Sonoma County
Historic downtown, the river, and the west hills
Petaluma West is the historic heart of the city: the preserved Victorian and cast-iron blocks of downtown, the Petaluma River waterfront, and the oak-covered hills that frame it all. Peter has called Petaluma home for more than 16 years and knows this side of town street by street, from the old riverfront commercial district to the quiet lanes that climb into the hills.
Why people love it
Chartered in 1858, Petaluma is one of California's oldest cities. Its downtown retains blocks of Victorian and Italianate storefronts that survived the 1906 earthquake, including the landmark Clock Tower on Petaluma Boulevard, alongside antique shops, art, and a celebrated farm-to-table dining scene.
The river made the town: in the riverboat era, more tonnage and dollar value moved on the Petaluma River than on many larger waterways of the time. Today it is a center of recreation, with kayaking, waterfront parks, and the Balshaw Bridge.
Petaluma's dairy-and-egg heritage earned it the nickname Egg Basket of the World in 1918. The annual Butter & Egg Days Parade each spring and the classic-car Cruisin' the Boulevard event every May keep that character alive downtown.
Above downtown, residential streets climb into oak-studded hills with wide valley views and a quiet, tree-lined feel that is a world away from the 101 corridor.
Local favorites
My favorite way to test a neighborhood is still over coffee and dinner. These are real places in and around Petaluma West that my clients and I keep going back to.
Coffee, empanadas, and chocolate in a charming Weller Street spot.
226 Weller St, Petaluma, CA 94952
Riverfront dining on B Street with a classic downtown view.
224 B St, Petaluma, CA 94952
An independent coffee house with a loyal local following.
212 2nd St, Petaluma, CA 94952
A historic hotel bar and cafe on South Petaluma Boulevard.
508 Petaluma Blvd S, Petaluma, CA 94952
Parks & outdoor spaces
West Petaluma pairs riverfront parks along the Petaluma River with neighborhood greens and the open-space ridges that climb into the west hills. These are the spots locals walk, picnic, and paddle.
A downtown community park at Petaluma Boulevard and D Street, one of the city's busiest, with a large playground, picnic tables, restrooms, and the gazebo that anchors the Saturday farmers market.
201 4th St, Petaluma, CA 94952
A roughly 35-acre wild, undeveloped riverfront park right in the heart of downtown on the McNear Peninsula, stewarded by a local nonprofit. Open dawn to dusk, dogs on leash.
500 Hopper St, Petaluma, CA 94952
Nine-plus riverfront acres on the McNear Peninsula, home of the David Yearsley River Heritage Center and a favorite for riverside strolls and the annual Rivertown Revival festival.
6 Copeland St, Petaluma, CA 94952
Tree-dotted open space along Thompson Creek between the Westridge and Westridge Knolls neighborhoods, part of the Petaluma Green Lane trail network.
Petaluma, CA 94952
A far-west-side park combining a traditional playground, picnic tables, and BBQ pits with a network of trails into the hills.
Petaluma, CA 94952
A 256-acre Sonoma County Regional Park on the western city edge with ridgetop trails and sweeping views across the valley.
411 Chileno Valley Rd, Petaluma, CA 94952
Schools
West-side students attend the Petaluma City Schools district. Exact school assignments depend on your address, so we always confirm the boundary for the home you are considering.
A TK-6 elementary school on the west side of Petaluma in the Petaluma City Schools district.
605 Sunnyslope Ave, Petaluma, CA 94952
A west-side elementary campus in the Petaluma City Schools district.
200 Grant Ave, Petaluma, CA 94952
An elementary school serving west Petaluma families in the Petaluma City Schools district.
730 N Webster St, Petaluma, CA 94952
The west-side junior high serving grades 7 and 8 in the Petaluma Joint Union High School District.
700 Bantam Way, Petaluma, CA 94952
Petaluma's original high school and the comprehensive school serving the west side, home of the Trojans.
201 Fair St, Petaluma, CA 94952
Restaurants & dining
Downtown Petaluma's dining scene is the heart of the west side, a walkable cluster of farm-to-table restaurants, bakeries, and historic saloons on and around Petaluma Boulevard.
A beloved bakery and café on Petaluma Boulevard North, famous for its wood-fired breads and pastries.
143 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952
A farm-to-table bistro on Petaluma Boulevard North with a rotating menu built on local Sonoma County ingredients.
6 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952
A historic downtown saloon and restaurant, a local landmark on the Boulevard.
23 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952
A waterfront oyster bar and kitchen at the river end of Washington Street.
100 Washington St, Petaluma, CA 94952
A cozy Italian trattoria on 2nd Street downtown, a long-running favorite.
140 2nd St, Petaluma, CA 94952
A sleek farm-to-table restaurant on 1st Street near the river.
500 1st St, Petaluma, CA 94952
Shopping & amenities
Everyday shopping on the west side centers on downtown's independent shops and a couple of grocery anchors, with the big retail centers just a short drive across town.
An independent, full-service grocery and deli on Western Avenue, a genuine west-side institution for decades.
210 Western Ave, Petaluma, CA 94952
A curated downtown shop on 4th Street for home goods, gifts, and local finds.
1 4th St, Petaluma, CA 94952
A home-and-lifestyle shop on Kentucky Street in the heart of the downtown shopping district.
145 Kentucky St, Petaluma, CA 94952
A full-service grocery on Petaluma Boulevard North, convenient to the west and north sides.
1000 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952
Outdoor outlet shopping on Petaluma Boulevard North with dozens of brand stores.
2200 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952
Community & events
The west side is where Petaluma's calendar lives, from the Saturday farmers market at Walnut Park to the Butter & Egg Days Parade, the museums, and a lively riverside music scene.
A seasonal Saturday market at Walnut Park, roughly mid-May through mid-November, with produce, flowers, crafts, and live music from the gazebo.
201 4th St, Petaluma, CA 94952
Petaluma's iconic free annual spring celebration, a historic downtown parade and festival that honors the town's dairy-and-egg heritage.
Historic Downtown, Petaluma, CA 94952
A free local history museum in the 1904 Carnegie Library, with docent-led historic downtown walking tours most Saturdays from spring through fall.
20 4th St, Petaluma, CA 94952
A beautifully restored 1911 vaudeville house and the North Bay's premier live-music venue, right off the Boulevard.
23 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952
A monthly downtown arts, music, and gallery celebration that brings the west side out every First Friday.
Downtown Petaluma, CA 94952
An annual riverfront festival of music, art, and food at Steamer Landing Park along the Petaluma River.
6 Copeland St, Petaluma, CA 94952
Home types
Typical range across my markets: $400,000-$4,000,000. From condos to country acreage.
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I have lived this area my whole life and sold homes here for 21 years. Let's find yours.
