Photo spots nearby
What to see near Inn at the Tides
Walk out to Bodega Head before anything else. The trail from the parking area is short, but what opens up at the edge stops you: sheer cliffs dropping into the Pacific, the horizon impossibly wide, and that particular coastal light that makes the water look like hammered pewter or deep jade depending on the clouds. The wind will find you. Stand at the headland long enough and you stop thinking about where you came from. If you have more time, drive south into Point Reyes National Seashore, where the Cypress Tree Tunnel offers something quieter and stranger, a cathedral of twisted branches framing the road ahead in a way that feels almost accidental and entirely unforgettable.
Within 25 miles · ranked by scenic score
12 Places Worth Seeing
Sonoma, CA
Bodega Head
Bodega Head is a rocky promontory at the southern end of Sonoma Coast State Park, offering dramatic coastal cliffs and panoramic ocean views. The headland overlooks Bodega Bay harbor to the east and the open Pacific to the west and south. Gray whales pass close to shore during their winter and spring migration.
Point Reyes Station, CA
Tomales Point Trail
A 9.4-mile round-trip trail along a narrow peninsula between Tomales Bay and the Pacific Ocean, passing through the Tule Elk Reserve. The herd of over 400 tule elk can frequently be seen grazing on the open grasslands. The trail ends at the remote Tomales Point with views of Bodega Head and the open ocean.
Point Reyes Station, CA
Abbotts Lagoon
A pair of coastal lagoons connected by a narrow channel, separated from the Pacific by a thin strip of sand dunes. The 3.2-mile round-trip trail crosses open grasslands before reaching the lagoons and continuing to the beach. The lagoons support large populations of shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors throughout the year.
Point Reyes Station, CA
Cypress Tree Tunnel
A row of Monterey cypress trees planted in the 1930s forms a dramatic natural tunnel over the road leading to the historic KPH Maritime Radio Receiving Station. The trees create a cathedral-like canopy that filters light in striking patterns. The tunnel runs east-west, allowing direct light to illuminate the corridor at sunrise.
Santa Rosa, CA
Luther Burbank Home & Gardens
Luther Burbank Home & Gardens preserves the home and experimental gardens of the famed horticulturist who developed over 800 plant varieties in Santa Rosa. The gardens feature a modified Greek Revival cottage surrounded by diverse plantings including Burbank's original Shasta daisies and experimental hybrid plants. A large greenhouse and heritage gardens provide year-round botanical subjects.
Point Reyes Station, CA
Inverness Ridge at Mount Vision
A 1,282-foot peak on Inverness Ridge accessible by a paved road, offering panoramic views over the pastoral landscape of Point Reyes, Drakes Estero, and the Pacific Ocean. The ridge separates the forested eastern slopes from the open grasslands to the west. On clear days, the view extends north to Tomales Bay and south to the Farallon Islands.
Point Reyes Station, CA
Drakes Estero
A large tidal estuary within Point Reyes National Seashore, Drakes Estero is one of the most pristine estuaries on the California coast. The estuary's fingerlike inlets extend into the surrounding pastoral hills. Harbor seals haul out on the sandbars, and the calm waters create mirror-like reflections of the surrounding ridgelines.
Healdsburg, CA
Healdsburg Memorial Bridge over Russian River
The Memorial Bridge spans the Russian River at the southern edge of Healdsburg, offering views of the river winding through riparian forest. The area around the bridge and Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach provides access to calm river reflections and tree-lined banks. In winter, the river swells and fog often settles in the valley.
Healdsburg, CA
Healdsburg Plaza
Healdsburg Plaza is a tree-lined town square at the center of this wine country town, surrounded by tasting rooms, restaurants, and boutiques. Mature redwood trees and a central gazebo anchor the park, which hosts seasonal farmers markets and community gatherings. The surrounding buildings feature a mix of Victorian and early 20th-century commercial architecture.
Santa Rosa, CA
Spring Lake Regional Park
Spring Lake Regional Park encompasses 320 acres with a scenic reservoir surrounded by oak-studded hills in eastern Santa Rosa. The lake provides calm water for reflections of surrounding trees and hills, especially in early morning. A 2.3-mile paved path circles the lake with multiple vantage points.
Petaluma, CA
Petaluma River Turning Basin
The Petaluma River turning basin is a widened section of the navigable river in downtown Petaluma where historic boats and small craft moor. The calm water provides mirror-like reflections of the surrounding Victorian-era waterfront warehouses, particularly at dawn. The McNear Building and other brick structures along the basin date from Petaluma's 19th-century river commerce era.
Healdsburg, CA
Dry Creek Valley Vineyards
Dry Creek Valley is an 8-mile-long wine appellation northwest of Healdsburg known for its narrow valley floor flanked by forested ridges. Dry Creek Road winds through the valley past old-vine zinfandel vineyards, weathered barns, and stone walls. The valley retains a rural, less commercialized character compared to Napa Valley.
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