Well, it’s that time of year again! The 16th annual Bodega Seafood Art and Wine Festival.  It will be held at 16855 Bodega Highway in Bodega, CA on August 28th and 29th.

The festival includes:

• Arts and Crafts Market Place
• Over a dozen restaurants serving seafood and delectable specialties!
• 3 Entertainment areas and a large dance floor
• Kids entertainment and Games
• The Bodega Seafood Festival Rubber Duck Races

The festival is always a good time, so come to enjoy yourself!

Kitesurfing is also very popular. The winds usually come up in the early afternoon and will be consistent for the rest of the day. Here’s a great video I just ran across, you’ll actually see the front of “At the Bay’s Edge” in the video as the windsurfers take runs in front of our Bodega Bay Vacation Rental.

Many people are surprised to learn that Bodega Bay is one of the best birding spots in all of Sonoma County. Here’s the Madrone Audobon Society’s overview, by season, of Birding in Bodega Bay.

I’ve also posted additional photos of heron fishing in front of the house in our Facebook Photo Album on Wildlife in Bodega Bay. Enjoy!

Bodega Bay is actually the last northern CA coastal town allowed to have legal fireworks over the Bay. They can be seen from anywhere in the harbor, or along the shoreline.

Enjoy!

Many people don’t realize that Bodega Bay is one of the best places in Sonoma County for bird watching.

Enjoy!

Was looking at the schedule for this year’s Sonoma Marin Fair and it’s jam packed full of activities. It runs June 23-27 at the Petaluma Fairgrounds and includes specific activities for Family Day, Farmers Day, Agriculture Day, Senior Day, Kids Day, and EveryOne’s Day.

And of course, the ever popular Ugly Dog Contest.

Their web site is very helpful, it includes videos, interviews, schedule, directions, you name it. Looking forward to it.

Petaluma is just 30 minutes from “At the Bay’s Edge” and many of our guests use our coastal retreat as a hub for other activities. So come to enjoy!

The 10th Annual Salmon Creek Artwalk is being held on May 1st – 2nd, 2010 from 10am – 5pm. Admission is free and this is always a great time….incredible artists ranging in mediums from acrylic, watercolor, oil, photography, leather designs, mixed media, sculpture, pottery, silk, woodwork, and yarn.

Salmon Creek is a small village just a few minutes north of Bodega Bay. I love this Art Walk…not only for the art itself, but just to walk around the neighborhood and chat with everyone. It’s very low key, and Salmon Creek Beach is one of the top Sonoma County Beaches to rest and relax on before or after the artwalk!

The Freestone winery is situated in the midst of the vineyards. This three story building allows the force of gravity to transport the wine from the fermenters down to the barrels. The subterranean level is actually an ideal cellar environment where temperature and humidity are controlled naturally.

The Freestone Vineyards guest center is open Friday through Sunday from 11-5pm, and no reservations are required.

They also feature “Second Sunday” events that range from food pairings to music, so be sure and check their calendar.

Freestone is well known for their Pinot Noir and their Chardonnay. Make sure and include them in your travels, it’s a fun stop and an excellent wine. (And it’s about a block away from the Wildflour Bakery….my personal favorite!)

The Casino Bar & Grill is located in the historic town of Bodega in Western Sonoma County, just six miles south of Bodega Bay. And the most common assumption, because of it’s name is that it’s a gambling establishment, but it is not.

The Casino is a landmark roadhouse saloon, a community gathering place, and a place where friends and travelers can come together for a drink, a bite to eat, or a round of pool, and experience the authentic culture of what a small town in Northern CA is really like.

Here’s a bit of history directly from the Casino’s web site:

In 1874, a general store was built in central Bodega called Goodman’s General Mercantile. In 1939 a local man named Nebo Casini bought it and turned it into a restaurant and bar. He named the place the Casino as a play on the family name, Casini, and as history has it, he actually put some slot machines in the back room. In 1949, Nebo sold the Casino to his brother Art Casini and his wife, Evelyn. For more than 70 years now, the bar has remained in the Casini family.

The Casino is currently operated by Greg and Elizabeth Schimpf, but Evelyn Casini herself still tends the bar on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as she has for more than six decades. Today, the Casino is one of Sonoma County’s few remaining rural bars. Known locally as Bodega’s beloved watering hole, it is an anchor for the community and a gathering place for the residents and visitors alike. Over the years, the Casino has been the site of weddings, birthday parties, memorial celebrations, informal town meetings, and provided a warm haven during winter power outages.

The casino offers free shuttle service from Bodega Bay (call them at 707-876-3185 for availability), always has new things on their menu, and often features live music on the weekends. Go for a bit of history, or just to enjoy the present. Enjoy!