Sebastopol, California
Sebastopol is a small farming community located a little over an hour north of San Francisco is the western portion of Sonoma County. Sebastopol is known for its gravenstein apple orchards. Many of Sebastopol’s apple orchards have now been converted to vineyards. Sebastopol is now a popular wine country destination.
1. History
In the 1850’s, the town of Sebastopol was formed and erected its first post office. During the California gold rush, some settlers made their way to Sebastopol to try their hand at farming. The apple farming industry brought prosperity to the small town and by 1902 it had built schools, churches, mills, hotels, and an opera house. The 1906 earthquake had devastating effects, destroying most of its buildings, but they were later rebuilt.
2. Schools
Sebastopol students have a few choices when it comes to schools. The Sebastopol Union School District serves students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. Sebastopol also have a few private and charter Waldorf Schools. There is the Sebastopol Charter, the SunRidge Charter School, and the Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm. High school aged students attend the West Sonoma County Union High School District.
3. Restaurants, Shopping, and Things to do
If you are looking to eat or do some shopping, you will have plenty of options at The Barlow, a 12 acre outdoor market filled with food, drinks, shopping, and services. Head to the Fern Bar for artisanal cocktails and modern American cuisine. Try the Umami Bomb and a passionfruit mojito - yum! Then, head over to Two Dog Night Creamery for some handmade ice cream and waffle cones.
Another great dining option outside of The Barlow is Handline. They have amazing fish tacos, soft serve ice cream, and tons of outdoor seating in a park-like setting.
Check out the art at Gallery 300 and the clothing and home goods for the whole family at Barge North. Sebastopol also has a thriving Farmer’s Market every Sunday from 10:00-1:30. There are a lot of great local farms that sell their produce here. You will also get to see the lively locals, which is fun.
There are a few fun activities in Sebastopol. You can check out the junk art by local artists Patrick Amiot and Brigitte Laurent by walking down Florence Avenue and looking for their sculptures in various neighbors' front yards. Sebastopol also has a lavender, honey, and olive oil farm called Monte-Bellaria di California. This is a great place to take a farm tour and breathe in the beautiful fragrance of the lavender. If you’d like to visit a winery, check out Horse and Plow for a wine or cider tasting in their “tasting barn”. They also host live music and art receptions.
