Page 19 - 2015 Small Shops of Sonoma County Holiday Guide

Small Cities of Sonoma County
What’s a CITY? A Major Highway runs through it, the population is dense, shopping, business, industry is large - everywhere else? - is a TOWN!
The Petaluma Chamber of Commerce’s (PACC) and Women in Business (WIB) Committee would like you to consider stress-free shopping this Holiday Season. Petaluma has a bounty of locally made products and locally owned stores. When you buy locally, you are supporting businesses owned by your neighbors and paying local sales tax that support services while supporting local employment. We’re a small and very friendly city with old town charm mixed with modern convenience. Please consider shopping at our benefit thrift stores for affordable gifts. Every dollar you spend supports our community with services people need. petalumachamber.com
Santa Rosa is the center of commerce on all levels, where people come for major supplies no matter where they live. Downtown thrives all day and into the night because it offers easy shopping, great food and night life. Think of it as a shopping center but HUGE! There are many places in downtown where you can park once and walk to a diverse collection of businesses. Bring coins for meters because not all the parking meters function with cards. For Holiday shoppers, elves are running around feeding meters to encourage downtown shopping - but don’t COUNT on them! santarosachamber.com
Slip west into Sebastopol. It’s really a large town, but as it grows and becomes a tourist destination, it starts re-defining itself as a small city. Downtown is served by the Sebastopol Downtown Association,
a collection of merchants who take care of their shopping center. The Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce takes care of the region in and around Sebastopol. The Barlow, a shopping and dining development just east of Downtown is adding to the reasons people come to visit. You can park once and wander downtown and The Barlow going back to your car when it’s time to go home. This walk-friendly community works hard at staying assessable.
Healdsburg is the quintessential Wine Country small city. Visitors come from across the planet to experience Sonoma County hospitality in this community. Restaurants, shops, art galleries - a renowned Jazz Festival are
all part of what brings people here. Locals can benefit from how Healdsburg serves visitors by taking advantage of the their high standards, leaders in wine, cuisine, and quality products. Surrounded by beautiful scenery and parks, there are plenty of reasons to spend time in this city. healdsburg.com
Cloverdale is our northernmost city and just minutes north of Healdsburg. Downtown is the center for commerce with everything from dress shops to decor. The impressive Cloverdale Center for Performing Arts brings people from all over Sonoma County to experience live theater, music and more. All summer Friday Nght Live brings international talent to outdoor concerts and the downtown farmers market. This peaceful home town feels relaxed, so escape stressful holiday shopping here. cloverdalechamber.com
Sonoma is our eastern most small city and remarkably diverse in population and business. People think of it as a tourist destination, but once you get to know the city you realize it is populated by devout locals who contribute to their home on all levels. The arts are thriving from local theater to galleries. Food and wine range from high-end to supreme taco trucks. In essence the city starts at the first sign of dense population and ends on the east side as you head south out of town on Hwy 12. sonomachamber.org
Stewards of the Coast
Gift Stores & Gift Memberships
VISITOR CENTERS in Armstrong Woods in Guerneville and in Jenner by the estuary parking lot and post office are open Holiday Hours for gifts and memberships 11-3 daily.
Plush puppets of many of our local wildlife. Field Guides, t-shirts, sweat- shirts, iPad & iPhone cases, lots of educational games for kids. Jigsaw puzzles for all ages, mobile device solar chargers, backpacks, jewelry and pewter barrettes, holiday nature ornaments. All support Stewards’ work in local State Parks and members get a 20% discount.
We also have items on our online store: stewardscr.org
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