Established in 1876 as the final stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad, Occidental (pop. 1,126) is a town whose modern-day charms are rooted in its past.
As you explore, you’ll find many local nods to that Western railway heritage, including businesses housed in a former train station, railroad saloon, and boarding house.
Occidental's time as a transportation hot spot made it a popular vacation destination, a reputation it still holds. Now, however, its more known for its laid-back vibes, eclectic boutique shopping, outdoor delights, and being a stop along the scenic Bohemian Highway.
Things to Do in Occidental
This small town is brimming with ways to disconnect with life’s hustle and reconnect with yourself and travel companions. Shop for artisan-made souvenirs and crystals in the locally owned spots that line the two-block downtown or settle into a wine tasting.
Or become the maker yourself thanks to Occidental Center for the Arts, where classes and workshops run the gamut from writing and watercolor to figure drawing and bluegrass fiddling. The center also hosts concerts featuring local musicians and singers, and the Redwood Arts Council sweetens the musical pot with its annual chamber music series.
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Where to Eat
An emphasis on seasonal produce and sustainability is the name of the game in Occidental, where you can recharge with a cornucopia of locally sourced meats, cheeses, fruits, and veggies. Howard Station Café is a local favorite, serving American classics and Californian cuisine from the town’s old train station. At The Altamont General Store, savor free-range chicken katsu sandwiches with yuzu aioli, veggie tacos with kimchi special sauce, and vegan soft serve.
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Hotels and Lodging
Whether you want to wake up in a guesthouse with views of wooded hillsides and meadows, open your eyes to the gentle sounds of farm animals, or glamp in a treehouse nestled in the branches of redwoods, there’s a place for you to kick back here.
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LandPaths' beautiful Grove of Old Trees is open for walking and picnicking any day of the year. In fact, the Grove is the only privately-owned preserve in Sonoma County that is publicly accessible and…
This charming Mexican Cafe serves lunch & dinner to locals & tourists alike without direct competition. Located in the historic town of Occidental in Sonoma County's wine country.
Creekside Park is an unusual mixture of activity and quietude, fun and art, farming and transportation, conservation and natural beauty all packed into a small and beautiful designed Public Park.…
Laurence Glass Works features fine art: almost all of it local, and quite a bit of it made by the store owner herself, Laurence.
Inn at Occidental is not just another Sonoma County Wine Country bed and breakfast: secluded beneath towering redwoods in the charming village of Occidental, this bed and breakfast is centrally…
Hand Goods is a locally owned gallery featuring hand crafted goods in downtown Occidental, CA. Established in 1970. Created by artists, for artists and lovers of handmade goods.
Housed in the oldest building in the town of Occidental, The Altamont General Store is a modern-day market and community meeting space for makers, bakers and caffeine appreciators.
St Philip the Apostle church is a Roman Catholic church located in Occidental, California. In the late 1800s the Catholic population of the Occidental area was served by the Church of the Assumption…
The Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC) is an 80-acre research, demonstration, advocacy and organizing center in Sonoma County, California that develops strategies for regional-scale community…
Welcome to Negri’s Original Italian Restaurant where you’ll enjoy authentic Italian recipes passed down through four generations of our family for you and your family to enjoy.  Here at Negri's, we…
More Trip Ideas and Inspiration
Tucked away in western Sonoma County, the tiny community of Occidental was founded in 1876 as the last stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad. It became a popular vacation destination soon after it...
Unfurling across 10 miles of western Sonoma County, the two-lane Bohemian Highway weaves through the tiny hamlets of Monte Rio, Occidental, and Freestone, passing towering redwoods, serene pastures...
Say "Occidental," and many locals think "Italian" for the long-standing restaurants that serve generously portioned, family-friendly dinners in this small town tucked away in Sonoma County's Russian...