Eagles’ Nest is one of our very favorite places to go. The view of the ocean from the living room and master bedroom, as well as from outside in the back, is so beautiful, and the sunsets are spectacular (you can usually hear the seals barking out on the rocks). We ALWAYS walk down past the two houses to the bluffs at the end of the street and sit for a while.
We love to hike on the two trails in Bodega Harbor, both easily walkable from the house: Short Tail Gulch, right nearby, and the longer Pinnacle Gulch Trail. Both lead down to a small beach that connects to the main beach at low tide, but at high tide is quite private. At low tide, the tide pools are easily accessible and full of starfish, anemones, and other fascinating creatures—great for the kids (and dogs!).
On weekend mornings, we like to drive over to the tiny town of Bodega (where the Hitchcock movie The Birds was filmed at the little church in town), about 10 minutes away. From there, we continue down the road to Wild Flower Bakery for the best scones in the world. On the way, we like to stop at Worker Bee Farm for produce and flowers in the warm seasons. In the evening, back in Bodega, the Casino Bar and Grill, a very unassuming place, has a well-known chef and surprisingly fantastic food!
In Bodega Bay, we enjoy dining at the little Tides restaurant in the hotel across the road from the main Tides restaurant or at the charming little restaurant inside Bodega Lodge, which offers a great view of the bay. Sometimes, we buy fresh fish at the fish market in the main Tides Restaurant building, and on the way into town, we pick up delicious cheese at the Cheese Shop in Valley Ford. There’s also a new Rocker Oyster Fellers in Bodega Bay. It’s a bit pricey, but well worth the money.
We usually stock up on wine, cheese, and cookies at the well-stocked Pelican Market, about a quarter mile north on Rt. 1 in Bodega Bay. They carry a surprising variety of really top-notch food.
On most trips, especially if we have friends with us, we drive out to Bodega Head and walk the cliffs above the sea for a glorious trek with fabulous views. On the way there, we often have lunch at Spud Point Crab Company. Sometimes there’s a line, but it’s always worth the wait. Other times, we continue north past the turn-off for Bodega Head and have dinner at La Bodeguita, a good family Mexican restaurant run by super nice people.
On the drive in, you might also want to stop at Hageman Ranch, where you can fish or ride horses. Our kids love that place!
Enjoy!
— Gail & Charles Entrekin, Owners
