Jenner Area Guidebook
Outdoorsy Activities
Hiking....Kayaking....Watching the sea
Great views of the ocean and access to the beach and mouth of the Russian River. One of the moist photographed beaches along the Sonoma coast.
125 locals recommend
Goat Rock Beach
Great views of the ocean and access to the beach and mouth of the Russian River. One of the moist photographed beaches along the Sonoma coast.
Easy access to the Kortum Trail, which hugs the Sonoma coastline. A mix of groomed trail and boardwalk. Good for an early morning run or sunset stroll. From here, you can access Red Hill and the Pomo Canyon trail. An incredible single-track hike on the coast leading amazing views of the ocean and Russian River.
53 locals recommend
Shell Beach
Easy access to the Kortum Trail, which hugs the Sonoma coastline. A mix of groomed trail and boardwalk. Good for an early morning run or sunset stroll. From here, you can access Red Hill and the Pomo Canyon trail. An incredible single-track hike on the coast leading amazing views of the ocean and Russian River.
Amazing old growth redwood. You can opt for a strenuous hike or enjoy a quiet walk along the main (flat) trail.
500 locals recommend
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve Visitor Center
17000 Armstrong Woods RdAmazing old growth redwood. You can opt for a strenuous hike or enjoy a quiet walk along the main (flat) trail.
New coastal preserve on Highway One. Awesome hiking trail with amazing views from above the clouds. Not the best for toddlers, though I have seen some hard core mamas (and papas) with baby backpacks.
34 locals recommend
Jenner Headlands Preserve
12001 CA-1New coastal preserve on Highway One. Awesome hiking trail with amazing views from above the clouds. Not the best for toddlers, though I have seen some hard core mamas (and papas) with baby backpacks.
Hike along an ocean bluff or walk down to tidepools. You'll enjoy a great hike with expansive views and beautiful coastal cliffs.
35 locals recommend
Salt Point State Park
25050 CA-1Hike along an ocean bluff or walk down to tidepools. You'll enjoy a great hike with expansive views and beautiful coastal cliffs.
Kayak rentals are offered in Jenner at the Jenner Inn, through WaterTreks Eco Tours, or Lotus Kayaks. You can rent by the hour. If you’ve brought your own kayaks, launch from the ramp right by the State Park office. The parking lot fills up quickly on the weekends, but since you're a 5-minute walk, you can just stroll down. Mornings are best before the wind picks up.
61 locals recommend
Jenner
Kayak rentals are offered in Jenner at the Jenner Inn, through WaterTreks Eco Tours, or Lotus Kayaks. You can rent by the hour. If you’ve brought your own kayaks, launch from the ramp right by the State Park office. The parking lot fills up quickly on the weekends, but since you're a 5-minute walk, you can just stroll down. Mornings are best before the wind picks up.
Nearby Towns to Explore
10 minutes east from Jenner along highway 116/River Road. A western town with an actual rodeo in the summer. You’ll find antique shops, a book store, and other retail shops with local or artisanal products. Besides the basics, the General Store sells local products and cuts of beef from their ranch. Across the road is Gold Coast bakery with BBQ sandwiches, brick oven pizza, and fresh roasted coffee and pastries.
58 locals recommend
Duncans Mills
10 minutes east from Jenner along highway 116/River Road. A western town with an actual rodeo in the summer. You’ll find antique shops, a book store, and other retail shops with local or artisanal products. Besides the basics, the General Store sells local products and cuts of beef from their ranch. Across the road is Gold Coast bakery with BBQ sandwiches, brick oven pizza, and fresh roasted coffee and pastries.
The laid back town of Guerneville is another place to access Russian River activities (canoes, kayaks). There are number of restaurants and pubs, specialty ice cream shops, a toy shop and other fun, quirky gift shops. The local coffee shop (Coffee Bizaar on Armstrong Woods Rd.) has breakfast sandwiches and pastries, and you can use their free wifi.
78 locals recommend
Guerneville
The laid back town of Guerneville is another place to access Russian River activities (canoes, kayaks). There are number of restaurants and pubs, specialty ice cream shops, a toy shop and other fun, quirky gift shops. The local coffee shop (Coffee Bizaar on Armstrong Woods Rd.) has breakfast sandwiches and pastries, and you can use their free wifi.
20 minutes away (inland) on the Bohemian Highway. In the summer, stop by on Friday afternoons beginning at 4 PM for the farmer’s market where you’ll find specialty apples, artisanal breads and pies, and ready-cooked meals (paella, curry). Farmer’s Market ends the last weekend in October. Local shops include hand thrown ceramics, wood working and jewelry. 15 minutes down the road you can zip line among the redwoods through Sonoma Canopy Tours. Photo from WildFlour Bread in Freestone - definitely worth a stop for artisan breads baked fresh daily.
71 locals recommend
Occidental
20 minutes away (inland) on the Bohemian Highway. In the summer, stop by on Friday afternoons beginning at 4 PM for the farmer’s market where you’ll find specialty apples, artisanal breads and pies, and ready-cooked meals (paella, curry). Farmer’s Market ends the last weekend in October. Local shops include hand thrown ceramics, wood working and jewelry. 15 minutes down the road you can zip line among the redwoods through Sonoma Canopy Tours. Photo from WildFlour Bread in Freestone - definitely worth a stop for artisan breads baked fresh daily.
Coastal town where Alfred Hitchcock filmed The Birds in the early 1960s. From the Jenner, it’s just 30 minutes south on Highway One. Check out the Sonoma Coast Visitor Center for more information on the historic town. You’ll find lots of opportunities for clam chowder, oysters, salt water taffy and postcards.
291 locals recommend
Bodega Bay
Coastal town where Alfred Hitchcock filmed The Birds in the early 1960s. From the Jenner, it’s just 30 minutes south on Highway One. Check out the Sonoma Coast Visitor Center for more information on the historic town. You’ll find lots of opportunities for clam chowder, oysters, salt water taffy and postcards.
Eats!
Bohemian coffee house with organic baked goods, crab (in season) sandwiches, soups and salads. Acoustic guitar on the weekends. Great place to hang out for coffee while you watch seals swim by. The cafe is walking distance, but remember that Jenner is a hill town and everything is a short, but steep walk.
92 locals recommend
Cafe Aquatica
10439 CA-1Bohemian coffee house with organic baked goods, crab (in season) sandwiches, soups and salads. Acoustic guitar on the weekends. Great place to hang out for coffee while you watch seals swim by. The cafe is walking distance, but remember that Jenner is a hill town and everything is a short, but steep walk.
Lunch and dinner with a spectacular view of the ocean. Make reservations or show up early (or late) if you want a space at the railing for sunset. Parking is very limited, but the location is worth the effort. Sitting at the bar for dinner is fun, too. Please don’t attempt to walk there from the house. The highway shoulder is too narrow for pedestrians. Romantic sunset watching on the balcony. [Note: Dine-in/Take-out rules are changing during COVID-19. I recommend you call ahead.]
105 locals recommend
River's End Restaurant & Inn
11048 CA-1Lunch and dinner with a spectacular view of the ocean. Make reservations or show up early (or late) if you want a space at the railing for sunset. Parking is very limited, but the location is worth the effort. Sitting at the bar for dinner is fun, too. Please don’t attempt to walk there from the house. The highway shoulder is too narrow for pedestrians. Romantic sunset watching on the balcony. [Note: Dine-in/Take-out rules are changing during COVID-19. I recommend you call ahead.]
Pub up front, family friendly dining room in the back and on under the tent. You can usually come here to watch the game or hear live music. Locals and out-of-towners mix easily. Can get really crowded during rodeo days! Standard pub fare of burgers, fish n chips, etc.
72 locals recommend
Blue Heron | Restaurant and Tavern
25300 Steelhead BlvdPub up front, family friendly dining room in the back and on under the tent. You can usually come here to watch the game or hear live music. Locals and out-of-towners mix easily. Can get really crowded during rodeo days! Standard pub fare of burgers, fish n chips, etc.
Wood oven pizza and pastries. Only open during the day.
65 locals recommend
Gold Coast Coffee & Bakery
25377 Steelhead BlvdWood oven pizza and pastries. Only open during the day.
Locally owned restaurant with a Louisiana-inspired menu. Check the hours before you go. Seasonal hours vary.
56 locals recommend
Cape Fear Café
25191 Main StreetLocally owned restaurant with a Louisiana-inspired menu. Check the hours before you go. Seasonal hours vary.
This is a large wharf restaurant with most of the basics and fresh fish specialties in season. They also have a deli and market where you can buy fresh oysters, crab and fish; wine; cheeses and breads to go.
31 locals recommend
The Tides Wharf & Restaurant
835 Bay HwyThis is a large wharf restaurant with most of the basics and fresh fish specialties in season. They also have a deli and market where you can buy fresh oysters, crab and fish; wine; cheeses and breads to go.
The restaurant at the Bodega Bay Lodge. A little further down the coast, but a great place to relax and eat if you're down there for the day. They have fire pits outside of the restaurant. Eat at the bar or reserve a table in advance.
17 locals recommend
Drakes Sonoma Coast
103 1The restaurant at the Bodega Bay Lodge. A little further down the coast, but a great place to relax and eat if you're down there for the day. They have fire pits outside of the restaurant. Eat at the bar or reserve a table in advance.
Traditional Italian family-style meals come with warm bread, salad and minestrone soup. Good pizzas and an extensive menu of pastas and meat dishes. Everything is home made! Red checkered tablecloths and candles in wine jugs. Family friendly with patio seating on nice days. Very cozy.
35 locals recommend
Union Hotel Restaurant & Cafe
3731 Main StTraditional Italian family-style meals come with warm bread, salad and minestrone soup. Good pizzas and an extensive menu of pastas and meat dishes. Everything is home made! Red checkered tablecloths and candles in wine jugs. Family friendly with patio seating on nice days. Very cozy.
Quintessential breakfast cafe with scones and egg dishes. Can be very crowded on the weekends as Occidental is a popular stopping point for bicyclists.
91 locals recommend
Howard Station Cafe
3611 Bohemian HwyQuintessential breakfast cafe with scones and egg dishes. Can be very crowded on the weekends as Occidental is a popular stopping point for bicyclists.
Beautifully restored cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Great comfort food like chicken pot pie!
90 locals recommend
Willow Wood Market Cafe
9020 Graton RdBeautifully restored cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Great comfort food like chicken pot pie!
If you’re out and about near Graton, I recommend Pascaline’s as a nice stopping point for lunch. Beautiful attention to ingredients. Check out their menu and hours online before you go.
30 locals recommend
Pascaline Patisserie & Cafe
4552 Gravenstein Hwy NIf you’re out and about near Graton, I recommend Pascaline’s as a nice stopping point for lunch. Beautiful attention to ingredients. Check out their menu and hours online before you go.
Extended Stays and Day Trips
If you have more than a few days....
Lots of cute shops on the Town Square. The surrounding area (Dry Creek) is an important wine region. It’s easy to spend the day exploring the back roads and artisanal shops. If the coast gets fogged in, I suggest an inland day-trip.
154 locals recommend
Healdsburg
Lots of cute shops on the Town Square. The surrounding area (Dry Creek) is an important wine region. It’s easy to spend the day exploring the back roads and artisanal shops. If the coast gets fogged in, I suggest an inland day-trip.
Drive over if you’re craving a bigger town. You’ll find artisanal, locally-owned shops at The Barlow (+ whiskey tasting) and also funky new age and tie-dye shops on the main street. Excellent Farmers Market in the Town Square on Sunday mornings.
119 locals recommend
Sebastopol
Drive over if you’re craving a bigger town. You’ll find artisanal, locally-owned shops at The Barlow (+ whiskey tasting) and also funky new age and tie-dye shops on the main street. Excellent Farmers Market in the Town Square on Sunday mornings.
This is a tiny spa town on the northern end of the Napa Valley. All the spas and hotels have their water piped in from the local hot springs. You'll notice a slightly sulphuric smell around town. Go for the day and try a mud bath (peat moss and volcanic ash) or just do a soak. Indian Springs in my favorite on the strip. There are a few spas that serve couples together, otherwise, it’s men on one side, women on the other. Drive time is about 1:15 from Jenner to Calistoga. If you take River Road (116) East, cross Highway 101 and the road becomes Mark Springs Road.
77 locals recommend
Calistoga
This is a tiny spa town on the northern end of the Napa Valley. All the spas and hotels have their water piped in from the local hot springs. You'll notice a slightly sulphuric smell around town. Go for the day and try a mud bath (peat moss and volcanic ash) or just do a soak. Indian Springs in my favorite on the strip. There are a few spas that serve couples together, otherwise, it’s men on one side, women on the other. Drive time is about 1:15 from Jenner to Calistoga. If you take River Road (116) East, cross Highway 101 and the road becomes Mark Springs Road.
The town is build on a square (just like Healdsburg). great food and easy walking town. One of the California missions is on the square and open as a historical site. While you’re in this area, head north a bit to Glenn Ellen where you can tour Jack London’s home.
166 locals recommend
Sonoma
The town is build on a square (just like Healdsburg). great food and easy walking town. One of the California missions is on the square and open as a historical site. While you’re in this area, head north a bit to Glenn Ellen where you can tour Jack London’s home.
Wineries
Westside Road is your best bet if you want to spend the day in wine country going from place to place. But if you if you only want to visit a few places, you can try...
Hartford Family Winery
8075 Martinelli RdBeautiful family-run small winery.
Merry Edwards Winery
2959 Gravenstein Hwy NLovely wines and tasting room.
Lynmar Estate
3909 Frei RdGorgeous winery and seating area.
Korbel Winery about 20 minutes east on River Road. Wine tasting is free and they have a patio deli that serves up great sandwiches. A garden tour is available in spring and summer.
137 locals recommend
Korbel Winery
13250 River RdKorbel Winery about 20 minutes east on River Road. Wine tasting is free and they have a patio deli that serves up great sandwiches. A garden tour is available in spring and summer.