PETALUMA FAMILY TIME
Whether you spend time floating on the Petaluma River or enjoying Airplane Display Day at the Petaluma Airport, Petaluma has many unique events and activities. Read on for resources and three suggested itineraries for family fun in Petaluma.
3 WAYS TO ENJOY A FAMILY DAY IN PETALUMA
As you plan your Petaluma visit, consider these family-centric ideas. Mix, match, and substitute to suit the tastes of your tribe from these ideas and you’re on your way to optimum family adventure.
PLAY DAY IDEA #1: Planes, IMAX, and Candy
Start the day with a hearty breakfast at Two Niner Diner (Wed-Sun), where you have front-row seats to watch small planes taking off and landing at the Petaluma Municipal Airport. The ube pancakes are a must!
Explore Petaluma from the water aboard your choice of 16 varieties of human-powered watercraft at The Floathouse, located right downtown at the river’s turning basin. They have everything from a simple canoe, to a hydrobike, or a SUP big enough for the whole family.
All that rowing and laughing will create a decent appetite for lunch. Head over to Hank’s in Theater Square for Italian, American, and California Cuisine, or maybe try one of their special sourdough, wood-fired pizzas. For drinks, the kids will feel like royalty with a float made from Hank’s premium soda and vanilla gelato, while the grownups choose from local wines and craft beers on tap.
After lunch, walk over to that cool-looking theater the kids noticed across the street for an IMAX or SCREENX movie. After the movie at Boulevard Cinema, walk back through the square for a stop at The Petaluma Candy Jar.
PLAY DAY IDEA #2: Nature Wins!
Sax’s Joint on the Boulevard is a local favorite for breakfast. They have all the usual fare and cinnamon rolls that might have to be shared, they’re so big.
The Petaluma Wetlands are a birder’s paradise with more than 230 species. Make sure to pack binoculars! Mid September to mid October, there’s even a contest to identify the most birds in one day. It’s the annual Rick Stallcup Birdathon. Learn more at Point Blue Conservation Science. A great place to start is Shollenberger Park. Find more nature walks on our Outdoors page.
A juice meal at Acme Burger is just the ticket after that outdoor adventure. Then the kids are fueled for the next stop, where they’ll see animals!
American Made Farm Sanctuary is home to many exotic animals, animal hybrids, and farm animals. The tours have a lot of opportunities to feed and pet them. Wait till you see Zeke the zonkey, miniature horses, rheas (large South-African flightless birds), and the hamster village!
PLAY DAY IDEA # 3: Trains, Comics, and Sports!
At Hallies Diner, fuel up with a Mickey Mouse pancake for the little ones, and an omelet, corned beef hash, or a salmon scramble for the adults before a train ride.
Hop on the SMART train for Santa Rosa, less than a half-hour ride north, where the teens will find The Bat Cave Comics and Toys less than a block away. Their excitement will build as they descend the stairs to the basement store. If you have fiber art enthusiasts, explore Castaway Yarn Shop in the same building.
Back in Petaluma, ascend the stairs (or use the elevator) in the old Lanmart building to dive into deep dish pizza at Old Chicago Pizza. This family-friendly restaurant has been serving Italian fare and pizzas for four decades.
To work off that thick crust and generous cheese, a little family competition might be in order. The whole family can practice their swings at the Petaluma Golf Center or at the Athletic Edge batting cages, or head to West Coast Archery Shop and let the arrows fly on their 20-yard indoor range.
A sweet reward for all that exercise awaits at Angela’s Organic Ice Cream on the Boulevard. With rotating organic flavors, there’s sure to be something for everyone.
MORE INSPIRATION
Find more ideas for your next family trip within our “Family Vacation, Petaluma Style” blog post. You can also view and print a pdf list of children’s activities to have all the addresses at your fingertips. Explore the carousel below for upcoming family events. With so many all-ages things to do in Petaluma, now’s the time to plan your next wine country vacation!
