A perfect place for children in the wine country's Santa Rosa

We are at the perfect get-away place for families with children, the Flamingo Hotel & Spa in Santa Rosa.
Our 5-year-old granddaughter wants to live here, and so do I. Not a bad idea; we are in the middle of the Sonoma County wine country.

Our grandchildren have spent most of two and a half days swimming and lying on the warm cement around the Flamingo's pool. We big folks, have sprawled our sun-screened bodies on comfortable lounges—between playing with kids in the pool and dipping ourselves in the hot tub.

We ordered pizza and sandwiches from the hotel’s Terrace Grill; had pedicures at the spa; our son worked out at the adjoining Montecito health club, and my husband enjoyed the spa's Thai massage, maybe the best massage he’s ever had. I could have attended classes—yoga, cycling, aqua aerobics, kickboxing and more or played tennis or lapped in the lap pool. But I chose to loll poolside, taking an occasional swim with the grandkids. There's even a kids' camp at the adjoining Montecito Heights Health Club.

Best of all, this place is safe for the little ones. Sections of the hotel extend outward in spokes, which are connected by glassed-in hallways, making it impossible for little tykes to wander out on their own.

Some rooms with small, fenced-in patios, face the enormous pool and surrounding gardens. Our patio is festooned with beach towels, though the hotel furnishes plenty of towels poolside.

Moms, dads, grandparents and others settle under umbrella tables, some dip giggling tiny-tots into the shallows. Bigger children romp, and swim in deeper sections. Occasionally, Tomas, the pool man, blows his whistle, calling all youngsters out so adults have the pool to themselves. Not a bad idea. But it’s a kick watching youngsters hurtle themselves back in when he blows his whistle again.

San Franciscans Michele and Eugene Duffy have been bringing their three children to the Flamingo for seven years. (It’s about an hour’s drive for them, almost two from San Jose where we live.) Their twins, Frankey and James, are now eight and their daughter Alexa is ten. “It’s the best place there is for families,” Michele says.

Statues of Peanuts, Snoopy, and other Charles Schulz characters stand here and there about the Flamingo. This town is home to the Charles Schulz Museum—about three miles from the hotel.

Perhaps we’ll stay longer next time and check out some of Santa Rosa’s family attractions, such as Howarth Park, which offers up an expansive playground, train rides, pony rides, a carrousel, paddleboats on the lake, and more. Ice skating is available at Snoopy Home Ice rink, and 30 minutes from the hotel, Safari West gives jeep tours amid giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs and other exotic animals.

But for the little time we have left on this Sunday, we’ll swim and lounge. Michele Duffy tells us about the hotel’s stay and play rate. For $50, we can keep our room and play in the pool until 6 p.m. I’m considering it because we don’t want to leave this little bit of heaven.

Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa, 2777 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa 707.545.8530,
Email: info@flamingoresort.com