Winter Fun in Sonoma County

Winter Fun for When It’s Cold & Rainy

 

We’ve had a lot of rain in Sonoma County already this year, which can put a damper on outdoor activities. However, there are still so many great activities, both outdoors and indoors, that can add fun to dreary weather. We share with you today home-based tasks that are great for a rainy day and new activities to check out in Sonoma County till early January for winter fun. It may be cold outside but we’ve put together some of our best ideas to make the holidays festive, fun, and relaxing.  

 

Winter Fun with Light Shows in Sonoma County

 

One of my favorite activities is viewing neighborhood light displays during the holiday season. There are some beautiful home lighting displays in Sonoma County:

• Reibli Road in Santa Rosa
• Coffey Park in Santa Rosa
• Magowan Lane in Santa Rosa
• Wilmington Drive in Petaluma
• Ellen Court in Rohnert Park
• Elsa Avenue in Rohnert Park
• Emily Avenue in Rohnert Park
• McDonald Mansion in Santa Rosa
• Banyan Place in Santa Rosa
• Crimson Lane In Santa Rosa
• Arlington Drive in Petaluma
• Country Club Drive in Rohnert Park

At Luther Burbank Center, there are amazing large displays that are open to the public for free. This self-guided tour of the sculpture garden exhibition leads you through tunnels of twinkling lights and colorful sculptures by local artists. There are so many great photo opportunities at the Luther Burbank lighting display.  

 

Make Lasting Memories with Family Interviews

Over the years, you have probably heard family members share stories of growing up. If you have a good memory, you’ve probably shared some of those stories with your children or other family members. I am so thankful that a few years ago, I interviewed one of our family members and recorded 13 hours of interviews spanning the time from their childhood to the most recent past.

 

You gain so many insights interviewing a loved one about your history and theirs. If you are a little timid as to what to ask, there are so many resources these days for good interview prompt questions on the internet. Google family archive interview questions and many sites will be displayed, from the UCLA Center for Oral History Research to My Heritage, and more.

Not only is this a fun wintertime activity, but it’s made even easier with technology. Not all our relatives live close by so you can visit but you can record them on your phone. I used one of the free conference calling services that has free recording services and it worked very well. Each of us phoned into the free conference calling number, I clicked record and started asking open-ended questions.

For families that have a history of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, doing interviews with your family members when they are still fully functional gives you a wonderful bridge back to when your family member’s memory was intact. Many of my friends with family members with memory challenges wish they had interviewed their loved ones to help preserve memories spanning a lifetime.  

 

Winter Fun with Ice Skating In Sonoma County

 

Sonoma County now boasts two outdoor ice-skating rinks. The Luma Outdoor Skating Rink opened on December 13th and will be open till January 7th for your skating pleasure. LUMA Ice brings a magical holiday experience to the Petaluma Fairgrounds, featuring a sparkling real-ice skating rink and a holiday atmosphere perfect for the whole family. The 51’x117’ rink is nestled in a cozy winter wonderland, complete with twinkling lights, holiday music, and cozy spaces for gathering and celebrating.

Santa Rosa on the Square has you lacing up your skates and gliding across the Skating on the Square synthetic, zero-energy ice rink—an eco-friendly option that uses no water or electricity while providing a smooth, stable surface perfect for beginners or those looking to improve their skills, with skate helpers available for extra support to ensure everyone can join in the fun. They are open Thursday& Friday from 4-8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 12- 8 pm.

 

Waterfall Hikes In Sonoma County

 

We have had lots of rain in Sonoma County already this year which means waterfalls are in full force. We have many waterfall hikes in Sonoma County to choose from. Our favorite Sonoma waterfalls are the 25-foot Sonoma Creek Falls in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, which also has easy access.

We have a pair of beach waterfalls on the Sonoma Coast: Phillips Gulch at Salt Point State Park and Stengel Beach at The Sea Ranch. The best time to schedule your waterfall hike is in the days following a storm; that’s when the falls put on the best show.

 

Sonoma Coast Whale & Seal Watching 

 

Winter is the best time for whale-watching and seal-watching on the Sonoma Coast. Have fun watching Grey Whales, who are returning to Alaska following their time birthing and rearing their young down in Baja California. As the whales return north, they hug the coast, in most cases making mother-calf duos visible from the shore. Bodega Head is a great spot to catch them on their journey back to Alaska. Pack your binoculars and look out for spouts of water and tails.

The next fun shore watch is Harbor Seals, who usually birth and rear their babies in late February and early March. One of the best spots to witness seal moms do their thing is at the mouth of the Russian River near Jenner. From the southern bank at the end of Goat Rock State Beach, you can look across the river and watch a population of 40-60 seals on the northern bank.

 

Renew & Update Your Pantry

 

One of your home’s most used storage areas is your pantry area. It’s also an area that can become problematic and a mess easily in your busy life. Reinventing your pantry area or pantry closet is a great winter project. We give you some tips today to make your pantry more accessible and neater while making better use of space:

• Install under the counter lighting on your pantry shelves so you can see what is stored there more easily
• Buy pull-out cabinet organizers for your panty so you get better access to deeper shelves
• Consider buying a rolling cart for your pantry for your most used items
• Install a lazy Susan for corner areas making them more accesible
• Use clear square containers so you can see the contents
• Label everything and put pull dates on the front of your cans with a magic marker
• If you have a solid door into your pantry, make it work for you by buying and installing a door organizer
• if you have tall shelves, buy shelves that can give you multiple shelves with a shelf
• Put all your flour in plastic zip-lock bags and label with the pull date. if you have the space, store your flour in plastic or glass jars with lids
• Rotate can goods when you buy new, bringing the oldest to the front

Organizing your pantry not only makes life easier, but will also save you time and money with less food waste. If you don’t want to do this project yourself, give us a call at Crystal Clear Home and we can help you update and renew your pantry area in 2025. If you would like to take house cleaning off your to-do list for 2025 please give us a call at 707-827-3316 or fill out our Free Estimate Form and one of our cleaning professional will contact you promptly to answer your questions.