Bodega Bay with Kids: A Family-Friendly Guide to Coastal Fun
There are so many things to do in Bodega Bay with kids, like explore windswept beaches lined with RVs and sand dunes, miles of coastal hiking trails, hills of lush farmland, and local seafood restaurants.
The coastal town of Bodega Bay is a 1.5-hour drive away from the San Francisco Bay Area that is a great day-trip or weekend getaway for families with young children.
We’ve been to Bodega Bay a few times and below are our favorite Bodega Bay activities:
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Quick Tips
What To Pack
The drive for a 1.5 hour drive. Stop for lunch at Lagunitas Brewery if you want to stretch your legs.
The weather can be unpredictable. Sometimes it is foggy and chilly, other times it is warm and sunny. Be prepared for wind, and pack layers.
Plan for traffic. Bodega Bay is a popular weekend destination for San Francisco Bay Area residents. The weekends can be crowded, causing traffic along the one highway that takes you to the small coastal town and along the beaches around it. Be patient while you drive and pack snacks to keep your kids entertained.
Costs
| Item | base cost |
|---|---|
| Doran Bay Beach Parking | $7/day |
| Doran Bay Campground | $37/night |
| Add-Ons | |
| Meals in town | |
Getting There
- The drive for a 1.5 hour drive. Stop for lunch at Lagunitas Brewery if you want to stretch your legs.
- The weather can be unpredictable. Sometimes it is foggy and chilly, other times it is warm and sunny. Be prepared for wind, and pack layers.
- Plan for traffic. Bodega Bay is a popular weekend destination for San Francisco Bay Area residents. The weekends can be crowded, causing traffic along the one highway that takes you to the small coastal town and along the beaches around it. Be patient while you drive and pack snacks to keep your kids entertained.
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History Corner
The Coast Miwok have stewarded this land since time immemorial. Many were forcibly relocated to Mission San Rafael and Mission San Francisco in the 1800’s. There is a sad history of the Coast Miwok being given land in Nicasio, only to have it taken away by the United States Government.
In 1920, the US Government purchased land in Graton, CA for the Indians of Marin County to share, creating Graton Rancheria as a recognized tribal entity. The California government striped them of this recognition in 1958! Luckily, with much advocacy and work, their tribal status was reinstated in 1997. Being federally recognized means a lot to tribal communities. Read more about it here.
Our Experience
My family felt safe and comfortable visiting the beaches, farms, and restaurants of this small town. Most shop owners and visitors were white. We saw a few BIPOC families on the beaches and noticed most folks fishing were BIPOC.
Learn More
- Read more about the Coast Miwok people and learn about their tribal leadership here and here.
- Take a side trip to the Kule Loklo Coast Miwok village at Point Reyes National Seashore.
- Donate to the Marin American Indian Alliance or the Granton Rancheria.
Antiracist Travel Considerations
Best Bodega Bay Hike with Kids
Hike the Bodega Head Trail
The Bodega Head Trail is our favorite hiking route in Bodega Bay. It is 1.7 mile heavily trafficked loop that featured beautiful wildflowers, high rocky cliffs, while sightings (January-May), vast ocean views, and lots of wind! It is a free, easy hike for kiddos, but parking can be a challenge on busier days.
We headed north on the trail first, up a hilly and narrow path lined with wildflowers. There were quite a few people on the narrow trail which lead to a few awkward moments with a toddler running up ahead.
Although the views were incredible, the wind was hard for our baby to enjoy even inside a carrier. It was not exactly the best hike to take a baby on during naptime.
Campbell Cove Beach
Doran Beach Regional Park
Patty's Farm Stay - Airbnb option in Bodega Bay
Are you looking for something a little more rustic? We loved staying at Patty’s Farm Stay, an adorable working goat farm.
The accommodations consist of a small, one bedroom apartment that feels more like a studio. Our family of four slept cozy and warm to the sound of farm animals and frogs croaking at night.
For an extra fee, the host will make you a delicious farm breakfast to eat outside on the picnic table, and give you a tour of the goat farm which includes a goat cheese tasting. Our family loves goat cheese so this part of the tour was an instant hit.
Inn at the Tides
The Inn at the Tides is a beautiful hotel located right off HWY 1 and full of The Birds film history. We decided to stay here a few cold and rainy nights in December and enjoyed our double queen room. The hotel stay included free breakfast at the Tides Wharf Restaurant across the highway.
We had an amazing view of the bay from our room and had yummy takeout for dinner at the hotel restaurant. There was also a pool with a small covered section that was pleasant to swim even in the rain.
Doran Regional Park Campground
A Doran Regional Park Campground is located right off of the long Doran Beach in the middle of Bodega Bay and Bodega Harbor. The campground offers four groups of campsites with nice views of either Bodega Bay or Bodega Harbor, with flush toilets and warm showers.
Check out our review for more information.
Where to Eat Bodega Bay
The Tides Wharf Restaurant
The Tides Wharf Restaurant is located off HWY 1 just across the road from the Inn at the Tides.
The food was delicious, and the staff provided us with coloring pages and crayons for our little artist.
Every seat had an epic view of the bay. If you get a window seat, you can spy seals and seabirds with your littles while they learn to drink from a cup.
Wildflour Bread
Spud Point Crab Co.
Located on the road to Bodega Head, Spud Point Crab Co. is a great place to grab lunch on your way to the beach.
Beware – this place can get busy. The line stretched through the parking lot when we arrived, so I dropped my partner off to grab food while I took the kiddos to the beach.
We enjoyed the clam chowder, bread, and shrimp cocktail. I would pass on the small crab or shrimp sandos as they were not as flavorful as I would have liked. Piriquita II bakery was founded in 1862 thanks to King Carlos I’s love of their famous Queijadas during his summer visits to Sintra. The bakery has been family run for six generations.
Try a Queijada (sweet cheese baked pudding dessert) and a Travesseiros da Casa Piriquita (flakey dough wrapped around sweet cheese and almond filling).
Fishertarian Fish Market
Ginochio's Kitchen
Final Thoughts
Bodega Bay was a great place to take our family with two little kids under five to explore. It had so many outdoor activities to keep our little family busy. We could spend our mornings on the beach, and our afternoons on the trails, or find our way through the lush farmland to play with goats.
My preschooler would have spent her entire day feeding the sweet and gentle goats at Patti’s Farm Stay. She handed the goats pieces of grass the goats could have picked on their own, and said “Mama they are calling me! They are still hungry!” when I told her it was time to go.
Although most of the people we met in Bodega Bay were retired white folks from the Bay Area, we did see younger families of color on the beaches. Most of the fishermen/women we met were also BIPOC.
While they encouraged our little one to be brave and touch the crab shells, they said “that’s why I always say to give a kid a tackle box, not an XBOX.”
I couldn’t agree more.
A child playing on Doran Beach near the campground in Bodega Bay
How do you encourage your kids to be more adventurous? Share in the comments below.
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