Life has been too crazy lately. You've been moving faster than you ever thought possible. It's definitely time for a vacation. But where can you go if you only have a few minutes before the next wave of madness hits? Don't forget that dream of six weeks in Tahiti, but in the meantime, take the ZZYZAX tour of Petaluma. It's a magical little town of about 50,000 tucked into a corner of California's wine region, less than an hour's drive north of San Francisco.

Time slows once you've crossed the Golden Gate, bends to follow the contours of the rolling hills of Sonoma County, where oak trees spread their skirts in the long grass, and the sun works its alchemy in the vineyards to the east. When you first encounter Petaluma's historic downtown, with its elegant Victorian clock tower and handsome iron front buildings, you almost believe you have gone back in time to the days before the 1906 Earthquake, which devastated much of the area, but miraculously spared this river port town.

As you explore architectural relics that date from the years the city was a supply center for inland gold camps, enjoy the welcome you receive from the local merchants and residents, many of whom live in the beautifully maintained Victorian neighborhoods just a few blocks away. Delve deeper into the past in the Carnegie Library's historical archives, or simply indulge in the delights of the present moment at any number of Petaluma's meeting places and watering holes. Browse around. Do a little shopping. Mail a postcard to someone who, like you, could really stand a change of pace. Linger as long as you can, then let memories of your vacation in Petaluma accompany you as you return, relaxed and refreshed, to what is now a slightly different life.

Please sign our Guest Book for others to enjoy. (Note: Sorry, this was not resurrected—Jim 2025)