Fort Ross was a highlight of our recent day trip from Bodega Bay. The drive along Highway 1 was breathtaking, with stunning coastal views and winding roads that made for an adventure in itself. The fort itself is rich in history, offering a glimpse into the Russian settlement that once thrived along this stretch of California’s coast. Walking through the reconstructed buildings, including the chapel and wooden stockade, gave us a real sense of life in the early 1800s. The visitor center had excellent exhibits on Russian exploration, trade, and interactions with the local Kashia Pomo people. One of our favorite parts was the beautiful walk down to the ocean. The trail winds through lush coastal terrain and opens up to a stunning view of the Pacific. We spotted seals lounging on the rocks and enjoyed the peaceful, rugged beauty of the shoreline. The weather was cool and breezy—perfect for exploring. If you’re in the Bodega Bay area, Fort Ross is well worth the visit. It’s a great mix of history, nature, and incredible scenery, making for a memorable day trip.

We arrived to do the hike from Salt Point trail to Stump Beach. The path was easily navigated with some spots of mud (recently rained) The coastline was amazingly beautiful- not sure if we arrived at a special time, but the waves were crashing spectacularly. The last walk down to stump beach was the only real “climbing” you need to do with a small navigation across some water to get to the main beach.

My daily landscapes are flat… NOTHING like GOAT ROCK which has almost become a sort of pilgrimage for us. The awesomeness of how this humongous rock was formed… There really are no words! It’s like after North America was formed, just to add a final statement to prove grandeur Goat Rock stands proud! A beautiful part of Creation for sure! If you love being outdoors make this a “GOTTA GO HERE”on your bucket list! Enjoy!!

Fort Ross Vineyard and Winery is a small producer located in a remote area a few miles from the coast in the southernmost part of the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. We happen to love Sonoma Coast wines, so we were really looking forward to going to the only tasting room in this area. The tasting room itself is relatively small, but stylish and comfortable - think Restoration Hardware. Even though it was mid-April, it was still pretty cold (50F) when we arrived for our 10 AM tasting, so it was thoughtful of them to have the fireplace going. Wine tastings are by appointment only, so be aware of that before you go. We opted for the food and wine pairing tasting for $75 pp instead of the wine only tasting for $50 pp. The extra $25 was absolutely worth it. When we arrived, we were offered some 2022 Chenin Blanc which was a welcoming touch. For the tasting itself, we were served four wines - the 2019 Bicentennial Chard, the 2019 Fort Ross Vineyard Pinot, the 2018 Top of Land Pinot, and the 2018 Pinotage (the owners are South African and brought over some vines) - we were also served a tasting of the 2019 The Terraces Pinot as a bonus. Each of the four wines were paired with small bites to eat. Bicentennial Chard with “Fennel and Apple Salad, Herbed Mascarpone, Cardamom Crostini” Fort Ross Vineyard Pinot with “Maitake Yakitori, Cherry Teriyaki Sauce, Napa Cabbage Slaw, Macadamia Nuts” Top of Land Pinot with “Forbidden Rice Risotto, Oyster Mushroom, Roasted Cauliflower, Valley Ford Estero Gold Cheese” Pinotage with “Coffee and Ancho Seared Flank Steak, Broccoli Rabe, Cheesy Grits, Pinotage Glaze” (They have a vegetarian option for this one if you ask) The food was delicious on its own, but more importantly, each one paired very well with the matched wine. The entire tasting showcased the food-friendliness and versatility of Sonoma Coast wines. Really well done. Unfortunately, the day was overcast, so the view was limited, but the grounds are beautiful. Overall, it was a great, memorable experience. If you arrive in the area early, you can pass some time by walking the Vista Trail that is located near the intersection of Meyers Grade Road and Route 1. It has beautiful views of the coastline, it’s entirely paved, mostly flat, and takes maybe 15-20 minutes to do the entire loop. Lastly, there is no cell phone reception (at least for T-Mobile) in the area. None. Not even a hint of a bar. So take that into consideration by making sure you have downloaded maps onto your GPS so you can use it offline.

This is a hidden gem on the coast. We have camped at Stillwater Cove campground a few times now and love the trails at the park.

We are east coasters who love Jenner. Kayaking with Watertreks EcoTours is always a highlight of our trips to CA. We always end up working with Keith to get set up. He is an absolute pleasure to chat with and a true fountain of information about the history, flora, and fauna of the area. We always end up chatting with him for a while. For the beauty and remoteness of this location we are surprised that the rental prices are comparable to every other river kayaking we've encountered across the states we've visited and in our home state of PA. What a treat! The location is super convenient, right across from Cafe Aquatica which is an incredible coffee shop where you absolutely must grab breakfast before you get on the water or lunch after. The team here makes sure you're set up to kayak safely, explaining the areas to avoid. They also educate you on how to enjoy the wildlife (which often includes seals sunbathing on the beach) respectfully. Every time we've kayaked here, we've been lucky enough to have seals pop their heads up in the water nearby us. It's a magical experience. Highly recommend if youre ever in the area, and it's worth making a trip if you're not!!