Bodega Bay, California

1. Doran Beach

Doran Beach is a public-access beach that is maintained as part of the 127-acre Doran Regional Park, overseen by the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department.

The park is located along the sand spit area that separates Bodega Harbor and Bodega Bay, on ranch land formerly owned by William Doran.

The ranch area was seized by the United States government during World War II to be used as a rescue operations harbor and was transferred to the care of the county in the 1960s.

Today, it offers opportunities for fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and animal watching, with a two-mile stretch of pristine beachfront offered for visitor day use activities. More than 120 campsites and RV hookups are also offered, along with a number of boat launch sites.

201 Doran Beach Rd, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, Phone: 707-875-3540

2. Westside Regional Park

Westside Regional Park is a popular sport fishing park located near Doran Regional Park and the Bodega Head harbor headland.

The park was recently renovated in 2016 with grant funds from the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways, offering amenities such as Sonoma County's first wheelchair-accessible kayak launch site.

Accessible family campground areas are also offered at the park's 50-site campground. Other fishing and boating facilities include a three-lane boat launch area, a fish cleaning station, a gangway, and ample parking for trailers. In addition to fishing and boating, the park also serves as a popular site for swimming and bird watching.

2400 Westshore Road, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, Phone: 707-875-3540

3. Pinnacle Gulch Coastal Access Trail

Pinnacle Gulch Coastal Access Trail is a half-mile coastal trail that provides access to a picturesque private beach along Bodega bay. The trail is accessible from a parking lot at the Bodega Harbour golf community, located near the bay's southern entrance at Highway 1.

It is unpaved along its half-mile route, which descends along a gulch area that is fed by a small stream. Wildflowers, berries, and coastal scrub line the trail, which eventually departs at a quarter-mile stretch of private beachfront that offers tide pools and unique rock formations for visitor observation. For an extended walk, visitors can add the Shorttail Gulch Coastal Access Trail loop to the route, bringing the total distance up to 1.9 miles.

20600 Mockingbird Road, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, Phone: 707-875-3540

4. Hagemann Ranch Trout Fishing

Hagemann Ranch Trout Fishing is a seasonal trout fishing attraction that is operated at a 500-acre family-owned cattle ranch on Bodega Bay. The ranch is located off Highway 1 and offers a fully-stocked rainbow trout pond, along with a bait and tackle shop and pole rental service. Fishing licenses are not required for visitors, with bait and tackle, worms, and picnic table access included complimentary with all tickets. Walk-in visitors are welcome, though reservations are recommended for groups of 10 or more. The facility is open seasonally on weekends between March and October and also operates the Horse N Around Trail Rides horseback riding excursion attraction, which takes visitors on guided rides throughout the family's ranch facility.

18797 Highway 1, P.O. Box 369, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, Phone: 707-876-3217

5. Fishetarian Fish Market

Fishetarian Fish Market was opened in 2012 by husband and wife team Shane and Dana Lucas, striving to offer traditional comfort seafood favorites prepared and served in the healthiest manner possible. The business emphasizes principles of sustainability, offering fully-recyclable tableware and using locally-sourced ingredients in all of its dishes. It is known for its award-winning gluten-free clam chowder, named in honor of the couple's son, Charlie. Gluten-free fish tacos, spring rolls, fish and chips, and sandwich options are also available upon request, with many vegetarian and vegan options also served. Fresh, locally-caught seafood is also available for sale at the restaurant's seafood case, with all fish caught using sustainable fishing methods.

599 CA-1, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, Phone: 707-875-9092

6. The Links at Bodega Harbour

The Links at Bodega Harbour is an acclaimed golf course that was opened in part in 1978, with its front nine holes added to the course in 1987. The course was designed by legendary course designer Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and was extensively renovated in 2008, refurbished with bentgrass and newly-constructed bunkers. Today, it offers dramatic Pacific Ocean views from all of its holes and has been recognized internationally as one of Northern California's top courses, receiving four stars from Golf Digest. Golf instruction programs are offered by PGA Class-A instructor Bob Caldwell, with programs available for patrons of all ages and ability levels. The course's Bluewater Bistro is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner service throughout the week, serving up gourmet wine country cuisine and presenting live jazz music performances on Thursday evenings.

21301 Heron Dr, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, Phone: 707-875-3538

7. Mammoth Rocks

Mammoth Rocks is a prehistoric natural site in Sonoma County that preserves a series oversized stones that are believed to have been used as scratching posts for Columbian mammoths during the last Ice Age. The blueschist stones span a height variation of 10 to 14 feet above the ground, an approximate shoulder height for mammoth species. Their faces feature the same types of gravel scratches as are found on rubbing rocks for modern-day African elephants, with wear and tear that is too frequent and methodical to be accomplished by natural means. As a result, scientists believe that the broader region was part of a larger mammoth territory during the Ice Age, with a large prairie area and what is believed to be an ancient watering hole located nearby.

Duncans Mills, California, 95430

8. Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail

Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail is a 1.19-mile trail that is a prime regional site for bird watching, encircling two freshwater ponds and a marshland area along its route that serve as important habitats for waterfowl and shorebirds. The trail is accessible from Doran Regional Park by a pedestrian bridge along the Cheney Creek Trail, with a separate trailhead available from a parking lot located along Highway 1. It is a generally flat gravel trail that provides moderate access for wheelchair users, allowing visitors to observe coastal birds in their natural habitats as it loops over the saltwater marsh region. A variety of special events are offered along the trail by the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department, including Winging It Wednesday guided bird watching excursions.

355 CA-1, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, Phone: 707-875-3540

9. Sonoma Coast Vineyards

Sonoma Coast Vineyards is a top Sonoma County wine production facility helmed by master winemaker Anthony Austin. The company follows an ethos of quality over quantity, using small-lot artisanal winemaking methods to create ultra-premium wines under a variety of vineyard labels, including the Antonio Mountain Vineyard, Balistreri Family Vineyard, and Bella Sonoma Vineyard facilities. Wine tasting experiences are offered for company visitors, including a Daily Wine Flight program that offers walk-in wine tasting opportunities at the facility's social tasting bar and adjoining outdoor patio. Chocolate and cheese pairings are also offered, along with special events such as harvest dinners, popcorn pairing nights, and a pop-up produce market featuring fruits and vegetables sourced from local partner Glenhill Farms.

555 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, Phone: 707-921-2860