Bodega Bay Vacation Rentals

The 35th annual Fisherman’s Festival is April 12-13th this year at Westside Park in Bodega Bay.

This popular event is a fundraiser for the community and features:

• Live Music & Entertainment • Wine Tasting
• Seafood, Food Booths & Beverages
• Crafts Fair • Exhibits
• Kite Flying • Raffle Prizes

Special events include:
• Golf Tournament – (707) 875-3538
• Wooden Boat Challenge limited to 20 entries.
• Parade of Pets • Llamas on Parade • Kite Flying
• Boat Parade & Blessing of the Fleet

I will be working at the event for part of the day at the Historical Society Booth….come by and say hi!

Bodega Bay has been named one of the best bird watching sites in Sonoma County by the Audobon Society.

For a more personal experience, our own resident seagull Charlie, lives on our deck(s) and will talk to you during your visit. You can also see heron, cormorants, sandpipers, swallows, hummingbirds, seagulls, and ducks right from your deck “At the Bay’s Edge”…..or go exploring along the many hiking trails within a few miles from the house.

Happy bird watching!

The Local Color Art Gallery is featuring a display entitled “Uniquely Bodega Bay” from January 5th – February 10th. This display focuses exclusively on the sights and scenes in Bodega Bay.

The Local Color Art Gallery is located just a few minutes from “At the Bay’s Edge”. They feature artwork from over 25 Sonoma County artists and have one of the most popular galleries on the north coast.

Enjoy!

Many folks think about wine tasting as just a spring, summer, or fall activity. Winter is actually a great time of year to go wine tasting, as the wineries are all “dressed up” for the holidays and there are no crowds. You’ll have a chance for a more personalized tour, and lengthier discussions with the winery staff.

Here are maps of the Sonoma County Wineries, and the Russian River Wineries, all of which within an hour’s drive of “At the Bay’s Edge”.

Enjoy!

Crab season is finally here! Bodega Bay has many fresh-from-the-boat sources to choose from…you can go out on a sport fishing boat, buy crab from the docks or the local fish markets, or go to one of many local restaurants. Either way….it’s delicious and fun! If you choose to cook the crab in your vacation rental, ask me about some of my favorite crab recipes. I’m always happy to share!

The town of Bodega is about 5 miles from “At the Bay’s Edge” in Bodega Bay. The biggest landmarks are the Potter Schoolhouse and St. Theresa’s Church. Both were featured in the movie “The Birds” by Alfred Hitchcock.

Bodega is also home to numerous antique stores, a gallery, and many festivals throughout the year. The Cup O’ Mud Coffee Shop is a tiny, friendly cafe that serves excellent coffee and tea. On a nice day, seats out front are a good place to watch the people go by.

The “downtown” itself is only about a 1/4 mile long but it’s packed with diverse shops, people, and lots of activities. Enjoy!

A lot of people think about Napa and Sonoma in terms of visiting wineries, but there is also what is referred to as the Russian River Wine Road which encompasses Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and the Russian River Valley and includes over 120 wineries!

The environment is more casual and laid-back, so it’s another great choice if you like to visit the wineries!

Here’s a link to a map of the Russian River Wineries. Just like the Sonoma Wineries, all of the Russian River Wineries are located within an hour of “At the Bay’s Edge”.

Happy tasting!

My daughter and I went for a ride along the beach for her birthday. One of the things we kept meaning to do….well, we finally just did it! Chanslor Horse Ranch is just a few minutes from “At the Bay’s Edge”. We booked an hour and a half ride along the beach. We went on a weekday and were the only two in our group, our guide was fabulous….very knowledgeable about the horses and the area.

Chanslor offers both trail rides and beach rides, and you can go for an hour or an hour and a half. They also offer pony rides.

We had a great time and I’m looking forward to going again!

The mystery ship has been in front of “At the Bay’s Edge” in the middle of the Bay for about two weeks. None of the locals I’ve talked to know whose boat it is or anything about it. Someone has let out the anchor and put up a small sail to stabilize it. At high tide it sits straight up and dances on it’s anchor, at low tide it’s over on it’s side. It’s sad and mysterious at the same time.

I haven’t been to the Wildflour Bread Bakery in awhile….I had forgotten what I was missing. Oh-my-gosh….they had a cornmeal and jalapeno bread that I’m still thinking about two days after I finished it! Yum!

They offer at least a dozen different organic breads and rolls …all prepared on-site and cooked in their brick oven. It’s an adventure just to watch them make the bread…and of course it’s even more fun to sample each one before you make a decision….as there’s always something new to try. They also have organic coffees and teas ….. for those that want to enjoy their wonderful creations on site, while they are still warm!

My usual favorite is Fougasse, which includes gouda or blue cheese, red peppers, olives, and onions. It’s nice to have a new discovery though.

Make sure and put this bakery on your list to visit! They are open Friday thru Monday. This is the sign you will see on Hwy. 12 between Sebastopol and Bodega right at the Bohemian Highway turnoff into Freestone and Occidental.