Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Occidental & Around
Our favorite West County town is a haven of artists, back-to-the-landers and countercultur-
alists. Historic 19th-century buildings line a single main street, easy to explore in an hour;
continue north by car and you'll hit the Russian River, in Monte Rio. At Christmastime,
Bay Area families flock to Occidental to buy trees. The town decorates to the nines, and
there's weekend cookie-decorating and caroling at the Union Hotel's Bocce Ballroom.
Sights & Activities
Occidental Farmers Market
MARKET
(
www.occidentalfarmersmarket.com
; 4pm-dusk Fri, Jun-Oct)
Meet the whole community at Occidental's detour-worthy farmers market, with musicians,
craftspeople and - the star attraction -
Gerard's Paella
(
www.gerardspaella.com
) of TV-
cooking-show fame.
Sonoma Canopy Tours
OUTDOORS
( 888-494-7868;
www.sonomacanopytours.com
;
6250 Bohemian Hwy; adult $99-109, child $69)
North of town, fly through the redwood canopy on seven interconnected ziplines, ending
with an 80ft-rappel descent; reservations required.
Osmosis
SPA
( 707-823-8231;
www.osmosis.com
;
209 Bohemian Hwy, Freestone; by appointment)
Three miles south in Freestone, tranquility prevails at this Japanese-inspired spa, which in-
dulges patrons with dry-enzyme baths of aromatic cedar fibers (bath-and-blanket wrap $89
to $99), lovely tea-and-meditation gardens, plus outdoor massages. Make reservations.
