A Bohemian Highway in Bloom

Just an hour and a half north of San Francisco, the Bohemian Highway beckons with the warm days of autumn and the tranquil setting of eucalyptus trees and lambs grazing on roadside meadows. My boyfriend and I visited Osmosis Day Spa and spent the night in Occidental, California, a rural town in the rolling hills of Sonoma County, tucked along the Bohemian Highway between Wine Country and the Pacific Coast.

We stayed at a highly-rated budget lodge in Occidental that was basic in style and amenities but offered fresh-baked cookies in their lobby. One morning shared a loaf of fresh-baked olive and rosemary bread from a small organic bakery with an onsite garden. For dinner we had made reservations at an intimate French bistro where there were small tables, a cello musician playing solo classical tunes, and the chef came out to ask us how our meal was tasting and to shake our hands.

On Main Street, we happened upon a charming shop with a collection of functional art objects made entirely of reclaimed or recycled materials. And in Freestone, the neighboring town, we relaxed overlooking a meditation garden, while our bodies were suspended in healing enzymes and cedar dust. It was my second time to this rural retreat and each time I’m reminded of how simply some people live. The small stores, the close knit community. I liked being the only car on the road.