A friend and I are doing the planning for a group trip next week. We are planning the itinerary and our drive from SFO to the Healdsburg area. She found some info on Petaluma, and it sounds really nice and worth a stop on the way. Is this quote accurate? "Experience the Charm of one of the oldest cities in California, with one of the best preserved Historic Downtown Areas, on the National Register of Historic Places. Victorian homes and Iron Front buildings surround this charming Riverfront town."

Thanks much. I know some of you live in the area and can give great advice.

The short answer is NO.

The longer answer is that must have been written by someone who is paid to do so. Petaluma is an average city with a 5 minute downtown area. By that I mean you could park your car and see all the "charm" that quickly. It's not ugly but it's no destination city either.

It is a nice small town, nice place to live. But a destination -- not really.

Its got lots of antique stores, and can be charming..but lacks variety. You'll be happier in Healdsburg.

Healdssburg has character, Petaluma has chickens.

I went to a wedding at a very old church in the historic downtown area of Petaluma about two weeks ago. As I drove throught the downtown area I thought it was really cute. My parents live in Ukiah, and next time I visit I will stop to poke around. Just my opinion.

If you are in Petaluma anyway, like in my case to visit relatives, it's nice. As a tourist I would suggest the Sonoma town square or downtown Santa Rosa instead.

In past years, Petaluma was a "farm" town--noted for it chickens & egg production..
then as the urban sprawl creeped up from Marin to Novato --housing was snaped up and Petaluma has become "gentrified"(sp?) They are "working" on the historical and river areas and of course have a "outlet stores" You will enjoy Healdsburg area more and it gives a real flavor of the "wine country"
I am writing this with "tongue in cheek) as I really prefer these towns as they were 10-15 years ago..but I guess they represent "progress" or do they....

Petaluma...nah. It is the gateway to Olema and the coast, it is also famous for being a movie makers favorite. Many films have been made there. Porions of American Graffiti were made there. Polly Klaas was kidnapped from there. otherwise, largely forgettable.

If you are in the area at the end of April I strongly recommend to see the Butter and Egg days parade.

Other then that... yeah, it's cute, but unless you're shopping for antiques... can be easily skipped.

There was a cheese factory with free tours, not sure if it's still there.

Make a detour to Sonoma, take a Train Town ride, visit the plaza and its museums.

Go to Glen Ellen to Jack London's museum and visit his grave.

Instead of Petaluma stop in historic Sonoma, only 14 miles away.

Watch for the signs on Highway 101 as you approach Petaluma for Hwy 116 and Sonoma.

This town is built around an 11-acre Plaza from the Mexican occupation days of the 1830's and still has many of the historic adobe buildings, including General Vallejo's troops' barracks, now housing boutiques, restaurants and hotels. There is also wine tasting, at least, I believe, in the Wine Exchange, which is on the east side of the Plaza.

The last and most northerly of the Spanish Franciscan Missions stands across from the northeast corner of the Plaza.

There is a cute little museum in a former Railroad depot behind Spain street which has pictures from the old days.

The Cheese Factory, on the north side of the Plaza is not an historical building, by any means, it was built in the 1950s and is quite bizarre looking, but they sell great picnic supplies, wine, and excellent cheese. You can picnic in the Plaza, if you like. Or drive a mile or so to the historic Buena Vista Winery where the Hungarian Colonol Haraszthy (sp?) brought the first wine grape cuttings from Europe to California, thus starting it all.

This is a charming small stone winery with a couple of picnic tables under the trees. Another picnic spot is Lachryma Montis, (General Vallejo's estate, now a state park.) Drive about a mile west on Spain Street until you see the signs for the turnoff.

This is a small detour on your way to Healdsburg. Instead of returning to the freeway, Hwy 101, as you came, just drive north on Highway 12 through the beautiful Sonoma Valley and hit the freeway in Santa Rosa. Then north to Healdsburg.

You won't be sorry.

Obviously the naysayers have not been to Petlauma for some time, and even more obviously do not have any true experience of the place! I live here and the downtown experience is better than 5 minutes-which is what I would say about Healdsburg. If you prefer tourist trap destinations, then please by all means, go to Healdsburg. Sonoma is OK, but both of these towns have a literal town square and a block or partial block off of the town square and that's it. Petaluma has a beautiful downtown
area, with real historic buildings.
The downtown area encompasses about 10 blocks - most of the buildings have been beautifully restored if you have an appreciation for this type of thing.

We have a lot more than antique stores
(Gawd, where do you people get you info ?!)There are home furnishings stores-non-antique, bookstores, music stores, clothing stores, bakeries,
spas & salons, a luggage store, 3 wine shops, a dozen art galleries and I am sure I have missed a few.

The entire area is busy morning-noon and night. Strolling along the Petaluma river is downright charming ! We have more than our fare share of fabulous restaurants as well.

The long answer is YES, julies-although
if you mean the week of Oct. 15-you'll need a raincoat up here.


R5

Faina gave a nod to the Antique stores in Petaluma, if you read her post more carefully.

Which is unfortunate because, as perhaps I was not quite so clear in my post, is
there are NOT nearly the number of antique type stores that people who are unfamiliar with the area seem so foucused on.

Old info is not good info.

R5

Petaluma is a charming town - authentically so. There are pleasant parks and gazebos and bandstands, old-time buildings from mercantile days. One of our favorite restaurants is there: Aram's. An extremely casual, excellent and friendly place with terrific mediterranean food. Inexpensive.

Thanks all. Now I am really torn about what to do with limited time.

The good news is, Petaluma is just off the 101. If you are interested in Antiques and Victorian homes, stop there.

Except for the fact that Petauma only has 3 bona fide antique stores-I wish those posting all this really outdated info about my town would accept the fact that things are most likely different than when last you were here.

If you have not spent time downtown here in the past year to witness
all the renovation/revitalization of our lovely downtown, then I invite you to make a point of visiting.

R5

So this info is out of date?
http://www.visitpetaluma.com/activities_attractions.asp
I got to that link from Petaluma's Chamber of Commerce site. I have been in Petaluma in the past year though not to the downtown in about 2 years.

Yup, it's pretty out of date-
that map link is really strange, as I know many of those locations are no longer-Plum Tuckered (which was really a consignment furniture store, the majority of it's inventory quite present day, I am friends with the past owner,BTW), Gothic Rose, Acorn and Kentucky Street Antiques off the top of my head. Monarch is going out of business as we speak-it's inventory is 95% oriental rugs-antique ? Not really. I see they are lauding some Antique Faires-I can tell you that in my experience it's more like a street fair for used furntiute and books, you'd really have to dig and know what you were looking at.

The Art & Garden Fair in June is alot of fun-lots of good local wine tasting there as well.

Anywho, things change...

So, trippinkpj, come on up and take a wander with me downtown next time you're here ! We'll grab Faina as I don't think she's been here since the steamboat left the river!


R5