Welcome to Forestville
Forestville is a census designated community in Sonoma County, and it has a population of around 3,300 people, according to the 2010 census. In the early 1900s, the community was well-known for attracting artists and writers, and the town had a bohemian reputation. While the town has a small number of businesses, it manages to have a decently sized high school. The biggest benefit of Forestville is its location as Forestville is only 60 miles north of San Francisco, and it’s in the middle of Sonoma County, near it all.
Lay of the land
Located in central Sonoma County, the town is about an hour north of San Francisco, depending on traffic and the time of the day. While only 5.3 square miles, it’s near the confluence of the Mark West Creek and Laguna de Santa Rosa with the Russian River. Nearby is also Steelhead Beach Park and Mount Jackson. A bit to the west and people can see the Redwood forests, while the south and east have many rolling hills with vineyards and apple orchards.
This is a town to get away from it all. The unofficial motto is “The Good Life”. This phrase even appears on license plate holders sold at the local hardware store. The major length of the town is on Front Street, and it’s about three blocks long. Businesses consist of one bar, two grocery stores, a pharmacy, a scattering of churches and one gas station. But, residents don’t have to worry too much as there are plenty of towns in and around the area where one can buy supplies and do more.
Transportation
With its central location, one does not have to drive too far to see plenty since there are almost no viable public transportation options, Forestville is best seen from a car. The fun to drive and uncrowded Highway 116 runs right through Forestville, so it’s an easy town to get to other main thoroughfares. Whether looking to get to Highway 1 and the ocean or Highway 101 and wine Country, or San Francisco, it’s easy to do so from Forestville.
Local Highlights
Without a doubt, people who live in Forestville will be much happier if they love the outdoors. The Russian River runs right through town, and local anglers can have their pick of nearly empty rivers. Non-fisherman still can have plenty of fun as there are options to hike around the river, go swimming or go on a nice kayaking run.
Wine country is not far, and by driving down Highway 116, wine fans can check out dozens of local and well-known vineyards. Whether going north or south, it’s easy to find world-class wineries that attract plenty of attention, and residents of Forestville are lucky as it’s in their backyards. Close by are the cities of Santa Rosa and Sebastopol, where people can go to big box stores and spend their days checking out restaurants.
With the fun to drive and beautiful Highway 116, it’s not hard to get to the beach. One can go to Sonoma Coast State Park and enjoy this state-protected land. Further north is the less well-known but still extremely interesting Fort Ross State Historic Park. Once on Highway 1, it’s easy to spend the afternoon exploring the small beach towns southwest of Forestville such as Bodega Bay and Dillon Beach. Or, for people who love cities, downtown San Francisco is only about an hour and 15 minutes away, and it’s an easy drive down Highway 101, where it goes through some pretty parts of the Bay Area such as Petaluma and San Rafael. All in all, Forestville is a great place to live, and it’s well-located for people who want to explore.
