Cool stuff to do in Santa Rosa area?

Seems your trip is pretty set, but just to add $0.02:

Drive out to Bodega/the coast. Stop at the schoolhouse/church area where scenes from Hitchcock's "The Birds" was filmed. When out there, can hit Tides restaurant for a quick cup of chowder or smoked salmon. Can get it from the to-go area and take it to the beach, rather than sitting indoors. North coast weather, though... so plan on fog and cold.

If you head down to Lagunitas my food recommendation would be Old Chicago Pizza- also in Petaluma, a few miles from the brewpub.

Although Armstrong Woods or Annadel Park are better for hiking and nature in general, Howarth Park area is only a 5 minute drive from RRBC and downtown SR... can be a decent close option for more of a stroll or simple outdoors time, if proximity is important.

If you're at Flavor, they usually have Moonlight Brewing Co on tap... Death & Taxes.

 

Do you plan to go wine tasting? Do you need suggestions for that? Most other stuff is covered pretty well. Old Chicago is very good Chicago style pizza (much better than zachary's to me, but I grew up on Old Chicago), but a slice or two is enough to put you in a food coma.

 

I really like most of the reds at Siduri...not sure they have a real tasting room yet, try shooting them an email. Adam was super nice when I got to meet him. Then again, I don't see how a trip to Santa Rosa could leave with enough time for anything other than Russian River...even if you are there for a week haha

have fun!

 

Hook & Ladder is a great winery. Also suggest Moshin and Porter Creek.

 

Ridge Tasting Room in Healdsburg is one of my favorite spots.

 

These are good suggestions. Trentadue is a great spot in Geyserville- reasonably close to downtown Healdsburg (good food spots, and Bear Republic), and "across the street" from Coppola (pricey menu, decent wines, cool film memorabilia).

 

I will second Siduri but you do need a reservation, easy to get. I will add Woodenhead and Joseph Swan. A great resource for wineries is wineroad.com. Ridge is a great visit but is not in Healdsburg proper but off of Lytton Springs Road just North of Healdsburg and West of Geyserville.

 

There are a lot of good suggestions in this thread. One that I think hasn't come up yet is stopping by the Coddingtown Whole Foods Tap Room. There are usually many delicious options in bottle and on tap and it is only around a 10 minute drive from Russian River Brewery.

I might as well throw in another recommendation for Ridge now that a couple friends/classmates of mine started working there recently!

As far as great food and a great bar, Underwood in Graton is a must. There is something nice about playing Bocce ball while sipping on Blind Pig or Death and Taxes.

 

Ridge has a tasting room on Monte Bello Road in Cupertino.