There are many areas in and around Bodega Bay and the Sonoma Coast to
bicycle...one of our guests just spent the day out at Bodega Head and
said they could see for miles and miles up and down the coast.
Here's a good resource for bike rentals...or bring your own!
I had company in town this weekend and one of the trips we took was to Fort Ross State Park
-- just 20 miles north of "At the Bay's Edge" on Hwy 1. Fort Ross was
an important part of California history during the 1800’s. The
settlement of Ross was established in 1812 for trade to Russian
outposts in Alaska.
Fort Ross was also the site of California's first windmills and shipbuilding, and Russian scientists were among the first to record California’s cultural and natural history. Fort Ross was a successfully functioning multi-cultural settlement for some thirty years. The tour through the Visitor Center and a walking tour of the grounds proved to be a fun and informative outing!
McEvoy Ranch
in Petaluma is a fun addition to traditional wine tasting tours! McEvoy
Ranch hosts over 18,000 trees covering more than 80 acres and they
offer tours of both their orchards and gardens.
Originally inspired by the olive oils found in the Italian countryside, McEvoy Ranch’s extra virgin olive oil is a must see / taste for those who love olive oil!
Check out their web site for tour information...they are only 30 minutes from "At the Bay's Edge"!
Gourmet au Bay offers a beautiful deck setting to enjoy your wine tasting. They carry over 200 award winning California wines....and if they don't have what you're looking for they'll find it for you! They also have an impressive gift shop.
Gourmet au Bay is just minutes from "At the Bay's Edge". Be sure and ask about their "wine surfing"!
The town of Bodega is about 5 miles from "At the Bay's Edge" in Bodega Bay. The biggest landmarks are the St. Theresa's Church and the Potter Schoolhouse. Both were featured in the movie "The Birds" by Alfred Hitchcock.
Bodega is also home to numerous antique stores, a gallery, and many festivals throughout the year. The Cup O' Mud Coffee Shop is a tiny, friendly cafe that serves excellent coffee and tea. On a nice day, seats out front are a good place to watch the people go by.
The "downtown" itself is only about a 1/4 mile long but it's packed with diverse shops, people, and lots of activities. Enjoy!
We've enjoyed watching a family of 5 river otters .... they've been out daily for a few weeks. It's thrilling to see them play and feed right in front of the house.
The otters can dive up to 60 feet and run as fast as a human. Here's a great page with more information on these otters.
There are three local creameries that offer tours....all are within 30 minutes of "At the Bay's Edge"!
Cow Girl Creamery is in Pt. Reyes Station, and they feature all organic artisan and farmstead cheeses. They even feature an extensive "cheese library" on their site, it's very interesting!
Bellweather Farms also features artisan cheeses and they have a wonderful archive of recipes and a very interesting newsletter.
Spring Hill Jersey Cheeses in Petaluma has been in business for 91 years, and offers extensive cheese tastings, a petting zoo and free hay rides!
Enjoy!
A lot of people think about Napa and Sonoma in terms of visiting wineries, but there is also what is referred to as the Russian River Wine Road which encompasses Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and the Russian River Valley and includes over 120 wineries!
The environment is more casual and laid-back, so it's another great choice if you like to visit the wineries!
Here's a link to a map of the Russian River Wineries. Just like the Sonoma Wineries, all of the Russian River Wineries are located within an hour of "At the Bay's Edge".
Happy tasting!
Bodega Bay has been named one of the best bird watching sites in Sonoma County by the Audobon Society.
For a more personal experience, our own resident seagull Charlie, lives on our deck(s) and will talk to you during your visit. You can also see heron, cormorants, sandpipers, swallows, hummingbirds, seagulls, and ducks right from your deck "At the Bay's Edge".....or go exploring along the many hiking trails within a few miles from the house.
There are 5 art galleries within a few miles of "At the Bay's Edge",
as well as many others throughout Petaluma, Sebastopol, and
Occidental. They feature local and diverse artwork....each gallery has
it's own unique style and focus.
Here they are:
Local Color Artist Gallery, 1580 Eastshore Road, Bodega Bay
Bodega Landmark Studio, 17255 Bodega Highway, Bodega
Branscomb Gallery, 1588 Eastshore Road, Bodega Bay
Heritage Art Gallery, 1580 Eastshore Road, Bodega Bay
The Ren Brown Gallery, 1781 Coast Highway One, Bodega Bay
