Every fall I make my way up to Sebastopol for some quiet time away from the studio. Sebastopol is an adorable little town about an hour north of San Francisco. Although it’s small, it’s far from sleepy- there are plenty of fun things to do and a surprising number of great places to eat while you are there.
What to do
If you are heading to Sebastopol on a fall weekend, you should definitely be picking some apples. There are lots of places for apple picking in the area, but my favorite is Gabriel Farm . It’s a true family farm- the family lives on the property- and an organic farm to boot. In addition to apples, the farm grows raspberries, blackberries, tomatoes and flowers. They also grow delicious Asian pears- although these are not available for picking, they offer tastings of a wide variety of Asian pears and you can also purchase them to take home with you.
Once you’ve picked all of your apples, it’s certainly time for some wine tasting. Grape vines abound in Sebastopol, and there are beautiful wineries and tasting rooms to visit. I hear that Freeman Winery offers some truly remarkable Pinot Noir- I haven’t visited yet, but am definitely marking it down as a stop on my next trip.
If you are visiting on a Sunday, make sure to stop by the Farmer’s Market in the Sebastopol Plaza. You’ll find live music, good prepared food, and some truly gorgeous produce. Whenever I visit, I can’t help but return with my arms loaded down with tomatoes, greens and beets.
Another great place to wander around is The Barlow. A relatively recent development, The Barlow offers coffee bars, pastry shops, and restaurants as well as small shops featuring independent and local designers and artists.
Where to eat
Speaking of restaurants, The Barlow has lots of great options to eat. For the carnivores, Zazu is the place to go. The menu is very pig-centric, but there are still options for those who prefer fowl or fish (in fact, I had one of the best pieces of trout I’ve ever had there).
There are also choices for the beer lovers. Woodfour Brewing Company in The Barlow is well known for their sour beer, but offers many other options in addition to tasty small plates. Another beer garden, Hopmonk Tavern, offers outside dining and live music. After your dining experience, make sure to stop by Screaming Mimi’s for some great house made ice cream or sorbet.
Hope you enjoy your trip to Sebastopol as much as I always do!
