Bodega Bay is located 68 miles North of San Francisco on the Pacific Coast. It is a shallow, rocky inlet of the Pacific Ocean and straddles the boundary between Sonoma County up north and the Marin County down south. The Bodega Bay area covers around 10 miles of coast. The area of Bodega Bay spans from the 127 acre Doran Beach past the bay and along the coast to Goat Rock Beach at the mouth of the Russian River.

The Bay was also active in shipping lumber until the 1870s when the railroad was built and a more inland route was preferred for transporting goods. A nuclear power reactor was supposed to be built in an area in Bodega Bay but construction halted and now the excavated hole is transformed to a freshwater pond that provides a habitat for birds.

There are many attractions in Bodega Bay, its beaches in particular. The stretch of coast from Bodega Bay to Goat Rock is state property and has publicly maintained access to every beach. The Bodega Bay also entertains visitors with its restaurants, shopping and the marina. Some of the attractions in Bodega Bay include the Bay, the Coast, Goat Rock Park, Dining, Scenic Drives, Surfing, Boating, Fishing, Golf and Diving.