One of my favorite things about living in the Bay Area is the ability to explore all of the tiny towns dotted throughout Northern California. And Petaluma, nestled in the heart of Sonoma County, is a shining gem among them.
Petaluma embodies the essence of those idyllic small towns that capture the imagination. Its quaint streets, historic buildings, and vibrant community create an irresistible allure that beckons adventurers like us. Just a short day trip away from San Francisco, this picturesque city invites you to step into a world where time seems to slow down and every corner holds a story waiting to be discovered.
As we venture through Petaluma together, you’ll quickly understand why it has become one of my favorite destinations in Northern California. The local arts scene, the farm-to-table culinary experiences, and the warm embrace of the community will leave you enchanted. It’s a place where you can truly connect with the spirit of the region and immerse yourself in the slower pace of life that small towns so beautifully offer.
So, fellow explorer, let’s embark on this virtual journey to Petaluma and uncover its hidden treasures. Allow yourself to be captivated by the charm of this remarkable town, where history meets creativity, and every street invites you to wander and wonder. Together, we’ll peel back the layers of Petaluma and experience the joy of discovering a tiny town that holds so much magic within its embrace.
How To Get To Petaluma
By Car
Getting to Petaluma by car from the Bay Area is a super easy straight shop up from the Golden Gate Bridge. Depending on traffic, it will take about an hour, and street parking once you get to Petaluma is plentiful and almost always free.
By Train
Taking the train up to Petaluma is such a great option! There is so much to do in the walkable downtown, and you’ll sail right on by all of the weekend traffic jams heading back into the city. You can check the timetables and connections through Sonoma Marin Transit, or just plug it into Google Maps.
Where To Stay In Petaluma
Petaluma is totally doable as a day trip, but if you’d like to stay the night I’d recommend Hotel Petaluma. It’s a grand old building with nearly a century of history within its walls.
Things To Do In Petaluma
Architecture Tour
Some of the best examples of iron-front architecture in the United States can be found in little old Petaluma. The visitor’s center offers a list of thirty-eight historic sites within the downtown area, as well as a route for a self guided walking tour of some of the city’s finest Victorian homes.
Thrift Shopping
I can honestly say that Petaluma has some of the best curated thrift stores that I’ve come across in the entire Bay Area for a wide array of quality goods with really great pricing. My personal favourites are Sacks Hospice Thrift and Alphabet Soup. For curated consignment selections at a higher price, Buck Lucky Collective and Vicki’s Secret are great places to check out.
Wine Tasting
Barber Cellars, whose tasting room is located in Hotel Petaluma, is a family owned and operated winery with estate grown, hand crafted wines. In addition to regular tastings, they also offer charcuterie pairings featuring Cowgirl Creamery cheeses.
Another option to visit is Adobe Road’s tasting room by the riverfront. It’s a fun little winery founded by a retired performance racer, so many of the bottles have unique motoring themes.
Distillery Hopping
For me, no trip to Petaluma is complete without a trip Barber Lee Spirits to stock up the liquour cabinet. They specialise in unique and harder to make spirits using heirloom and organic ingredients. If it’s your first time, I recommend stopping into their warehouse parlour for a build-your-own tasting flight.
Down the road, Griffo Distillery is also a worthwhile stop with an even wider selection of bitters, spirits, and canned cocktails.
See A Show
Petaluma is surprisingly a great little hub for the arts. Right in the heart of downtown, Petaluma Arts Center has a near constant exhibition schedule covering a wide range of mediums and topics. For performing arts, head just north of downtown to the Cinnabar Theater for year-round programming in the historic venue.
Take A Hike
Venture just west of downtown to local’s favourite Helen Putnam Regional Park, with six miles of trails and very pretty countryside views. If you came without a car, its a quick and relatively cheap to get a rideshare to the park, as well.
Where To Dine In Petaluma
If there’s one thing you can count on in Petaluma, its having an abundance of dining options prepared from fresh, local ingredients. For such a small town, it’s truly amazing how many high-quality places there are to choose from. Whatever your mood and budget, you’re sure to find somewhere here you’ll love.
Cafes
Avid Coffee / My personal favourite coffee shop in Petaluma, with a great selection of seasonal flavours made in-house
Acre / Hometown staple with three locations throughout Petaluma
Tea Room Cafe / A charming spot to sit down for coffee and homemade pastries
Grand Central / Right on the river with very pretty views of old downtown
Casual
Brewster’s Beer Garden / Lively outdoor space with phenomenal barbecue that’s very popular with young local residents
River Front Cafe / All-day dining with pretty views and occasional live jazz in the early evenings
Volpi’s Ristorante / Old timey Italian-American spot with charming checkered table clothes and a speakeasy back bar
Stockhome / Stylish counter serve featuring Swedish classics with a Middle Eastern twist
Lunchette / Really high quality grab-and-go salads, sandwiches, and grain bowls
Fine Dining
Wild Goat Bistro / Contemporary farm-to-table with Americana sensibility
Cucina Paradiso / A local’s favourite spot with old-world Italian dishes and great river views. Order whatever the special of the day is.
Risibisi / Another Italian option with cosy, romantic interiors for chilly nights
Easy Rider / A slice of the South with a contemporary take
The Shuckery / Swanky seafood restaurant with (you guessed it) phenomenal oysters
This post is not sponsored in any way, and all opinions are my own 🙂
