Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered, and Bodega!

Hike-In-Picnic at Bodega Head

Whale watching, hiking along bluffs, and a picnic overlooking the Pacific with the one(s) you love: no, it’s not a Cialis commercial—it’s a great way to spend the day in a gorgeous setting. The tiny outcropping of Bodega Head on the north coast is a scenic standout, thanks to its cliff-above-ocean setting and excellent vantages for spying migrating gray whales in the winter and spring.

Bodega Head Trail is 2 miles of mellow: a coastal loop path slinking along the side of hulking cliffs with the drama of spiky sea stacks below and the placid luster of Bodega Harbor and Tomales Bay in the opposite directions. A few lone benches dot the landscape, and along the hike (at about a quarter of a mile on the trail) you’ll find a single picnic table overlooking the sea. Take a seat, uncork some wine, and pair it with a grand view of Tomales Point and the Pacific.

Late afternoons during winter can be beautiful here, with the low-slung sun bathing the sea in amber shades as tiny fishing boats return from a long day, and a beacon blinks out its guiding light. If the picnic table’s taken, keep walking: Towards the end of the hike, closer to Bodega Harbor and overlooking Doran Beach, you’ll find a clutch of picnic tables and a few more lone benches overlooking the scenery.

Post Hike Dine & Wine: Head to nearby Spud Point Crab Company (1860 Westshore Road) for their World Famous Clam Chowder and some tasty crab. This family business run by a retired firefighter, Tony, and his wife, Carol, is a local gem. Spud Point Crab Company commercially fishes from its namesake marina, and cooks up delicious seafood meals. The clam chowder here is so flavorful, you might find yourself ordering seconds.

Spud Point Crab Company closes at 5 p.m. Grab a seat at a picnic table out front and get crabby with it! Or head to Gourmet au Bay down by the marina for tasty food and a fantastic wine selection! If the weather’s good, snag a seat on the spacious patio that overlooks Bodega Bay. Choose from any of three small-production wines (the menu changes, but the selections are always artisanal). There’s also beer on tap. The wood-fired oven churns out delicious flatbreads (fancy for “pizza”) to go with the wine. You may be inclined to go for “It’s a Date” flatbread—goat cheese, charred onions, dates, and balsamic drizzle. Sit back, relax, and savor the flavors. And the scenery! If your Valentine is four-legged and furry … you’re in luck; the patio is very dog-friendly, but your dog will have to pose for a  picture!

From Hwy. 1 in Bodega Bay, take Eastshore Rd. Go half a mile and turn right on Westshore Rd. Go another 3.5 miles to Bodega Head’s west parking lot. The hike starts on the Bodega Head Trail, behind the restrooms on the south side of the parking area. No dogs at Bodega Head. Spud Point Crab Company is dog-friendly! The patio at Gourmet au Bay is dog-friendly.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

    View
  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  3. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View
  4. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    Want to be king of the mountain? Head to King Mountain, the 108-acre open space preserve just above Larkspur in Marin. Despite its lofty name, hiking King Mountain proves that simp

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Yes, Seattle!

    Ready to try something new this winter? Seattle’s ready for you! Beautiful by nature with its Puget Sound setting, surrounding mountains, and nearby national parks, winter in Seattle can be a magical and festive time. Ever been in a hot tub boat?...

    View
  3. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  4. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View