Sebastopol

Just seven miles west of Santa Rosa, the city of Sebastopol offers quick access to Sonoma County’s seat, while clinging to its rural, small-town roots.appletree

Incorporated in 1902, Sebastopol’s history as an apple-farming center is still apparent today by the orchards that dot the city’s outskirts. Famous for its Gravenstein variety, Sebastopol celebrates its native fruit each August during the Gravenstein Apple Fair, a weekend-long event that serves up local food, wine, and music.

The city of 7,500 enjoys about 260 sunny days per year thanks to portions of the California Coast Range, which protect it from the Pacific Ocean winds. Daytime highs during the summer months average in the mid-80s, while winter temperatures rarely dip below freezing.

Three public schools serve Sebastopol, including 1,300-student Analy High School. In 2012 Analy scored 818 out of a possible 1,000 on the state’s Academic Performance Index.

Main Street, Sebastopol’s commercial center, is home to a variety of locally owned restaurants, art galleries, and shops. Though Sebastopol has both a Safeway and a Whole Foods Market, shoppers who need access to other chain stores can hop on State Route 12 and head into Santa Rosa in less than 15 minutes. Santa Rosa is also the juncture of Highway 101, Sonoma County’s principal north-south thoroughfare and the fastest way to get to San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

Nature admirers and outdoor enthusiasts have no shortage of nearby options with which to entertain themselves. Sebastopol is located just 15 miles east of the seaside town of Bodega Bay, which acts as a gateway to Highway 1’s stunning stretch of rocky coastline. To the north is the town of Guerneville, where summer pastimes include swimming and canoeing on the Russian River or sunbathing along its banks.

According to MLS data, median home prices in Sebastopol hit $650,000 in June, the highest they have been in two years and 32 percent above Sonoma County overall. Home prices spiked 17 percent from the year before, slightly lower than the 21 percent increases experienced countywide during that same period.

There were 99 Sebastopol properties on the market in June, roughly 40 percent of which were still available at the end of the month, as opposed to 30 percent in Sonoma County as a whole.

Sebastopol is not for everyone, but it is SO Western Sonoma County. An artists’ and gardeners’ community, this is the gathering place for the area’s greatest bands, photographers, and botanists alike. Unlike nearby Sonoma’s very well laid-out downtown quad, Sebastopol’s downtown looks very thrown together, like business owners decided independently to put up storefronts that collectively became the area. And that is part of the charm that is Sebastopol.

Close to the ocean and even closer to the redwoods, nearby outdoor activities are aplenty. Kayakers can enjoy the calm waters of the Russian River, and of course, the abundance of nearby wineries don’t hurt, either (so long as you don’t drink too much!) Summers here actually feel the way that summers are supposed to feel, but the cool ocean breezes are never too far off.

The biggest drawback to the area is also its biggest asset: its location. Sebastopol is close to lots of cool things, like wineries and farms and redwood trees and rivers, but there really aren’t any major nearby towns for miles. Even the nearest interstate, the 101, is about seven miles away.

Sebastopol is 30 minutes from the Pacific Ocean. Lots of apples orchards and grapes. Anything grows in this soil so gardening is a favorite passtime. Luther Burbank created many new plants in this area. Lots of artists - sculpture abounds in front yards. Cute cottages to palatial country homes. Warm days cooled by morning and late evening fog. Close to the Russian River: kayaking, swimming, lazy days. Great wine tasting nearby. Great restaurants and Screamin' Mimi's Ice Cream.