The Charles M. Schulz Museum is the happiest stop in wine country and a genuine treat for adults as well as children. Charles Schulz, the cartoonist who drew Peanuts for nearly fifty years, lived and worked in Santa Rosa from the late 1960s until his death in 2000, and the museum, opened in 2002 next to the ice arena he built, celebrates his life and art. Original Peanuts strips are the heart of the collection, displayed in rotating exhibitions that explore themes, characters and moments in the strip's history, so every visit is a little different. Beyond the strips, a re-creation of Schulz's studio shows the drawing board, books and chair where he worked, galleries explore his influences and his influence on other artists, and two large-scale works stand out: a mural of tiles each bearing a Peanuts strip that together form an image of Charlie Brown and Lucy with the football, and a carved wooden sculpture tracing Snoopy's evolution. Children have an education room for drawing and crafts, and the garden outside includes a labyrinth in the shape of Snoopy's head. Across the street, the Redwood Empire Ice Arena, known as Snoopy's Home Ice, where Schulz played hockey and drank coffee in the Warm Puppy Cafe, is open for public skating. The museum is open Monday and Wednesday to Friday from 11am to 5pm and weekends from 10am, closed Tuesdays and major holidays, with adult admission around 15 dollars and reduced prices for seniors, students and youth; tickets are sold only on arrival. It is a modest-sized museum — two hours is plenty — but it is warm, thoughtful and a perfect counterpoint to a tasting-heavy trip.
Why Santa Rosa. Schulz moved to Sonoma County in the late 1950s and later settled in Santa Rosa, and the town has embraced him ever since: the regional airport is named Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport, and bronze Peanuts statues stand around the city. For fans, the museum feels like visiting the cartoonist at home. Its exhibitions often go beyond nostalgia, examining how Peanuts handled childhood, faith, disappointment and friendship, and how the strip shaped comics, animation and popular culture.
Visiting with kids. Plan on an hour or two in the galleries and the education room, where children can draw their own strips, then cross the street to Snoopy's Home Ice for a skate if the public session times work. Younger children enjoy spotting characters in the mural and garden labyrinth; older kids and teens often get absorbed in the original drawings. Reduced youth admission and free entry for children three and under keep it affordable.
Practicalities. Remember the Tuesday closure, which catches out many visitors, and the holiday closures, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Admission is bought at the desk when you arrive rather than online. The museum is at 2301 Hardies Lane in northwest Santa Rosa, a few minutes off Highway 101, which makes it an easy stop on the way between Sonoma and Healdsburg. Pair it with Safari West in the hills east of town for a full family day, or with tasting in the Russian River Valley for adults.
What to expect
The experience
A mid-sized museum of original Peanuts strips in rotating exhibitions, a re-created studio, large artworks, a kids education room and garden, next to an ice arena with public skating.
Best time
Weekday afternoons for the quietest galleries; any day but Tuesday, when the museum is closed.
How long
About two hours, more with a skate across the street.
Tips
Closed Tuesdays and major holidays. Tickets are sold only on arrival. Check public skating times at Snoopy's Home Ice. Pair with Safari West for a family day.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Peanuts fans of every age and families who need a break from adult-focused wineries.
- Families
- One of the best family stops in wine country — drawing activities, a Snoopy labyrinth and skating next door.
- Couples
- A sweet, nostalgic interlude between Russian River tastings.
- Pair with
- Safari West in the hills east of Santa Rosa and Healdsburg thirty minutes north.
- Time needed
- About two hours.
Good questions
When is the Schulz Museum open?+
Monday and Wednesday to Friday from 11am to 5pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. It is closed every Tuesday and on major holidays.
How much are tickets?+
Adult admission is about 15 dollars, with reduced prices for seniors, students and youth, and free entry for children three and under. Tickets are sold only on arrival.
Is it good for young children?+
Yes. There is an education room for drawing and crafts, a Snoopy-shaped labyrinth outside and skating at Snoopy's Home Ice across the street.
Why is the museum in Santa Rosa?+
Charles Schulz lived and worked in Santa Rosa for decades, until his death in 2000, and built the ice arena next door. The museum opened in 2002.
Can we skate at Snoopy's Home Ice?+
The Redwood Empire Ice Arena offers public skating sessions; check its schedule before you go, as times vary.
