Hotel at a Glance: Bodega Harbor Inn

This family-run inn is set in Bodega Bay’s Old Town, overlooking scenic Bodega Harbor. There’s a large lawn where you can take in a view of the ocean to the west. To the east are several Sonoma Valley vineyards; this getaway includes tastings at three, plus a bottle of wine to enjoy at your leisure.

• Enjoy fresh seafood at approximately 8 restaurants no more than 5 minutes from the inn.
• Standard rooms are done up with antique furnishings and equipped with flat-screen cable TVs and free WiFi.
• King cottage rooms are in their own buildings with decks and hot tubs.
• Bring a group and stay in the 2,000-square-foot Spyglass house. It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two fireplaces, views of the ocean, and more.

Bodega Bay, California: Tiny Fishing Village and Site of Hitchcock Film

Bodega Bay is set along California’s rocky Sonoma coast, roughly 70 miles north of San Francisco. Much of the town’s activity centers on its namesake harbor. Professional and sport-fishing fleets haul in dungeness crab, king salmon, and cod. You can watch boats bring in their catches, and then dine on ultrafresh seafood at local restaurants. Whale-watching tours are also popular; thousands of gray whales pass through the area from December to May as they migrate south.

Fans of Alfred Hitchcock may recognize Bodega Bay as the setting for his 1963 film The Birds. Potter Schoolhouse, which has a prominent presence in the movie, still stands today. But don’t worry: in real life, there’s nothing murderous about the local bird population. As you hike along the trails and granite bluffs of Sonoma Coast State Park, keep an eye out for warblers, pelicans, and sandpipers.

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