Guys Getaway: Outdoor Adventures Itinerary

Morning

Gear up for fun with a filling breakfast at The Tides Wharf Restaurant & Bar in Bodega Bay, known as the backdrop for scary scenes in Alfred Hitchcock’s horror classic, The Birds.

This coastal town is home to excellent trails, and one of the most invigorating is at Bodega Head in the Sonoma Coast State Park, which stretches for 17 scenic miles along the coast. The ocean overlook at Bodega Head is prime for watching gray and blue whales. For more details, read Explore Bodega Head on the Sonoma Coast.

Afternoon

Grab a great lunch at The Boat House, where owner Captain Rick Powers’ schooner hauls in the freshest seafood. Dig into Dungeness crab cake sandwiches, meaty fish-n-chips, and breaded clam strips to eat inside or on outdoor tables overlooking the bay.

Catch your own seafood at the Bodega Bay Sport Fishing Center, where your group can charter a boat with all the gear and cruise the scenic waters for crab, salmon, albacore tuna, cod, and giant squid. Check out Sonoma County’s safety tips for water activities.

A visit to Sonoma Wine Country should include wine. Go “wine surfing” at Gourmet Au Bay, where three tastes are served on a little wooden surfboard and can be paired with soups, seafood, and wood-fired flatbreads. The bar also offers three local beers on tap.

Lodging

For a night camping in the great outdoors, relax at the popular Bodega Dunes Campground or Doran Regional Park. Find more Sonoma County campsites here.

If roughing it is a little too, well, rough, check in at Bodega Bay Inn, a small, seven-room inn with art, garden sculptures, and a fire pit.

Or check out Bodega Harbor Inn, perched on the bluffs overlooking the headlands. The inn has 14 rooms, or you can rent a cottage.

Other nearby lodgings include The Lodge at Bodega Bay and Inn at the Tides.

Evening

Clean up and then tuck into a delicious dinner at Terrapin Creek Cafe. Don’t let the innocuous shopping center location phase you — once you taste the food, you’ll know why this place has won national acclaim. The seasonal menu changes to feature the best local meats and produce. 

Another option is to shoot pool and enjoy the amazing food at Casino Bar & Grill, a pool hall and tavern in the tiny town of Bodega, just five miles inland from Bodega Bay. All ingredients are local, with options like a sirloin steak sandwich with sautéed onions or kale salad with fried egg, prawns, and smoked bacon.

Morning

Rise with the sun and go for a group stroll on the beach. Fuel up at Spud Point Crab Company. This local favorite opens at 9 a.m. to serve visitors and fishing crews, and while it does have coffee and sweet rolls — don’t miss their best-ever clam chowder or crab sandwich!

If golf is your game, then you’re in for a thrill at the Links at Bodega Harbour, with tee times from 7 a.m. up to 5 p.m. All 18 holes on the Scottish-style course offer spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, with rolling fairways, undulating greens, and native coastal rough to up the challenge. Discover more Sonoma County golf courses.

Afternoon

Grab lunch at the club’s Bluewater Lounge. With views of the Pacific Ocean, this is the perfect pitstot overlooking the course and the coastline. 

With food in your belly, now is a good time to explore the craft beer side of Sonoma Wine Country, which boasts an impressive offering of microbreweries, brew pubs, and tap rooms.

In nearby Sebastopol, check out Crooked Goat Brewing for a cold beer or Golden State Cider for a local cider.

Evening

Finish your beer adventure with a bite to eat and another good brew at HopMonk Tavern, also in Sebastopol. This boisterous bar, beer garden, and live music venue has one of the largest selections anywhere.

Lodging

Fairfield Inn and Suites provides the convenience of a brand hotel, including Marriott points.

Morning

Rumbling stomachs are good motivation to head to the village of Occidental. Devour a legendary breakfast at Howard Station Café inside a historic home and rail station from the late 1800s.

The next stop is Sonoma Zipline Adventures. Have a blast on a guided tour through the treetops with zip lines, sky bridges, a majestic spiral staircase, a rappel to the forest floor, and hiking through the world-famous California Coastal Redwoods.

Afternoon

For more adventure, head to Guerneville and hike through Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve.

Or paddle the Russian River in a kayak or canoe, courtesy of Burke’s Canoe Trips and Campground.

Stop to grab delicious snacks at Wild Flour Bread in the neighboring village of Freestone. Then rejuvenate at Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary with a deep tissue massage in the Japanese-style gardens. Check out the relaxing bath of finely ground cedar, rice bran, and plant enzymes.

Evening

For dinner, head to the Union Hotel at Occidental Restaurant for family-style Italian food served in hearty portions. For a lighter meal and a good, stiff cocktail, the old-style saloon next door keeps it friendly with ice-cold beer, pizza, seasonal crab cioppino, and burgers. The Union is no longer a hotel, but guest cottages can be reserved, like the stylish log cabin bungalow in the redwoods. Another great option is The Occidental Lodge set on a redwood-dotted hillside and offering a seasonal swimming pool.