Santa Rosa is what I will always consider my hometown, as I spent most of my childhood, adolescence and college years there. I must say, I thought it was very boring when I lived there, but I was young, and distance creates a soft spot for familiar places.

It is a cute little city (make no mistake, it is definitely a city), especially the downtown areas, but it has gotten a little big for its britches of late. The traffic is horrendous. A lot of snobby, wannabe-San-Franciscans have moved in.

However, if you stick to the parks, or the historic districts, it’s a great place to visit and play. I miss it.