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Santa Rosa, CA is a city located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is known for its beautiful scenery, outdoor activities, and unique attractions. Santa Rosa's natural beauty and cultural amenities make it an ideal destination for those looking to explore and experience the best of California’s wine country. In recent years, Santa Rosa has become more popular with tourists due to its burgeoning foodie scene, craft breweries, art galleries, and boutique wineries. Many visitors have noted that Santa Rosa offers a great combination of urban convenience and rural charm. Visitors praise the local restaurants and markets as well as the vibrant downtown shopping district. With its balmy Mediterranean climate year-round, Santa Rosa is an excellent place for outdoor activities such as hiking in nearby Sonoma Valley or mountain biking on Annadel State Park trails. Overall, guests rave about their experiences in Santa Rosa with many calling it one of the most enjoyable cities in California.
based on 43 ReviewsGet to know Santa Rosa with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Santa Rosa
Too expensive too much crime - 3/17/2024
I was born and raised here. Santa Rosa used to be a great city great location great weather but now it is overcrowded and crime is off the charts and housing is crazy expensive.
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Really nice town with lots to do - 4/22/2022
I've lived her over 20 years and it's a pretty nice place. The main vibe is you feel safe doing this day or night. Most of the neighborhoods are well taken care of, they have good bus routes, lots of parking at colleges, malls, stores. Yes there is some traffic in rush hour, but thats everywhere in the world.
Freeway that goes through town efficient with car pool lanes and new caltrans systems signs with electronic updates.
Seems some crime is up with the many homeless that come from other areas of the country to hang out here which is a complete bummer.
Schools are very good, people are friendly, upbeat area, is a stable community with lots of support and interaction. Lots of artistic things to do, very enriched area with so many great places to eat like no other place.
And if you want to go to the ocean, it is a 40 minute drive,
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Avoid Santa Rosa like the plague! - 1/25/2021
Terrible city that's hurting for money. After going on a long hiatus from enforcing traffic laws, they've recently turned their highways into an ATM machine/cash cow by zealously enforcing the pettiest of infractions and fining hard working struggling Americans. They couldn't care less about public safety and the only thing they protect and service is their bottom line.
I'm happy to report I've been able to leave this accursed city and I've made it a point to boycott Santa Rosa and never spend another dime here ever again. This city has gone down hill in a hurry, avoid Santa Rosa like the
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The good, the bad and the ugly - 9/21/2020
I have lived here for over 30 years. In that time I have seen the traffic and crime increase. The crime and homelessness has increased dramatically. I have also witnessed first hand the impact of climate crisis. In the past the rainy season was pretty regular from mid to late October to February/March. These days it is always a drought and we have occasional rain or storm at odd times in the year. The fires are off the charts and as I type this the air quality due to raging fires is terrible. It is so sad to see this decline. I still absolutely love the proximity to Annadel State Park, Sugarloaf State Park, Armstrong Woods, and the coast to name just a few nearby beautiful places. Other than that, the cost of living in CA is just way too high considering the negatives. It is still the best state as far as I'm concerned for nature lovers...but that's all that keeps me here these days. It is also extremely hard to meet people for some reason as many have already established their base
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Weird and Provincial - 5/18/2019
The place gets both its stars for the weather, which is not as good as coastal places like Monterey or Santa Barbara, but holds its own despite the summer heat. The summer nights are almost always cool and temperate which you grow to appreciate. In addition the scenery and topography of Sonoma County are truly outstanding and picture perfect.
Now the downside. I've been here for 10 years and my opinion of the place is remarkably unchanged over these years. I have to say that it may be the single most provincial place in the country. I use the word provincial deliberately. The inhabitants are generally unsophisticated, narrow minded people. You may ask, how can one of the most liberal places in the country be provincial? It doesn't make sense. I too would have thought that before moving here. But, alas, there it is, the most closed minded, conservative people I've met, live in this town. I don't mean politically conservative. I mean in personality, in
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The good, the bad, the ugly - 11/12/2016
The good is the great climate, excellent resources like quality food choices (groceries and restaurants), and medical services and shopping opportunities, college town, proximity to Bay area.
The bad is high cost of living, very high rents with low availability, increasing crime and gang activity.
The ugly is the traffic and congestion. Santa Rosa is a hub through which an enormous amount of commuter and "local" traffic flows to and from all points south, north, east, and west. All the country feeder roads are now overloaded so there are no shortcuts left. To get anywhere you have to deal with bad traffic at most hours of day. The entire Bay area is over crowded with horrible traffic problems. Santa Rosa area was once a gem. Now its well on its way to another endless suburbs and citification.
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Santa Rosa crime - 7/10/2014
I don't know what Santa Rosa a lot of you grew up in or are living in. Over in Bennett Valley or Rincoln Valley it maybe a great community but as someone who grew up in Roseland and Indian Village I see it in a much different light. Back in the 80's and 90's Santa Rosa was a wild town compared to what it is today and I believe it's because they've bloated the police force due to the wine industry and tourism that has grown exponentially in Sonoma County. They fought tooth and nail to make this town presentable for the yuppies plus They have feds downtown now. Gangs didn't start with Hispanics here either. If you knew anything that was really going on in this town you'd know that there was a huge migration of east African refugees that settled here decades ago. Eritrean, Somolian and Ethiopian. Gang splinters migrated from Oakland up to Santa Rosa back in the 80's also which created a lot of tension between them and homegrown cliques, many hispanic. I lived in valley oak as a kid where
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One Of The Best Places To Live In California - 3/6/2013
I'm just going to write a short review because honestly, I signed up for an account so that I could comment on a very negative review I read on this beloved city. There are millions of people that would love to live here because it's so beautiful, the beaches, rocky and mountainous shore, Redwood groves, and vineyards galore. It is also the official city of The Peanuts Gang, the comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, and there are a lot of statues of the characters around town. My favorite is Snoopy, but you'll find Charlie Brown and Lucy as well as others too. The scenery and the climate both are just spectacular. Nearby, in the small hamlet of Guerneville, you will find Armstrong Woods State Preserve, a gorgeous space of old growth Redwoods rising to well over 300 feet. I used to live a mile from the park and rode my bike there every day. So, this is just a short synopsis of how wonderful this area is, the people are friendly and everyone is accepted just as they
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Do NOT Move To Santa Rosa If You Have Allergies! - 7/25/2010
I have lived my entire life around the Santa Rosa area my entire life and have no plans of ever moving out of here but having said that, let me just warn you that if you or your loved ones suffer from allergies, then the entire Santa Rosa area is NOT for you.
Luther Burbank (the world famous botanist) introduced many non-indigenous plants to this area and because of that, the pollen and other stuff in the air here will wreak utter havoc on your nose, eyes and throat.
Some folks have to fight headaches, dry throat, ugly coughing, nasty sneezing and eyes and noses that just won't stop running no matter how much medication they take because of allergies.
You'd be better off moving up north to the Mendocino or Humboldt Counties.
Don't believe me? Come on out here and stay for a week in the spring and leave your allergy medicine at home. I dare you.
Just a friendly
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