Whale Watching at Bodega Head. Photo by Cameron Maddux.

Winter is the time of year when many of us take pleasure in staying close to home, snuggling by a fire, and enjoying seasonal traditions. However, for our fellow mammals the Pacific Gray Whale, winter is migration time. From December through May, 20,000 of these majestic creatures swim south from the icy waters of their Arctic feeding grounds to seek refuge in the warmer, sub-tropical waters of Baja, their chosen spot to mate and nurse their young.

While the migration season lasts for several months, February is a particularly interesting time because you’ll begin to see whales heading both north and south. The northbound whales are primarily pregnant mama whales looking to get back to Alaska as the ice begins to break up, while the southbound whales are juveniles who are lagging behind.

This great migration makes for a much-anticipated and awe-inspiring sight off our northern California coastline. There are several viewing sights in the North Bay, the top destinations being Bodega Head in Bodega Bay, Fort Ross State Park and Timber Cove.

For a unique vantage point, several companies offer chartered whale-watching tours for an up-close view of one of nature’s most incredible spectacles. Local fishing boats offer cruises throughout the season and the Oceanic Society has naturalist-led trips as well. In addition to the prolific gray whales, you may also catch a sighting of dolphins, humpback whales, harbor seals and maybe even a blue whale.

Our waters are rich in unique wildlife (in addition to whales, our part of the Pacific is also a hotbed for oysters and abalone) and whale watching is one more way in which we can enjoy these unique surroundings. 

Gray whale. Photo by Ryan Harvey

Some interesting facts about the Pacific Gray Whale:

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

In the North Bay, our wonderful topography offers an incredible terrain for cycling, running and hiking. In addition, the coastal backroads present terrific routes for day trips by car. Known by many but sometimes forgotten by locals, Highway 1 is a treasure. On a lazy Saturday morning, you can get up, jump in the car (make sure you have fuel), and head out to Highway 1 to enjoy the views and unique sights.

If you want to turn your scenic drive into a day of sightseeing or activities, there are plenty of stops along the coast. Starting in northern Sonoma, you can admire the many “Sea Ranch” style homes in Sea Ranch, known for their modern, sustainable appearance and built to have minimal visual impact on the natural landscape. Fort Ross, celebrating its bicentennial in 2012, is a great stop for history buffs, and both Shell Beach and Goat Rock provide excellent walks and hiking trails. At the right time of year (January through May), you can go whale watching at Bodega Head, as more than 20,000 gray whales migrate past the Sonoma Coast each year.

Oh, and is your journey making you hungry? Check out the dining options on Highway 1 – from Indian food to burgers to award-winning dining – you can find it on this beautiful route.

And if after all this you’re not ready to drive back home, Salt Point offers fantastic camping, and there are a number of quaint Bed and Breakfast options.  

Who needs to get their kicks on Route 66 when you’ve got Highway 1 in your backyard?

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Photo credit: Nick Young

The coastline of Marin and Sonoma Counties offers miles upon miles of spectacular beaches, most with their own characteristics and benefits. In Sonoma County, one of our favorites is Doran Beach, just south of Bodega Bay. Part of the Sonoma County Regional Park system, Doran Beach is a two-mile spit of sandy beach tucked behind Bodega Head, at the entrance to the harbor. This unique location and the southern orientation of the beach mean few, if any, big pounding waves, making it an ideal spot for young kids and water-shy adults to actually enjoy the ocean. On any given day at Doran, fog or no fog, you’ll find young and old enjoying the beach: swimming, strolling, picnicking, flying kites, building sand castles and even crabbing and fishing from the rock jetty on the north side of the spit. For those ready to spend more than just the day, Doran has great camping facilities that are open year-round. As a regional park, Doran has all the usual facilities, in addition to – and this is another reason why we love where we live: no one gets left out – a beach wheelchair which is available upon request.

Have you been to Doran Beach? What was your experience like?

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Spring Break for school-age kids is almost here. So what are you going to do while your kids are out of school? Some folks may travel but many of us will take advantage of what is at our fingertips and enjoy a stay-cation right here in the North Bay.

Sonoma County

Go Skating: Ice, Roller, or Board
Tee up with some Mini- Golf
Drive like Mario Andretti
Find an arcade and spend some of those spare quarters
Swing set or teeter totter at a playground
Take a hike, walk, or bike in the beautiful wine country
Take the Train or ride a Ferris Wheel at Train Town
Sit on the dock of the Bay
Visit Shell Beach
Ride the Carousel or see what else is happening over at Howarth Park

Heading North
Take the Skunk Train for a ride with a view.
Mendocino coast, while there check out the Mendocino Chocolate Company or even try Whale Watching (did this last year – it was awesome, but definitely required sea sickness patch).
Head a little north to MacKerricher State Park and check out the tidepools.
Take a long drive through the Avenue of the Giants and enjoy the Redwoods and the roadside attractions.

And of course there are always the old stand-bys:
Check out a book
Go to a Movie
Play a board game

For activities in Marin County and San Francisco, check out our GuideMeHome2Marin Spring Break post .

Posted by:Jennifer Masterson

Springtime in the North Bay means the weather can change from sunshine to rain clouds day by day – or even hour by hour, as we’ve seen this week. So this time of year, whenever I spot sunshine I say, “Let’s go play!”

One recent sunny day that desire to play led to a trip to Shell Beach, which is part of the Sonoma Coast State Beach. As a part-time Sonoma County resident, getting to this gorgeous beach is easy to do. The drive from Fountain Grove (North Santa Rosa) takes you down River Road through Guerneville towards Bridgehaven and then about five minutes along Highway 1.

Once you arrive, there is a great walk between Shell Beach and Goat Rock (okay, okay, the names aren’t pretty, but the views are). As the walk covers some marshy-areas, there is a convenient boardwalk covering some of the trail. It’s just such a fun place to go. My understanding is that in addition to the views there is sometimes entertainment on the one huge rock between the two beaches where you can often see folks bouldering.

Now this was our third attempt at Shell Beach. The thing is, we have never really “conquered” this walk/hike. The reason: lack of preparation and bad timing. The first time we went was November, 2008. Believe it or not, the sun was out and it was a gorgeous fall day. But right before we arrived the fog and cold hit – we weren’t dressed for it so we walked a little bit and then went back and enjoyed the fabulous views from the parking lot. No love lost really as it was a fun and pretty drive.

We next tried in, I believe, spring of 2009. Better prepared with heavy fleeces we thought we would end up walking longer – turned out we needed hats, too, as our ears froze in the wind. So we drove over to Goat Rock and spent a couple hours watching the waves while sitting under a cliff which kept the wind off of us.

That brings us to this sunny Sunday. The views were gorgeous. We had our thick fleeces, we had our hats. He had his hiking shoes. I had my run around town, thin, tennis shoes. It turns out that while it was sunny and beautiful, one morning of sun does not completely dry the world of the previous weeks rain. If only I had worn hiking boots, too. We did end up walking for about 20 minutes before turning around, and the views were worth the cold, wet feet. But somehow, someway, we shall conquer Shell Beach. But that will be another post.

Click the map for a larger view

Do you have a favorite hike in Sonoma County?

Posted by:Jennifer Masterson