Local Attraction
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Attractions:
- Safari West: a most unusual wildlife park. Unlike zoos or drive-through parks, Safari West's expeditions are by appointment only and offer intimate exposure to wildlife.
The park's naturalists provide a unique tour for each group in an authentic safari vehicle. Guests experience a two- to three-hour adventure visiting mixed herds of African native animals that interact much as
they would in the wild. A 400-acre wildlife sanctuary, Safari West is home to more than 400 mammals and birds, including two young cheetahs. Go and experience Africa in the heart of the wine country!
Extend your jungle experience. Stay in the Safari Room.
- Christopher Queen Gallery: Twenty Minutes North
- The Asian-influenced Ren Brown Collection
- Sonoma County Repertory Theatre: Located in nearby Sebastopol
- The Actors' Theatre of Sonoma County
- Santa Rosa Symphony
- Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
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Activities:
- Antique Shopping: Sonoma is a great destination for antique aficionados. Rare finds abound at Petaluma's Chelsea Antiques (707-763-7686) and its sister store Sienna Antiques (707-763-6088) across the street. They both offer high-end antique furniture and uncommon collectibles. Merchandise is displayed in lovely vignettes providing you with decorating ideas, as well!
In nearby Sebastopol, Antique Society (707-829-1733) features more than 150 dealers displaying their wares in a spacious, airy showroom. Crammed with colorful old prints and pottery, jewelry, household items, glassware, vintage clothing, and more, everywhere you turn you'll find a little slice of history. Talk with an innkeeper for directions and more antique ideas. We'd be happy to supply you with a brochure listing our other favorite spots — grouped according to location.
If items from a bygone era suit your style, the classic Sandwich Glass Room may be the best for you.
- Beach: Just because the Sonoma Coast offers rugged cliffs and heart-stopping views, doesn't mean the beaches aren't large, sandy, and inviting!
If it's sunny out and you want to relax, you can't beat a day at the beach. Grab one of the Inn's picnic lunches and head out glorious Coleman Valley Road to the coast and Highway 1. To the right (up the road a piece) is Goat Rock Beach, a local favorite. Located near Jenner, Goat Rock features a lovely curving drive down to sea level — and you don't even need four-wheel drive! Turn left onto Highway 1 instead and Salmon Creek Beach, which is big, long, and flat, is less than a mile down road. Have fun chasing the birds along the edge of the waves (and don't forget to bring a sweatshirt).
For surfing beaches, head further south on Highway 1 to Bodega Bay and follow the signs to Dillon Beach or Bodega Head. Call or stop by the Bodega Bay Surf Shack (707-875-3944) to find out where to catch some waves. The store offers a 24-hour weather and surf report.
- Biking: With terrain ranging from flat to "seriously hilly," Western Sonoma offers great rides for bicyclists of all ability levels. Ask an innkeeper for the "10 Great Sonoma County Rides" sheet, or call the
Santa Rosa Cycling Club (707-544-4803) for the complete scoop. Need to rent some wheels? We recommend Spoke Folk Cyclery in Healdsburg (707-433-7171).
For the serious-minded biker, here are two versions of our favorite coastal rides originating from the Inn:
40-miler: Head north on Bohemian Highway and descend into the town of Monte Rio. Turn left on Moscow Road and at the quaint old town of Duncans Mills, turn left on River Road (Highway 116), and left again over the Russian River on Highway 1. Follow Highway 1 south to a left on Bay Hill Road (just as you reach Bodega Bay). When the road returns to Highway 1, go left and left again on Bodega Highway to the town of Bodega. Then, turn left yet again for a slow but steady climb on Joy Road. Turn right on Bittner for a fast descent back into Occidental.
A shorter but steeper alternative: Head west on Coleman Valley Road, straight across from the Inn. This picturesque road is one of the most stunning on the West Coast and is great viewed by bike. It climbs steeply out of town, descends into its namesake valley and then climbs rapidly again up to a ridgeline over the ocean before descending to Highway 1. Turn left on Highway 1 and continue the route described above.
- Canoeing/Kayaking: Enjoy a leisurely 10-mile paddle down the Russian River from Burke's Canoe Trips (707-887-1222) in nearby Forestville. Burke's offers canoes, paddles, and life jackets for your journey through the redwoods to the resort town of Guerneville. View the fabulous Russian River wildlife and stop to picnic and sunbathe on a sunny beach. Check out funky Guerneville at the end of your excursion before loading up in a complimentary return shuttle. Burke's shuttles weary paddler's back to their cars every half-hour until 6 pm.
- Fine Dining: Western Sonoma offers many wonderful dining experiences. However, the five below are consistently exceptional. For more options, check out our restaurant guide or ask any innkeeper for advice.
- Fishing: Pure heaven for the avid angler, the nearby Russian River presents year-round fishing opportunities. The silver salmon and chinook
migrate through in the fall. The steelhead takes over November through March providing the best chance to catch this fish in all of California! Spring is a great time for catfish and shad, especially if the water is just a little muddy. As the weather warms up, the river fills with bass (small mouth, black, large mouth and stripped), as well as crappie and bluegill — offering solid fishing all summer long!
- Golf: Western Sonoma offers plenty of opportunities to get out on the green. The closest place to play is the Northwood Golf Club (800-330-1167), just up the road in Monte Rio. Offering a variety of golf packages, this lovely course is set among the redwoods along the Russian River. A half-hour southwest of the Inn is Bodega Harbour Golf Links (707-875-3538). Named one of California's 25 most challenging courses by Golf Digest magazine, Bodega Harbour offers spectacular ocean views from many holes. Reminiscent of links courses in Scotland, this course is a great place to play and take in the coastline sights . A half-hour west of the Inn in Santa Rosa is The Fountaingrove Club (707-521-3214). The course's legendary rugged terrain offers a challenge while its indigenous landscaping and waterscapes provide the scenery. New bentgrass greens add to playability, and an expanded practice facility features grass tees and a chipping green.
- Hiking: If you're a nature lover, no visit to Western Sonoma would be complete without a hike in the Armstrong Woods State Reserve (707-869-2015). Set aside in 1870 as a natural park and botanical garden, the reserve is the only grove of first-generation redwoods open to the public in Sonoma County. Make sure you visit the 310-foot Parsons Tree and the Colonel Armstrong Tree, which is more than 1,400 years old. No matter your pace or fitness level, an innkeeper can suggest the perfect walk or hike, from 10 minutes to more than an hour. The inn has a great map of the woods — don't head off without it.
- Horseback Riding: Ride gentle horses through the giant old-growth
forests and experience Sonoma's redwood wilderness in a whole new way. Hosts Laura and Jonathan Ayers from Armstrong Woods Pack Station (707-887-2939) offer rides ranging in length from one and a half hours to all day. Parties of six or more can enjoy a sunset barbeque or overnight rides. Relax on your quarter horse and enjoy the scenery!
- Hot Air Balloon Rides: Get a bird's-eye view of the Inn and all of Sonoma in an Aerostat Adventures (800-579-0183)
hot-air balloon ride. Your flight experience includes setup and inflation of the balloon, a one-hour-plus flight, photo opportunities, and a flight certificate. Also included is a brunch featuring award-winning Piper Sonoma champagne, fresh coffee, and a complete breakfast. All Aerostat Adventures pilots are FAA certified and have thousands of hours of flight experience.
- Theater: The performing-arts scene is hopping in Sonoma County. Located in nearby Sebastopol, the Sonoma County Repertory Theatre (707-823-0177) offers an array of productions ranging from the classic works of Shakespeare to the best of contemporary theater. The Actors' Theatre of Sonoma County (707-523-4185) performs in Santa Rosa and offers a variety of challenging and entertaining live theater. Its intimate 70-seat space is home to six productions per season.
Call or check each company's website to see what's on stage during your visit. If classical music is more your cup of tea, the Santa Rosa Symphony (707-546-8742) is gaining a national reputation as one of the best regional orchestras on the West Coast. Its concert season runs October through May and features many internationally famous guest artists and conductors. The Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (707-546-3600) in Santa Rosa offers many artists and attractions throughout the year,
- Shopping: Healdsburg has become the capital of Sonoma wine country, and what was once a sleepy little town is now humming with activity — particularly shopping activity. Halfway between Russian River and the Alexander Valley wine-growing region, Healdsburg makes the perfect spot to stop and shop 'til you drop. Park and walk "the square." You'll discover great shops, bookstores, and coffeehouses.
Pentimento Antiques and Interiors (707-431-0600) is the place for home furnishings. This beautifully appointed store features fine antiques, original art, colorful lamps and pillows, leather furniture, vintage French posters, and many unusual gifts. Don't miss Pentimento Warehouse just around the corner.
For eclectic, original jewelry and clothes, Bowdon Designs (707-433-9045) is your best bet. If she's there, owner Ruthann Bowdon will be happy to point out all the wonderful fabrics and unusual materials used in the designs. Watch your checkbook if you happen to spy the bracelets made from antique buttons. They're irresistible!
Just 20 paces off the square is Options (707-431-8861), and beware, this store takes a while. Owner Terry Rusinow shops the world for her special items, which include contemporary and ethnic jewelry and clothing, folk art, Japanese tansu chests and antique kimonos, kilim rugs, hand-made knives from Laguiole, France, hand-painted scarves, custom-made copper and sterling bracelets, and one-of-a-kind crafts.
When you're weary from shopping and need a pick-me-up, Flying Goat Coffee (707-433-3599) offers caffeine fixes in a variety of flavors. The roasters of the Inn's "Jack's Blend," these folks know how to make a great cup of Joe. If you need something a bit more substantial, try the Oakville Grocery (707-433-3200). Fill your basket with a gourmet pizza or sandwich along with every type of cheese and side dish you can imagine. Eat on the sunny patio or take your goodies and picnic in the square's park-like setting.
If you're hankering for sit-down service, try one of these eateries: Charcuterie (707-431-7213) is Jack's favorite with its innovative menu (soups, sandwiches, and great entrees), Zin Restaurant and Wine Bar (707-473-0946) is a hip, new restaurant and wine bar, and the new Dry Creek Kitchen in the Hotel Healdsburg (707-431-2800) offers high-end dining.
Need more lunch ideas for Healdsburg? Ask an innkeeper. We have tons of places to recommend!
- Whale Watching: More than 20,000 gray whales swim the Pacific shores during their annual migration. Nearby Bodega Bay offers wonderful opportunities to observe these magnificent creatures. Wil's Fishing Adventures (707-875-2323) holds three-hour cruises twice a day in search of the largest animal on Earth.
Watch for schools of playful dolphins and porpoises, acrobatic humpback whales, orcas, harbor seals, and California sea lions, as well.
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