This holiday season 21 of us were getting together to celebrate the holidays in Bodega Bay, California. My three older kids live in Stockton, CA and have started HATCHworkshop a makerspace teaching fine and traditional crafts. And my mom’s sister has been coming to Bodega Bay, an hour and a half north of San Francisco. Stockton is an hour and a half east of San Francisco and Bodega Bay is an hour and a half north of San Francisco. They have been asking us to go to Bodega Bay from New York for years and this year the stars aligned—suddenly we were a party of 21!
My sister and I landed in San Francisco at 1 am and decided to stay close to the airport and have the family pick us up in the morning. The shuttle took us straight to the Hilton Bayfront, totally recommended for late flights or in general. The hotel rooms were just what you would expect from most Hiltons, clean and well appointed. After a sound sleep we woke to a call from my kids saying that they were on their way! Vanessa (sis) used the gym and I swam in the pool which was warm and a real pleasure to splash around in. A steam or jacuzzi would have been a very welcome addition. The crown jewel here was the breakfast buffet which was included and featured poached eggs, bagels, and lox with all of the accouterments, two types of scrambled eggs, crunchy bacon and sausage, dim sum, congee, oatmeal with the fixins, yogurts, and tons of fresh fruit. It really was a relaxing start to our trip.
↑ The Drive Up
We took the scenic route through Golden Gate Park, stopped to see the flowers at the Dutch Windmill, and then right over the Golden Gate Bridge. That morning the fog was so thick we could barely see the top of the bridge but still was exquisitely stunning. This was Vanessa’s first trip to Northern California and Malachi’s (my second son who moved out there first) tour guide skills are second to none! He always makes sure any visitor gets a real feel for the magic of the area. We took back roads through Lagunitas and through Samuel P. Taylor State Park to see Redwoods and grasslands and on through farmlands and the sweetest little towns right out of a western movie, and then rode the rest of the way on Route 1 up the coast—my favorite road in America!
↑ Bodega Bay
A couple of hours later we drove up to our house for the week. Each extended family rented their own big house in Bodega Bay in a gated vacation home community overlooking both the Bay and the Pacific. The rates through Bodega Bay Escapes were far better than any we found on Airbnb, and they were a pleasure to work with. The sunrises and the colors of the sunsets were absolutely extraordinary. Waking up to a sherbert colored sky for the rest of life is now my dream.
↑ Hog Island Oyster Co.
Tomales Bay, just miles from Bodega Bay, is where most of the local oysters are from and so we had to stop at Hog Island Oyster Co. to pick up oysters on the way. You can purchase oysters to go as we did, have a shuck-your-own picnic, or eat at their oyster bar.
↑ Fisherman’s Cove, Bodega Bay
Right on the other side of Bodega Bay, you can choose from Spud Point Crab Co. or Fisherman’s Cove, which most of us met at. Fisherman’s Cove is a family-owned seafood shack and fishing-marine supply store specializing in fresh local oysters that are grown on Tomales Bay. You can sit inside or out on picnic tables overlooking the bay and marina. Here we had our fill of their local raw and grilled oysters; crab sandwiches; perfectly crispy fish and chips; local beer; and clam chowder to rival New England’s.
↑ Bodega Bay Trailhead
A short drive to the end of the peninsula brought us to the Bodega Bay Trailhead where you can see the steep coastal bluffs. You can also hike up and down the cliffs but the day we were there was super windy so just being near the edge seemed dangerous. Absolutely breathtaking views where the power of the ocean and nature is palpable.
↑ Kayaking on The Bay
Getting out onto the peace of the water is always a must for any vacation of mine. We woke early to see as much wildlife on the Bay as possible. We rented our kayaks through Bodega Bay Surf Shack and they were super friendly and helpful. We had the boats for over 4 hours and in that time saw dozens of sea lions (especially near the piers) rays, a tiger shark, crabs, blue herons, egrets and the most stunning displays of birds changing formation together. We even got my mom and aunt out for an hour or so!
We were able to kayak right up to the sea lions. One actually splashed and soaked me… we got the idea.
↑ Pacific Sunsets
Later that day we set out for a ride up Route 1 and stopped at one of the many beaches along the way for sunset. Turns out that Malachi planned our days around the time of the sunset for optimal views.
↑ Wine Tasting in Sonoma
Our next day’s adventuring was set aside for wine tasting. We started in Kenwood at VJB Vineyard & Cellars which we chose because they also had an Italian deli and market, wood-fired pizza, great wines, and a stunning location. Because of the size of our party, they brought us into our own cellar for a private tasting. We ordered cheese boards, charcuterie plates, salads, and pizzas galore to nosh on while we tasted. We met the owner who was from Naples Italy and my mom and aunt went immediately into their Italian. You can then purchase all sorts of delicacies from their Italian market and end the excursion sitting in the courtyard with some gelato! Our second stop was St Francis right up the road. We’d spent a good while tasting at the previous vineyard so we wanted to do our own tasting at St. Francis. We bought 4 bottles of wine and sat out by the lawn overlooking the vines and mountains and just enjoyed the sunshine and company. My kind of wine tasting!
↑ Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
Any trip to Northern California needs a dedicated trip to one of the redwood forests, so we took a day trip to Armstrong Redwoods. The already chilly temps dropped by at least ten degrees there so definitely dress warmly in any of the cooler months. Here we walked the miles of trails through the Redwood groves and stunning forests. The main trails (Pioneer, Discovery, and Armstrong) are not very strenuous, offer impressive scenery and can be looped in about an hour. The east ridge trail is a bit more challenging but less crowded during busier times. The park has free parking, a visitors center/gift shop, and picnic tables. We found a quiet spot to sit with the trees and were transported into the deep peace of nature.
↑ Tide Pools
Exploring Tide Pools is a must when in the area! Look into the time of low tide each day or night and make your way down to the beaches. Look closely at the rocks and when you get lucky you’ll see every color of huge starfish, sea urchin, and barnacle latched and waiting for the tide to come back in. Half of these photos were shot in the day and the other half shot around midnight with flashlights!
↑ Pinnacle Gulch Coastal Access Trail
The Pinnacle Gulch Coastal Access Trail is a half-mile path leading to a small, picturesque beach on Bodega Bay. The beach here is a quarter-mile long and is dotted with interesting rocks, tide pools and a distinctive rock formation just offshore. The trailhead is actually right in the Bodega Harbor community where we stayed, so it was a really nice walk for us from the house. The unpaved trail descends a gulch fed by a seasonal stream and is lined with cypress, willows, coastal scrub, berries and wildflowers.
↑ Family Christmas Dinner
Christmas Eve dinner, complete with the Italian tradition of thirteen fishes was at my aunt and cousins’ house a few minute’s walk right up the road. Really this annual feast deserves it’s very own post but I’ll just mention the grilled shrimp, homemade lox, stuffed artichokes, garlic mussels, raw oysters (a specialty of this area), seafood salad, squid, crabs in red sauce….!!!! Enough food for the week all in one night. Christmas Day was our day to cook dinner for all and we did a spectacular duck, a pot roast, snails in mushrooms, scalloped potatoes, salads and apps of all sorts. That’s how we roll!
The Pacific Coast of California is truly stunning in every way and the land and nature are so incredibly diverse.
Can’t wait to go back—and I just got home!