Understand
[edit]Sebastopol is a semi-rural town with an attractive downtown and sprawling farmland just outside the city edge. With a population of 7,700 (2019), it is a quaint but vibrant community that leans far to the left in its politics. Just north of Sebastopol is Graton, a small census-designated area with additional attractions, included below.
Get in
[edit]
Map of Sebastopol
By car
[edit]Driving is the easiest way to get to Sebastopol. From the south, take 101 North and the exit for 116 West, in Cotati. From the north, take 101 South and exit for 12 West in Santa Rosa. Both roads go directly to downtown Sebastopol.
By bus
[edit]Get around
[edit]The area of downtown Sebastopol is small and can easily be covered on foot. Buses are available but not frequent; to reach more rural areas, a car is helpful.
Route 24 of Sonoma Country Transit, is a loop around Sebastopol; it's free to use (as of June 2022).
See
[edit]- 1 Hallberg Butterfly Gardens, 8687 Oak Grove Avenue, ☏ +1 707-823-3420. The gardens, located in Graton, are open for guided tours, by appointment, from April 1 to October 31, except for an annual open house. Appointments can be made only for Fridays and Saturdays between 10AM and 4PM. Suggested donation: child $2, adult $10, senior or student $7.
- Hidden Forest, 3970 Azalea Lane, ☏ +1 707-823-6832. Th-M 9AM-4PM. A botanical garden and nursery, with acres of azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, magnolias, among many other plants, many of them rare.
- 2 Ragle Park, 500 Ragle Rd. sunrise to sunset year-round. A beautiful 157-acre park on the edge of town, with recreational facilities toward the road and ample, secluded walking trails through the gentle hills. The Gravenstein Apple Fair, one of Sebastopol's most beloved community events, takes place here every August. $7 parking fee.
- 3 Sturgeon's Steam Powered Saw Mill (Sturgeon's Saw Mill), 2150 Green Hill Rd (Hwy 116 North, right on Occidental Rd, right on Green Hill Rd). runs 4 weekends each year, check schedule on web site. Sturgeon's mill is a fully operational steam-powered lumber mill that cuts logs into lumber. All of the original hand tools, equipment, steam engines, rolling stock, and bookkeeping records are in use or on display. donation requested $25 per person.
- 4 Sebastopol Center For the Arts, 282 S. High Street, ☏ +1 707-829-4797, [email protected]. Th-Su 10AM-4PM. Art gallery.
- 5 West County Museum, 261 S. Main St, ☏ +1 707-829-6711. The West County Museum is in the Sebastopol Railroad Depot building of the Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railroad. The Depot was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1996.
Do
[edit]- 1 Sebastopol Farmers' Market, Sebastopol Plaza on Weeks Way (take Hwy 116 through Sebastopol; it's in the middle of town). Su 10AM - 1:30PM. The Sebastopol Farmers' Market takes place in the Sebastopol Plaza year-round. There is always live music and a wide of assortment of food to nosh on. Farmers and ranchers sell fresh local fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs, and baked goods, and locally-produced body products and crafts that are hand-made by local artisans are also on sale. Free admission.
- Kokopelli Farm, 1543 Cunningham Road, ☏ +1 707 829-8185. Berry pickers (U-pick) are welcome, but by appointment only; mornings are best for berry-picking. Organic; boysenberries, blackberries, and raspberries. The farm also has an onsite farm stand, for those who don't want to pick their own berries.
- Earthseed Farm, 3175 Sullivan Road, ☏ +1 707 829-0617, [email protected]. This 14-acre solar-powered organic farm welcomes berry and fruit pickers by appointment on select days in July and August. Plums, pluots, blackberries, raspberries and a variety of apples are available.
Buy
[edit]- 1 California Carnivores, 2833 Old Gravenstein Highway, ☏ +1 707 824-0433, [email protected]. Th-M 10AM - 4PM; closed Tu W. Operated by Peter D'Amato, author of The Revised Savage Garden: Cultivating Carnivorous Plants, and his partner Damon Collingsworth, California Carnivores is largest plant nursery in the United States that is exclusively dedicated to the cultivation of carnivorous plants. Established in 1989, the nursery has grown and sold the widest variety of carnivorous plants in the country for over 25 years! Venus flytraps, American pitcher plants, sundews, butterworts, bladderworts, tropical pitcher plants and other exotic flora are all on display in the nursery's public collection.
- 2 Copperfield's Books, 138 N. Main St, ☏ +1 707-823-2618. The Sebastopol branch of Sonoma County's only independent bookstore chain. The main store carries new books, while a fantastic used annex is just down the block.
- Dickinson Glass Studio and Showroom, 6770 McKinley Street #120 (in the Barlow), ☏ +1 707-690-4136, [email protected]. Th-Su noon-5PM and by appointment. Artisan glass-blowing products and classes, including wine glasses, champagne flutes, brandy snifters and ornaments.
- 3 Milk & Honey, 123 N. Main St, ☏ +1 707-824-1155. Hippie and New Age products. Altar decoration, crystals, candles, and jewelry.
Eat
[edit]- 1 El Coronel Mexican Restaurant, 1015 Gravenstein Ave (on Hwy 116 heading north into Sebastopol), ☏ +1 707-829-7010. M-F 11AM-9PM, Sa Su 10AM-9PM. Good Mexican food. Full bar. Items and prices appropriate for families with kids.
- 2 Fandee’s Restaurant, 7824 Covert Ln (in the Fiesta Market Center, just off Highway 116), ☏ +1 707-829-2642. M-F 6AM-9PM, Sa Su 7AM-9PM. Creative comfort food, using fresh, local ingredients. A family-friendly, neighborhood spot.
- 3 Goldfinch Restaurant, 119 S Main St, ☏ +1 707-827-9800, [email protected]. It features "wood-fired, locally sourced and sustainable fare", and "creative plant-based dishes with seafood and meat as sides".
- Khom Loi, 7385 Healdsburg Avenue, #101, ☏ +1 707-329-6917, [email protected]. Winner of a Bib Gourmand award from the Michelin Guide 2021, Thai cuisine in a friendly, unpretentious, and vibrant space
- 4 The Livery, 135 S Main St. A 22,000-square-foot, multi-level, all season, indoor/outdoor, food hall, beverage tasting room, cowork space and rooftop event center. Micro-restaurants include El Charro Negro, Taverna Lithi, Cozy Plum Kitchen, and the Village Bakery.
- Ramen Gaijin, 6948 Sebastopol Ave, ☏ +1 707-827-3609, [email protected]. Ramen noodle dishes and Japanese small plates
- 5 Society Bakery and Cafe, 2661 Gravenstein Highway South, ☏ +1 707-861 9665, [email protected]. Tu-F 10AM-4PM. Coffee drinks, sandwiches and soups, and in-house baked goodies that taste as good as they look. Outdoor seating only. Try the ginger molasses cookies.
- 6 Sushi Tozai, 7531 Healdsburg Ave, ☏ +1 707 824-9886. 5-9PM. Sushi. Not great for authentic sushi lovers but good for roll lovers. Good sushi chefs that will make you anything you ask for. Try the prawn martini, you will not regret it.
- 7 Sonoma Wine Shop - La Bodega, 2295 Gravenstein Hwy South, ☏ +1 707 827-1832. Th-Su 5-9PM. Yes, it's a wine shop, but it also has a tasty dinner menu, served four days a week. It’s not exactly a restaurant, but more like being at a friend’s house for dinner.
- Wm. Cofield Cheesemakers, 6780 McKinley St. #110 ((in the Barlow)), ☏ +1 707-755-0130. Th-Mo 11AM-6PM. Serving excellent sandwiches, beautifully arranged cheese boards, and more. What might be the ultimate cheese sandwich comes with slaw and chips. The tomato soup has 19 ingredients. Beer, wine, and cider also available, and there is small outdoor dining area. (The cheese-making area and drying racks are visible through glass windows, inside.)
Drink
[edit]- 1 Hardcore Espresso, 1798 Gravenstine Highway South (Hwy 116), ☏ +1 707-823-7588. A locals' hang out and the best place for coffee. Hardcore Espresso is exactly that, hardcore, the building is the back side of a barn. The cafe is half inside, half outside and is a part of the local flavor.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Sebastopol, 1101 Gravenstein Hwy South, ☏ +1 707-829-6677.
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Sebastopol |
| END ← | W  E
|
→ Santa Rosa → Fairfield |
| Jenner ← Forestville ← | W  E
|
→ Cotati → Petaluma |