Wandering Through Sonoma County

I arrived in Sebastopol after the sun had set, and only had time to grab dinner before heading to the hotel for the night. I had no trouble finding a cool restaurant to eat at. I sat at the bar and talked to a number of locals. Eccentric people with interesting stories, I was sorry not to have more time to explore the town.

It was early, and only a few shops were open when I arrived at The Barlow, but I knew that under different circumstances I could kill a lot of time wandering around sampling all the local food, art, and wine. There are so many little shops, all with home made goods and yummy food that the biggest problem I had was deciding where to eat breakfast. I contemplated staying longer, but I had places to be, and miles to cover, so I grabbed some much needed coffee at Taylor Made Farms, a muffin at the Village Bakery, and some juice from The Nectary. All delicious.

If you are looking for a cool place to camp along the water, or just a long walk on the beach Doran Regional Park is the spot. There is a small entrance fee to get into the park, but it's well worth it if you have a couple hours to spend here. There are a number of designated camp sites, picnic tables, and a lovely sandy beach runs the entire length of the park.

Bodega Bay is a cute little coastal village located on the east side of Bodega Harbor. It's a great place to stop for some food, coffee, or salt water taffy! The bay is a marine habitat used for navigation, recreation, and commercial and sport fishing. It's also a wonderful spot for whale watching.

Spud Point Marina's claim to fame is chowder. It's part of Bodega Harbor and is the hub of commercial and sport fishing in Sonoma County - particularly during crab and salmon seasons. It's also a great launching point for whale watching tours.

Spud Point Crab Co. is a family run business that serves up some of the worlds best chowder. The crab sandwiches are awesome too! I ran into the owner Tony down by the boats and it was clear that a lot of love goes into the food here.

North Salmon Creek Beach is right off Coast Highway 1 just north of Bodega Bay. A large parking lot is available, and it's an easy spot to stop and stretch out your legs or use the public restroom. From the parking area you can walk down a short sandy path to the beach at the mouth of the twisting Salmon River. Surfers can often be spotted out in the waves north of the river mouth. This area is one of the many beaches that make up the Sonoma Coast State Park State Beaches system.

Probably my favorite beach I visited on this trip, Goat Rock Beach is located between Goat Rock Point and the Russian River near the town of Jenner. Like North Salmon Creek Beach, the park and surrounding land is part of Sonoma Coast State Park. There are miles of trails that run along the ocean bluffs, as well as up into the rolling hills. Down near the river mouth, there is often a local colony of seals that can be fun to watch.

Long sandy beaches below rugged headlands, a craggy coastline with natural arches and secluded coves make Sonoma Coast State Park one of the most scenic attractions in Sonoma County - if not California. The Sonoma Coast SP spans 17 miles and is comprised of several beaches separated by rock bluffs and headlands. Pull over anywhere along this beautiful stretch of coast between Bodega Head and Vista Trail, and just start walking. You wont be disappointed!

Cafe Aquatica is a fun cafe with outdoor seating and a cozy interior located in the town of Jenner just over the Russian River Bridge. The owner makes home made baked goods and a mean chai latte.

If you have time to spend the night along this portion of the coast than I don't think you could do better than River's End. Perched over the water River's End boasts expansive views and yummy food. In addition to the restaurant, River's End has three private and cozy cabins all with unobstructed water views and private decks.

Charmingly rustic, the town of Guerneville has a little bit of everything - ancient redwoods, cool river waters, laid-back attitudes, and Sonoma Wine Country treats. Guerneville has some amazing gastronomic experiences. The main street in town is full of new restaurants, and I tried a few just to make sure they were as good as they looked! The chowder at the Seaside Metal Oyster Bar was definitely a dish to remember.

The Korbel Delicatessen and Market is located at the Korbel Winery. There is a wide range of sandwiches, salads, and of course wine to try. It's informal (order at the counter) dining, with outdoor and indoor seating available.

After grabbing a yummy sandwich at the Korbel Delicatessen and Market I wandered around the grounds of the Korbel Winery for a while taking in the picturesque old warehouse and gardens. The property was lovely, but the people at Korbel were the best part. Everyone I spoke to left a smile on my face!

It is imposable not to be impressed by the Coastal Redwoods in Sonoma County. The trees themselves remind me of mythological characters. It’s not hard to image them endowed with individual personalities, whispering epic stories to each other through the wind over thousands of years. I certainly am not the first person to cast trees in a human light. And if you stand real still and listen to the trees in the middle of the Armstrong Redwoods it's hard not to believe that there might be something behind all the lore.