Love this beach and always enjoy coming out here for a day trip. There is an entry fee, but it's…read moreworth it for how clean, spacious, and relaxing it is. There's plenty of parking, which makes it super convenient, and it never feels too hectic even when it's busy. It's such a nice spot to just unwind, walk along the beach, and enjoy the peaceful views. They also have camping spots available, I camped here a long time ago and remember having a great experience. Whether you're planning to camp or just want a relaxing day by the water, this is one of my favorite places to visit in Bodega Bay. Definitely worth checking out :)

This is my favorite spot to come to whenever I come to Bodega Bay. We came here early Saturday…read moremorning to beat the weekend rush and it eas extremely windy that day. We had to deal with some flying sand hitting us at times, but we still made due roaming the beach and enjoying a peaceful time. Plus it gave us an opportunity to hone in our photography skills and take shots of wildlife.

2 of 2 Yelp reviews. Sorry, photos posted on my Napa…read moreDowntown Review. Quality/Quantity - Always so welcoming, pun intended. And I like your new location. Large self service touch screen computers to get Napa information - Restaurants, wineries, hotels, suggested things to do, events, maps, travel information, etc. Ambiance - Cool new location, better and more centrally located. Clean restrooms. Cool decor, even a hot air balloon basket selfie station. Service - 5 stars. EVERYone was so friendly and welcoming! As our guests were shopping, I ended up making small talk and hanging out with the team. Price - Depends on what souvenirs you buy. Owner Comment - Thanks for having this consistent amazing service.

I walked into the "Welcome Center" this afternoon with a friend (we're both Asian). Several…read moreemployees standing behind the front desk were talking amongst themselves. One female employee with long gray hair and glasses looked up, made eye contact with disgust, and immediately looked away without acknowledging us. Since no one welcomed us, I took the initiative and said, "Hello." The same employee responded with a stoic expression and asked if I wanted a map. I declined, and that was the extent of the interaction. The atmosphere felt cold and unwelcoming from that point forward. My friend and I then browsed the souvenir area. While my friend used the restroom, I waited nearby holding her belongings. A short time later, the same employee walked over and appeared to be adjusting merchandise in the area, but it felt as though she was monitoring me rather than stocking products. I was left with the impression that I was being viewed with suspicion. We left feeling uncomfortable and unwelcomed. A visitor center should make guests feel welcome, and unfortunately that was not our experience. As an Asian visitor, I left feeling singled out and concerned that bias may have played a role in how we were treated.

How fortunate we are to have Point Reyes National Seashore. The headquarters is fantastic- maps,…read morerecommendations, nice restrooms & plenty of free parking. Today we chose the Bear Valley hike trail. The path is wide and mostly flat and even includes a bathroom midway. As you walk you are able to hear the beautiful sounds of the babbling brook along the route. Being late Spring we were able to spot a good amount of wildflowers- buttercups, poppies, bleeding heart, foxglove and more. We encountered several equestrian's throughout our hike.

Sea How You Are A…read more71,000-acre park that was founded in 1962 and whose eastern boundary consists of a little thing called the San Andreas Fault. It's also home to over 900 plant species (50 of which are endangered), over 40 species of mammals, and over 400 different birds. Point Reyes is unlike any other park we've ever been to in that it's such a unique area that includes a small town, farmlands, estuaries, beaches, headlands, and so much more. If this is your first time or you're planning your first time, I'd try to allow for at least two full days to really get a feel for this place, and the best part is it's all 100% free to visit! Here's a quick guide to the best of the best things to do here (Pro Tip: There are multiple other Yelp pages with lots of more specific reviews for each of these locations). * The PR lighthouse is a must-see, and with the 308 stairs you'll need to get there, you'll definitely get your steps in! * There are multiple Visitors Centers, but if you only want to visit one, I'd recommend going to the one at Drake's Beach where you might get a glimpse of elephant seals during their breeding period (Dec - March). * Tomales Point Trail at the Tule Elk Preserve is my mostest favoritetest trail on Earth. It's relatively flat with very little uphill, but it is over nine miles if you want to get to the point and get back. And, yes, you'll want to get to the point. Otherwise, what's the point? ;) Just be sure to bring water and some snacks to cover you for those 9+ miles. This will also be your best chance to come face-to-face with the infamous Tule Elk. * Drake's Estero if you want to do some kayaking (check website for rules and dates). * McClures Beach if you want to hang and picnic. Great for tidepooling but not so much for swimming. Seriously. Don't do it. * Chimney Rock Trail is a relatively low effort for high reward spot for some spectacular views. There's plenty of other places to check out, but this should help get you started. Enjoy!

4.5 stars Bear…read moreValley visitor's center is a really nice and well-maintained visitor's center. Inside, there's a little museum explaining the wildlife found in the area. There's a gift shop area with books for all ages and small selection of souvenirs. The restrooms are also pretty clean. There's free parking on site and additional parking and restrooms across from the visitor's center. There's also plenty of space for picnics. Idk what the rules are, but I did see horses and horse riders, so I think there's a horse trail nearby?? Would recommend the stop for maps, souvenirs, restroom breaks, and/or picnics.

My husband and I visited the free Bear Valley Visitor Center in Inverness, CA, the primary (of 3)…read morevisitor center (VC) for the Point Reyes National Seashore in early August, 2024. We were driving between San Rafael and Bodega Bay and debating whether it was worth our time to drive the 21 miles (42 minutes), each way, to the Point Reyes Lighthouse -- especially as we had been experiencing a lot of fog over the previous few days. What we hadn't anticipated was how interesting the stop would be at the Visitor Center itself! The Visitor Center had very friendly NPS staff and volunteers who provided maps and information about the roads, trails, and human and cultural history of the Olema Valley and the Point Reyes National Seashore. They recommended that we start by watching the orientation film in the auditorium (we did!), check out the indoor exhibits that provide a glimpse of the diverse ecosystems and cultural heritage of the park, and recommended some hikes that begin near the VC. They also told us of what we might see on the road to the lighthouse (including beaches and overviews where we might see wildlife, such otters and elephant seals) and at the lighthouse itself. Importantly, they showed us a live stream from the lighthouse that showed that the lighthouse area was currently shrouded in fog. We also stopped by the small gift shop and picked up a few souvenirs. At the suggestion of the park ranger, we next walked the Earthquake Trail, which is an easy and short (0.6 miles) paved loop trail that only takes about 15 minutes to walk. Signage on the interpretative trail allows walkers to discover the geology of the San Andres Fault Zone. The highlight was seeing a fence that jumped 16 feet in the 1906 earthquake. We ultimately decided to drive down to the Point Reyes lighthouse, and were pleased that the fig had lifted by the time we reached. I will review the lighthouse in its separate entry in Yelp. The VC is handicap accessible. There are 2 parking lots -- at the VC and trailheads area. Restrooms are available in the VC during operating hours and in the trailhead parking lot from 6 am-midnight. There's a picnic area with BBQ grills.

The Santa Rosa Visitor Center is a nice place to get information on Santa Rosa. They even have a…read morescavenger hunt for all the Peanuts characters and other related Peanuts characters all around the city. It's a nice way to explore the city. The train has a stop at this location too.

The Peanuts characters are all around Santa Rosa and so we're on a quest to find several of them…read more This meant we were in a small office part around the Stony Point Lake office park on a Sunday afternoon. The offices, coffee shop and restaurant were all closed so it was easy to explore and take pictures without being disturbed. There's allegedly an aggressive security guard here (at Stony Point Lake) but we didn't see him. Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus with his blanket, Woodstock in a nest and Snoopy as Joe Cool with sunglasses. Easy and fun and free. [Review 21012 overall - 529 in California - 1997 of 2023.]

SCW and I visited Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Park one day while staying nearby. I'd use…read morecaution when using a driving app to get here as we were led along a very narrow road through a local residential area with no room and switchbacks galore. Suffice it to say we saw a few locals along the way that seemed perplexed why we were driving very slowly through their neighborhood. I think that had to do with a bridge closure. Anyways... The return was not the same route thankfully. The park has for pay parking areas and what seemed to be free parking along the road to the park at your own risk. We found a spot in the paid lot ($10). Get a receipt, put it on your car's dashboard and off you go. There's a small welcome center and info at the entrance as well. The Redwoods are incredible here, some alive for 1400 plus years. You simply can't see the tops of the Redwoods from the ground. Truly incredible. The trails are well marked and it's highly discouraged to get off the trails as the environment is very ecologically sensitive. Unfortunately we saw some disregard for that. Stay on the trails people! You'll find placards noting interesting names and places along the way in addition to information about the flora and fauna. The history of the park and previous residents from indigenous peoples to the parks name sake are along the trail. It's an incredible park to visit and appreciate nature. The redwoods are incredible and certainly worth a visit.

Wow! What can I say that will convince you to come visit the splendor at Armstrong? We walked…read more Hiked. And drove our vehicle up a tiny one lane hillside road to the top for a spectacular view of the whole area. It was beyond words! The park was immaculately clean. Everyone was kind and polite. The air was so fresh. I hope to return soon.

Came to Sonoma for a day trip and had no plans at all. Walked over to the visitors center and met…read morewith Ruth. She was so sweet, amazing and gave such great advices! We were lucky and came when Sonoma Sips was happening! Ruth was awesome, I left with a plan and great advice! We did the tours, wine tastings and ate around town!

My wife and I had a small problem with our tasting pass. The Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau really…read morehelped us out and we truly enjoyed our wine tasting experiences. A big thanks to all those super people!

1 of 2 Yelp reviews. Sorry, photos posted on my Napa…read moreDowntown Review. Quality/Quantity - Always so welcoming, pun intended. And I like your new location. Large self service touch screen computers to get Napa information - Restaurants, wineries, hotels, suggested things to do, events, maps, travel information, etc. Ambiance - Cool new location, better and more centrally located. Clean restrooms. Cool decor, even a hot air balloon basket selfie station. Service - 5 stars. EVERYone was so friendly and welcoming! As our guests were shopping, I ended up making small talk and hanging out with the team. Price - Depends on what souvenirs you buy. Owner Comment - Thanks for having this consistent amazing service.

Very cute store lots of wine products, California, Napa items. Shirts, earrings, bags, coasters,…read moresome snacks. We bought a cute baby shirt that said 'I'll take the house white' and has a picture of a wine glass filled with milk :) :) The only reason I give 4, and NOT 5 stars is because I bought a box of pistachios across the street for $10, but this store sold them for $11 (same brand of course) So that let's me know they're marking things up just slightly