The Comic Trip–Schulz and Santa Rosa

The next time you get an itch for the wine country, why not add a little grown-up fun at the house Charlie Brown built. Alright, it’s really a museum built for Charles Schulz—the creator “Peanuts,” and it’s over in Santa Rosa.  Haven’t we all been captivated by the often-undone Charlie Brown and Lucy’s outrageous 5-cent consulting services? For me, it’s the irrepressible Snoopy perched on his doghouse clanking his typewriter. He and I share an unyielding obsession with being a novelist. For a good dose of literary moral support I flip through Snoopy’s Guide to the Writing Life. It’s humming with great canine-author wit like Snoopy at the mailbox reading, “Dear Contributor, We are returning your dumb story. Note that we have not included our return address. We have moved to a new office, and we don’t want you to know where we are.”

The museum—which delights 60,000 people a year—-is the perfect spot to explore on a winter’s day. Pop into Schulz’s studio, absorb some of his creative genius. Catch the rotating exhibits. On deck now through April: “Sunday at the Funnies.” See how the rise of the comic book industry reflected our culture, especially in the 30’s when Superman, Dick Tracy and Little Orphan Annie provided escape into a world of fantasy, a cheap outlet from the reality of bleak economic times. “Peanuts Cooks,” until February 15, is an epicurean delight, and you have until May to kick up your heels with your favorite characters in “May I have this Dance?”

Just an alert; it’s a small museum so there’s no way to avoid all the giggles and laughter, but it is best medicine, and like Victor Hugo said, “Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.”Open weekdays 11-5, except Tuesday. Weekends 10-5. Seniors only $5. http://www.schulzmuseum.org

For more Snoopy head over to the Warm Puppy Café—the famous cartoonist’s former hangout. Have a snack, sit by the crackling fire and watch the action on Snoopy’s Home Ice, the Redwood Empire Ice Arena. Don’t miss Snoopy’s Gallery and Gift Shop where happiness really is a warm puppy.

Okay, so it’s not the charming wine country experience, but lodging here won’t break your budget, and the town has some worthy sights. Bushels of fun for green thumbs at the Burbank Home and Gardens where the pioneer horticulturist dabbled with plants for most of his career. This gardening guru developed more than 800 varieties, even a spineless cactus. He created the Shasta daisy, the Santa Rosa Plum, the Freestone peach, and our common russet potato. No wonder famous folks like Thomas Edison and Mark Twain made the trek to Santa Rosa to rub shoulders with this nursery wizard. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the gardens; medicinal herbs, cutting flowers, roses, ornamental grasses. Every half-hour docents give home and greenhouse tours. Grounds open daily. (707) 524-5445

For the flying enthusiast, the Pacific Coast Air Museum is worth a stop, with its collection of historic aircraft and antique World War II planes. Displays highlight aviation  history, so climb aboard exhibits featuring Lindberg, Earhart and other pioneers. Only a $5 donation. www.pacificcoastairmuseum.org or call 707-575-7900

Sheets of fun at Mrs. Grossman’s factory (http://www.mrsgrossmans.com ) where magic happens every minute as thousands of stickers are printed, high-speed packaged, sorted and shipped in front of your captivated eyes. One-hour tours through the factory, four times a day for just $3.00. At the museum you can gaze on every sticker this designer entrepreneur ever created, and the art room invites you to deck out your own postcard. I’m first in line for this because my theory of life lines up with George Bernard Shaw:  We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.