Sonoma Coast

Towns Of Sonoma Coast

Annapolis CA
Bodega Bay CA
Sea Ranch CA
Valley Ford CA
Jenner CA

Sonoma Coast Information

The rugged Northern California coast is stunning and the portions that make up the Sonoma Coast are no exception. This beautiful area of winding coastline invites visitors to enjoy magnificent sunsets from quaint B&Bs perched on cliffs overlooking the ocean. It beckons guests to go sea kayaking or fishing in the waters of Pacific. It urges you to visit small towns where the ocean plays a large role in the lives of residents.

The Sonoma Coast boasts five very different towns, all of which are graced with friendly people and beautiful ocean vistas. The largest of the towns, Bodega Bay, is a picturesque seaside escape that's home to many of the county's working fishermen - those who make their living from the waters of the Pacific. Located along scenic Highway 1 near the Point Reyes Peninsula, Bodega Bay is a popular beach destination for both locals and visitors. Head to Salmon Beach for plenty of splashing and skimboarding, Portuguese Beach for wading, or Goat Rock, a popular beach for kayakers. Go fishing, crabbing, whale-watching, or hiking in one of the area's regional parks or watch the sea lions while you enjoy a picnic lunch. Bodega Bay even boasts an entertaining nightlife, including bars full of colorful locals and some excellent restaurants.

The unique private community of Sea Ranch has been enticing visitors to come to Sonoma's coast for four decades. Many have decided to make it their home. This enclave of diverse homes is internationally renowned as one of the best examples of enlightened, environmentally- sensitive land use in the world. The community encompasses 3,500 acres and includes coastline, beaches, ocean bluffs, redwood trees, and grassy meadows. The scenery is breathtaking and owners make sure that the development maintains a peaceful, serene feeling. Renters can choose from a variety of homes in various locations, from coastal properties to secluded homes further inland. Sea Ranch visitors can enjoy hiking and biking trails, golf, heated swimming pools, saunas, and tennis courts. Many of the homes boast additional amenities such as hot tubs, game rooms, and more.

The small town of Jenner, with just a few hundred residents, lies where the creek in Jenner Gulch meets the Russian River just before it empties into the vast Pacific Ocean. Watersports are king in Jenner, thanks to its proximity to both the Ocean and the Russian River. That means you can enjoy fishing and boating as well as swimming, scuba diving, skin diving, and also the unique sport of abalone diving. Land sports like hiking and biking are popular in 210-acre Stillwater Cove Regional Park. History buffs might enjoy a trip to Fort Ross State Historic Park, once the southernmost settlement in the Russian colonization of the North American continent, established as an agricultural base to supply Alaska.

Valley Ford is actually located about 6 miles from the coastline but, like Bodega Bay, relies heavily on the fishing industry in Sonoma County. The town, which is a little more than 3 square miles in size and enjoys a population of less than 100 people, boasts a few historic sites, such as its charming one-room schoolhouse that was in continuous operation for more than 100 years. Visitors to Valley Ford take advantage of all the nearby bodies of water have to offer, from boating to angling for Chinook salmon.

Annapolis, a small town close to both the coast and the wine-rich Russian River Valley provides visitors with a chance to explore dozens of vineyards, engage in fun and adventurous watersports, and hike through nearby state parks.

Coastal Sonoma lodging consists of vacation home rentals, small inns and B&Bs, and campsites. Restaurants in Coastal Sonoma aren't abundant but you will find a number of very good ones, especially at some of the B&Bs, where fine chefs are employed in the kitchens.