About Petaluma

Our New Old Town

Petaluma is located in Sonoma County.  The county is well known for delicious wines and beautiful weather.  According to the Petaluma Visitor Center, the town was chartered in 1858 along the riverfront, during the Gold Rush.  And apparently, the picturesque heritage downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places!

The Petaluma River runs through Petaluma, separating the historic West Petaluma and newer developments and two golf courses in East Petaluma.  We'll be in East Petaluma, but downtown is only a 10 minute drive.     

The 101 also runs through Petaluma, so it's an easy commute (if traffic cooperates) into San Francisco for work, visiting family and Union Square shopping and meals at Michael Mina.  Napa is also only 30 minutes away.   


Petaluma's downtown is ideal for strolling, browsing nice antique stores, noshing at great eateries and lots of summertime festivals. We've been up in Petaluma almost every weekend for the past couple months, and we can't wait to be part of the community.  We're already scoping out the best shopping, restaurants and supermarkets!  

Petaluma is also surrounded by farms and small dairies.  Clover Stornetta Farms is close by and Three Twins Ice Cream factory is in town.  (Try Lemon Cookie.)  Petaluma Poultry which produces Rocky the Range Chicken organic poultry is also in town.   Everything is so fresh - this is where Farm to Table comes from!

Michael was particularly excited that we can get excellent barbecued tri-tip and ribs at the Petaluma Market.  Other fast favorites are Sugo Trattoria, for basic and always consistently delicious modern Italian food with great staff and Petaluma Pie Company, which serves both savory and sweet pies, including individual mini one person portion pies. LOVE.

Petaluma Visitor's Center