Many visitors to the Sonoma County area tend to go to the vineyards for relaxing afternoons of wine pairing and tastings under the California sun, but there’s another little gem well tucked in the Santa Rosa area. And by that, we mean the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center.

The museum is not only a source of hometown pride for Sonoma County, but it’s also a cultural mecca, especially for Charlie Brown and Peanuts fans. The museum is dedicated to the works of artist Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip.

First opening its doors back in August of 2002, this charming museum is just right in terms of displays and size. And if your think the museum is just for children, think again. Peanuts fans – and Baby Boomers in particular – will adore what they can learn and see here.

The Peanuts gang is a cultural phenomenon and rank among the most easily recognized cartoon and comic strip characters. The man behind Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, and the rest of the gang is of course Mr. Schulz and his life and work is commemorated at this quaint museum.

Among the museum’s permanent exhibits are a work by Christo , which depicts Snoopy’s doghouse, Mr. Schulz’s personal studio and tributes to the creator from other artists. Younger visitors can discover the delights of the comic strip Mr. Schulz created over the five decades of his career. The tile mosaic is a wonderful piece of artwork and the history of the strip and Mr. Schultz is a must-see attraction.

One of the things that first time visitors and Peanuts fans will notice right away is the museum’s attention to historic details. Visitors get to learn more about Mr. Schulz, his inspiration behind the different characters along with his position as a cultural influencer.

But that’s not all. Both young children and adults also get an opportunity to create their own comic strips in an arts and crafts room upstairs, where they can spend the entire afternoon learning how to draw and create their favorite Peanuts characters. In addition, there are videos about Mr. Schulz and his life all throughout the museum. Along with the different exhibits, they effectively convey what life was like for one of the most iconic men in modern culture and his beloved comic strip.

Adjacent to the museum is the Redwood Empire Ice Arena where kids can ice skate in the indoor facility. A Santa Rosa icon for over 40 years, the arena complex is a popular destination for Peanuts fans that come visit from all over the world. Inside, there’s the Warm Puppy Café, where guests can enjoy a Snoopy-inspired lunch menu. The café offers local, organic coffees and ice cream plus fresh sandwiches & salads or hot soups, hot dogs, burgers and french fries.

There’s also an additional gift shop just a short walk away from the ice skating arena. Keep in mind though that if you make a purchase in the museum’s shop the money goes back to the museum.

Visitors will also notice the redwood trees all throughout the Charles M. Schulz campus, which truly makes this a Northern California attraction.

Know before you go:

Charles M. Schulz Museum
2301 Hardies Lane
Santa Rosa, Calif. 95403
(707) 579-4452

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