We'll be spending part of a week in Bodega Bay, driving from Sacramento through the Sonoma Valley. I'd welcome suggestions for places to visit within an hour's drive of Bodega Bay, especially on the coast. Many thanks for suggestions.

Do you enjoy hiking? If so:
Point Reyes National Seashore.
https://www.nps.gov/pore/index.htm
Also visit nearby Tomales Bay and the small town of Point Reyes Station (a good spot for lunch, it's also home to a cheese company, Cow Girl Creamery)

Do you like wine? Because you'll be about a 45-minute drive from the Russian River Valley wineries.

If you go to Russian RIver Valley, you might want to check out the community of Occidental.

I agree with Janisj, Fort Ross is a must-see. Make sure to watch the video before exploring the fort. If you go to Fort Ross, you might want to check out the restaurant at Timber Cove Resort. It's a lovely spot.

There is a beach below Jenner called Goat Rock Beach, where you can often see wildlife, especially harbor seals.

On a clear, warm, sunny day the beaches of the Sonoma Coast are fantastic.

If you feel especially ambitious, you can drive up the Sonoma Coast all the way to Point Arena Lighthouse (which is in Mendocino County), But this would be about two hours away from Bodega Bay.

As it happens, we had friends in the California Park Service who were stationed at Fort Ross for a few years; we kept meaning to go there, so this will be the time.

Love wine, but I can't drink it these days because of having to take Tylenol for arthritis (can cause liver damage). Boo. I still think of the days when we drank our way through France, especially in the Rhône Valley region. And Chablis. And Burgundy. And those Provençal rosés...

Goat Rock Beach sounds just like what I was hoping for--thanks for the suggestion. Nick's cove sounds very good and goes on the list.

Thanks to all.

Jack London State Historic Park (1 hour) ... report from 3 years ago
https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/22755-2/

Point Reyes Lighthouse ( 1 1/2 hours) ... report from four years ago
https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/poi...reyes-station/

Thanks, Tom--but there's no way I could get down the stairs to the lighthouse, let alone back up!

We did visit Fort Ross and enjoyed the ranger's talk and just wandering around the complex.

We also stopped in Duncan Mills, where there's a good bakery/café and a shop selling a wide variety of teas. Makes for a nice breakfast. Had a quick lunch in Point Arena on our way to Little River, where we stayed at the terrific Glendeven Inn.