Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Bodega Bay – Birds, Beaches and Beautiful Views


Bodega Bay on the Sonoma Coast

About 65 miles north of San Francisco is Bodega Bay, a sleepy little fishing village along the spectacular Sonoma Coast. A perfect getaway for weekend travelers, the area is ideal for whale watching December through April and offers surfing, fishing and hiking year-round.

Film shots from "The Birds": Potter School House, Pacific Tides Restaurant & Bodega Harbor

Of course, you can’t mention Bodega Bay, without talking about “The Birds”, Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 thriller that made the tiny hamlet famous. Hitchcock chose Bodega Bay and the tiny town of Bodega a few miles inland for its secluded location, foggy weather and sweeping views. Many of the filming sites such as the Potter School House, where sinister birds perched the jungle gym waiting to attack terrified school kids, are now privately owned, but you can still walk by and take pictures.

"The Birds" actress, Tippi Hedren

The actress who starred in “The Birds”, Tippi Hedren, returns occasionally to Bodega Bay. In fact, she’ll be at The Tides Wharf Restaurant in Bodega Bay on September 4 and 5, 2010 to meet devoted fans and sign autographs. The Tides Restaurant, you’ll recall, was used in the movie for the café, gas station and dock scenes. It’s been reconstructed and remodeled several times over the years (the original structure burned down) and doesn’t much resemble the film version, but it still attracts crowds curious to relive a piece of movie-making history.

Whether you’re a movie buff or someone looking for a romantic getaway, Bodega Bay is a unique vacation destination that offers melting sunsets, soft sand beaches, rugged cliffs and a town that is picturesque and inviting.

(Avid “Birds” fans might find these flighty wall coverings of interest at Atticmag.)

More Information: Bodega Bay - Visitors Center
850 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, CA 94923
Phone: 707-875-3866

Participating in ABC Wednesday. For more “B” themed posts, click here.
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19 comments:

  1. Wonderful post, Gayle! If it were closer, I'd come for a visit soon. Bodega Bay sounds charming. Thanks for sharing it with us at ABC Wednesday! ~Brenda

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  2. Great post for the B Day, Gayle! I love Bodega Bay! One of my favorite places to visit when I'm in the area! Hadn't thought about that movie in a long time! Hope you have a lovely evening!

    Sylvia
    ABC Team

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  3. Bodega Bay is awesome. Wish I lived a bit closer now so I could visit more often. Thanks for the movie info too.

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  4. Beautiful scenery photos of Bodega Bay. Would you believe it, I have never watched the movie "The Birds". Maybe someday if it is on TCM, I'll give in and watch it.

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  5. I think of The Birds quite often. Last year a huge flock of ravens or crows broke a couple of windows and pulled weatherstripping from the front door. Shrieking and jumping up and down on the deck by the slider, they frightened me more than a little... I love Bodega Bay and think it would be wonderful to see Tippi Hedren there!

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  6. That's why Bodega Bay sounded familiar...
    Funny I was just talking about the "Birds" movie last night and how it should be remade with today's technology. Except, they'd probably get too literal and miss the whole thing that Hitchcock did-playing mind games.
    Beautiful Bodega! Thanks for the info!

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  7. Hi Gayle! You describe Bodega Bay so vividly that I should like to spend my next holiday there! I saw the movie "The Birds". I found it rather scary!

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  8. I saw The Birds when I was a teenager and it terrified me - mentioned the movie in my last Z post, actually.


    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  9. Fascinating! I remember Tippi Hedren in The Birds very well, but never thought I'd come anywhere close to being in the same area where it was filmed! I've been to San Francisco, and driven up the coast a little way, so I've been closer than I thought!

    Great post! Love it! And on behalf of the team, thanks for taking part in ABC Wednesday this week! :)

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  10. Great post about Bodega Bay area. I've never been there but you make it sound very interesting. Loved "The Birds".

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  11. Love the alliteration in your title. I'd totally forgotten that Bodega Bay was the setting for Hitchcock's movie. Great trip behind the scenes with some lovely photos.

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  12. Such a lovely place and fantastic scenery!!

    B is for blooms

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  13. What a beautiful coastline. Hitchcock's films are the sort you can watch again and again and The Birds is no exception. Your description of the connections in the area is fascinating.
    Daphne Du Maurier's original short story was set in Cornwall - a similar rocky coast.

    Joy - ABC Wednesday Team

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  14. Okay, the photos convinced me. I have to go to Bodega Bay. Nice blog..!

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  15. The last time I visited Bodega Bay was probably over ten years ago - I spent every summer growing up in the Pt Reyes National Seashore area so I know this place well. Thanks for revisiting it and reminding me of its beauty! And thanks too for visiting and commenting on my "b" post!

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  16. Beautiful and charming place.

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  17. Fascinating! Also weird because I was just leaving a note on another blogger's site about wearing my Tippi Hedron glasses -- and then came across this. Weird.

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  18. I love Bodega Bay. Thanks to Alfred Hitchcock for making this place memorable.

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  19. Thanks Gayle for this informative and interesting article.

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