Bodega Bay

Wait…where are we again?

After time in San Francisco and a thorough tour of the wineries last summer, we headed to Bodega Bay for some R&R!  It gets ungodly hot in Dallas in July so we were anxious to spend some time on the coast with (hopefully) cooler temperatures.  

I had never heard of Bodega Bay and wasn't sure what to expect.  I was very surprised at what I found because it felt more like Ireland or Scotland than California.  The temperatures weren't cooler….it was downright cold!  The skies were overcast when we arrived and they had a fire going in the lodge at check-in.  In other words, I was in heaven!

The Lodge

We stayed at Bodega Bay Lodge, which is a very nice, laid back, cozy resort.  It reminds me of the Lodge at Torrey Pines.  While it overlooks the water, it isn’t exactly oceanfront because you have to walk around some marshland to get to the beach.  The rooms were great and ours had a fireplace. 

You are somewhat limited in dining options in this area.  We ate at the resort one night for dinner and the food was good.   They have a large fire pit outside of the restaurant, which is great for after dinner drinks.  They also supply blankets, which were definitely needed. 

Fire pit at Bodega Bay Lodge

The resort has a heated pool and a “spa”.  The pool was a popular place with the kids and the spa was really just two rooms that they used for treatments.  There was not sauna, steam room, etc. 

Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” was filmed in Bodega Bay so everything in town seems to have a bird theme to it.  There are a couple of pockets of stores and restaurants but you can cover all of it in a couple of hours. 

Visiting Bodega Head and Doran Beach is the best way to spend your time.  There are some great hiking trails and amazing views over the cliffs.  It’s about a ten-minute drive from the hotel. 

Bodega Head

On your way back to Bodega Bay Lodge, stop at Gourmet au Bay.  It is a waterfront wine bar that focuses on small production, award winning, 90+ point wines.  Watching the sun go down with a glass of wine on their deck is the perfect end to the day. 

Jenner, California is about a thirty-minute drive north and is worth checking out. 

Cafe Aquatica

Café Aquatica is an awesome café that serves organic, non-GMO made items for breakfast and lunch.  They have a great patio that overlooks the water and when we were there an acoustic duo was playing.  It felt like a walk back in time and I half expected to see Jerry Garcia or Joan Baez  walk by.  

River's End

We went to River’s End Restaurant for dinner and this place was amazing.  They have great views of where the Russian River dumps into the Pacific Ocean (hence the name).  It’s a quaint place built into the side of the cliffs so if you aren’t paying attention, it can be very easy to miss.  Parking is also a bitch so be extra careful or you'll go over the cliff!  This place is a must if you find yourself in this area but a word to the wise…..the roads are very dark and windy at night!

Bodega Bay was a place that I had never heard of prior before our trip but I sure am glad we checked it out.  I couldn't spend days here and I'm not sure it's a place I'd recommend going as a stand alone trip but if you find yourself "wined" out after Napa and Sonoma, it's the perfect place.