A New Year's Stay in Bodega Bay
Updated: Sep 19, 2022
An ocean-view escape right off Highway 1
An Airbnb for Fancy People
I rang in 2022 with some dear friends at a beautiful seaside property in a fancy pants neighborhood. This place was absolutely perfect for our group of 6 and I came away with few complaints. If you like ocean views and sunsets, you can't do much better than this Airbnb.
BOOK THIS AIRBNB HERE
Quick facts (and pros) about the property:
4 bedrooms, 5 beds, 3 baths—up to 8 guests (6 was the perfect number, I think 8 would be a little tight)
$597/night
Includes a hot tub AND sauna
Detached guest suite with full bath
Sun-filled living space
Walkable (about 10-15 minutes) to a beach path that opens up onto a beautiful beach filled with tide pools and STARFISH!
Two decks
Minutes from downtown Bodega Bay
Comprehensive & super fun CD collection
A few cons:
The oven takes FOREVER to preheat and also randomly turns off. Someone mentioned this in the reviews and the response said that following the specific instructions carefully should prevent that, but I think it's just a finicky oven. That said, we were able to cook several delicious meals, just plan on it taking longer or maybe not working at all. If you're planning an entire trip about food & using the oven, this may not be the place for you.
The hot tub isn't super private - you can see the neighbors house and the road from it. Not a huge issue (non-issue at night), but good to note.
The neighborhood is built around a golf course, and the deck overlooks the course which is a little awkward. Again, not an issue for us, but I can see some people being put off by it.
Hiking in Bodega Bay
There's a ton of amazing coastal hikes in the area. Our Airbnb was within walking distance of the Pinnacle Gulch Coastal Trail—an easy and dreamy 1.2-mile round-trip walk down to the ocean, where we came across dozens of tide pools housing crabs, mussels, and an unbelievable amount of starfish.
We also visited the Bodega Head Trail to watch the King Tides and spot some whales. We saw neither, but the hike itself was gorgeous enough on its own. Our Airbnb was just up the hill from Doran Beach Trail, which we didn't actually have time for, but it was highly recommended.
Lastly, we took a quick drive to Salmon Creek Beach where we played in huge forts made from driftwood and watched dogs run around in the sand.
Where To Eat in Bodega Bay
Bodega Bay is home to some of the most incredible seafood around, but I'd be lying if I said that was my favorite part of the food in the area. If I could only eat one thing on a trip to the area—and maybe for the rest of my life—it would be the saltwater taffy from the pink-and-white-striped shop, Patrick's of Bodega Bay.
If taffy isn't quite enough, the very popular Fishetarian Fish Market and Fisherman's Cove are excellent choices for seafood. Fishetarian is better known and has a great location right on the bay, but it does tend to be more crowded and has fewer vegetarian options.