Further afield, there is lovely Shollenberger Park. Of the people who visit Shollenberger Park, there are those who come to experience the seasonal wetlands and see marshland wildlife, those who come to jog around the two-mile circular trail, and others who come, sometimes accompanied by their leashed dog, for a pleasant walk or short hike. A popular low impact, one-mile trail links Shollenberger Park to the Petaluma Marina enabling visitors to experience shoreline and marsh environments up close, including more than 150 species of resident and migratory birds.

Golfers will find birdies, too, at Petaluma's two championship 18-hole golf courses, Rooster Run Golf Club and Adobe Creek Golf Club. More than 10 additional golf courses are within an easy half-hour's drive.

Families love Petaluma's many kid-friendly attractions, including Mrs. Grossman's Sticker Factory, America's favorite sticker factory. Sticker art courses and factory tours are offered, and the tours always end with free samples. Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park is California's largest privately owned adobe building. It is restored to its original 1840s style and has an interpretive center, a self-guided tour, animals and picnic area.

For an even more leisurely pace, let the kids try their luck at fishing off the downtown "C" Street Pier. They're likely to see the "D" Street drawbridge being raised to allow sail and powerboats visiting from around the Greater Bay Area to enter the Petaluma River turning basin in Historic Downtown Petaluma.

All that walking, touring and playing will build up an appetite, and Petaluma visitors can select from more than 140 restaurants and delis. Fine dining, casual cafés, varied ethnic cuisine, vegetarian fare and coffee/tea houses are sure to please any palate. Riverfront microbreweries offer award-winning beers and ales to slake a summer-sized thirst. Petaluma offers family-style Italian restaurants, fine French cafés and any number of ethnic restaurants serving metropolitan-quality cuisine with friendly, California Countryside service and style.

With so much to do in and around Petaluma, travelers may want to take advantage of the city's broad range of accommodations, everything from family-style motels to bed and breakfasts, luxury inns and conference-class hotels.

In so many ways, Petaluma offers an exceptional visitor experience. The Petaluma Visitors Program has a comprehensive Website that can help you plan your time here; see the Info Box for contact details.

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