Antiquing in Sonoma County 2-Day Itinerary

Come explore the pretty section of Highway 116 known as Antique Row, which stretches from the village of Cotati to the vibrant town of Sebastopol.

This two-lane roadway winds through rural country past an occasional assortment of local businesses, like plant nurseries, barbecue joints, woodworking, or even a fortune teller. Hand-painted signs offer various items for sale, like eggs or goats.

If you love rummaging through lots of stuff, visit Jewels to Junk in Cotati, a small shop featuring new and used merchandise, including antiques. Owners Chuck and Maria Jensen buy from auctions, closeout sales, and overstock sales. 

Step back into a bygone era at Windmill Antiques in Sebastopol, a warm and welcoming store in a building that originally housed a saloon, barbershop, and tack store. You can still see the gorgeous wooden bar, complete with mirrors and shelves. In business for more than 20 years, Windmill Antiques features Native American baskets and jewelry, tools, pocket knives, and a little bit of everything, spread neatly through the rambling rooms.

Next, head to the diverse selection at the Antique Society, in a 20,000-square-foot building that served as a door factory in the 1930s, and a furnace manufacturing company in the 1940s. Today, with more than 100 dealers, it’s Northern California’s largest antique collective. The high-beamed, vaulted ceiling adds to this bright, clean, and well-organized space where it’s fun to wander the wide aisles and admire the goods.

Here you’ll also find the Society Bakery & Café, a cozy eatery with tasty food and a select menu that changes to feature seasonal ingredients. Each day, the menu typically includes a delicious soup, a salad, and a tasty sandwich, along with a variety of baked goods and coffee. 

Sebastopol offers tasty lunch options, including vegan and vegetarian restaurants. For fresh local ingredients blended with deliscious Japanese techniques, devour a tasty bowl at Ramen Gaijin. You can check the complete list of Sonoma County Restaurants and filter the optons by choosing the town of Sebastopol. 

Refueled and refreshed, it’s back to treasure hunting! On the weekend, you’ll want to visit Midgley’s Country Flea Market, a long-established outdoor market (more than 40 years) featuring unique antiques, tools, pictures, furniture, toys, and whatever else the diverse assortment of vendors bring.

You’ll love browsing Attico Resale & Reclaimed Furnishings, a consignment shop with antique and contemporary furniture displayed in “vignettes” to showcase how the pieces might look in a home. Typically, French or Italian music plays in the background, and the offerings includes rustic, antique, or mid-century pieces, many with a European flair.

Relax and take a break at The Barlow, a 12.5-acre artisan and culinary industrial park just northeast of downtown. Here you’ll find something good to drink for any taste.

Sip a tasting flight, wines by the glass, or a bottle at Pax Wines. Choose from a variety of craft beers at Crooked Goat Brewing and Seismic Brewing Company. Try apple-driven, organic, dry ciders at Golden State Cider.

Enjoy organic cold-pressed juices, green smoothies, and probiotic beverages at The Nectary, a smoothie and juice bar. For coffee lovers, Taylor Lane roasts its own beans and offers handcrafted espresso-based beverages and seasonal drinks like lavender lattes.

Lodging

Relax and enjoy the serenity among the grapevines at Pearlessence Vineyard Inn. Or stay in the heart of town at Fairfield Inn & Suites Santa Rosa Sebastopol.

Dining

• For dinner in Sebastopol, relax at the Fern Bar with handcrafted garden-to-glass cocktails and modern American cuisine.
• Dine on tasty pub fare in a lively atmosphere at Hopmonk Tavern. 
• Savor authentic cuisine from Nepal and India at Himalayan Tandoori and Curry House.
• Tuck into Mexican-style street food with a gourmet edge at Osito Style Tacos in a simple setting amongst the shops at The Barlow.
• If you haven’t yet tried Ramen Gaijin, it’s a great option for dinner. 

See the complete listing of Sonoma County Restaurants and click on Sebastopol. 

For a bit of evening entertainment, both the Fern Bar and Hopmonk Tavern offer live music. Or catch a show or performance by checking the event calendars at Sebastopol Center for the Arts and Rialto Cinemas.

Start your day with breakfast at one of Sebastopol’s cozy eateries. Then take a coffee with you to stroll the vibrant downtown area. Discover the diverse mix of shops featuring crafts, clothing, books, housewares, and those antique spots you may not have had enough time to browse the day before.

To resume your antiquing adventure, head back into the countryside on Highway 116 to the tiny town of Graton, which was once a little apple cannery town.

You don’t want to miss Mr. Ryder and Company, a collective of dealers offering carefully selected and well-organized items in a light and airy 1906 Victorian storefront. Here you’ll find furniture, household items, artwork, glassware, and more. Fans of this store say it’s a dangerous place, because there’s so many wonderful things they want.

The owner, Betty Ann Sutton, is active in animal rescue (the store is named after her late dog), and the people who work here are all animal advocates, so this dog-friendly shop “welcomes all well-behaved dogs and people.”

Lunchtime

For a bite to eat, visit local gathering spot, Willow Wood Market Café which doubles as a general store and a café/soda fountain. Enjoy the atmosphere and the down-home comfort food prepared with fresh local ingredients in a relaxed, family-friendly setting.

Across the street, the Underwood Bar & Bistro provides big-city style serving lunch and dinner with relaxed sophistication. Indeed, Food and Wine magazine once listed Underwood as one of “America’s 50 Most Amazing Wine Experiences.” 

After exploring cute downtown Graton, continue west on Graton Road a two-lane rural roadway where trees arch overhead in places and there’s something scenic to see around each bend.

The road ends in the laid-back town of Occidental where the two-block main street houses galleries, gift shops, and renowned restaurants.

Occidental is where you can cruise on theBohemian Highway, a highly scenic 10-mile stretch of two-lane road for those who enjoy getting off the beaten path in a gorgeous natural setting. connecting the hamlets of Monte Rio in the north with  in the south.

If you have time to explore Freestone, this tiny community has a lot to offer, including a destination bakery (fans drive miles out of their way to buy their breads), a wonderful wine tasting room, artisan cheeses, and a spa sanctuary. Find more things to do in Freestone.

From the Bohemian Highway, head to the village of Bodega, a scattering of houses and businesses spread along the roadway and nestled against the hills. 

Seagull Antiques offers a wide variety of items, including a selection of vintage and antique pieces, beach décor, trinkets, and memorabilia from Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 movie “The Birds,” which was shot in this area. You can soak up the atmosphere by touring the places that served as locations for filming “The Birds.”

Drop in at the Artisan’s Co-Op in Bodega, which features the diverse work of as many as 40 local artists and artisans.

Explore the Coast

It’s only four miles to the spectacular coastline and the seaside village of Bodega Bay where you can take in the beauty of the Pacific Ocean. 

Stretch your legs and breath invigoating sea air at Bodega Head where you get magestic views, bluff-top trails, and the chance to spot seals or watch for whales on the Sonoma Coast.

Dining options vary from clam chowder and crab sandwiches outdoors at Spud Point Crab Company to the casual atmosphere and nationally acclaimed cuisine at Terrapin Creek Café. For more options, check the complete list of Sonoma County Restaurants and click on Bodega Bay.

Your antiquing fun doesn’t have to end. More Sonoma County destinations are known for antiques, like Petaluma which hosts a Petaluma Antique Faire in the spring and fall. Mark your calendar and come stay for this widely popular event which turns the historic downtown into a fun antique marketplace.

Also, the town of Healdsburg is where you’ll find Modern Antiquarium, a fun place for nostalgia, while the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society hosts an annual Healdsburg Antiques and Arts Fair in the town plaza.