A park with turtles? Really?!…read more I was walking at a nearby park and remembered this neighborhood park has turtles. When we drove over, we noticed friendly ducks relaxing on the grass, kids playing on the playground, and lots of turtles sticking their heads up to catch a breath. The water in the pond does look very murky so not sure if it gets cleaned. The pond has a fence around it that is about 3 1/2 feet tall so kids can't accidentally walk into the water. It's a fun park with a partially fenced area for little kids and an adjoining area for bigger kids. There is lots of grass, a gazebo, picnic tables, benches, bocce ball court, short rock climbing wall and even a neat zipline. Our friends held a birthday party here last year and the kids had a blast.

First time this past weekend, my kids loved it. It was booming and had so much to do!read more

Local regional park with baseball, volleyball, par course, four tennis courts (no pickleball…read moreallowed), soccer fields, kids play structure, dog park and hiking trails. We came birding here recently and saw a hawk and woodpecker perched up in a tree. They also had sheep and goat grazing in a temporary fenced-off area to keep the dry grass down. I love this eco-friendly method of managing vegetation. There were about a dozen dogs happily playing in the dog park when I was there. It was fun to watch how they interact with each other. There were a few growls but responsible dog parents were there to quickly call their dogs back. There are several picnic tables sprinkled throughout the park. You can reserve areas for special events. I have attended a wedding and a friend hosted a retirement party here. The Gravenstein Apple Fair has been held at this location for many decades as well. There are a few parking lots to choose from. You can park inside the park for free if you are a Sonoma County Regional Park member. Annual pass is currently $69. Seniors get a discounted rate.

We came out here for a day trip and we had a very nice time…read more Parking: 4/5 There is several places to park throughout the park and in different areas depending on what you are there to do. However, on a busy day some of the areas such as the playground parking can get crowded. Keep in mind there there is also a $7 fee for entry. (Pretty standard for regional parks like this though.) Trails: 4/5 We enjoyed the trails very much. There is a lot of space to explore and all the trails circle back to the parking areas. There were several spots that were very muddy, but we were able to pass most of them and keep our shoes fairly clean by walking on the side of the trail. However, there was one section of one trail that was too bad that we had to turn around. Aside from that, it was very nice everywhere else. Playground 5/5 They had a large playground and a toddler playground. Our kids (13 and 9) loved the large playground. They also had many picnic benches here and throughout the park to enjoy. We also loved that most of them were shaded. Amenities 5/5 There were many other things at this park such as sport fields, dog parks, a nice little zen type garden and park bathrooms. If you are looking for a nice place to picnic and spend some quality time outdoors, this park is a great place to come explore and enjoy for a few hours!

Embrace the redwoods, lakes, the river, and shaded paths all within one park…read more Hands down my favorite regional park in Sonoma County. Come here to escape the chaos of the city. Where the water and trees welcome you with serenity. Come walk the dog, ride your horse, bring your kayak, bring your fishing pole, bring a blanket, have a BBQ in the group picnic area and more. A safe place for children but please always watch them around any body of water. Just on the outskirts of Santa Rosa, Riverfront welcomes you with all of its glory. The trails around the lake a extra wide and flat. Easy for a wheelchair to go round. This is one of my regular spots to escape and intake the beauty of nature. I highly recommend just buying a parking pass to support the parks. If you visit a regional park once a month, it pays for itself.

Treat yourself to an easy 2-mile walk along the lake formed by former quarry. Relatively level,…read moreunless you take one of the detour trails near the entrance. A few benches along the route enable a rest if you're out of shape offer nice views of the lake. Dogs on leash OK -- just pick up after your pet (I only wish equestrians on the trail had the same courtesy, so watch your step!). There's also a picnic area at the trail head, and bathrooms are nearby. There is a day fee for parking, but if you're a local, pick up an annual pass -- it will pay for itself in a few visits.

Wow! What can I say that will convince you to come visit the splendor at Armstrong? We walked…read more Hiked. And drove our vehicle up a tiny one lane hillside road to the top for a spectacular view of the whole area. It was beyond words! The park was immaculately clean. Everyone was kind and polite. The air was so fresh. I hope to return soon.

A state park with a good amount of redwood trees albeit mostly smaller/younger ones due to a good…read moreamount of logging done in this area to help build California in the 20th century. It is near the Russian River just outside of Guerneville. Redwood vibes similar to some parts of the Santa Cruz range or Marin Hills, but nothing that compares to the big redwoods in Northern California like near Humbolt Co or Crescent City, those are next level. There's a fee to park inside the park. Think it was about $10. It gets busy during the weekends and spaces can be super limited if you come after 11am. We were with a toddler, so we stayed on the main flat trails that go through redwood groves. It is very shady and well trafficked trails. There are a few loops you can join together, and the circumference may be a 2-3 mile hike. But you can do however long you want it to be. Now the trails that elevate into the hills are much more involved. It can elevate to a 1300 foot gain which is pretty strenuous. I haven't tried those yet but it is on my list to try. But even the easy trails that one day, was still beautiful and relaxing. To majestic red bark trees with healthy ferns all on the ground cover, fallen trees to climb on, large rocks to hop on was just a nice jaunt especially with young kids. We brought a light lunch and refreshments and were able to run into a small area with picnic benches. Perfect way to end a few hours steeped in nature, without having to be totally in the wild. Great intro for those that aren't too versed (yet) and to get them exposed to nature, ecosystems and wildlife. Connect with the world amongst which you live with but rarely see. Weekend mission accomplished!

great swings go super high there's often a cat, very cute, highly recommend! Get coffee and come…read morehere during your free period or break

Horrible park. Beware if you have a baby or young child or just want to walk around this place is…read moreso unsafe. The baseball field is in direct shot of the playground and the field has no netting or anything protecting people from getting hit if someone is using the baseball fields which by the way are open for anyone to use at any point. So dangerous and just plain stupid. Big fail for Sebastopol and public safety

Spectacular views! My favorite spot in Bodega Bay is Bodega Head to see majestic ocean views and…read morehike along the bluffs. If you're lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of migrating whales! We enjoy getting chowder and sipping it while watching the waves. It is such a tranquil sight away from the hustle and bustle of life. Today was a beautiful sunny day at Bodega Head but even if it's raining, I love coming here to enjoy the views. Come prepared for some windy conditions just in case. The parking lot will get full on the weekends, especially during spring when you have a better chance of seeing whales. Several picnic tables available with friendly seabirds checking out what you're eating. Restrooms are next to the parking lot.

We pulled into Dunes campground just before dark. It took awhile to decide which spot to take as…read morethere were several great options. It was quiet clean easy yo get to and close to the bay! Shower was hot 1 token for $1 gives plenty of time

I had never heard of this grove of redwoods even when I was growing up in the area. It is located…read morea couple miles west of the town of Occidental. We were afraid we would lose cell service but luckily it worked the entire way so we were guided by Waze. The road is quite narrow and windy so best to take it slow in case you run across other cars or bicyclists. There are residences along this road too so another reason to take a slow pace. The parking lot is small but we fortunately got a spot as we waited for the other members of our party to arrive. It had been raining all weekend so perhaps there were not as many visitors as normal. We noticed several friendly dogs on leash as we walked along the well-kept trails. The redwoods are truly majestic and there are many picture perfect spots along the path. We took some beautiful photos of the redwoods with fern in the foreground. It's a nice and easy trail and a peaceful spot to have a picnic. I think they must have controlled burns here because in certain areas, there were redwoods that had blackened trunks. Some of these trees are over 1,000 years old. Take Coleman Valley Road to Fitzpatrick Lane. There is a small parking lot and I've read not to park on the side of the road if the parking lot is full as they do give out tickets.

We came across this beautiful find through a friend's recommendation. This past weekend we happen…read moreto be staying in Occidental. So we picked up lunch , at Howard's Inn, and took the short 10 minute drive to this lovely Grove. The road to Grove the scenic and beautiful but ...the parking is minimal -- so make sure you get there early and bring a picnic lunch, beautiful views and moments for lovely photos. A perk we always look into are dog friendly adventures ...and the Grove was a welcomed destination for the entire family. ‍‍‍ If you're looking for a dog friendly day, the Grove is definitely a must stop. We will be back.

Love this beach and always enjoy coming out here for a day trip. There is an entry fee, but it's…read moreworth it for how clean, spacious, and relaxing it is. There's plenty of parking, which makes it super convenient, and it never feels too hectic even when it's busy. It's such a nice spot to just unwind, walk along the beach, and enjoy the peaceful views. They also have camping spots available, I camped here a long time ago and remember having a great experience. Whether you're planning to camp or just want a relaxing day by the water, this is one of my favorite places to visit in Bodega Bay. Definitely worth checking out :)

This is my favorite spot to come to whenever I come to Bodega Bay. We came here early Saturday…read moremorning to beat the weekend rush and it eas extremely windy that day. We had to deal with some flying sand hitting us at times, but we still made due roaming the beach and enjoying a peaceful time. Plus it gave us an opportunity to hone in our photography skills and take shots of wildlife.

We went to the Monte Rio Park on 9610 Main St Monte Rio.the signage is beyond horrible. We ended up…read moreby a large parking lot where their is a coffee shop, a wonderful neighborhood garden and paths along the river. A helpful perdón told us where the park entrance was located and we drove there since the signage is horrible from both directions. There is very limited parking, a porta bn potty and a picnic table. A sign warns you about a very steep path which has no handrails but the site is very quiet and beautiful.

2021 summer: algae floating everywhere, underwater, in water, above water. At first sight I felt…read moregrossed out. There are signs that warn dogs children and adults not to touch the algae. Hopefully it is better other years. Not sure how it is normally. The space is large and roomy for everyone to spread out. I enjoyed it. Food service is friday thru Sunday only. Water is deeper as you walk further away. Maybe 5 feet in the middle. I didn't go all the way to the other side. Plenty of parking. If you're carrying a lot be ready to haul the heavy items for a while at the same time walking on rocks. No lifeguards, make sure kids have life jackets if they tend to wander off. I love a good day in the water and sun so I'm happy anywhere I can do that.