Family Fun

While devastating fires that swept through Sonoma County last week may have been destructive, the area remains open for business. I know we're all looking for ways to help Marin's neighbors to the north in this time of need, and one of the things we can do is go there and patronize local restaurants, attractions, and businesses. Here's our rundown on family fun to be had in Sonoma Valley and Santa Rosa in the wake of the fires.

Sonoma Valley

While the parks we love to visit, including Jack London State Historic Park, Sonoma State Historic Park, and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, remain closed, Sonoma still has plenty for families to do. Some of our suggestions:

• Visit the historic Sonoma Plaza, where you can grab ingredients for a fall picnic from local merchants like Basque Boulangerie and the Sonoma Cheese Factory, or have a meal at one of the great restaurants nearby.
• Ride the rails and visit the animals at Sonoma TrainTown.
• Wander the gardens and shop at Cornerstone Sonoma.
• Explore the exotic Quarryhill Botanical Garden in Glen Ellen. (They open to the public again on Saturday, October 28 and will offer free admission for the rest of 2017.)
• Visit a family-friendly winery like Cline Cellars and Larsen Family Winery.

Santa Rosa

The city of Santa Rosa was hit particularly hard, but plenty of business remain open. We look forward to seeing some of our favorite Santa Rosa attractions, like the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Safari West, open again.

• Go ice skating at Snoopy's Home Ice at the Redwood Empire Ice Arena. They plan to re-open and resume their normal schedule on Thursday, October 26.
• The Children's Museum of Sonoma County is open and offering free admission for families affected by the fires.
• Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch offers plenty of fall family fun through the end of October.
• Ride the train and carousel, play, and visit the petting zoo at Howarth Memorial Park.