Exploring Sonoma County with Snoopy and Charlie Brown

When it comes to iconic cartoon characters, few are as beloved as Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the entire Peanuts gang. If you’re a fan of Charles M. Schulz’s timeless creations, there’s no better place to immerse yourself in their world than Sonoma County, California. Join us as we embark on a whimsical journey to explore Sonoma County through the lens of Snoopy and Charlie Brown, in their “home town”.

Visitors to Santa Rosa may be surprised to see the many larger-than-life statues of Snoopy around town, plus statues of Charlie Brown, Woodstock, and Lucy. This is because cartoonist Charles M. Schulz lived and worked in Santa Rosa from 1969 until his death in 2000, claiming Sonoma County as inspiration for his famous comic strip.

So beloved is the gang that the Santa Rosa Airport is officially titled the Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS). STS has its own bronze Peanuts sculptures, as well as a logo featuring Snoopy in World War I flying ace attire atop his Sopwith Camel (actually his doghouse, but he can dream).

No matter their age, everyone finds fascination at the Charles M. Schulz Museum, which spans 8,000 square feet of whimsy and art, including about 7,000 original cartoons, the largest collection in the world. Exhibitions are constantly changing, focusing on different themes in the Peanuts cartoons.

The Minnesota-born Schulz was a huge fan of ice skating, and the Peanuts crew was often seen skating in popular strips. In tribute, Snoopy’s Home Ice (just around the corner from the museum) operates year-round with open public skating and skate rental daily, plus lessons and more advanced freestyle sessions. Fans also love broomball, a type of hockey played on a roughened ice surface in tennis shoes with yes, brooms.

On November 18, visitors can celebrate the 50th anniversary of the animated classic A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with crafts for kids, a Snoopy-inspired snack of jellybeans, popcorn, and pretzels, and screenings of the movie on the big screen.

For more information: https://www.sonomacounty.com/articles/explore-snoopy-and-peanuts-sonoma-county-2-day-itinerary