Back to Bodega Bay...

When in this 'neck of the woods', we like to find ourselves in Bodega Bay.

I have blogged its history before but for those who don't know, this quaint fishing town is named in honor of Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, a Spanish naval officer who explored the west coast of North America, as far north as Alaska, during multiple voyages of discovery in the late 1700s.

The town is now a fishing mecca. We come for the scenery and also the delicious food. Our meals are always consumed at Fisherman's Cove Seafood Restaurant/ Bait & Tackle Shop. Its outdoor dining, overlooking the marina, can't be beat.

Watching the crabbers come in and tidy their nets is a fun pastime here, too.

Another of the town's attributes is nature! Rewarding bird ogling is always accomplished at Bodega Marine Reserve, a 362-acre nature reserve and marine reserve. It is a unit of the University of California Natural Reserve System, administered by the University of California, Davis.

Lastly, wanting to burn off a little of our lunch's caloric intake, we headed to the Bodega Head Trail, choosing a path that was new to us.

Jutting out into the Pacific Ocean, the small rocky peninsula known as Bodega Head offers stunning bluff top vistas, enticing trails, beach access, and abundant wildlife viewing, from seabirds to seals and migrating whales.

Only about four miles long and one mile wide, Bodega Head shelters the bay and harbor from the power of the Pacific Ocean. Composed of rugged granite, the Head is a bit off of the main coastal route, making it a delightful place to explore along the Sonoma County coast.

Our hike to Horseshoe Cove Overlook made us feel we were in Ireland again, with its greenness and craggy rocks. It could not have been a more beautiful day.