Top 10 Things to do in Petaluma - Sonoma.com (2024)

You may have the hotel booked, but have you mapped out your itinerary for your visit to Petaluma yet? Petaluma is one of the largest cities in Sonoma County, offering a wide range of fun things to do, see, and drink. While wine tasting is a given, Petaluma has a burgeoning craft beer scene worth checking out, plus interesting museums, farms, and plenty of outdoor spaces to explore. Needless to say, this Wine Country destination makes for a fun weekend getaway less than an hour from San Francisco. Here’s how visitors can get the most out of a stay.

Sample Craft Beer

Did you know Petaluma is one of the beer capitals of the United States? Stop by Lagunitas Brewing Company‘s buzzing Petaluma taproom for live music and a huge selection of craft beers, available to enjoy on the large outdoor patio. Four-legged friends are welcome to join, too, as Lagunitas is a dog-friendly brewery (not surprising, since their logo is a dog’s face). Nearby, HenHouse Brewing Co. typically welcomes kids and families to its “Palace of Barrels,” along with a rotating selection of food trucks.

In the heart of downtown, Brewsters Beer Garden is another great place for beer lovers, serving up local and regional brews from throughout Northern California from its dog- and family-friendly location. Add in a rotating schedule of live music, a selection of co*cktails and non-alcoholic drinks, and a menu of barbecued meats and hearty salads and it’s no wonder Brewsters is a local favorite. Closeby is Adobe Creek Brewery, a dog- and family-friendly tap room serving small-batch lagers.

Visit a Park

Head to Helen Putnam Regional Park for some quality bird watching, but if birding isn’t your preferred way of spending time outdoors, the park offers six miles of equestrian, biking, and hiking trails showcasing panoramic views of Petaluma and the surrounding area. If looking to do a little fishing, the on-site pond is fully stocked with bluegill and other fish, so pack a picnic and make a day of it. At Shollenberger Park, many birds and other wildlife can be spotted throughout its 165 acres of wetlands, making it a go-to spot for photographers and bird watchers. The park features a scenic, two-mile circular trail and a one-mile cutoff trail, so it’s doable for all levels of walkers.

Sample Cheese at a Creamery

Fancy yourself a cheese aficionado? Then you’ll love exploring the many creameries in and around Petaluma. The oldest continually operating cheese manufacturer in the U.S., Marin French Cheese Company has been making cheese for over 150 years and welcomes visitors to its scenic cheese factory to purchase artisan cheeses. They also offer picnic provisions, including breads, meats, and sandwiches, in case you’d like to stay a while and picnic by the pond.

Another worthwhile spot is Achadinha Cheese Company, a family-owned ranch near Petaluma, where farmstead cheeses are produced from their 50 goats and 100 cows. Be sure to book a farm tour to get a closer look at the production process. Want to nibble artisan cheese without visiting a farm? Petaluma Creamery, located in downtown Petaluma, not only carries a wide variety of artisan cheeses and butter, but also coffee, tea, sandwiches, and ice cream to fulfill all your dairy desires.

Support Local Farmers

Petaluma is all about its local farmers, so it’s not surprising that the city is home to three farmers’ markets. While two are seasonal, the Petaluma East-Side Farmers’ Market runs year-round on Tuesdays and features a large number of vendors selling local produce, handcrafted goods, artisan foods, flowers, and more. At the family-owned Lavender Bee Farm, which hosts 5,000 lavender plants and multiple hives, you can shop for honey and lavender goods year-round.

Sip Locally-Made Spirits

When you need a break from wine and craft beer, check out some of Sonoma County’s distilleries located right in Petaluma. The husband-and-wife owned Griffo Distillery specializes in small-batch spirits, including gin, whiskey, and coffee liqueur, made using California-grown ingredients. When the opportunity arises, book a tour and tasting to see the distillery up close and personal, before sampling various co*cktails within the industrial setting. In the meantime, you can order spirits (and hand sanitizer!) to-go. At Barber Lee Spirits, bourbon and moonshine are the name of the game, available to sample straight up or within a co*cktail. And while the woman-owned Sonoma Coast Spirits may not offer in-person tastings, you can find some of their handcrafted artisan spirits at several shops around town (they also offer free local delivery). In addition to their signature Grappa, Sonoma Coast Spirits produces flavored vodka, including espresso, jalapeño lime, and sweet ginger.

Get a Dose of Cultural History

Though currently closed, the , housed in a historic Carnegie Library built in 1904, is a treasure trove of interesting facts about Petaluma and beyond. Exhibitions at the museum range from past to current events, with photos and stories about the city’s founders, early settlers, and history—including the fascinating tidbit about how Petaluma became the chicken capital of the country. At the Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park, the main attraction is the historic adobe building, which was constructed in the early 19th century. One of the most prosperous private estates established during the Mexican Period, today the adobe offers visitors a glimpse into the early settlement days of Petaluma and Sonoma County during the 1800s.

Visit a Food Truck

The Block Petaluma is a food truck market located in downtown Petaluma, where a rotating selection of regional food trucks offer diners a variety of tasty cuisines to enjoy year-round. Expect tacos, pizza, and much more, plus a range of craft beer, cider, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages to wash it all down with. Located just a stone’s throw away from The Block, El Roy’s Taco Truck dishes up all things Tex-Mex, such as al pastor and pollo asado tacos and burritos piled high with fresh salsa. While they don’t serve alcohol at the food truck, you’re right in the heart of Sonoma and good wine isn’t difficult to find.

Go Olive Oil Tasting

Situated just 15 minutes from downtown Petaluma, McEvoy Ranch is an idyllic spot to visit. The largest organic olive oil producer in the U.S., McEvoy Ranch offers sit-down tastings of olive oil (all of which are made on-site), as well as walking tours of the ranch and mill, workshops, and special events throughout the year. Even if EVOO isn’t your thing, McEvoy Ranch produces wine, skincare products, and pantry staples like jams and flavored vinegars — not to mention it’s an all around picturesque place to visit.

Experience the Arts

Located in a 4,500-square-foot facility inside the historic Railroad Depot Freight Building, the Petaluma Arts Center makes art accessible to the public through sophisticated and inspiring art exhibitions displayed in an approachable environment. In addition, the Petaluma Arts Center offers various workshops and educational opportunities to promote learning for all ages.

Go Wine Tasting

Of course, no visit to Sonoma County would be complete without doing some wine tasting, and the city of Petaluma—located in the Petaluma Gap AVA—makes for a great place to call home base during a day of tasting. Sample Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah at some of Petaluma’s numerous wineries, including Keller Estate and Adobe Road Winery or drive a short distance to visit a few of Sonoma’s most popular tasting rooms, such as Gloria Ferrer for sparkling wine and Jacuzzi Family Vineyards for Italian-style varietals.