There are cities in California that serve as hubs and gateways to "countryside" destination regions. They blend city amenities and attractions with easy access to places beyond. One such city is Santa Rosa, the largest one in Sonoma County, located at the center of Sonoma County's heralded wine country.

Santa Rosa is a warm and friendly city, an urban blend of art and culture, food, wine and recreation. It has an impressive list of hub credentials: located 55 miles north of San Francisco, and 30 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, it is in proximity to 200 wineries throughout Sonoma County, 16 golf courses, numerous hotels, resorts and spas, and dozens of restaurants perfecting the art of Wine Country cuisine.

The surrounding wineries and countryside recreation have powerful allure, but visitors with a day to spend in town have myriad options. Courthouse Square is downtown Santa Rosa's pedestrian-friendly shopping area. Here visitors will find the Sonoma County Museum, housed in the magnificently restored 1910 federal post office. Museum exhibitions present art, history and cultural concepts related to the people, land and products of Sonoma County. Education programs for children and adults are offered year round.

Just a few blocks from Courthouse Square is the Luther Burbank Home & Gardens. It's a verdant city park where Burbank, the famed horticulturist, experimented with plants for most of his 50-year career. A new self-guided tour of the Gardens uses MP3 players and includes 28 stops where visitors can learn about Burbank's work and view his plants, including the Spineless Cactus, Paradox walnut tree, Plumcot and many others.

The city's Historic Railroad Square is known for its antique emporia and fine restaurants. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, the Square's Depot Park is also home to a bronze sculpture of the endearing Charlie Brown & Snoopy, honoring the many contributions Charles M. Schulz made to Santa Rosa. Yes, the creator of the "Peanuts" cartoons lived and worked in Santa Rosa, and the city's new Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center has quickly become one of the city's favorite attractions.

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