City: Santa Rosa, CA

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (707) 575-7900

Address: 2330 Airport Boulevard

Description: Located next to Sonoma County’s Charles M. Schulz Airport, the Pacific Coast Air Museum was formed by local aviators interested in restoring and preserving retired military aircraft. The collection ranges from a Korean War–era RF-86 Sabre and Huey helicopter—which saw combat in Vietnam—to an F-16 Viper flown by the commander of the navy’s Top Gun flight school, and an F-14A Tomcat that saw duty on several U.S. carriers. The museum is open every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On the third weekend of each month, museum staff unlatch the canopy of a featured aircraft and let visitors climb aboard to get a feel of what it’s like behind the wheel of a war bird. The museum also sponsors a weekend air show—Wings over Wine Country—each August (see the Festivals and Annual Events chapter).