Founded in 1876 when the railroad went in, Occidental began as a commercial center, but soon became popular with vacationers looking to escape San Francisco's fog or Central Valley heat. Two Italian restaurants were founded a few years later and they still vie for diners, sitting across the street from each other.
You can plan your Occidental weekend getaway in a jiffy using the resources below.
Will You Like It?
- Take a look at a few Occidental Pictures.
- Occidental is popular for quiet, relaxing weekend getaways. It's great for a romantic escape, or just to unwind.
Best Time to Go
Occidental is far enough inland to avoid the dreaded "June gloom" that keeps oceanside communities under a shroud of day-long fog in early summer, and almost any time is a good time to go. On winter weekdays, you'll find it particularly quiet.Getting There
Occidental is located west of Sebastopol on Bohemian Highway. To get there from San Francisco or the South Bay, take US 101 north to Highway 12 west, through Sebastopol to Freestone, then turn right onto Bohemian Highway. For a more scenic route, take CA 1 north to Bodega Highway east and turn left onto Bohemian Highway.Driving? Occidental is 68 miles from San Francisco, 113 miles from San Jose and 117 miles from Sacramento.
Flying? The nearest aiport is in San Francisco (SFO) or Oakland (OAK). Check airfares.
Where to Stay
The lovely Inn at Occidental is your best bet. If you're on a limited budget, try the Occidental Hotel.5 Great Things to Do
- Browse and Shop: Occidental's main street is only two blocks long, but you'll find some nice shops along it, selling handmade crafts, interesting imports and nice art work.
- Occidental Farmers Market: Held Fridays from 4:00 p.m. until dusk, June through October.
- Musical Interlude: The Redwood Arts Council hosts regular chamber music concerts in the Community Church, praised for its excellent acoustics.
- Michelin-Rated Dining: An unlikely find in Sebastopol, just a 15-minute drive away, K&L Bistro (119 S. Main Street,
Sebastopol, 707-823-6614) earned a Michelin one-star rating, placing it among the top restaurants in the Bay Area. Especially since earning this honor, this French bistro is very busy, and in the summer, you may need to reserve as much as a month in advance. Unexpectedly for a place with such a reputation, entrees are in the $20 range.
- Wine Tasting: The area around Occidental and Freestone is coming to be recognized as one of the best places to grow pinot noir grapes in California. In Spring, 2006, Joseph Phelps opens a winery tasting room in Freestone.
Best Brunch (and Other Meals)
If you stay at the Inn at Occidental, breakfast is included. Otherwise, Pignoli American Bistro serves brunch on weekends.For other meals, Pignoli and Bistro Des Copains, both in town offer a good variety of tasty fare. There are also two Italian restaurants in town, perhaps the last bastions of old-fashioned, checkered-tablecloth-style Italian dining left in the San Francisco area.
In nearby Graton, you'll find Underwood Bar & Bistro and its sister restaurant Willow Wood Market & Cafe which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Both are well-rated and serve excellent meals. Food and Wine magazine listed Underwood as one of America's 50 Most Amazing Wine Experiences in 2006.
Don't miss
Osmosis Spa: Just five minutes' drive from Occidental in the even tinier town of Freestone, this Japanese-style spa offers unusual enzyme baths, massages, beautiful gardens and other relaxing experiences. Make it your first stop and you'll feel de-stressed all weekend long. They're often open as late as 9:00 p.m., so for maximum relaxation make an early escape and stop on your way.Tips
- During summer and on holiday weekends, reserve your spot at Osmosis a couple of weeks in advance. Reserve your hotel room and make dinner reservations at K&L Bistro at least a month ahead of time.
- If you failed to get a reservation at Osmosis, try the New Dawn Day Spa in Sebastopol.
- Michael Stusser of Osmosis tells us that the French Garden restaurant in Sebastopol is shaping up to be as good as K&L Bistro.
