Bodega Bay is an ocean-front town 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
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
- Shell Beach (the portion of the Kortum Trail from Shell Beach to Wright's Beach is 1.25 miles; also, from Shell Beach, the Pomo Canyon Trail goes inland)
- Blind Beach (the portion of the Kortum Trail from Blind Beach to Shell Beach is 2.5 miles)
- 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, ✉[email protected]. 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.
- Chanslor Ranch Horseback Riding, 2660 Highway 1, ☏ 1 707 589-5040, ✉[email protected]. ½-, 1-, and 1½ hour rides, plus pony rides for those under six years old.
- 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. 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.
- Horse N Around Trail Rides, 8797 S Highway 1, ☏ 1 707 875-3333. Fri-Sun 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.
- UC Bodega Marine Laboratory, 2099 Westshore Rd, ☏ 1 707 875-2211, ✉[email protected]. 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
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.
Eat
- The Tides Wharf & Restaurant, 835 Bay Hwy (off Highway 1), toll-free: 1-707-875-3652. 7:30AM-10PM. Casual seafood restaurant with big windows overlooking Bodega Bay, plus a gift shop & fish market.
- Terrapin Creek Cafe & Restaurant, 1580 Eastshore Rd, ☏ 1 707 875-2700. Th-M 4:30-9PM. 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.
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.
Sleep
- Bodega Coast Inn & Suite, 521 Coast Highway 1, ☏ 1 707-875-2217. B&B.
- The Inn at the Tides, 800 Coast Highway.
Connect
Go next
| Routes through Bodega Bay |
| Fort Bragg ← Jenner ← | N  S | → Point Reyes Station → San Francisco |