Duncans Mills: This town is about a twenty five minute drive from the house. Duncans Mills is along the lower portion of the Russian River and is super pretty. Great trip through the countryside to a truly wonderful town. For the town website click here, otherwise I have highlighted a few things below.
Gold Coast Coffee and Bakery: Fantastic place! Coffee, bakery items, great outdoor seating in back protected from the wind. They roast their coffee on site. Cant go wrong rain or shine .
Blue Herron Restaurant and Tavern: They have outdoor music in the better weather months. If you would like to have dinner in Duncans Mills, this is the place. www.blueheronrestaurant.com
Bodega: This is the town that was featured in Alfred Hitchkock's film "The Birds". Creepy film, but very pleasant town. There is an art gallery and a coffee shop. This town is about 20 minutes west of the house on the way to Bodega Bay and is worth stopping just to look around.
Hageman Ranch Trout Farm: You just never know when the urge to catch a trout will strike. Fortunately, if this happens as you are passing through the town of Bodega, you're in luck! Stop by the Hageman Ranch Trout Farm. You can't get trout any fresher than this. So, for rainbow trout, click here.
Bodega Bay: The town of Bodega Bay is about a half an hour west of the house on Bodega Bay. The weather out there is typically cooler. Doran park is just south of the bay and is a great place to walk on the beach because it is typically sheltered from the NW wind.
Valley Ford: Made famous by Christos running fence back in the 70's, Valley Ford is a low profile town about 20 minutes from the house.
Dinucci's Italian Restaurant: For good Italian food in an out of the way town, click here.
Rocker Oysterfellers: Dreaming of oysters, this is closer than Tomales Bay so click here.
Jenner: Jenner is the end of the road for the Russian river as it empties into the Pacific at Goat Rock State Beach. Jenner is a 35 minute drive from the house, beautiful scenery the whole way. There is a shell shop and a restaurant. Weather is typically cold and windy. From Jenner you could head down the coast, take Coleman Valley road back into Occidental for a great tour of the area. You will pass a restaurant at Bridgehaven as you cross the Russian river. Great Indian food there with sheltered outdoor seating and a view of the river.
Monte Rio: Down the Bohemian highway from Occidental is the town of Monte Rio. As you cross the bridge over the Russian River you will see a large beach on the bend of the river. This is usually a pleasant and sunny spot in the warmer months with good swimming. This beach is about a twenty minute drive from the house. Here is another good link.
Forestville: Fifteen minutes from the house is the town of Forestville. This is a gateway town to the Russian River area. The Joe Redota Trail can be taken from here back to Graton or all the way through Sebastopol into Santa Rosa.
Gold Coast Coffee and Bakery: Fantastic place! Coffee, bakery items, great outdoor seating in back protected from the wind. They roast their coffee on site. Cant go wrong rain or shine .
Blue Herron Restaurant and Tavern: They have outdoor music in the better weather months. If you would like to have dinner in Duncans Mills, this is the place. www.blueheronrestaurant.com
Bodega: This is the town that was featured in Alfred Hitchkock's film "The Birds". Creepy film, but very pleasant town. There is an art gallery and a coffee shop. This town is about 20 minutes west of the house on the way to Bodega Bay and is worth stopping just to look around.
Hageman Ranch Trout Farm: You just never know when the urge to catch a trout will strike. Fortunately, if this happens as you are passing through the town of Bodega, you're in luck! Stop by the Hageman Ranch Trout Farm. You can't get trout any fresher than this. So, for rainbow trout, click here.
Bodega Bay: The town of Bodega Bay is about a half an hour west of the house on Bodega Bay. The weather out there is typically cooler. Doran park is just south of the bay and is a great place to walk on the beach because it is typically sheltered from the NW wind.
Valley Ford: Made famous by Christos running fence back in the 70's, Valley Ford is a low profile town about 20 minutes from the house.
Dinucci's Italian Restaurant: For good Italian food in an out of the way town, click here.
Rocker Oysterfellers: Dreaming of oysters, this is closer than Tomales Bay so click here.
Jenner: Jenner is the end of the road for the Russian river as it empties into the Pacific at Goat Rock State Beach. Jenner is a 35 minute drive from the house, beautiful scenery the whole way. There is a shell shop and a restaurant. Weather is typically cold and windy. From Jenner you could head down the coast, take Coleman Valley road back into Occidental for a great tour of the area. You will pass a restaurant at Bridgehaven as you cross the Russian river. Great Indian food there with sheltered outdoor seating and a view of the river.
Monte Rio: Down the Bohemian highway from Occidental is the town of Monte Rio. As you cross the bridge over the Russian River you will see a large beach on the bend of the river. This is usually a pleasant and sunny spot in the warmer months with good swimming. This beach is about a twenty minute drive from the house. Here is another good link.
Forestville: Fifteen minutes from the house is the town of Forestville. This is a gateway town to the Russian River area. The Joe Redota Trail can be taken from here back to Graton or all the way through Sebastopol into Santa Rosa.
