Amiot sculptures (www.
patrickamiot.com; c)
gracing front yards along
Florence Ave. Fashioned
from recycled materials,
a hot-rodding rat, hectic
waitress and a witch in
midflight are a few of the
oversized and demented
lawn ornaments
parading along the
street.
5 p105
The Drive » From the central
intersection of Hwys 116 and
12, head west on Bodega Ave
(signed Bodega Bay) for 6 miles,
passing apple orchards en route
to tiny Freestone.
2 Bohemian
Highway
Running north from
the town of Freestone,
the pastoral 10-mile
Bohemian Hwy tours
past farmland and then
constricts through
stands of redwoods,
ending at the Russian
River in tiny Monte Rio.
At the southern end, the
crossroads of Freestone
isn’t much more than just
that, though the former
railway stop boasts a
crazy-popular bakery, a
cute country store and
a Japanese-inspired spa
specializing in unique
cedar treatments. Stop by
for a tasting at Freestone
Vineyards (%707-874-1010;
http://www.freestonevineyards.com;
cnr Bodega & Bohemian Hwys;
tasting $10; h11am-5pm),
one of the rare spots in
the area that produces
excellent pinot noir, and
with biodynamic farming
methods to boot.
Just over 3 miles
north, Occidental
is a haven of artists,
back-to-the-landers and
counterculturalists.
Historic 19th-century
buildings line a single
main street, easy to
explore in an hour. On
Fridays, meet the whole
community at the detour-
worthy farmers market
(www.occidentalfarmersmarket.com; (^) h4pm-dusk Fri Jun-
Oct), with musicians,
craftspeople and – the
star attraction – Gerard’s
Paella (www.gerardspaella.
com) of TV-cooking-show
fame.
5 p105
The Drive » In the center of
Occidental, turn west onto well-
signed Coleman Valley Rd.
3 Coleman
Valley Road
Sonoma County’s most
scenic drive isn’t through
the grapes, but along
these 10 miles of winding
West County byway from
Occidental to the sea. It’s
best in the late morning,
after the fog has cleared
and the sun’s behind you.
First you’ll pass through
redwood forests and lush
valleys where Douglas
firs stand draped in
sphagnum moss – an
eerie sight in the fog.
The real beauty shots
lie further ahead, when
the road ascends 1000ft
hills, dotted with gnarled
oaks and craggy rock
formations, with the vast
blue Pacific unfurling
below.
The Drive » The road ends
at coastal Hwy 1 in the midst
of Sonoma Coast State Beach,
which stretches 17 miles from
Bodega Head to just north of
Jenner. From Hwy 1, head 2.5
miles south, then west onto
Eastshore Rd. Go right at the
stop sign onto Bay Flat Rd and
along the harbor until road’s end.
4 Bodega Bay
The town of Bodega Bay
sits at the southernmost
section of the glorious
Sonoma Coast State
Beach (%707-875-3483;
http://www.parks.ca.gov),,) a series
of beaches separated by
several beautiful rocky
headlands. Some beaches
are tiny, hidden in little
coves, while others
TRIP HIGHLIGHT
5
Napa Valley
In Dry Creek
Valley, take Canyon Rd
and then head east on
Hwy 128 to visit the
showcase wineries and
destination restaurants
of Napa Valley.
6
Sonoma Valley
From Sebastopol,
head east on Hwy 12
for Sonoma Valley wine
tasting and the historical
sights around Sonoma
Plaza.
LINK
YOUR
TRIP
NORTHERN.CALIFORNIA.
7
.RUSSIAN RIVER & THE BOHEMIAN HIGHWAY