Lying between Jenner and Bodega Bay, California Pacific Coast Highway One leads to at least ten Pacific beaches with stretches of unspoiled pristine sands that are home to fascinating tide pools, birds and miles of hiking trails along the bluffs of the Northern California Coast. Book a whale watching tour January through April and experience the magnificent presence of a gray whale, or watch the curious seals and sea otters along the shoreline year-round. The river estuary at Jenner and other rich wetland areas provide some of the best bird watching opportunities on the Northern California coast.

At Goat Rock Beach , watch the Russian River flow between Goat Rock and Jenner Beaches into the Pacific Ocean. Year round, the two beaches play host to a colony of more than 300 California Harbor Seals. March and April tend to be the most popular months at this beach as pupping season arrives, when baby seals are born and can be spotted from the shore. You may also see sea lions, which are larger and more vocal than the harbor seals. If one calls a greeting to you, it is probably a sea lion.

Salmon Creek Beach , a popular summer destination, is a lagoon that forms as sand closes in at the mouth of Salmon Creek. Nearly two miles of unbroken, scenic, sandy beach make this an excellent place for surf fishing, beach-combing, and picnicking. When the waves are nice, Salmon Creek Beach is also a popular hang-out for surfers.

Shell Beach is a local favorite for shell exploration, hence its name, and discovering marine life in fascinating tide pools. Or, if you enjoy fishing, try your luck at this prime fishing location.

Bodega Head is the rocky headland that forms the entrance into Bodega Harbor. The harbor side provides a popular crabbing area along the jetty, and the many hiking trails on the ocean side allow access to small, sandy coves and spectacular scenic bluff-top views. The high cliffs also offer excellent vantage points for observing migrating gray whales.

Duncan's Landing is famous for its early-day loading of small coastal ships with lumber and food products. In the spring, catch spectacular wildflower displays.

For more information on local state beaches, please visit the State Parks website .

Located just a few short miles south of Jenner is the only commercial fishing port between San Francisco and Fort Bragg in beautiful Bodega Bay. The quaint fishing village is a treasure trove of art galleries, gift shops, and wharf-side restaurants, but if you fancy deep sea fishing, sportfishing, or whale watching excursions, this is the place for you!

Book a sportfishing excursion and find yourself standing on the deck of a sleek fishing vessel, proudly holding up your catch. In these waters land Salmon, Halibut, Ling Cod, or even pots filled with Dungeness Crab! Click here for more information on planning your fishing excursion.

For a round of golf overlooking the spectacular Sonoma County coastline, try Bodega Harbour Golf Links . Or, for a more challenging course underneath the scenic redwoods, try the Northwood Golf Course . Designed in 1928 by architect Alister MacKenzie, famous for Augusta National and Cypress Point, in collaboration with Robert Hunter, this enticing par 36 nine-hole course was originally created for the exclusive Bohemian Club, but is now open to the public.

Hiking trails are in abundance on our Northern California coast. Kortum trail located at Goat Rock Beach leads you across coastal bluffs with breathtaking panoramic views of the seaside. Or travel over rolling hills through a grove of mighty redwoods while overlooking the beautiful Pacific on the Pomo Canyon Trail. Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve features 805 acres of seemingly endless magnificent redwood trees with numerous hiking trails ranging from easy to challenging.

Chanslor Ranch is a full service, operating horse ranch for the whole family. There are activities for all ages and kinds of Buckaroos and Buckarettes who wish to enjoy the magnificent Sonoma coast line and the Bodega Bay Area in the company of their equine pals. With many miles of trails that take you from lofty mountain tops, grassy meadows, coastal dunes and white sand beaches, the Sonoma coastline is the perfect environment to enjoy horseback riding.

Aerostat Adventures or Balloon Tours offers one of the most unique and exhilarating experiences you will ever have - a hot air balloon ride over the Sonoma Wine Country . The roar of the burners as you rise into the sky, then the silence of floating, drifting with the winds, looking down on redwood trees, vineyards, the Pacific coast, farms and fields. Your hot air balloon will sail through the sky, floating almost silently above the trees and fields, vineyards and orchards.

Kayak right from your rooms! Kayaks may be rented for all or part of your retreat. Imagine kayaking the calm flowing waters of the lower Russian River. There is plenty of user-friendly, flat water kayaking. No experience is necessary! Overnight boat storage is available at the compound, so you can set out in the moonlight, or at dawn, or sunset, or whenever the spirit moves you. A quiet paddle among the osprey, pelicans, harbor seals and river otters, is an extraordinary, life-affirming experience. www.russianriveroutfitters.com  
http://www.bodegabaysurf.com

Enjoy a leisurely paddle down the Russian River from Burke's Canoe Trips in nearby Forestville. Burke's provides canoes, paddles and life jackets for your trip through the redwoods to the town of Guerneville. View the scenic Russian River, marvel at the wildlife and stop to picnic and sunbathe on a sunny beach. Burke's shuttles weary paddlers back to their cars every half-hour until 6:00pm. The best months for canoeing are generally May through October .

Fort Ross - This lone Russian outpost established in 1812, a few miles north of Jenner, hosts half a million fascinated visitors a year. Fort Ross State Historic Park was created in 1906 to mark the site where Russians and Alaska natives founded a colony. The territory was occupied by the Kashaya, native Californians who had lived there seasonally for centuries. Kashaya means "expert gambler". These people fished for abalone, mussels and fish, hunted deer and elk and also made baskets.

By 1742, Russian frontiersmen left Siberia to hunt fur-bearing mammals and established a permanent settlement on Kodiak Island, Alaska. At the end of the century, it became the Russian-American Company with a monopoly over trading ventures in North America. In 1806 Nikolai Rezanov sailed the Juno into San Francisco Bay, illegally, seeking food to relieve the starving settlement at Sitka. This venture convinced Rezanov to seek a trading base in California just north of the Spanish territories, which ended in San Francisco.

In 1809, he sent Ivan Kuskov with a large party on board the Kodiak to explore Bodega Bay and surrounding territory for a settlement site. In 1812, Kuskov returned on board the Chirikov with 25 Russians and 80 Alaskans and gave the new colony the name "Ross", perhaps suggesting Russia.

Initially the settlers built a wooden palisade around the site, two blockhouses and a bell tower. Inside there was a house for the manager Ivan Kuskov, the clerk's quarters, artisans' workshops and barracks for Russian employees. Later a chapel was added inside the stockade, and many structures outside - two windmills, a shipyard in Sandy Cove below the settlement that built four ships (the first on the California Coast) a forge, blacksmith shop, tannery, cooperage and bath house.

Duncan's Mills - Located approximately 5 minutes from Jenner, Duncan's Mills is a charming Victorian town consisting of a quaint general store, two restaurants, and a handful of collection shops and galleries.

Annually the town hosts the Russian River Rodeo , chilling Civil War Days, and Festival of Arts & Wine where you can find unique jewelry, ceramics, paintings, fine wood working, sculptures and more!

Bodega Bay - This scenic coastside town is a short 15 minute drive from Jenner. Between Jenner and Bodega Bay, find miles of sandy beaches and tidepools awaiting your exploration. Bodega Bay is home to small fishing crafts, serene parks, campgrounds, tasty restaurants, wine tasting shops, art galleries, and a UC Davis marine laboratory. Many visitors make the trek to Bodega Bay just to see the school house site of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds .

Occidental - Occidental lies within the rolling hills that surround the mighty Russian River. The town's quiet, relaxed setting calls you to enjoy their unusual shops and boutiques, art galleries, and foliage filled nurseries.

Guerneville - Only 25 minutes from Jenner, Guerneville is the heart of the Russian River Resort area. It is home to a variety of restaurants and shops, all in close proximity to Russian River, Alexander and Dry Creek Valley wineries. Guerneville also plays home to the Russian River Wine & Food Festival, Russian River Blues & Jazz Festival on the River, and more!

Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve - Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve is a majestic hidden grove of ancient redwoods, left standing when the rest of the area's trees became the railroad ties for the Transcontinental Railroad in 1868. Armstrong Woods has wonderful trails for walkers, hikers, cyclists and horses. The reserve is 805 acres of old growth redwood trees and you'll find it easy to spend the day taking in the natural beauty there.

While visiting, be sure to seek out these interesting local sites and attractions:

The Tallest Tree The Parson Jones Tree is the tallest tree in the grove, measuring more than 310 feet in height. This is longer than the length of a football field! It's only a 0.1 mile walk from the park entrance.

The Oldest Tree The Colonel Armstrong Tree is the oldest tree in the grove, estimated to be over 1400 years old. It is named after a lumberman who chose to preserve this portion of the park in the 1870's. Colonel Armstrong Tree is only a half-mile walk from the park entrance.

The Icicle Tree This tree shows the unusual burl formations often found on redwood trees. Burls can weigh many tons and grow hundreds of feet above the forest floor. Why these growths occur remains a mystery.

The Discovery Trail This trail offers a wheelchair accessible pathway, interpretive panels in Braille, and tree hugging platforms.

The river takes its name from Russian trappers who explored the river in the early 19th century, when Russia maintained trade colonies along the Northern California coasts. In the late 19th century, loggers were drawn to the river for the redwoods that line its shores. In the 1920s and 1930s, the Russian River Valley became a popular summer resort destination for vacationers from San Francisco and Napa. The main resort town on the river is Guerneville.

Swimming - Hardy swimmers enjoy the open waters of the Russian River Estuary here in Jenner. Those who prefer warmer water will find plenty of places to enter the river upstream along Highway 116, within a 10-15 minute drive in the town of Monte Rio. There you'll find a riverside beach, perfect for sunbathing, building sand castles and swimming.

Festivals:

• Each year, the Russian River plays host for two fun-filled festivals to enjoy:
• Russian River Blues Fest. , held each June
• Jazz on the River , held each September

Sonoma wine country is home to world-renowned wines from the Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander Valley's and is host to many award winning wineries. Take a leisurely country drive through the beautiful Sonoma wine country vineyards and discover the wines that excite your palate or plan a romantic afternoon picnic overlooking a sea of vineyards. Every season has something special to offer the wine enthusiast.

With over 130 wineries to choose from, visit www.wineroad.com , www.winecountry.com , or www.sonomacounty.com and begin planning your personalized tour today.

Russian River Wine Road hosts four annual events for your enjoyment:

•  Winter Wineland , third weekend in January
•  Barrel Tasting , first weekend in March
•  Road Trip, second Saturday in August
•  Wine Food Affair , first weekend in November