Santa Rosa California
In the heart of the wine country on the west coast, lays its largest city, Santa Rosa California. The city is surrounded by vineyards, including Russian River Valley, which has won awards for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Mountain ranges can also be seen and mountain lions come within city limits on occasion. The Santa Rosa Creek is a haven for wildlife such as deer, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons. Wild Turkey also roams free in the area. The area has been a location for many movies, including Die Hard II and Peggy Sue Got Married.
The Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve is a park containing 805 acres and is home to the magnificent Coast Redwood tree. There is a visitor center, outdoor amphitheatre, picnic areas and nature trails. Residents of Santa Rosa California and visitors come to walk or go horseback riding and there is wheelchair access and information in Braille on the Discovery Trail. Camping is available at the nearby Austin Creek State Recreation Area, a scenic area with oaks, conifers and grassland.
The city is proud of its association with the adventure author, Jack London, who made his home here. The site now known as the Jack London Historic Park, was where London lived and wrote many of his best sellers. He called his house Wolf House but only the ruins remain, as it was gutted by fire. Later, when Wolf died, his wife Charmian built another house there, called House of Happy Walls. On her instruction, this became a museum in honor of her husband after she passed away. The cremated remains of both Jack and Charmian are buried close by.
Another creative man set up home in Santa Rosa California. Charles M.Schulz, inventor of the Peanuts strip cartoon lived in the city for thirty years. A bronze statue of Charlie Brown and his faithful beagle hound Snoopy stands in the busy Railroad Square district, where there are shops, nightclubs, theatres and restaurants. The Charles Schulz Museum celebrates the cartoonist’s life and work, also offering workshops and classes in the art of cartooning to the local community. There are permanent exhibitions and a Snoopy maze to entertain the kids. The local airport was also named in his honor.
The city has an active council, concerned with improving the environment and prospects of its citizens of Santa Rosa California. It has reached out with the hand of friendship and has three sister cities, in South Korea, Mexico and the Ukraine.
|
