Before we left California for our next rotation, we got the itch to go check out the coastline one last time. We did not really want to travel hours on end this time, so we picked a somewhat local spot to check out. Our friend Nyssa had expressed the desire to head to Bodega Bay earlier in the week and our other friend Corwin mentioned that Sebastopol was worth checking out on the way. After doing some research, we discovered that Bodega Bay was only a two hour drive southwest from Clearlake and on the way back we could hit Sebastopol which was only 25 minutes inland from Bodega Bay!
Bodega Bay Trail
Of course, we decided to fit in some activity while exploring, so upon reaching the coast we headed straight to the very tip of the peninsula to take in some amazing mid-day views. As we got out of our car, the scenery reminded us a lot of the coastline at Seaglass Beach in Fort Bragg. Large bluffs and cliffs can be seen all around which drop right down into the frothy sea salt waves crashing into the rock. Seals can be heard if you really listen closely and most definitely be seen if you have binoculars to observe them bathing on Bodega Rock. The trail itself is a loop trail that is nearly two miles long with very little elevation change. This is a solid trail for enjoying some beautiful wildflowers as well.
Bodega Bay
Bodega Head Trail
Beach exploring with our travel PT friend, Nyssa!
Bodega Bay
Bodega Head Trail
Beach exploring with our travel PT friend, Nyssa!
Spud Point Crab Company
Following our hike, it was time for lunch, so we decided to look up the best seafood spot near the Bodega Bay Trial and came up with Spud Point, which did not disappoint! It was also well worth the wait, as there was a line out into the street for the best crab cakes and clam chowder in town. There is limited parking around this area, but just to the north and south of their shack there are parking lots where you might be able to sneak into a spot. Right next to Spud Point Crab Company, you can find Fisherman’s Cove. Here you can get fresh oysters made to order any way you want.
BBQ oysters right from the bay!
The Barlow District in Sebastopol
Following our lunch, we drove back toward Sebastopol and hung out around there. It’s an area that was once a rundown warehouse district that the city has now fully renovated. The Barlow District is definitely where everything is happening in this small town, as it holds tons of unique shops, different restaurants, ice cream parlors, and a few breweries. We leisurely strolled around this area until we decided to hit up two breweries. The first, Woodfour Brewing, is located almost in the center of the Barlow District and it has a great vibe and nice long patio. Unfortunately, we did not appreciate their beer as much. The second, Crooked Goat Brewery, had another fantastic environment with more sports on tv (if that’s your thing), a slightly smaller patio space, and in our opinion better beer. They also had a great local folk band playing in the corner of the patio for about 2-3 hours!
Ramen Gaijin
As we wrapped up our day, hunger struck us again and we remembered another one of our friends, Dan, had recommended a top traditional ramen spot in Sebastopol, Ramen Gaijin. Looking into this for dinner at 6-6:30 p.m. was a mistake, as it was packed, and we had to wait for our table for the next 45 minutes. Clearly, there was something great about the food here, and we found it in the shoyu ramen bowl. It was quite a spectacular meal, as we both learned how to properly eat ramen from our waiter using chopsticks. They provide you with more than enough food as well, with both of us taking home at least half of the meal for tomorrow’s lunch. The restaurant itself is maybe a 10-minute walk just west of the Barlow.
With another great weekend in the books, we headed back home fully stuffed. It was fun to see the fishermen-focused town of Bodega Bay and then the modernized shopping and dining areas of Sebastopol all in one day.