Sebastopol

With some of Sonoma County’s best restaurants, bars and public schools, Sebastopol may just have you at hello – but its open spaces, artsy vibe and walkable downtown could well seal the deal. At the junction of State Route 12 and the 116, between Santa Rosa and the ocean, this small, leafy city extends a warm country welcome to everyone, especially families and retirees.

Whether you want a small to mid-sized home close to downtown or a large multi-acre country property, Sebastopol’s got you covered. Along the sidewalk-lined, oak-shaded streets near downtown you’ll see plenty of well-kept bungalows from the 1910s to '30s; those on Florence Avenue display the city's playful side, with yards featuring quirky recycled-metal sculptures by local artist Patrick Amiot. Throughout the city and the sometimes-woodsy countryside (where you're likely to hear the gobbling of wild turkeys and the chuckling of quail), long, low ranch-style homes from the ‘50s through ‘70s often have open floor plans, while farmhouse-style models from the '80s and ‘90s often sport front porches and white trim.

Sebastopol's homes are generally more expensive than those in central Santa Rosa, but they can be a bargain compared to those in Petaluma and Healdsburg. You might find a small home here in the upper $600,000s, but it's more likely that you'll find mid-size and larger homes between $800,000 and $2 million. Attached town houses from the ‘90s and 2000s are about $530,000 here, while a 2-bedroom unit at the 55-plus Fircrest Mobile Home Park, which has a community pool and clubhouse, costs $325,000.

For much of the 19th century, Sebastopol was known for its Gravenstein apples, a tart, tasty and versatile variety planted here by Russian explorers in 1811. Wealthy from this rose-red crop by 1890, Sebastopol merited a railroad connection to the rest of the country; however, the short shelf life of the thin-skinned “Grav" would bruise its reputation on the national market. Before long, vineyards replaced most orchards, but thanks to preservation efforts, a healthy number of trees remain. Get to the core of this delicious fruit at the Gravenstein Apple Fair, held each August at Ragle Ranch Park.

This 157-acre sprawl is Sebastopol’s largest green space, home to a modern playground, a popular dog park and a network of dirt-packed scenic trails. If you prefer a more paved path, hit the Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail though the Laguna de Santa Rosa Wetlands Preserve, the county's largest freshwater seasonal wetlands. Here you can wander amid marshes, oak woodlands and grasslands, keeping an eye out for the hundreds of bird species that shelter by the creeks and ponds. Note that the Laguna tends to flood during winter rains, often spilling across the 12.

The upside of all that water? Sebastopol’s floodplain makes for fertile ground. Famed horticulturist Luther Burbank certainly thought so, setting up his Gold Ridge Farm here in 1885 to produce hundreds of new crop varieties. At what's today called Luther Burbank Experiment Farm, you can volunteer in the gardens or buy heirloom propagations on the honor system. Growing your own produce can certainly boost your health, but rest assured, the Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation’s doctors will still be close at hand.

So will great public schools. All three elementary options – SunRidge Charter, Park Side (K-4) and Brook Haven (5-8) – are rated B+ by Niche.com for their strong academics and experienced teachers. Top-rated Analy High, which was combined with Forestville’s El Molino High in 2021, earns an even more impressive A- for its rigorous focus on college prep, athletics (Go, Tigers!) and the arts.

At the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, you can attend everything from a gallery exhibit to a poetry reading to a ceramics class; annual events here include Sonoma County Art Trails, a two-weekend, map-guided tour of local artists’ studios. You could also pick up a new hobby or just make some new friends at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, where activities include meditation classes, Afro-Brazilian dancing and a folk children’s choir.

Since the 1960s, Sebastopol has had a reputation for being a hippie town with a crunchy vibe, but that isn’t why Samantha Carpenter and her husband Dan moved here in 2021. “I do love that the city’s liberal and artsy and inclusive,” Carpenter says, “but I especially appreciate its strong focus on local businesses and products. The Barlow is a great representation of this.”

A huge outdoor shopping and dining complex in an old apple processing plant, The Barlow is as much a tourist destination as a local attraction. Here you’ll find gorgeous eateries like Southern-inspired Blue Ridge Kitchen; hip wine bars like Region and The Redwood; and home-grown breweries like Crooked Goat. You can tour a spirits distillery, go cheese-tasting and even watch glassblowers at work. Once a month, area entrepreneurs set up shop at the Barlow’s Head West Marketplace, hawking everything from hand-made jewelry to fabric arts.

Beyond The Barlow, you can shop at a block's worth of boutiques, bakeries and bookstores along Main Street, a brief interruption in the 116. Meet more local purveyors at the friendly Sebastopol Farmers Market each Sunday morning, and at worker-run Community Market, where the produce is 100% organic. Other Sebastopol grocery options include Safeway, Whole Foods and independent Fircrest Market.

Sebastopol is also home to Michelin-recognized restaurants like Khom Loi, known for its creative Thai kitchen; and the noodle-bowl heaven of Ramen Gaijin. Nightlife includes dancing to some live music at Hopmonk Tavern or a drink and a movie at Rialto Cinemas, and you can start each morning with a jolt at fun, funky Retrograde Coffee Roasters.

Whether your version of Sonoma County is right in town or a peaceful ways out in the country, consider going local amid the great outdoors, excellent schools and friendly folks of Sebastopol.

Written By

Melanie Wynne

Photography Contributed By

Paul Winner

Video By

Austin Lewis