Thanks to wine industry conjunctive labeling laws, talking about the “Sonoma Coast” requires some semantic gymnastics—we’re not discussing the sprawling American Viticultural Area, but rather the craggy shoreline.
Further complicating matters is the “Bodega” conundrum—are we talking about the bay or the town? Alfred Hitchcock didn’t help matters by blurring geography in his feathered fright-fest, The Birds.
Also, doesn’t Yoda live in the Bodegabah System?
On a bluff overlooking iconic Highway 1, The Lodge at Bodega Bay started out in 1972 as a modest seaside motor lodge. Today, it’s grown into a plush, 83-room coastal getaway, complete with EV-friendly charging stations, Arts & Crafts-inspired decor (think nautical chic without the kitsch) and fireplaces begging one to pretend it’s colder than it actually is. The place has precisely that mid-century mod coastal vibe to make Don Draper want to buy the world a Coke.
That said, no matter how cozy their room, one will spend half their time gawking at the ocean views.
The Lodge doubles as the perfect staging ground for local exploration. Just steps away is Doran Beach, one of the Sonoma Coast’s favorite sandy playgrounds. Pro tip: Snag a free beach parking pass from the front desk and save $7—enough for a gas-station burrito on the drive home. Trails for hiking, biking and even horseback riding are everywhere. Though, judging by the folks I saw, horses are strictly BYOH (bring your own horse).
Bird lovers will find Bodega Bay to be feathered-friend heaven, officially recognized by the Audubon Society. Hitchcock would no doubt approve. Though hopefully one’s avian encounters won’t involve fleeing in terror like Tippi Hedren (from Hitch’s unwanted advances).
Speaking of bird themes, Black Kite Cellars’ Jasper House recently opened as Freestone’s preeminent tasting room in the historic district. Conveniently close to Wild Flour Bread and Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary, Jasper House showcases terroir-driven pinot noirs and chardonnays expertly crafted by winemaker Jeff Gaffner.
Owners Tom Birdsall and Rebecca Green Birdsall have cultivated their family-owned winery’s reputation since 2003, cementing west Sonoma County’s status as Wine Country royalty. Located at 12747 El Camino Bodega, Jasper House is open daily, 10am–5pm. Appointments are encouraged, but spontaneous tastings are welcome—perfect for wine emergencies. Visit BlackKiteCellars.com.
For those downsizing their mad money expenditures, follow my lead: Tell your workmates you’re going into “the field”; grab a frosty, $4 20-ounce Pabst Blue Ribbon from Diekmann’s Bay Store on Highway 1; claim a dune at Salmon Creek South; write your damn story; and let the great gaping maw of the Pacific Ocean remind you that simple pleasures can often be the best. Just don’t get sand in your laptop.
