TranslateDecember 2024 Newsletter
Peace, love and nature
Winter weather has arrived and it’s time to soak it all in! Hillsides are greener, seasonal wetlands are filling and wildlife is thriving during this special time of year. Explore all that winter has to offer with our new lineup of seasonal outings and events. Whether you're crafting nature-inspired art, delving into natural science or exploring new parks and trails, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the season's beauty and learn something new along the way.
Holly jolly holiday crafts
Step back in time on Saturday, Dec. 7, to glimpse what life was like in a one-room schoolhouse and make an old-fashioned holiday craft. Built in 1856, Watson School served as a Bodega community hub until the late 1960s. Usually closed to the public, the building will be open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Stop by and check it out – crafting optional. Free; no registration required.
Sunset stroll at Taylor Mountain
On Sunday, Dec. 8, 3:30-5 p.m., wind down your weekend with a quiet hike at Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve in Santa Rosa. Let the tranquility of nature help you reset for the week ahead. Cost is $5 for Sonoma County residents, $7 for others. Registration required.
Nature walk at Foothill
Explore Foothill Regional Park with a naturalist on Saturday, Dec. 21, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Learn about the plants, animals and landscape of this popular Windsor park. Free; registration required.
Redwood Ramble
This Veterans Day weekend, Nov. 9-11, veterans, military members and their families are eligible free parking at all Sonoma County Regional Parks. Special holiday passes are available through Nov. 8 at our office or the Sonoma County Veterans Services Office and at Doran Regional Park through Nov. 11.
Winter solstice celebrations
Celebrate the shortest days of the year with one of these special outings! On Dec. 20, 5-7 p.m., enjoy a sunset stroll at Ragle Ranch Regional Park, followed by a cozy campfire with songs, poems or stories, and hot chocolate or tea ($10 for Sonoma County residents, $12 for others). On Dec. 21, 4-6 p.m., join a free hike at Sonoma Valley Regional Park, 4-6 p.m., to experience winter’s first night and discover how humans and wildlife adapt to darkness. Registration is required for both events.
Give the gift of parks
Support the health and happiness of family and friends this holiday season with Regional Parks gift memberships. When you give a parks membership, you give a year of free parking at 60 parks, a night of free camping and endless opportunities to get outside in 2025.
Gift memberships come in the form of a voucher that recipients redeem when they're ready to begin their membership. Memberships are available at Oliver’s Markets, REI Santa Rosa, Sonoma Outfitters, Sebastopol Hardware, Garrett Ace Hardware in Healdsburg and Windsor, Copperfield's Books in Petaluma, Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau and other locations.
Perfect gifts for park lovers
Looking for more gifts for the park lover in your life? The nonprofit Sonoma County Parks Foundation's new online store has gifts featuring iconic images from your favorite regional parks! Imagine cuddling up in your tent at Doran Regional Park with a cozy fleece blanket picturing the Bodega Bay seashore. Or giving your favorite Spring Lake fan a special picnic blanket commemorating that beloved park.
Show your park pride with a yoga mat, holiday ornament or keepsake puzzle and feel good about choosing a gift that supports your regional parks.
Storm resilience through watershed restoration
Heavy winter storms can take a toll on the land, eroding soil into creeks, carving deep gullies and disrupting ecosystems. At Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park and Open Space Preserve we're reversing these impacts by lining the tributaries to Dutch Bill Creek with logs and brush we've cleared from the forest to reduce wildfire risk. We're happy to see this new approach is reducing erosion, improving watershed health for coho salmon and steelhead trout and making the park more storm-resilient. Watch this video to learn about our partnership with the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, supported by North Bay Jobs with Justice and funded by Parks for All – Measure M sales tax.
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Sonoma County Regional Parks
400 Aviation Boulevard, Suite 100, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 565-2041
ParksMarketing@Sonoma-County.org
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