Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
4.
Tomales Bay State Park
TomalesBay,a13-mile-longinletthatseparatesPointReyesfromthemainland,istranquil,
protected, and uneventful—everything the Pacific is not. Along these restful shores, the
ocean's rages are quickly forgotten and every sense is tickled by a different delight: the
sweet scent of Bishop pine, the whir of countless waterfowl alighting on vast marshlands,
thesucculenceofafreshlygatheredoyster,thesoothingwarmthofthewatersalongHearts
DesireBeach,andthebreathtakingbeautyofthebayitself,backedbythegreenandgolden
hills of the Bolinas Ridge.
5.
Bodega Bay
Movie buffs may be struck by a sense of déjá vu when they enter the village of Bodega
Bay, for it was here that Alfred Hitchcock filmed
The Birds
, his classic tale of nature run
amok. Today the town is more notable for its splendid seafood and harborside views than
foritsbriefbrushwithfame.Spendanafternoonstrollingalongitsanchorageorhikingthe
trail from Spuds Point Marina around Bodega Head, a rocky promontory that protects the
tranquil waters of the bay from the swells and surf of the open sea.
Bodega Head also marks the beginning of Sonoma Coast State Beach, a chain of parks
that parallels the drive for the next 14 miles. No seaside pleasure is absent here. Climb the
dunes or look for treasures in the tidepools of Salmon Creek. Picnic beneath the cliffs of
Schoolhouse Beach. Marvel at the pounding force of the Pacific along the rocks of Dun-
cans Landing. Orstand at Goat Rock, near the point where the wide Russian River empties
into the sea.
6.
Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve
In tribute to the very trees he harvested, timber tycoon James Armstrong set aside this
750-acre redwood forest in the 1870s, making it one of the first virgin redwood preserves.
The shade cast by these ancient giants is so deep that, according to lore, local Indians re-
fused to enter this “dark hole. Today the forest is accessible to all; there's even a trail for
visually impaired hikers.
Though camping is not permitted within the grounds of the park, it's available right
next door at the Austin Creek State Recreation Area, where many of the hiking trails offer
fine, sweeping views of the surrounding Russian River countryside. Twenty miles of trails,
ranging from a gentle creekside saunter to a vigorous scramble up the slopes of McCray
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