The lively village of Bodega Bay offers beautiful sandy beaches, ocean-fresh seafood and some of the best whale-watching opportunities on the Pacific Coast. Explore scenic hiking and cycling trails and make a splash with guided kayak and stand-up paddleboard tours. Bodega Bay is also famous as the filming location for Hitchcock’s “The Birds”.
Things to do in Bodega Bay
A four-mile-long peninsula shelters Bodega Bay from rolling waves and keeps the water calm, shallow and great for swimming. Doran Regional Park boasts one of the best beaches, a three-kilometre-long arc of sand fringed by rolling dunes. When the breeze is up, the skies above Bodega Bay are dotted with colourful kites.
Bodega Bay is the starting point for dozens of scenic hiking and cycling trails, most with spectacular views over the Pacific Ocean. Kayak and stand-up paddleboard tours are a fun way to explore the coastline and get up close with seals and seabirds. Saddle up for a horseback riding tour and trot along the beach, over coastal dunes and through grass-covered meadows.
Bodega Head is one of the premier whale-watching destinations on the West Coast. You can spot whales throughout the year, though your best chances are in migration season from October to April. On weekends, you can find out more information about the whales from volunteers from a local conservation group.
Alfred Hitchcock’s cult classic “The Birds” was filmed in Bodega Bay, as well as the nearby village of Bodega. You can check out some of the iconic buildings featured in the film, including hilltop St. Teresa of Avila Church and the 19th-century Potter School House.
Getting around Bodega Bay
Bodega Bay is compact and easy to get around on foot. The village is set on State Route 1, a 1.5-hour drive from San Francisco and three hours from Sacramento. Rental cars offer the freedom to explore Sonoma County and the Pacific Coast at your own pace.