silverdome

Hoen Avenue is a modest middle class street. A lot of younger families that are just starting out live on Hoen Avenue and the surrounding streets. This is a great neighborhood in the sense that it is very family oriented. There is also an emo scene towards the Sebastopol Freeway around the Farmer Lane Plazas area which is also home to a couple of great bars and a hookah lounge. Lot's of punk rock individuals flock to this area because of concerts and the laid back atmosphere. There are also quite a few individual small art galleries that sell art from locals around the area. Traffic can be intense around the freeway area and it is always erratic during the weekend.

Montebello Drive is hidden among residential streets at the edge of Shiloh Regional National Park. The drive is lined with California styled bungalows that were inspired by their own individual designs. The road twists deep into the regional park. There are plenty of trees for shade and trails that offer wonderful hikes through the woods. This area has been prone to forest fires in the past and is quite common with fire alerts and warnings. This is one of those streets that is so hidden that even the locals might not be familiar with it. Its exclusivity away from the outside world make it the perfect street to raise a family and raise children. There is a small parking lot at the end of the drive which is dedicated for hikers and other nature lovers, so there is some traffic that comes through that specifically go to the park. Traffic can be a little busy for a residential street during the weekends.

Lavell Road is extremely popular and is home to many different retail shops in Santa Rosa. There is plenty of construction thanks to the booming consumer market. Barnes and Nobles is getting a new edition close to the Old Redwood Highway. One of the drawbacks is intense traffic, large potholes and a lack of gas stations! I ran out of gas once on Lavell Road coming off of Redwood Highway. I think there is one Shell station on all of Lavell Road and for the amount of traffic that passes through this street that is unacceptable. All of the buildings are crammed very close to each other so it looks almost like one giant plaza. Despite the clogging traffic and lack of gas stations, this is a great road to get all of your shopping done and pass some time on the weekends.

Dennis Lane is a less than inspiring street. Abandoned buildings and an old railroad track make the road somewhat depressing. This is a popular area for troubled youth and homeless people to hang out in. There is an all night diner, some residential houses and an hardware store which never seems to be open. Driving along Dennis Lane makes you feel like you are on the outskirts of the city because their is a large and barren field that stretches across Dennis Lane. Traffic is sparse and the road is in bad condition.

I did a small summer stint on Ditty Avenue with my boyfriend and it was not a pleasant experience. Being a student means that I have to resource my living conditions for something cheap and practical. Life on Ditty Avenue is interesting at best. Parking your car on the side of the street is probably not a good idea unless you want your car scratched and under no condition should you leave any valuables out in the open in your car even if your doors are locked. They won't be there the next day and your windows will be broken in. Most of the houses are older and in dire need of paint jobs. The whole streets is crying out for a complete makeover. There is a shoddy liquor store on the corner of Ditty Avenue that seems to attract a colorful crowd at night. One time I had a man approach me and asked if I wanted to buy some drugs.

Fountain Grove Parkway is a rather long stretch of a road the curves its way through wooded areas, residential homes and more wooded areas. This is the great escape for people that love camping who are heading to the private and beautiful Fountaingrove Lake. Fountaingrove Lake is a nice place to relax for the weekend and enjoy some quality time with your family and friends. Fountain Grove Parkway has had newer parts of the road constructed within the last five years that dip back down into the Santa Rosa area and have made room for more residential neighborhoods. Traffic can be busy during the week because of commuters coming from the North trying to head to downtown Santa Rosa.

This is one of my favorite streets in Santa Rosa because it reminds me of the Midwest, where I'm originally from. South A Street has this special area called the Santa Rosa Plaza which is home to different venues and markets throughout the year but one of my favorite is something that is close to the farmers market back in the Midwest. The farmers market is a place where all types of fresh fruits, vegetables and other items are sold. On Saturdays at the end of every month from May-October the Santa Rosa Plaza has something identical to the farmers market and I usually go to get my selection of fresh foods and to feel a little taste of home. South A Street is also home to many other things like some trendy nightclubs, a library and plenty of cute houses that have the sought after white picket fences.

Sonoma Avenue is home to several of quaint restaurants and other modern retail shops. This is an upcoming and busting street that is located right off the Redwood Highway. Juliard Park and the freeway make this street an easy access point for commuters and that means some heavy traffic during the week and weekends. There are quite a few residential streets that are located off to the side of Sonoma through side streets but the main hub of Sonoma is dedicated to shops and restaurants as well as various other businesses. The sidewalks are brick which give away to the many historical designs of Santa Rosa.

Riverfront properties are one of the best selling points when it comes to real estate value on Cherrywood Drive. The houses have backyards that dip right into Colgan Creek and the creek just happens to widen at it's largest point along Cherrywood. Docks lead right out to the creek which can be used for swimming and tying up your boat. This is a great area for older couples to sit back and enjoy their golden years. Plenty of the houses have RVS and motor boats. In the summer time this street is lively and filled with aromas from different grilles. There is also an old railroad track that is part of the historic district of Santa Rosa that stretches behind Cherrywood.

Quiet living mixed with a great night life is what you will come across on Tupper Street. Many young professionals and college students live in large houses that have been converted into smaller units on this historic and charming street. Being close to a variety of restaurants and retail stores is a big plus in my book. There are a couple of parks in the area that I jog at and I feel safe even at night due to the large lamp lights that shine overhead. This is a great area for younger students and professionals. There are also plenty of small independent bars that are within walking distance.