The Occidental Tourist Continued

The drive from Occidental to the Pacific coast is approximately 10 miles. The most scenic route is along Coleman Valley Road, which offers stunning views of the valley and the ocean in the distance. As you get closer to the water, the trees start disappearing and the windswept hills are dotted with rock outcrops. Here, the roads are shared with hearty cyclists braving the steep twists and turns along the rolling hills. Coleman Valley Road ends at Hwy 1 midway between the towns of Jenner and Bodega Bay. Along this 10.5 mile stretch there are twelve dramatic beaches to explore. The morning haze had burned off leaving the sun to shimmer and dance across the water.

The Occidental Tourist

What does a Colorado native, who has been transplanted to San Diego, crave? Trees and mountains! Real trees and real hills. Not the glamorous palm trees that are outside my window right now. Bushy green leafy trees that provide shade and spill onto the sidewalk. Not gentle rolling hills covered in desert scrub. I miss hills that make me breathless and trails covered in pine needles. To satisfy this craving, I decided to explore the Redwoods of Sonoma County in Northern California. After scouring the vast amount of options available in Sonoma County, I chose Occidental as my base.

Occidental is a charming town approximately 70 miles north of San Francisco. The town is surrounded by Redwoods and the coveted green leafy hills. I stayed at the Inn at Occidental, which is a beautiful property perched on a hillside that hosts wine tasting nightly on its wraparound porch overlooking the town.

Picture of the Moment - Golden Gate Bridge

Driving over the Golden Gate Bridge on a foggy Friday night