The Green Music Center, completed between 2008 to 2014, is a world-class event, hospitality and education center at Sonoma State University.
In 1956, with Highway 101 recently completed at the Cotati bypass, Rohnert Park began to be laid out and built as a planned city. In a summer election in 1962, Rohnert Park was the first town to incorporate in Sonoma County since Sebastopol in 1902. Known today as “The Friendly City,” the town that was once thought of primarily as a bedroom community has evolved into a Northern California destination—filled with interesting activities to engage individuals, groups and families from the North Bay and beyond.
What makes Rohnert Park standout as a fun place is its “sheer volume of choices,” says Rohnert Park Mayor Susan Hollingsworth Adams.
“No matter how old you are, and what your interests are, there’s something for you here,” she says.
And Hollingsworth Adams should know. Having grown up in the city and returned after college, she and her husband raised their three sons here—and she has experienced pretty much everything the city has to offer.
Steven Elliott , who owns and operates the hobby and activities shop Fundemonium with his wife Jean, started their venture in Petaluma 20 years ago. When their lease was up, they decided to move the company to Rohnert Park.
“We liked the idea of Rohnert Park because it’s a central location drawing people from throughout Northern California,” says Steven.
Finding an affordable location in Rohnert Park meant the Elliotts could expand their operations, which allowed them to focus on providing more activities for patrons of all ages. “We have activities for young children as well as a group of men in their 70s, 80s and 90s who gather weekly to make scale wooden ship models together here,” says Steven.
Fundemonium’s annual fall model train show draws crowds young and older from around the North Bay, as does their Big Model Railroad event which takes place this year on Nov. 23 and 24.
Rohnert Park City Manager Marcela Piedra moved to the city in 2022 with her then 13-year-old daughter. Before making the transition, she and her daughter spent a few days getting to know the city to help them decide if it would be a good fit. “I introduced my daughter to many of the fun activities the city has to offer,” says Piedra. They went to Scandia Family Fun Center and Nitro City Racing among other places, and both decided it would be a good place to live.
“When you have positive development in a community, businesses attract other businesses—and those businesses can enhance the experience of residents and visitors,” says Piedra. She says Rohnert Park is one of the cities that has been master planned and that makes it an easy city to navigate. It is also a city that is clean and well maintained with ample free parking, she says. Piedra and Mayor Hollingsworth Adams both say city workers strive to keep the city clean and make sure they put their best foot forward, which the also agree helps attract businesses and visitors because they feel safe.
With myriad choices for activities to meet the needs of a wide variety of North Bay residents and visitors, and lots of options for great food and entertainment, it’s no wonder Rohnert Park has become a favorite destination for North Bay families—and will continue to expand as a draw throughout the Bay Area in the future, as even more options are added with the development of the new downtown.
Given how much there is to do in Rohnert Park, longtime residents like Hollingsworth Adams have kept plenty busy—and so can visitors looking for an abundance of fun and entertainment.
Family Friendly Activities
Rohnert Park has a corridor that runs along both sides of 101 that offers a wide assortment of venues perfect for families, all within a mile-and-a-half radius. Some places are mainstays that have been around for decades, while others have been added to the city’s lineup more recently.
Cal Skate Rohnert Park has been one of the North Bay’s only roller-skating rinks since 1975. Hosting parties, school events, roller derby bouts and daily “open skate” hours, this roller rink offers a good time for people of all ages. Locally owned and operated, Cal Skate is home to the Redwood Empire Artistic Skating Club, North Coast Inline Racing and North Bay Roller Derby—and is a popular place for birthday parties and STEM field trips, in which science, technology, engineering and math concepts are taught in relation to roller skating (laws of motion, heart health, lights and sound, etc.). 6100 Commerce Blvd. Visit calskate.com.
Rebounderz Rohnert Park, an indoor trampoline and adventure park, supplies active adventurers with trampoline arenas, a Ninja Warrior course, a Jump Xtreme Tower, climbing walls, an indoor playground, foam pit, Basketball Slam, an arcade, Xtreme Dodgeball, black-light mini gold, parents lounge, and a cafe where birthday parties and group events “abound.” 555 Rohnert Park Expressway. Visit rebounderz.com/city/rohnert-park.
Fundemonium is a creative toy, hobby and game store that is not just about shopping, it is also a place for staying, playing and having fun. Featuring hobby and craft materials as well as games, this activity center has a foam remote-control racetrack, daily hobby, game and craft activities, repeating weekly events, an indoor children’s playground area, club meetings, game nights and more. 579 Rohnert Park Expressway. Visit fundemoniumtoys.com.
Scandia Family Fun Center features two award-winning miniature golf courses plus A Lil’ Indy Raceway, Blaster Boats, SpinZone Bumper Cars, batting cages, Viking Pizza and a Grand Arcade that features more than 120 games. They also offer birthday party rooms that are beautifully painted to stimulate the imagination of party goers of all ages. 5301 Redwood Drive. Visit scandiafunland.com.
Nitro City Racing offers customers the chance to experience go kart racing on an indoor track and axe throwing (at digitally projected targets). Nitro City Racing also has an arcade and pool tables and is an ideal location for parties and corporate events. 4601 Redwood Drive. Visit nitrocityracing.com.
Double Decker Lanes is a bowling alley with 50 lanes, a video arcade, karaoke and comedy nights. Another oldie but goodie, these lanes have been family owned and operated since 1975 and boast being part of the largest and most modern bowling alley in the North Bay. They offer a full-service lounge and sports bar with big-screen TVs, snack bar, a banquet/meeting room available for events and parties and pool tables. Their “Classic Sports” Elite Pro Shop sells bowling equipment and accessories, and also offers screen printing, embroidery, trophies, executive gifts and awards. 300 Golf Course Drive. Visit bowlero.com/location/double-decker.
Reed Between the Lines Escape Room Center was voted “The Best Customer Experience in Sonoma County” in the Stars of the Industry Awards by the Sonoma County Tourism Board. A great experience for family, friends and work colleagues, this activity center hosts birthday parties, family events and many other gatherings where guests are given a scenario (setting) and an escape objective. Puzzles and clues need to be solved to advance an escape, making this witty and convivial collective experience a great opportunity for any group to work together to achieve a shared goal. 5800 Redwood Drive, suite C. Visit reedbetweenthelines.com.
Foxtail Golf Club is the perfect place for seasoned pros as well as rookie golfers to hone their skills at a driving range which utilizes Toptracer Technology—or play 18 holes on one of two wine country courses. The par 72 “North Course” is Foxtail’s premier course and can compete with any golf course in the area, while the par 71 “South Course” offers one of the most affordable 18-holes of golf in Sonoma County. Foxtail Golf Club also offers “footgolf,” a sport combination of soccer and golf, and is an official course for the American FootGolf League. Foxtail’s FootGolf Course has 18 holes built within the front nine of the South Course and is designed to play both traditional golf and footgolf simultaneously. Visit playfoxtail.com.
Performing Arts and Events Centers
Green Music Center is a testament to Sonoma State University’s commitment to the arts and making the arts accessible to the local community and all neighboring North Bay communities. With year-round programming, the state-of-the-art event center aims to present compelling artists, investigate ideas and provide access to diverse and artistic experiences that educate, connect and inspire. The music center is also home to SSU’s music department, the Santa Rosa Symphony and Sonoma Bach. The venue includes the 1,400-seat Joan and Sanford I. Weill Hall, which opens to lawn seating for a unique summertime experience. Designed by architect William Rawn, theater consultant Auerbach Pollock Friedlander and acoustician Lawrence Kirkegaard, it was designed to replicate the intimacy and acoustics of both Musikverein in Vienna and Symphony Hall in Boston. The center also includes the 240-seat Schroeder Hall and the pre-event restaurant Prelude. 1801 Cotati Ave. Visit gmc.sonoma.edu.
Spreckels Performing Arts Center continues to present award-winning theater, music and dance. Over 20,000 people a year come through its doors from all over the Bay Area, making it a venue not just for locals but also for the entirety of Northern California. Their Theatre Education Program (STEP) strives to provide a professional educational experience for the young talent of Sonoma County who perform two junior shows a year, with a winter/spring show in the studio space and a summer camp held on the main stage. 5409 Snyder Lane. Visit spreckelsonline.com.
SOMO Village Event Center is a 7,000-square-foot venue in the foothills of Sonoma Mountain with indoor space to accommodate 12 to 500 guests, and an outdoor 1-acre courtyard and adjacent Redwood grove to accommodate 3,000 guests—a popular venue for concerts and festivals. Along with support from the SOMO event coordinator, catering, beverage and event services are provided by Sally Tomatoes (voted best catering and best event venue by NorthBay biz readers in the 2024 Best of the North Bay Awards), located within the event center. 1100 Valley House Drive. Visit somovillage.com/events.
Grownup Time Too
In addition to the plethora of family friendly venues, there are also a number of establishments more suited to adult tastes. Though children are also welcome to accompany grownups when it comes to dining in these fun-filled locales.
Graton Resort and Casino is a popular destination for live entertainment, gaming (gambling options include 3,000 slot machines, 120 live table games, a live poker room, a fully enclosed smoke-free gaming area and high-limit gaming rooms), bars and lounges, salon, spa, pool, fine and casual dining, and shopping. Included in 2024 USA Today list of “10 best casinos that aren’t in Las Vegas,” Graton Resort and Casino came in at No. 4. Last year, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria broke ground on a billion-dollar expansion that will add a larger gaming floor, a second hotel wing, a 3,500-person theater and a rooftop restaurant. Already the Bay Area’s largest gaming destination and one of the largest private employers in Sonoma County, the Graton Resort and Casino was named earlier this year as one of the 10 Luckiest Casinos in California by Casinos.com. 288 Golf Course Drive. Visit gratonresortcasino.com.
Old Caz Brewery, Rohnert Park’s first homegrown brewery, is located in SOMO Village, where everyone is welcome, including kids and fur-covered buddies—but those who might be most interested in this venue are lovers of good beer. The brewpub is open for pints every day of the week and has a kitchen that serves lunch Monday through Friday and features local food vendors for dinner. 1500 Valley House Drive, suite 110. Visit oldcaz.com.
Parliament Brewing Company is a family-owned brewery led by beer master Justin Bosch, his brother Adam and their father Alan. Community is at the heart of the venue and the family prides itself on delivering fresh beer in a communal environment, where they experiment with small batches. The owners like to listen to what patrons say about their beer and beer-drinking experiences. This hopping brewery features various food vendors and events such as trivia nights. 5865 Labath Ave., suite 9. Visit parliamentbrewing.com.
