Mack at Hood Mountain Regional Preserve. Photo: Laura Crocker.
Your first stop when visiting Santa Rosa should be the California Welcome Center in Railroad Square, where you’ll see a statue of Santa Rosa’s most famous dog, “Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz’s Snoopy, and receive a dog bone for your own furry friend.
The Hyatt Vineyard Creek in the historic district welcomes pets, as does the Travelodge Santa Rosa and the Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa a bit outside of town. When hunger strikes, pull up on the dog-friendly patio at Willi’s Wine Bar, Sweet T’s or Monti’s Rotiserrie & Bar and sample some delicious regional cuisine.
Then, head for Hood Mountain Regional Park & Open Space Preserve. This rugged, 1,750–acre beauty spot adjacent to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park offers many opportunities to hike with your dog on-leash. Among them is the 3.5–mile round–trip trek from the Los Alamos Road trailhead to the headwaters of Santa Rosa Creek. The route will give you both a workout as it climbs and dips through rugged terrain to end up at a streamside spot perfect for a rest, a picnic and a swim for Brodie.
