6 Fun Things To Do in Rohnert Park

Nicknamed “The Friendly City,” Rohnert Park is located just south of Santa Rosa along Highway 101. A family-oriented community, it’s home to activities that appeal to kids and parents alike. Sonoma State University is located here, attracting locals and visitors to campus activities and events or to stroll the scenic grounds with their gardens, lakes, and handsome buildings. Here are six fun things to do in Rohnert Park on your visit:

1. Enjoy Premier Entertainment at the Green Music Center

Since its debut in late 2012, the 1400-seat Green Music Center has been widely celebrated as a world-class concert venue. The state-of-the-art theater, concert hall, and lawn performance space has hosted such stars as Yo-Yo Ma (playing bluegrass with his Goat Road Sessions group), Audra McDonald, Peter Serkin, Lyle Lovett, and the Philharmonia Baroque.

Many concert-goers arrive early to dine at the onsite Prelude restaurant, which features local foods. In summer, a 30-foot wall opens to adjacent lawns where nearly 6,000 people can sit at picnic tables or on the grass to enjoy top-notch performances in the middle of Sonoma County’s gorgeous Wine Country. To learn more, read Green Music Center Garners Reputation as a World-Class Concert Hall.

2. Surprise the Kids with a Major Play Day

Rohnert Park is a family fun capital, brimming over with big-time play for people of all ages! At Cal Skate, a rollerblading and skating center, the large indoor rink has all skill levels, from beginner to expert. Lessons and skate rentals are available, as well as an arcade, snack shop, billiards, and more. Or head to Scandia Family Fun Center with its two 18-hole miniature golf courses, 18 slow- and fast-pitch batting cages, blaster boats with water squirters, and a Lil’ Indy race track. For more details, read Family Fun Activities in Rohnert Park.

3. Try Your Luck at Graton Casino

The glitzy, $825 million, 340,000-square foot Graton Resort & Casino is a gambler’s paradise offering 3,000 slot and video poker games, a 20-table poker room (limit and no-limit), more than 100 table games (such as blackjack and baccarat), VIP high-limit rooms, and generous promotions. Don’t gamble? Relax in one of the three bars and lounges, enjoy the daily live entertainment, or tuck into a great meal at one of the award-winning restaurants (Tony’s of North Beach, 630 Park Steakhouse, and the Boathouse Asian Eatery) or at one of the many casual eateries inside Graton Casino offering sandwiches, pizza, burgers, Asian noodles, tacos, barbecue, and more.

4.  Step into Bowling Fun at Double Decker Lanes

With 50 state-of-the-art lanes, a full-service lounge and sports bar with big-screen TVs, a snack bar that takes pride in its food, a video arcade with pool tables, karaoke and comedy nights, and much more — Double Decker Lanes is a happening place. It’s also the first bowling center in the U.S. to power its electrical needs via solar power. Double Decker is open seven days a week, 9:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. (later on certain days). Even if you strike out, you’ll have a good time going down!

5. Picnic at Crane Creek Regional Park

Known for abundant springtime wildflowers, the 128-acre Crane Creek Regional Park is spectacular. Tucked in the rolling grassland meadows of the Sonoma Mountain foothills, this little gem is open year-round and offers 3.5 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. A seasonal creek bubbles along in winter and spring; the open space is framed by stands of trees that include California buckeye, white alder, black oak, and maple — and from just about every spot, you’ll feast on views of Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa below. Picnic tables and restroom facilities are available at the trailhead, and more picnic tables are throughout the park. Bring the pooch if you like, but only on a leash no longer than 6 feet.

6. Dine Out in Rohnert Park

The restaurants in Rohnert Park offer distinctly different approaches to food, making dining a fun experience whether you’re enjoying a delicious meal, a snack with a view, or a dessert served with plenty of ambiance. The vast array of diverse restaurants in Rohnert Park offers just about any nationality or style of cuisine to delight your tastebuds. For details, check our Sonoma County Restaurant listings and click on Rohnert Park.

For more ideas, read 48 Hours in Rohnert Park.

Want to spend the night? Read Where to Stay in Rohnert Park.

For shopping adventures in and around Rohnert Park, check out Shopping in Santa Rosa.

Written by Sonoma Insider Suzie Rodriguez