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Santa Rosa LGBTQ City Guide

Santa Rosa is a beautiful California coastal city located 55 miles north of San Francisco. The city is surrounded by giant redwoods and beautiful vineyards. It is close enough to bigger cities to allow access to their amenities, while also offering a calm, relaxed vibe that many residents seek out and love. This quaint town is the largest in Sonoma County, which makes it an incredible base camp for the incredible Napa Valley wine tasting tour of your dreams, and the beautiful scenery also affords plenty of opportunity for other outdoor recreation. In addition, it has a thriving, if smaller, LGBTQ community, where all can feel welcome and at home. If you’re thinking of finding your next home in Santa Rosa, chances are, you’ll find plenty about it to love!

A Look at Santa Rosa's History

The city of Santa Rosa, which is Spanish for “Saint Rose,” was officially founded in 1883, and was named after Saint Rose of Lima. After its founding, the city remained fairly small until the arrival of the railroad in the 1870s, after which time it grew steadily. As it grew, the city became increasingly diverse, and it remains so to this day. Today, Santa Rosa is a diverse, vibrant, and thriving city with so much to offer. For so many reasons, Santa Rosa would be a great place to call home.

A Few Fun Facts About Santa Rosa

  • Charles M. Schulz, the creator of the world-famous Peanuts comic strip which included characters like Snoopy and Charlie Brown, lived the last half of his life in Santa Rosa. 
  • Located in Sonoma County, Santa Rosa is one of the main cities in California’s famous Wine Country. This means that most of the best wineries and vineyards are right in its backyard, offering plenty of options to enjoy throughout the year.
  • Directors like Alfred Hitchcock, George Lucas, and Wes Craven have all shot films in Santa Rosa, and many movies have been filmed here too.

Read more fun facts about Santa Rosa here.

Santa Rosa’s LGBTQ Community                                      

Santa Rosa is a city that loves and supports its LGBTQ community with a variety of resources, including:

PFLAG Santa Rosa

PFLAG Santa Rosa is the local chapter of the national PFLAG organization serving the Santa Rosa area. PFLAG is the largest grassroots organization of its kind in the country and has 500 chapters with more than 200,000 members in the United States. PFLAG plays a critical role in providing advocacy, support, and resources to the LGBTQ community, and offers monthly support meetings, as well as resources, advocacy, and networking opportunities for the LGBTQ community, friends, and allies.

What's the Weather Like in Santa Rosa?

Santa Rosa's climate is mild and pleasant, with cool wet winters and mild warm summers. Fog often rolls in during the early hours of the day and again in the evenings, but residents will also enjoy plenty of that wonderful California sunshine during the day. Throughout the year, temperatures range from a low of 38ºF in January, to a high of around 84ºF in July. Santa Rosa receives approximately 38 inches of rain per year and no snow.

Can’t-Miss Events in Santa Rosa

Sonoma County Pride

Sonoma County Pride is the city’s largest annual pride celebration each year for the Santa Rosa area and it is one that you won’t want to miss. The event promises plenty of fun for all, and it’s a great way to celebrate all that the LGBTQ community adds to the Santa Rosa area!

West End Farmer's Market

Many farms can be found along Sonoma County’s Farm Trails, and as a result, Santa Rosa is a farmers market lover’s dream come true. The West End Farmer’s Market is one of the most popular, as is the Wednesday Night Market downtown. So many fresh, local options are available at both markets – truly, there’s something for everyone!

The Best Neighborhoods in Santa Rosa

If you’re thinking of making a move to Santa Rosa, you will find that the entire city is very welcoming. Unlike some larger cities that tend to have one specific “gayborhood,” the LGBTQ community in Santa Rosa is sprinkled throughout the city, so there are many neighborhoods that would make wonderful places to call home.  The current median list price of homes for sale in Santa Rosa is around $730,000.

Arts and Entertainment

Charles Schulz Museum

Charles M. Schulz was the artist who created the famed Peanuts comic strip, and this excellent museum houses many of the illustrations and personal items of the cartoonist. It’s definitely well worth a visit when in Santa Rosa!

6th Street Playhouse

The 6th Street Playhouse, formerly the Santa Rosa Players, is one of the oldest community theatre companies in the area. With every show, the group seeks to engage, inspire, and educate the community through professional-quality productions. A wide variety of performances are offered throughout the year – don’t’ miss the chance to enjoy one for yourself!

Parks and Recreation

Sonoma Coast State Park

In addition to the beautiful vineyards of wine country, the Santa Rosa and Sonoma areas offer plenty of beautiful beaches as well. The breathtaking Sonoma Coast State Beach is just a half-hour away and is one of the most popular in the area. It’s a wonderful spot to spend the day relaxing and enjoying some sun, surf, and sand.

Prince Memorial Greenway

Santa Rosa is known for being a wonderful spot for many outdoor activities – and cycling in particular. In fact, it is one of the top cycling destinations in the world, for its many bike-friendly paths and scenic routes. Prince Memorial Greenway is one of the most popular. It runs along Santa Rosa Creek from downtown to the west end, and it is the perfect way to get some exercise while enjoying a beautiful Santa Rosa day.

Santa Rosa Nightlife

In addition to being part of wine country and all that it offers, Santa Rosa is also known for being a city with excellent breweries, and Russian River Brewery and Third Street Aleworks are two of the city’s most popular. Though not specifically LGBTQ breweries, both are frequented by and welcoming to all. Both breweries are located in the downtown district, and both provide an excellent variety of specialty-crafted brews.

The Dirty

The Dirty, or “The Dirty Dive” as it’s also often called, is one of the most popular LGBTQ bars in the city. It is a comfortable, low-frills, friendly spot to have a drink and relax with friends – and one that you’ll definitely want to put on your list for a night out in Santa Rosa.

Contact a Santa Rosa Gay Realtor Today

If you're ready to make a move to Santa Rosa, at www.gayrealestate.com, we're here to help you take the first step toward finding an agent who knows and loves the community, and who can help you find a home and a neighborhood you'll love. We're proud to have a network of excellent realtors in Santa Rosa, and we would love to help connect you with the right one. Contact a Santa Rosa gay realtor today for a free, no-obligation consultation!

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