Bodega Bay

Bodega Bay, California

The Estero Creek was highlighted in The Press Democrat on April 5th, 2009.

I found it so fascinating, I had to check it out.

Estero Lane is just north of Bodega Highway where it meets Highway 1

Although Estero Lane is a public road, most of the property
on Estero Lane is private property so be respectful.

Call The Sonoma Land Trust ahead of your trip there.
(707) 526-6930

And on to Bodega Head!

We followed Highway One north from Bodega Highway.

Hyperlink to The State of California's webpage on Bodega Head

Went past the Doran Beach turnoff...

Pretty soon we saw the bay appearing on the left of Highway 1, Bodega Bay

I enjoy the cottage style of Bodega Bay's residential area.

The landmark I look for is on the ocean side of the highway,
the cream colored, cozy, quaint hotel called the Bodega Bay Inn.
Sadly, almost all the hotels in that area call themselves a Bodega Bay Inn of some sort.
If you want to Google map the landmark,
it's Branscomb Bodega Bay Inn at 1588 Eastshore Rd, Bodega Bay, CA.
So there's my landmark anyway.

Turning on Eastshore Rd. we headed downhill towards the bay.
At the base of the road, we found we could go right, left or straight (watch out for deer!).

Left led us to the Compass Rose Gardens, and later back uphill to the southbound Highway One.

At the time I took these photos, taking the road straight ahead lead me to the Sandpiper restaurant but soon it will be moving away from its longtime bayfront site, and going over to the inland side of the highway at 1400 N Highway 1 ~ ~ Ciopinno Restaurant!

I ate 2 "Viking Bowls" of the clam chowder at the Sandpiper Restaurant !!
Other dishes I recommend will include the Salmon fish and chips.
Our waitress, Martina, was very attentive to our table and
was always taking good care of us.

Photo above: a view of the bay at high tide taken from the Sandpiper's parking lot.

We turned right, Westshore Road,
which becomes West Side Road by the way, to continue on to Bodega Head.

This road features bayside residential homes on the right
and the bay itself on the left.

You might notice that amidst the homes on the right
is another restaurant that looks like it's someone's front yard! Love it!
But parking is really tight most of the time. I suppose some people park
across the street at the Spud Point Marina, but you'd have to walk
across the street, then, to get to the restaurant.

To continue on towards Bodega Head, we just followed the road to the end.
You'll know you're at the end when suddenly there's a roadblock in front of you.
That's where we took a quick, hard right inland.
That is STILL WestSide Rd. by the way.
It simply took a hook.

Follow that road to the right when it forms a fork in the road.

One interesting sight to see and be photographed in is the tree.
Not just any tree.
It's like a canopy formed of many trees
with a hollow area underneath. Fun!!

We parked at ... the parking area!! Whale watching is common ~ in season ~ along the bluffs.
Bring a camera and if winds bother you, dress warm.

If you have kids, keep a close eye and a hand on them.
You ARE next to a cliff.
Restroom facilities are there as well.

If you follow the dirt trail south along the cliffs, you'll see some really close ledges
to make sure you see and watch your footing at.

Some people wonder if there's a beach.
Answer is Yes.
Questions are: How do you get to it?? How do you get back up from it??

http://www.compassrosegardens.com/

http://www.sandpiperrestaurant.com/

http://www.spudpointcrab.com/

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=451

Please be informed:

I present this information at no charge.
It did take me a while to do this.
Yes, it does take time.
Not a problem: My Gift to My Community.

However, I accept no liability if things are different
or if they've changed if you should go to Bodega Head.

I've tried to hyperlink everything for you as best I can
so that you can check and make sure of what
each location's current rules or situations might be.

And also remember that you can support me and
get a really cool book of nature poems for yourself or for your honey.

44 Summer Stories available at
WildChildPublishing.com

Other Things to Do / See around Bodega and Bodega Bay:

Beaches:

Coleman Beach is one of many roadside turnouts that ~ conveniently ~ grant access to the beach.

Coleman Beach is noted here because it's right at the base of ~ conveniently ~ Coleman Valley Road.
Other notable turnouts south of Coleman Beach:

Salmon Creek Beach ~ which features restrooms! woo hoo!
Miwok Beach ~ lots of great tidepools

Other notable turnouts that are north of Coleman Beach:

Arched Rock Beach ~ where you can see a giant rock, out in the water, with a big hole in it.
Marshall Gulch ~ you'll find it where the road turns hard and buttonhooks you inland for a moment.
Carmet Beach ~ conveniently located at the intersection of Carmet Street
Schoolhouse Beach ~ which offers perhaps the greatest vantage point for view.
Portugese Beach ~ which I haven't stopped at yet so no advice there.
and the infamous Gleason Beach where you can see lots of cliffside homes for sale ~ yeah, they're gradually falling into the sea. Caveat Emptor.

Road Trips:

Watson School, Bodega, CA ~ for those of you who have kids or your own road-trip necessities you might appreciate that I list which places feature outhouses or restroom facilities. It's on Bodega Highway between the 101 and the Freestone turnoff (Bohemian Highway). I'm sure there's lots of other restrooms around, but ... I'm trying to list the public ones.

Wait. Oops. The restroom at the great bread place on the map above is not really a 'public' restroom but I put it on the map because it is suchhhhhhh a great bread place. Just the aromas as I drive by make my eyeballs spin.
Wild Flour Bread. Bicyclists ride the roads a lot / keep an eye out for them, show respect, and drive safe.

Farm Trails:

Sonoma County Farm Trails is the best source for finding current and well-organized info on which farms are open to visitors.

Salmon Creek Ranch is in Bodega, featuring grass fed certified organic duckling, goats, bees, honey, and lots more listed on their website. You can visit them by appointment.

Bodega Artisan Cheese, also in Bodega, featuring various goat cheeses.

My Pages:

Home Page of course

Nude Tea 2 Not at all like the original Nude Tea ~ these tales are not for children.

A Mermaid Story

Apple Blossom Festival

The Ballad of Joey Slitherton