Oh my goodness literally one of the most amazing experience gems in Petaluma. If you have a child…read moreand are looking for a wonderful way to spend quality time for a couple to several hours on a Saturday, you simply need to go visit the Petaluma Wildlife Museum. This beautiful space is run by high school students who are in animal husbandry or communications-type classes and each, and almost every one, of them are wonderfully informative, kind, engaging, and helpful. Whoever is training these students is doing an outstanding job! The minute you walk through the door they are there to guide you through this fun Petaluma experience. They have thousands of dollars (likely hundreds of thousands) in quality and unique taxidermy animals that are thoughtfully displayed, and where the children can get up close and personal with creatures from all over the planet. We particularly love the room that focuses on the national parks (as our favorite states are represented)! We have taken our grandson here three times at six months intervals and every time he discovered something new. They have a fabulous dinosaur room as well and the students we've encountered are highly educated and love to share tidbits of information. They also have a charming compact outdoor area where kids love to roam and they also have an arts space where kids can draw and explore. It's $5 per person as of 2026 (and I want to say that our almost 3 year-old grandson was free each time). GO! Check out this phenomenal community asset on any given Saturday and you'll be so glad you did! Five giant stars!

This is such a wonderful place to visit on Saturdays! It's donated by a local business man and the…read morehigh school students volunteer on Saturdays to help visitors understand the wild life displayed in the museum. Every high school student volunteers have extensive knowledge of the wild life. We were amazed by all the stories and information told. They even let us touch some of the animals there. It's not just for kids. Adults will definitely enjoy it too.

After My Own Art…read more Located on 217 acres of pristine Napa Valley land, the Di Rosa is a contemporary art museum that's been operating publicly since 1997. This museum is the personal collection of Rene & Veronica di Rosa. The Good: *Temporary exhibits rotate approximately every four months. *Complimentary umbrellas (more on that later) *A good portion of the exhibits are outdoors along their gorgeous property. *Shuttle if you don't want to or need assistance walking from building to building. *You really have to like weird shit because this place is full of it. Personally, I love it, but if you're more "serious" art person, then this probably won't be your jam. *Picnic tables on the grounds, as you're encouraged to bring food and drink to enjoy in their outdoor area. *Friendly staff The Meh: *General admission of $25 might be a touch high for an art museum. The Ugly: *Be wary when visiting during inclement weather,as there's a large part of this museum that's outdoors. So you'll probably miss out on some of it, but the free umbrellas (mentioned above) did come in handy. Conclusion: Fun art museum with some really cool pieces and doesn't take itself too seriously.

Great art collection. The car by David best was my favorite - a local. The political exhibits were…read moreinteresting as well. Thought provoking and inspiring conversations. The outdoor gallery seemed so vast and too much to cover in one visit. Appreciated the shuttle ! Everyone that worked there was so knowledgeable and excited about the works. Highly recommend.

One of the better stocked visitors centers I've visited, and with such friendly ranger service!…read more Lots of interactive displays that the kids enjoyed. We ran our visit by a ranger and got feedback and a set of Junior Ranger books. We returned around 4:45pm and the kids turned in their Junior Ranger books. We also got a special 250 year stamp! In terms of swag, they've got plenty of clothing including shirts, long sleeves, sweaters, goodies, and beanies. Point Reyes was cold, even in July! They also have brochures, books, Junior Ranger gear, plushies, binoculars, stamps, stickers, pins, tokens... so much. And a good selection of first aid supplies. Cancellation stamps are right at the entrance. Clean bathrooms on the outside. Plenty of parking.

4.5 stars Bear…read moreValley visitor's center is a really nice and well-maintained visitor's center. Inside, there's a little museum explaining the wildlife found in the area. There's a gift shop area with books for all ages and small selection of souvenirs. The restrooms are also pretty clean. There's free parking on site and additional parking and restrooms across from the visitor's center. There's also plenty of space for picnics. Idk what the rules are, but I did see horses and horse riders, so I think there's a horse trail nearby?? Would recommend the stop for maps, souvenirs, restroom breaks, and/or picnics.

Omg! If you are a Charlie Brown fan, this is a must-see! Nestled in Santa Rosa, you'll find this…read moregem. Learn about the life of Charles M Schulz and his beloved list of Peanuts Characters. There are comic strips and stories of Lucy, Linus, Sally, Rerun, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy and more! The Warm Puppy Cafe (where Charles Schulz ate Breakfast and Lunch daily when he was taking a break from his studio). Attached to it, is an Ice Skating rink. Come take your family and friends. Enjoy this incredible museum in honor of the late Charles Schulz and one of the most famous comics of our lifetime!

I am a nice Snoopy fan. Japan isn't the easiest to travel to see my Snoopy so I'm very grateful…read morethere is Museum near by home. There are different events that happen monthly and every holiday. I forgot what this specific event was called. Maybe a back to school or something with the school theme where they had giant yearbooks as a photo prop. That was hella cool. There events where you may have a chance to meet some of the talented artists on the Schultz team. Very family orientated and so much fun for kids AND adults creating art and memories. There is a ice rink available year round equipped with a dining area! A must visit for all Snoopy lovers!

The best museum I've visited in the north bay. Amazing and beautiful exhibits you can tell whoever…read moremade this museum put their heart and soul into it and the staff are very nice and friendly. Definitely recommend.

Stopped by with my wife on Friday since it's the only museum in Calistoga and we really enjoyed it…read more The place is quiet, neat, and full of local history including Calistoga, Ben Sharpsteen, and even the Donner Party. The exhibits are creative and easy to follow, not boring at all. Karen was the highlight. She was so sweet, full of energy, and made the visit fun and memorable. Usually you expect staff at small museums to be a little dry but she was the complete opposite. It's also free to visit, which makes it an easy stop if you are in town. Definitely worth checking out.

What an amazing place to visit. Fun for the family. They have area for kids too. The store have…read morelot have memorible gifts. I found my seal lion. A must visit.

Visited Point Reyes Lighthouse after five years, and it's just as stunning as I remembered. The…read morecoastline and ocean views are amazing. We stopped by the visitor center, a big raven kept us entertained by making a lot of noise while perched on the building's skylight. I like the numbered staircase. It lets you know how far you have left to go, so you know exactly what to expect. The lower level of the lighthouse has been remodeled and is now open to all. It was fascinating to see the original gears, machinery, and equipment that once kept the lighthouse working.

We hosted my sons 3rd birthday party at BADM this past weekend. It was a wonderful experience from…read morebeginning to end. Booking was quick and easy, pricing was upfront, communication was great and execution was even better. The guests enjoyed themselves, we felt supported and well resourced on the day of and my son had a blast! We would definitely recommend this location for parties. There was so much to do for all ages.

I don't have enough good things to say about this place. If we lived closer, we would have a…read moremembership. Actually, I found out afterwards that we could have gotten in free with some reciprocal membership that we have down south, but that was my fault for not checking. The outdoor play structures here are epic. My kids couldn't get enough. I had to force them to try another one every hour, because they never wanted to leave the one they were currently at. The inside explore rooms were great as well, along with the foam party. Everything about this museum is top tier for small kids. My own wanted to come back the following day. If I had known it was free, we would have. The next time we come up, we will be spending more time here, no doubt.

A must-visit for fans not just of the Star Wars franchise but the whole ecosystem of collectibles…read moreand fan art. One of the biggest collections there is. Note: for those who plan ahead only - book ahead; you might luck out with someone else's cancellation If you're only a fan of the stories you might a little antsy as the volunteers give a thorough tour of memorabilia. They also have a nice collection of arcade games and pinball machines that you can play (for free). I had the muscle memory for the original Star Wars game with the tie fighters.... and probably lost at about the same stage too

Never really got in. First of all it is hidden away in a private home. 2nd of all it is…read morereservations only for groups of 12 on Saturdays only; 3rd they were already booked thru June; and finally, they were having a party. However, the owner was VERY nice about all of it.

Healdsburg Museum History Talks…read more Link: https://www.healdsburgmuseum.org/history-talks-in-the-plaza The Healdsburg Museum presents a special series of "History Talks" during the summer. It's held in the open-air Gazebo in Healdsburg's picturesque Town Square on Saturday mornings. It's led by a museum docent who presents a general history of Healdsburg with photos and maps shown on a big-screen TV. The photos and the presenter's descriptions really bring the past to life. Some of the photos show locations and historical events that took place around the square- right where you'll be sitting. You can see the before and after right there in front of you! Each Talk starts with this general history for 20 minutes or so. After the general history presentation another docent or amateur historian takes over and talks about a more focused part of Healdsburg history, complete with photos. Subjects in Summer 2024 included Healdsburg on the home front of WW 2, notable women of Healdsburg, agricultural history, Healdsburg transportation history and several more subjects. All these focused presentations are well researched and often include personal stories of the presenter and their family. There is a Q & A afterward during which some of the best, and most personal stories about Healdsburg come to light. The audience is comprised of visitors young and old and a few long-time residents who remember the past and the stories their ancestors passed down. You can sightsee around the square before or after the History Talk and there are numerous cafés, bakeries and restaurants to enjoy right there.

I love FREE museums and Healdsburg Museum & Historical Society is FREE, though it's Small. It's…read morehoused in a old Public Library building. It's got local Healdsburg history; Sonoma County history, stuff about the Russian River, founders, etc. There's the main room & a downstairs research area. From the website: "In 2001-2002 the Museum's permanent galleries underwent a major renovation and refurbishment. New sections and themes were added to the display, and more history is now included. Exhibit sections include: Southern Pomo and Western Wappo; the Mexican Rancho period; the founding of Healdsburg; the growth of Healdsburg; Agriculture (hops, prunes and grapes); Industry (lumber, quicksilver, gravel, canneries); Business; the Plaza; Festivals; Transportation; Resorts; Schools; Sports; the Homefront (during WWII and the Korean War); and the Russian River. Downstairs exhibits include: Edwin Langhart, Museum founder; Brainerd Jones, architect; Andrew Carnegie; and Music (at home, in the schools, town band)." Open: Tues-Sun 11-4 FREE Website: http://www.healdsburgmuseum.org/index.html

Great museum! Glad we check this one out. They had two cool exhibits. The day of the dead was real…read morenice. Great art and nice people working here. Nice sculptures on the outside too. Definitely suggest checking out and supporting the local museum. Would definitely come back here again.

A neat surprise of two separate galleries, one art, and the other history. Very interactive and…read moreawesomely local! FYI, it took me about an hour at the history museum in about 30 minutes in the art museum. Art: this museum is the one story building that is on the corner of B St, and very conspicuous with the signs on the wall. I hear that the exhibitions rotate every five months or so and is the contemporary art side of the museum. It's a smaller of the two galleries but definitely worth a visit. History: as someone who is not very familiar with the county, I did not know that this was the post office that used to be on 5th Street, some blocks over from its current location. There's more explanation inside the history museum if you are interested in learning more! The second floor is the permanent exhibition regarding the history of Santa Rosa. The first floor seems to be rotating exhibitions. *I actually found the exhibitions at the history museum quite engaging as they put a lot of interactive elements such as wine tasting (reservations needed) and a petting zoo for band instruments and a chance to listen to music using a turntable and cassette tapes. I usually visit most museums once, but I would definitely love to come back to the history museum in the future- and maybe bring some friends and family so they can also enjoy this magnificent space as well.