Introduction:
I revisit Bodega Bay at Feb 2022
(Pictures from this trip at the lower picture section)
What? : Bodega
Bay is a small fishing town that offer many outdoor activities, places to see and explore nearby.
Where? : Located
right on hwy 1 at Northern California coast (Sonoma County), approximately one
hour drive north of San Francisco.
Google Map Link
When? : Year
round, summer is good time for beach activities.
Due note 1: During
summertime this lovely small town can be very crowded so take this into
consideration…
Due note 2: There
are few campground options near Bodega bay, Bodega Dunes Campground is the
largest one and Doran Campground is right on the bay beach.
My thoughts: We
spend here few days at trips we did up the northern California coast. Excellent
place to explore or to stay overnight.
The visit:
Bodega Bay is a
picturesque fishing port town, overlooking the protected large bay.
The town is
known as the filming site of the legendary Alfred Hitchcock film “The Birds” (1963).
Things to do around Bodega Bay:
Restaurants:
Usually I do
not give restaurant recommendations, but Bodega Bay is known as prime location
for seafood restaurants. Crab, salmon, rockfish and more, some are taken right
off a local boat. Keep yourself some time discover the excellent restaurants in
Bodega Bay.
There are few
restaurants right on hwy 1, some are near the small protected marina and the
famous Spud Point Crab Company is located on the other side of the bay near Spud
Point Marina on your way to Bodega Head Trail.
Doran Beach:
This is a
public-access beach (fee) that is maintained as a Regional Park, including
beach and campground. The park is located along the 1-mile sand spit that is on
the south side of the bay.
Bodega Head:
The
four-mile-long peninsula forms the Bodega Bay and Harbor areas. A network of
trails provides opportunities for hiking hill. The views from the high cliffs
to the ocean below is nice and you can walk 1.7-mile easy hike. Even if you do
not have time to hike, I advise to drive to the end at the top of the hill just
to see the view.
The head is a
popular spot for migratory whale observation. You can spot whales all year
long, but chances are best during the migration seasons (October through
February), when gray whales are southbound from Alaska to Mexico, and February
through April, when they reverse course.
The Hole in the Head:
When driving to
Bodega Head, just before the road is climbing right the hill there is a parking
lot and a small water pond on your right (https://goo.gl/maps/onpYeq7JZCjNEJqeA).
Here you can
see what was supposed to be the foundations of Bodega Bay Nuclear Power Plant (1960).
This location is only 2 miles west of the active San Andreas Fault, this and a
lot of local resistance cause that the plant was cancelled.
The Children's Bell Tower:
Located right
north of town near the large RV campground you can find the Children's Bell
Tower (https://goo.gl/maps/6NNSCQwji4i5e8ce8).
A monument to
seven-year-old Bodega Bay resident Nicholas Green, who was shot and killed in a
robbery attempt during a 1994 family visit to Italy. Following Green's death,
organ donation rates in Italy skyrocketed, leading to a landfall of goodwill
that has come to be known as "The Nicholas Effect”.
The memorial
constructed by artist Bruce Hasson was erected in Bodega Bay following the
event, featuring three nested towers housing 140 donated bells, including a
central bell blessed by the Pope.
Saint Teresa of Avila Church:
St. Teresa of
Avila Church is an 1862 church that is the oldest church in continuous use in
Sonoma County (declare as California State Historical Landmark).
The church is
located within the community of Bodega, small town just before Bodega bay when
arriving from the south (turn right from hwy 1, https://goo.gl/maps/mLoEzgmtxsgcGYWC7).
Avila Church
was also use in the Alfred Hitchcock film The Birds. Stroll around this
one-block town and you'll spot on the other side of the church the famous
Potter schoolhouse.
Nothing more to
see or do here… but it is a nice stop on your way to Bodega.
Salmon Creek Beach:
Just north of Bodega
Bay town you can find the small exit on your left to Salmon Creek Beach parking
lot (https://goo.gl/maps/JkZ73gyun4SMdWgd6). This is excellent place to explore
the local beach. Cross the sand dunes and hike north to the opening of the
Salomon Creek river or go south all the way to Bodega Head cliffs.
Another option
to park and hike the North Salmon Creek ocean shore is at North Salmon Creek
Beach Parking Lot.
Pictures:
Bodega Bay Pictures from Feb 2022
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