The Inn at Occidental, tucked between Sonoma Bay, downtown Sonoma and Healdsburg, is an excellent getaway in wine country. Sure you can find luxury in lots of places, but this little bed and breakfast, run by Jerry and Tina Wolsborn, is all about providing a unique experience filled with quirky details.
Room at the Inn at Occidental — Photo courtesy of Inn at Occidental
Each room has a name – safari, summer, heritage, kitchen cupboard – that loosely indicates a theme. Each theme, however, is understated and subtle, and every bedroom has crisp white linens, Frette towels in the bathrooms and Aveda bath products. Several of the rooms have romantic four poster beds, some have separate sitting rooms, fireplaces, bathtubs meant for two and patios.
The charm extends in so many directions. Breakfast – which could include orange cream-stuffed french toast, homemade granola, creamy polenta with fruit compote or a potato torta – is served daily in their Wine Cellar dining room where a giant stone hearth is the focal point. They also have a reception each evening with small snacks, local cheeses and daily wine offerings. While there, guests should meander through the English Garden, enjoy free wi-fi and and engage with the exceptionally warm owners and staff.
Be forewarned, there are rooms with no televisions, so be prepared to unplug a bit, relax and lose yourself in beautiful wine country and all of the Inn's meticulous details.