Bodega Bay

Bodega Bay is an ocean-front town of 900 people (2020) in Sonoma County in California. It was the location for the filming of much of Alfred Hitchcock's horror film The Birds.

Because Bodega Bay is on the Pacific Ocean, day-time temperatures are significantly cooler than the rest of Sonoma County. On a day when the high is 91 °F (33 °C) in Santa Rosa, the high for Bodega Bay is likely to be around 70 °F (21 °C); if the high for Santa Rosa is 75 °F (24 °C), it's going to be chilly in Bodega Bay. So dress appropriately, and don't be surprised if on a very hot summer weekend in Sonoma County, a lot of people (and cars) have headed for the most accessible beaches, in Bodega Bay and north to Jenner.

Get in

Bodega Bay is accessible by car by way of U.S. Highway 1 along the California coast. It is on the Pacific Ocean approximately 70 mi (110 km) north of San Francisco and 20 mi (32 km) west of Santa Rosa.

By bus

Get around

There is no public transportation in Bodega Bay, and Highway 1 — the primary road for the town, running parallel to the Pacific Ocean — is poorly suited for bicycles. You pretty much need a car to get around, as well as to get to the town.

See

Bodega Bay isn't "scenic" in the sense of being able to stroll through a small downtown - it has no downtown, with commercial buildings strung out along Highway 1 (which lacks sidewalks). So not really a "seeing" type of town.

Do

Perhaps the single best reason to visit Bodega Bay is to hike a trail or spend time on a beach. The water is cold all twelve months of the year; if you're going to spend any time in it, you'll want to wear a wetsuit.

The public beaches and hiking trails, beginning south of the town, and going north, include:

  • Doran Regional Park
  • Bodega Head - a good place for whale-watching, with a pleasant loop trail (Bodega Head Trail)
  • Salmon Creek
  • Seven small beaches - Miwok Beach to Gleason Beach
  • Duncan's Landing
  • Wright's Beach (the portion of the Kortum Trail from Wright's Beach to Shell Beach is 1.25 miles)
  • Shell Beach (the portion of the Kortum Trail from Shell Beach to Blind Beach to is 2.5 miles) (also, from Shell Beach, the Pomo Canyon Trail goes inland)
  • Blind Beach
  • Goat Rock Beach - dogs not allowed

All of the above, except Doran Regional Park, are part of the Sonoma Coast State Park.

Other than beaches and hikes, there is a variety of things to do in Bodega Bay:

  • Bodega Bay Seafood, Art, and Wine Festival. an annual festival for nearly two decades. It is usually held in late August and draws large crowds to the quiet coastal town to enjoy the local seafood and famous Northern Californian wines. 
  • Chanslor Ranch (Chanslor Ranch Nature Retreat), 2660 Highway 1, ☏ +1 707-589-5055, . 9AM to 5PM. A day use pass ($10 per person) provides access to the resort's 400 acres, for relaxation, hiking, a get-together with friends, mountain biking, kayaking, or yoga. (updated Aug 2022)
  • Chanslor Ranch Horseback Riding, 2660 Highway 1, ☏ +1 707-589-5040, . ½-, 1-, and 1½ hour rides, plus pony rides for those under six years old. (updated Sep 2019)
  • Hagemann Ranch Rainbow Trout Fishing, 18797 Highway 1 (south of the town of Bodega Bay; north of the Highway 1 exit to the town of Bodega), ☏ +1 707-876-3217. 9AM-4PM when open; check website. The fishing pond on the ranch has been stocked with rainbow trout for over 35 years. Open March to October; weekends only from March through Memorial Day, then open daily through Labor Day; from Labor Day to the end of October, open weekends only. (updated Sep 2019)
  • Horse N Around Trail Rides, 8797 S Highway 1, ☏ +1 707-875-3333. F-Su 9AM-5PM; other days by appointment. A western trail stable offering a wide variety of trails (ridge, beach, etc.) for rides of 30 minutes or longer. Group rides start at $40 per rider; private rides are available. (updated Sep 2019)
  • UC Bodega Marine Laboratory, 2099 Westshore Rd, ☏ +1 707-875-2211, . Every Friday from 2-4PM (except holiday weekends). The drop-in tours include numerous marine aquarium displays, as well as information about the research done at the lab (updated Sep 2019)

Buy
  • Bodega Bay Heritage Gallery, 1785 Coast Highway One, ☏ +1 707-875-2911. W-Su 10AM-5PM. Early California Art: celebrating the art and history of California, focusing on traditional and impressionist paintings, generally between 1880 and 1950. 
  • Local Color Gallery, 1580 Eastshore Rd, ☏ +1 707-875-2744. Daily 10AM-5PM. The gallery features original art by established Sonoma County artists and emerging talent. The gallery features paintings, fine art prints, photography, luminous fused glass, decorative pottery, handcrafted jewelry, and handpainted scarves. 
  • Patrick's of Bodega Bay (Patrick's Salt Water Taffy) (915 California Highway 1), ☏ +1 707-875-9816, . Daily 10AM-6PM. Making taffy in Bodega Bay since 1960, Patrick's offers a wide variety of flavors. But on busy tourist days, the line (and wait) can be long. (updated May 2023)

Eat
  • Fisherman's Cove, 1850 Bayflat Rd (off Highway 1), ☏ +1 707-377-4238. 10AM-6PM. A local, family-owned seafood shack and fishing-marine supply store specializing in fresh local oysters, with both indoor and outdoor seating. Consider ordering online ahead of time, though some items (fresh oysters, daily specials) may not be listed. (updated Aug 2022)
  • Fishetarian Fish Market, 599 California Highway Route 1 (next to Lucas Wharf Restaurant, but separate ownership), ☏ +1 707-875-9092. Daily 11AM-7PM. Sustainable locally caught seafood. While mostly a restaurant, it also sells fresh seafood. (Beat the wait for food: order online.) (updated May 2023)
  • Drake's Sonoma Coast, ☏ +1 707-875-3525, . Daily 7:30-11AM, Tu-Sa 5-9PM, Su M 5-8PM. The restaurant for The Lodge at Bodega Bay, this is open only for breakfast and dinner. Upscale, with excellent views of Doran Beach and the Pacific Ocean. (updated May 2023)
  • Ginochio's Kitchen, 1410 Bayflat Rd (off Highway 1), ☏ +1 707-377-4359. 10AM-6PM. Try the smoked brisket or crab sandwiches. Huge parking lot, plenty of seating. (updated Aug 2022)
  • Spud Point Crab Company, 1860 Westshore Rd (off Highway 1), ☏ +1 707-875-9472. 9AM-5PM. This small cafe offers one of the best clam chowders in Sonoma County. That's a two-edged sword: parking is a pain, the cafe usually has a waiting line outside, and outdoor eating is limited (compared to the number of customers). And when it's crowded, the menu may be limited to clam chowder and a few sandwiches that don't need to be heated. [Fisherman's Cove cafe, literally next door, is as well-rated, and the line may be considerably shorter.] (updated Aug 2022)
  • The Tides Wharf & Restaurant, 835 Bay Hwy (off Highway 1), ☏ +1 707-875-3652. 8AM-8PM (as of August 2021). Casual seafood restaurant with big windows overlooking Bodega Bay, plus a gift shop & fish market, on the west side of Highway 1. (Not to be confused with the Bay View Restaurant and Lounge, in the main lodge of the Inn at the Tides.) (updated May 2019)
  • Terrapin Creek Cafe & Restaurant, 1580 Eastshore Rd, ☏ +1 707-875-2700. Dinner Th-M 4:30-8:30PM. The parking lot is small, and there is a single bathroom, but the service is excellent and the food is consistently delicious. Family-run. Try the seared scallop appetizer. (updated Aug 2022)

Drink
  • Gourmet au Bay, 1412 Bay Flat Rd, ☏ +1 707-875-9875. M Th F noon to 8PM, Tu-Th noon to 6PM, Sa Su 11:30AM-8PM. Wine bar and waterfront deck, offering wood-fired cuisine. Try the crab cakes or the giant bowl of mussels. (updated Aug 2022)

Sleep

Go next
Routes through Bodega Bay
Fort Bragg ← Jenner ←  N  S  → Point Reyes Station → San Francisco


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