Bodega Bay is located along the Sonoma Coast with some beautiful harbors, good restaurants, excellent lodging. There is also great hiking in several coastal State Parks and wilderness areas. Biking is also popular with many great rides in the area. This small town in Sonoma County, is 40 miles northwest of San Francisco and 20 miles west of Santa Rosa.
For a beautiful scenic drive to get there, take Coleman Valley Rd. from Occidental with spectacular views of the coast as you approach Rt. 1.
Bodega Bay Lodge & Spa: I enjoyed my two nights at this resort overlooking the bay. It has comfortable, well-appointed rooms with great views. I also liked their Duck Club Restaurant with good food and service. I enjoyed dinner on my first night, as well as breakfast in the restaurant.
Roadhouse Coffee: This is a fun spot for coffee, chai and snacks. 1580 Eastshore Rd., a few doors down from Terrapin Creek Café.
Terrapin Creek Café Restaurant: Located at 1580 Eastshore Road, this is a café/bistro open for dinner. It has a Michelin Star and is considered the best in town. I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner of seabass on a bed of spinach, mushrooms, green beans and potatoes capped off by a wonderful panna cotta for dessert. I had a great pinot noir as well. The atmosphere was warm and casual and the service excellent.
The Tides Wharf Restaurant is great for breakfast along the water. I recommend the poached oyster eggs benedict, a traditional eggs benedict with poached oysters on the side. 835 Coast Highway One. They also have rooms on the other side of the street across from the restaurant. A scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s movie, The Birds, was filmed at restaurant.
From Rt 1, turn on Eastshore Rd to Bay Flat Road and out to Bodega Head State Marine Conservation Area. It has some wonderful views of the rocks and ocean below. On the same road as the Bodega Bay Lodge and Spa is Doran Regional Park where you can walk along the long beach.
Casual spots for dining include Fishetarian Fish Market for lunch, Lucas Wharf Restaurant & Bar, The Birds Café, Fisherman’s Cove and Spud Point Crab Co. on the way to Bodega Head near the boat docks.
Sonoma Coast: The drive from Bodega to Mendocino is really wonderful. Two State Parks along the way include Salt Point State Park near Jenner, CA and the Sonoma Coast State Park which includes the Salmon Creek. There is also the Kruse Rhododendrom State Natural Preserve in Salt Point.
