Back up a couple months ago when I could feel myself shifting to a place of stress and disconnection, getting consumed by my everyday that I wasn’t building much rest and relaxation into. In an effort to build more supportive habits, I reached out to people I love to connect in person. Let it be known that introverts are not anti-social. The right people, in the right dosage of time, are life-giving. Fast forward to this month and our relaxing girls’ trip meetup went just as well as I was hoping, and better than I could have imagined.
Keep reading if you need inspiration for your own relaxing getaway or want to replicate our low key NorCal adventure!
Where we stayed
The Bask House
We stayed at a cute guest house a short drive from the main businesses in downtown Sebastopol. (Dreams of a guest house loading!) It was an ideal location, quiet, and peaceful. The house had cozy sitting areas every and sweet gestures from the fresh eggs to a to drinking water and glasses beside the bed. The place gave me so many ideas to level-up the guest rooms in my house. Cue sweet notes, seasonal treats, and staying hydrated in bed. (Guests always welcome but let me get through a little bit of construction before I go full-fledged bed and breakfast though.)
On a related but separate note, besides the size advantage for tall people or big families, are there other benefits of a king-sized bed?!
Goldfinch
119 S Main St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Making our way slowly and leisurely from the city, we made a last minute dinner reservation at Goldfinch. It was a cute, trendy atmosphere that was a cozy landing spot for us to gauge our new surroundings. Our table had booth seating, which provided privacy for us to have a more intimate dining experience with the benefits of a server to guide our meal. The restaurant had several small plate, and a few large plate, options. Shoutout to our server who helped us order the right amount of dinner. So perfect though I just couldn’t muster it in me to order dessert :,) .
Osmosis Spa
209 Bohemian Hwy, Freestone, CA 95472
Excellent company aside, Osmosis Spa was the PEAK for relaxation and recovery on this trip. I opted for a spa package that included a massage, tea service, zen garden, and cedar bath. We had a morning session and it was the perfect way to kick off a slow, peaceful day. Quick plug to say: as an aesthetics lover – especially regarding interior design – an environment is only so much and pales in comparison to the people you share a space with. SO, surround yourself you want to have good times with AND “bad”. Because good or “bad” you can either stress and blame or just laugh and have the memories for later.
Wild Flour Bread
140 Bohemian Hwy, Freestone, CA 95472
Wild Flour Bread was a quick walk from the spa. Between spa treatments we wandered over and yes, bread is good. But OMG, this bread was divine – warm, fluffy, and full of flavor. Maybe it was enjoying it in a spa robe and sandals or maybe it was really just THAT good. I ordered approximately 14 pounds of bread in the form of scones and loaves to take home, and although not quite the same experience eating it under the intense, hot sun, I can attest that it was still super tasty. A relaxing girls’ trip can have spa time but it should definitely include high quality and delicious carbs.
Fern Bar
6780 Depot St Suite 120, Sebastopol, CA 95472
We had reservations at Fern Bar for dinner. Originally we made outdoor seating reservations. As soon as we walked in the restaurant to check in, however, I knew I had to go back in. The plants! No overhead lighting! Mood lighting only! Wallpaper and millwork! Decor on the walls that looked like they were thrifted straight outta someone’s basement! Fortunately my friends are the go-getter type and a spot in their lounge opened up indoors. We enjoyed an assortment of tasty cocktails and some light dinner affair – just enough to still order dessert. 😉 We could have stayed for hours more but we already shut the place down to closing. Awesome environment, even better company… it doesn’t get much better than that.
Antiquing
Antique Society
2661 Gravenstein Highway S, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Along the highway from the place we stayed and the Main Street in Sebastopol, there were so many antique stores! It would have been unassuming to me had they not been lit up on our drives back to our place each evening. Surrounding myself with supportive people, we made time to stop at one before we ventured back to the city. There were many vendors and even a vintage garden area. I didn’t pick up anything to take home but quite a few things did catch my eye.
Society Bakery Cafe
A gem tucked inside of the Antique Society shops, Society Bakery Cafe was a pleasant surprise. The shop was cozy and quaint. It was warm and welcoming like a familiar kitchen. Even better than the coziness of the cafe though? The cake! I tried the rosemary orange olive oil cake and the earl grey and lavender cake. Divine. And although both cakes were gluten free, they didn’t fit the stereotypes; they were moist and full of flavor. You can totally expect that as I lean just as heavy into a “living in my home” as I have into a “creating the physical space of my home” life, I will have attempts to create the same atmosphere and flavors in my own kitchen.
Take the trip! Reach out for connection! Do it often. A reminder to myself and you too. This relaxing girls’ trip was a deeper level of peace and joy than I’ve found the space for in life lately, and it really didn’t take a whole lotta stress. Here’s to more time spent with our people.
