Escape to the Lodge at Bodega Bay for a relaxing getaway

Looking to really get away — but without traveling too far? Based on our recent experience, the Lodge at Bodega Bay is a good choice.

Traveling from the Peninsula, once you’re over the Golden Gate Bridge the wise option is to  go north on Highway One. This not only keeps you off of so-busy-101, it makes the journey part of the adventure with its series of small, scenic towns.

Arriving at the Lodge at Bodega Bay, you’ll find yourself set about a mile and a half from the town of Bodega Bay with views across the expansive Bay.

What immdiediatly struck this traveling duo was the friendliness and courtesiness of staff at the Lodge. We had parked not far from out lovely ocean view suite, and could have easily walked our rolling luggage to the room. But an employee who was walking the grounds spied us and immediately lent an extra pair of hands.

The room itself felt more like we’d landed in someone’s apartment, it was so distinctly and individually decorated. There were chairs outside for taking in the scenery and a real fire place for the cool of the evening.

Arriving as we did in late afternoon, we headed to the Fireside Lounge, where happy hour is served daily from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. The bar was ably tended by Rita who reminded us of our favorite bartender, Ron, at Menlo Tavern. That shouldn’t have been a surprise as the Lodge is part of the Woodside Hotel Group that owns the Stanford Park Hotel in Menlo Park. Given the combination of friendliness and service among its bartenders, if the hotel group has a formula, it’s got it right!

We spotted a fun sign just outside the bar where patrons were enjoying the fire pits. The vibe is both lively and laid back.

You can get a tasty meal in the bar or choose to dine in the more formal (but not fussy) Drakes dining room. It was at Drakes one morning that I had delicious huevos rancheros.  I’m hoping that photo I took shows how pretty it was to look at — it was even tastier.

There are a number of walks to take that are close to the Lodge — just a short drive away as we chose not to walk along the road as some people did. With a penchant for the circular, we practically enjoyed the “bird walk” although, alas, there weren’t many birds to see. What set it apart was the views in all directions.

One morning we drove to the other side of the Bay to Bodega Head and strolled around a bit.  We stopped at one of the cafes in town; my spouse had a friend who’d lived in Bodega Bay and she’d supplied us with a ”locals list.” What was fun was each proprietor knew exactly who were talking about when my spouse mentioned her name. Two of her recommendations — both good for lunch — were A Bodequita and Ginochios.

Stargazing is one of the main night time activities, although we also enjoyed playing cards in front of the fire place. This is a place to slow down, take deep breaths and relax.

The Lodge at Bodega Bay is located at 103 Coast Highway One. Reservations can be made online or by calling (707) 875-3525. Given the local connection, it probably doesn’t hurt to mention Menlo Park-headquartered Woodside Hotel Group.

Photos by Linda Hubbard (c) 2024 with exception of photo of fireplace courtesy of Lodge at Bodega Bay