I drove out to Cazadero on a hot Sunday afternoon to escape the heat of Santa Rosa and explore an area I hadn’t traveled. Nestled within a Redwood grove I made my first stop of the day at Raymond’s Bakery for some of their delectable treats.
Cazadero was originally formed as a hunting resort called Ingrams in 1869. The town was purchased in 1888 and named Cazadero. Photo by Robert Janover.
After sampling some of the goodies, I visited with Elizabeth one of the proprietors. Raymond’s carries a variety of baked goods and sweets along with pre-made sandwiches and pizza’s. Once a week they host a community pizza evening where wine and beer are offered on the menu. Raymond’s is located in the former Elm Grove Hotel. The original hotel was built in the 1890’s. The hotel burned down and re-built across the street where it has been located ever since. Mark and Elizabeth started the bakery seven years ago. They are located directly across the street from the Berkeley Performing Arts Camp. Raymond’s also offers cute cottages for rent and are the perfect place to relax in the redwoods.
After Raymond’s I made my way to the Cazadero General Store, which was part restaurant and part grocery store. People gather on the stores’ patio to enjoy a sandwich and refreshment. Down the street was also a video arcade and there are plans for a $1.5 million community center and museum.
On my return trip I stopped at Ben Britton’s Chainsaw Sculpture Gallery. Ben was a former lumberjack and found he had an undying connection to wood and the land that nurtures it. He has no formal art training, but found an outlet to his creativity with a chainsaw. Ben carves upwards of 90% of each sculpture with a chainsaw. He offers pieces of all sizes from traditional animal figures to large totem poles and even busts of humans. His fondest being a four foot tall Willie Nelson bust.
Less than ½ mile down the road I turned down a “rustic” level B road to visit Cazsonoma B & B. The location was stunning! Pulling up out of the forest was this beautiful home situated amongst ponds, streams and a natural spring waterfall. The bricked pathway, lined with flowerbeds and fountain make a whimsical impression. Cazsonoma offers dinner daily and Sunday brunch for both guests and the general public. The best seat is on the patio surrounded by a pond fed from the natural springs waterfall. The rooms were quaint, traditional B&B rooms, with modern bathroom amenities.
Cazadero offers Sonoma County visitors a chance to relax in a densely forested Redwood Grove. The town offers lots of activities for visitors in the summer months, but the best feature of Cazadero is that you can experience nature without interruption. Cazadero really is a place you go to do nothing, but relax. For anyone nature deprived, Cazadero offers the perfect experience to sit-back, listen to the birds and enjoy a glass of Sonoma County wine.
