Doran Regional Park camping is such a wonderful way to celebrate a wedding anniversary.

For Christmas and my birthday, we received additional gear to complete our camping and backpacking collection, and it was finally time to put it all to the test before summer arrived.

We chose to camp at the Miwok Campground in Doran Regional Park, which offers tent sites and is one of the three distinct campground areas where you can reserve specific sites. The other two campground loops cater to those arriving by car or with trailers/RVs, providing convenient drive-up access to your campsite.

Doran Regional Park and Doran Beach are dog friendly, and Doran Regional Park charges a $2 fee per night per dog for overnight campers.

A First-Time Experience: Doran Regional Park Camping

The Doran Regional Park sits on the Doran Spit, where you can enjoy Doran Beach, overnight camping, or day-use spots with picnic benches and park grills.

At the Miwok Campground, you can have up to eight people in a single campsite, and most sites offer locations for multiple tents. There is a great parking lot where you can park your car, and you walk into all Miwok Campground sites to tent camp without the ability to pull your vehicle up to your exact site location. Luckily, the Sonoma County Regional Parks website allows for easy booking of campsites and shows pictures and maps of each site so you can get an idea of what you’re reserving without having first visited. Some of the Miwok Campground sites are only feet away from the parking lot, and some are couple dozen yards off.

The walk to any of the tent-only sites at Miwok Campground is quite manageable.

We set up camp at site G, one of the nearest spots to the beach, offering a sense of seclusion with its surrounding trees and bushes that provide privacy from neighboring campsites.

In the parking lot of Miwok Campground at Doran Regional Park, you’ll find bathrooms, a water spigot, and showers available for $2 per five-minute use. This combination of tent camping and available amenities makes it an excellent spot to try out your beach or hiking gear.

Doran Regional Park is known for being windy, particularly in the summer months. During our stay, the wind was strongest in the afternoon but calmed down at night. Evenings at Doran Regional Park are perfect for walking along Doran Beach and down to the jetty, where you can watch fishermen and women catching crabs and other marine treats..

Birdwalk Coastal Access Trail

Cheney Creek Trail View from Birdwalk Coastal Access Trail

The Birdwalk Coastal Access Trail is a great place to bring a pair of binoculars and scout for birds. You can access the birding trail area from the Bay Highway or a parking lot inside Doran Regional Park, and you can walk Cheney Creek Trail to get to the Birdwalk Coastal Access Trail. I loved seeing the many egrets hunting for prey amongst the surface ponds along the trail.

At the really cool Birdwalk Coastal Access Trail that is located in Bodega Bay, it is required that dogs remain on a leash.

Filming Locations for “The Birds” by Alfred Hitchcock

At the end of our camping trip we drove around Bodega Bay past where the Brenner House in “The Birds” once stood.

The Brenner house in “The Birds” was located on Westshore Rd at Gaffney Point, out on Bodega Bay at the driveway entrance for the University of California Marine Laboratory housing buildings. You’ll see the old-growth and gorgeous cedar trees to your right on Westshore Rd when you are passing the driveway on your way to Bodega Head.

It’s about a 15-minute drive from Doran Regional Park to Bodega Head, Bodega Bay Trailhead, and Bodega Head Trail. Bodega Head protects the village of Bodega Bay and harbors from intense storms coming from the north.

We didn’t have a the chance to see the schoolhouse from “The Birds,” but that’s located up the hill from Bodega Bay in the hamlet of Bodega. You can get to Bodega by driving up the Bodega Highway off Highway 1, and the schoolhouse used in filming is the Potter School House.

The schoolhouse is a private residence owned by a family, so be respectful when taking photos outside the property, and don’t cross the fence or enter the grounds.

After locating the Brenner House, we continued down Westshore Road until it ended at the Hole in the Head at Bodega Head. This site, across from Campbell Cove Beach, was once intended by PG&E for a nuclear power plant, but the project was halted due to its closeness to the San Andreas fault.

Today, it is a small lake that supports ecological life and serves as a historical reminder of changing plans. There are restrooms available at the Campbell Cove Beach and Hole in the Head parking lot.

Since dogs are not allowed on the Bodega Head Trails, we had to turn back because our Pomeranian was with us.

Eating at Spud Point Crab Company

On our way back to Bodega Bay from Bodega Head, we decided to stop at Spud Point Crab Company located on Spud Point.

This popular spot was established by Tony and Carol Anello in 2004 and has gained a stellar reputation for its clam chowder, crab sandwiches, and crab cakes. Their family catches the crabs just off the shores of Bodega Bay. Since crab cakes are available only on weekends after 1 pm, we chose to share a crab sandwich and each enjoyed a cup of their New England clam chowder.

To ensure you stay well-fed during your trip, you can also order a whole loaf of French bread from Franco-American Bakery in Santa Rosa, complete with butter pads.

Spud Point Crab Company also serves Manhattan-style clam chowder, but my preference leans toward the creamy New England variety. Having sampled numerous clam chowders over the years, I can confidently say this one tops my list. Although Splash Cafe in Pismo Beach offers a delectable version, the extra garlic in Spud Point Crab Company’s chowder makes it my favorite.

Additionally, you can order shrimp, prawn, and crab cocktails, which come with cocktail sauce and lemon.

Finding non-street parking near Spud Point Crab Company can be a bit challenging, but if you’re willing to walk a short distance, there are ample spots at the Spud Point Marina parking lot, located just south of the restaurant. On your way, be sure to visit the Commercial Fisherman Memorial statue and pay homage to those who provide us with fresh seafood!

Other Things to Do at Bodega Bay

After enjoying a hearty meal of crab and chowder, we decided to explore some local shops.

Our first stop was Second Hand Kite Shop and Toys, where we picked up a few gifts for our nephews, including a pocket kite, saltwater taffy, and other small treasures. The stunning display of kites outside enticed us to enter, and once inside, we found a vast selection of kites perfect for the windy conditions in Bodega Bay.

It’s an ideal spot for kite enthusiasts to find everything they need to enjoy a day of flying kites.

Another Bodega Bay destination I wanted to see was the Children’s Bell Tower, but I didn’t have time. It’s at the access point for the Coastal Prairie Trail and stands as a monument to Nicholas Green. Nicholas Green was a seven-year-old boy from Bodega bay who was shot while in Italy in 1994 by highway robbers. Nicholas’ parents donated his organs to seven Italians, and the bells were donated by Italian families, schools, and churches to show their appreciation and honor Nicholas Green’s life.

Pope John Paul II blessed the bell tower after the Marinelli Foundry constructed its centerpiece.

From Doran Regional Park Camping to a Cup of Chowder

If you’re looking for a charming coastal fishing town with picturesque views and plenty to do, especially if you’re a super fan of classic horror cinema, Bodega Bay is the perfect destination.

From camping at Doran Regional Park to savoring a delicious cup of chowder, every visit promises a new adventure. I’m excited to return with my husband and discover even more of what this beautiful place has to offer!

Bodega Bay: Nature, Film, & History

Whenever I hear the call of the sea mingling with the whispers of the past, my mind travels back to the rugged beauty of Bodega Bay.

This coastal hideaway isn’t just my escape; it’s a place where history ripples beneath the waves and through the windswept grasses.

The Call of the Wild: Doran Regional Park

My first encounter with Bodega Bay was through the rustic charm of Doran Regional Park.

Camping here is like being in the embrace of nature; the ocean’s lullaby at night and the symphony of seabirds at dawn form my soundtrack.

A Cinematic Legacy: The Birds Take Flight

Perhaps Bodega Bay’s claim to international fame was when Alfred Hitchcock chose its windswept vistas as a backdrop for The Birds.

Driving around the bay, I feel like a detective, piecing together scenes from the movie as I spot the locations where Hitchcock’s vision came to life.

A Home for Hitchcock’s Horror

Finding the spots where the original house stood in The Birds is more than just a treasure hunt; it’s a pilgrimage.

Knowing that Hitchcock saw something eerie yet beautiful in this landscape gives me chills and a sense of pride.

Early Settlers and Native Roots

Before the cameras and campers, Bodega Bay was home to the Coast Miwok people.

They were the original stewards of this land, fishing its waters and walking its forests long before European settlers arrived.

A Harbor of History

As the bay developed, it became a hub for fishermen and traders.

The harbor, with its boats bobbing like cheerful greeters, tells tales of adventures and the hardy souls who have braved the Pacific’s temperament.

Nature’s Bounty: A Seafood Smorgasbord

You haven’t truly experienced Bodega Bay until you’ve tasted the local fare.

Fresh crab, clam chowder, and a myriad of seafood delicacies are not just food here; they’re historical remnants of the bay’s bountiful harvest.

Windswept Wonders: The Bodega Head

The Bodega Head is more than just a panoramic viewpoint; it’s where you feel the raw power of the Pacific.

Standing atop the bluffs, with the wind as my constant companion, I find it’s the perfect place to reflect on the vastness of nature and time.

Q&A: Unraveling Bodega Bay’s Charm

Q: What makes Doran Regional Park a personal favorite for camping?

A: It’s the harmony of accessibility and wild beauty. The park offers an idyllic retreat with its expansive shoreline that tempts you to extend your weekend into a lifetime.

Q: How does the legacy of “The Birds” influence Bodega Bay today?

A: Hitchcock’s thriller etched Bodega Bay onto the global map. Today, fans and curious souls come seeking that cinematic magic, adding a layer of mystique to the bay’s atmosphere.

Q: What should one not miss when exploring Bodega Bay?

A: Definitely the local seafood. Enjoying a meal here is a rite of passage, a way to savor history through taste.

In conclusion, Bodega Bay where nature’s threads intertwine with those of history and film. It’s a locale that has captured my heart with its untamed beauty and the silent stories that ripple through its fog-laden air.

I often ponder, what does it mean to truly know a place? Is it through its past, its present, or the imprints we leave behind?

Bodega Bay is a testament to all three, beckoning visitors and locals alike to weave their own stories into its rich fabric. So, as the sun sets on another Bodega Bay day, I invite you to explore and become a part of its living history. What threads will you add?