Bodega Bay

Bodega Bay is a coastal settlement in Sonoma County, California, that extends along the eastern shore of a sheltered harbor. Small houses and docks line the waterfront road, while fishing boats rock in the calm water.

Russian traders built the first structures in California here in 1809 and named the place Port Rumyantsev. The settlement later passed into Mexican and then American hands and grew into a fishing village.

The fishing industry shapes daily life, with crews unloading their catch in the early morning and sorting it in sheds along the waterfront. Visitors meet residents in restaurants and small shops who have made their living from the ocean for generations.

The village sits right on the coastal highway and is accessible via a winding route from nearby wine regions. Visitors find boat ramps, tackle shops, and fresh seafood vendors around the harbor.

Plans for a nuclear power plant at Gaffney Point emerged in the 1960s, but public opposition and geological concerns stopped the project. Today only a few traces remain of the facility that was never completed.

Location: Sonoma County

Elevation above the sea: 17 m

GPS coordinates: 38.32444,-123.03861

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:46