Bodega Bay is a small town with shops, galleries, and some great seafood restaurants. In addition to the Porto Bodega Marina, there are also several state beaches and parks in the area, so Bodega Bay is a great base for visiting all of Sonoma County. Ocean kayaking and surfing are two very popular activities in Bodega Bay.
Bodega Bay has mild summers and cold winters. Temperatures vary greatly from day to night, especially in the summer. Rainfall is heaviest during the winter, with January as the wettest month of the year. Temperatures range from an average high of 29°C (84°F) in August to an average low of 1°C (34°F) in December.
Some 23 kilometers northeast of Bodega Bay, Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve holds some of the tallest trees in Sonoma County. Hiking and nature trails wander through the redwoods, and the park offers picnic areas, horseback riding, and bicycling. The reserve has a visitors' center and a large amphitheater as well. While parking is available, the best way to visit is to walk in, enjoying the mile-and-a-half Pioneer Nature Trail, a relatively flat walk with just one set of steps. Camping is not available in the reserve, but it is available at nearby Austin Creek State Recreation Area.
Some 45 kilometers to the east of Bodega Bay is Jack London State Historic Park, a memorial to the author and adventurer who lived here from 1905 until he died in 1916. Visitors will find trails for hiking and horseback riding as well as historic ranch buildings and vineyards. The park still has the writer's cottage where London worked and oversaw his agricultural ventures. After London died, his widow lived in the cottage until 1955. Visitors can take a 3/4-mile walk to London's dam, lake and bathhouse or follow the trail to London's grave and to "Wolf House."
The scenic Sonoma Coast State Park features long beaches, rugged headlands, natural arches, and out-of-the-way coves. The beaches string along the coast for over 27 kilometers from Bodega Bay to Vista Trail near Jenner, California. There are many access points to the beaches along Highway 1 around Bodega Bay. Foggy summer mornings give way to sunny afternoons, and the sea breezes keep the beaches cool and comfortable when inland areas are hot. Bodega Harbor is a popular spot for crabbing, and there are many trails and scenic blufftop overlooks. Visitors can see migrating Gray whales from the cliffs. At Goat Rock, a colony of harbor seals provides entertainment. Shell Beach is great for beachcombers and tidepools. Duncan's Landing was a early landing point for small ships carrying lumber and foods. It also has an unpredictable surf that can make the area dangerous. Rock and surf fishing are popular at Portuguese and Schoolhouse Beaches. Salmon Creek Beach is popular as a summer get-away. Camping is available at Wright's Beach, Bodega Dunes, the Willow Creek Environmental Camp, and Pomo Canyon Environmental Camp.
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