Sonoma County’s biggest city — its urban heart — is often just a pit stop for visitors eager to move on and explore Wine Country. But Santa Rosa has gained traction in recent years as a destination-worthy place all on its own, a city with walkable neighborhoods and plenty of exciting new restaurants and other stops. If you’re planning a weekend getaway, your home base is a no-brainer — the Flamingo Resort & Spa, the recently revitalized historic motor lodge built in 1957.
This midcentury mod motel’s refresh has brought new life to this family-friendly, accessibly-priced property with just enough retro cool mixed with modern upgrades to zhuzh things up. With banks of rooms fanning out from it like a blooming flower, the pool at the center of the property is the focal point of activity here. The pool’s large shallow section is a splashy play zone for the littles.
Grown-up poolside loungers surround the deeper section, which is conveniently close to the little bar cart slinging glasses of icy watermelon frosé and spicy Angry Bird margaritas ($13). And the Wild Bird poolside menu offers casual fare that ranges from strawberry-spinach salad and buttermilk-fried chicken to kids’ quesadillas. Meanwhile, the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus at the resort’s is just adventurous enough to keep adults intrigued and kids happy, too.
Think fried Brussels sprouts ($10) with toasted coconut, spicy chicken bao ($15) and kalua pork sliders — and mac and cheese, too. And .
