48 Hours in Jenner on the California Coast

Brunch at Café Aquatica

Start your day at Café Aquatica, a charming roadside retreat for a casual, organic meal and a hot cup of coffee. Enjoy breakfast pastries, savory breakfast burritos, or bagels with cream cheese and lox. The café deck overlooks a beautiful estuary, offering views of local flora and fauna.

Kayak With WaterTreks EcoTours

Nature and outdoor enthusiasts can live out their vacation dreams via a kayaking tour with WaterTreks EcoTours, owned by Suki Waters, a local Native American guide and kayak instructor. Visitors can explore quiet estuaries or the Pacific Ocean while learning about local wildlife, Sonoma County history, and more.

Afternoon at Goat Rock Beach

For some fun at the ocean, take a short drive to iconic Goat Rock Beach. The cruise on Highway 1 offers views of immense sea stacks (rocky columns that rise out of the ocean), white-capped waves, and sand dunes until you reach the massive, flat-topped rock that gives the beach its name.

Goat Rock Beach is popular for birdwatching and hiking, as it features several trails. The Kortum Trail is a 4.6-mile loop that connects Blind Beach, Shell Beach, and Wright’s Beach. If you’re feeling more adventurous, the 6.2-mile Pomo Canyon Trail follows the historical trading route of the Pomo and Miwok peoples and leads hikers into a redwood forest with a waterfall.

Wine Tasting in Downtown Jenner

Browse for locally crafted souvenirs at Jenner Sea Gifts and Wines, a small shop offering jewelry, clothing, chimes, seashells, and local wines. Bring a few bottles and treasures home.

Visit Tasting by the Sea, a wine bar connected to the gift shop. Here, you can enjoy a wine tasting or order wines by the glass or bottle while enjoying gorgeous views of the Russian River. Evenings are particularly lovely on the bar’s large outdoor deck, which includes a cozy fire pit.

Dinner at River’s End Restaurant

This cozy restaurant is perched on a bluff just up the hill from the Jenner Visitors Center, overlooking both the Russian River and the Pacific Ocean.

River’s End Restaurant serves delicious dinners and fine wine set to the backdrop of spectacular sunsets. Chef Martin Recoder offers unique and eclectic seasonal menus that showcase local Sonoma County meat and produce, like Dungeness crab.

Breakfast at Coast Kitchen

Timber Cove Resort’s Coast Kitchen restaurant offers organic, seasonal Sonoma Wine Country coastal cuisine with clean, crisp presentations, served amid stunning ocean views for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Now it’s time to explore. The stretch of coastal Highway 1 just north of Jenner is not about getting there but rather enjoying the ride. Use the turnouts to stop and enjoy the views, as each offers its own unique delights.

Explore Fort Ross State Historic Park

For your first stop, dive into history at this fascinating fort. From 1812 to 1841, it was a Russian settlement. Today, reconstructed buildings recall the once-thriving colony, including the stockade, a chapel, a barracks, two blockhouses, and a windmill. Visitors can explore the park at their own pace, with helpful staff available.

Wine Tasting & Bites at Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery

Stop at the Fort Ross Vineyard Winery to sip wine and enjoy stellar views. Known for their zesty Pinot Noirs and crisp Chardonnays, this vineyard is closer to the Pacific Ocean than any other in California. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday through Tuesday, this winery accepts reservations for a variety of wine tastings, with the most popular being the pairing with delicious small bites prepared to complement each pour. Here, the chef serves a true farm-to-table experience with seasonal ingredients sourced locally.

Outdoor Adventures at Salt Point State Park

This beautiful 6,000-acre protected park stretches along the Pacific Ocean coastline, with more than 20 miles of trails, an underwater park, two campgrounds, and a host of recreational opportunities, including hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and scuba diving. The park features rocky spires, panoramic views, kelp-dotted coves, forested hills, open prairies, a pygmy forest, and a lively visitor center with activities. Watch for impressive Tafoni sandstone — stone that’s riddled by honeycomb-type erosion that produces ribs, ridges, holes, and other patterns. Download a Salt Point State Park brochure.

Sunset and Dinner at the Jenner Inn Restaurant

From fettuccine Alfredo and fresh salmon to fish and chips and cheeseburgers, the restaurant at the Jenner Inn has something for everyone. Book a dinner reservation during dusk to experience sensational views of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean, best enjoyed with a local Sonoma County beer or a glass of wine.