Good travel aid... picked up a map and travel guide here…read more We stopped by to get some quick answers about the Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 movie, The Birds. I have never watched the full movie but saw bits and pieces of some scenes from the film. The staff, a young gal, shared some cool movie trivia as she led us to the back, a beautiful relaxing deck outside. The Tides Wharf Restaurant and parking lot, which was just down the road from the visitor center, were used for the gas station, cafe and boat dock scenes. A dock was built for Melanie (Tippi Hedren) to land her rented boat when she crossed the harbor to "Mitch's house." She pointed where the dock scene was filmed. The gas station that blew up in the film was filmed in a studio lot. The ranch house on Westshore Road was used for outside shots of the Brenner House. These structures burned down in the late 1960's so there is nothing there anymore and the current location is being used by the University of California Bodega Marine Laboratory in the Sonoma Coast State Beach. The Potter Schoolhouse is a private residence now and the shots of the children running down the hill from the schoolhouse were filmed on Taylor Street in Bodega Bay. The schoolhouse is in Bodega (two different locations). Wish I got the volunteer's name because she satisfied the curious and we left with a bit more knowledge about the Hitchcock horror-thriller film. Oh yah... lots of maps, brochures, artwork and, of course, a guidebook about "The Birds." There are also restrooms in the premises. The visitor center is next door to Patrick's Salt Water Taffy. Review #2185

Four of us were visiting for the first time on 5/8/25 and stopped for information. We wound up…read morewith some great conversation, good guidance, clam chowder, chocolate chip cookies, a great view off the deck. Quite a pleasant surprise to say the least!

Love this beach and always enjoy coming out here for a day trip. There is an entry fee, but it's…read moreworth it for how clean, spacious, and relaxing it is. There's plenty of parking, which makes it super convenient, and it never feels too hectic even when it's busy. It's such a nice spot to just unwind, walk along the beach, and enjoy the peaceful views. They also have camping spots available, I camped here a long time ago and remember having a great experience. Whether you're planning to camp or just want a relaxing day by the water, this is one of my favorite places to visit in Bodega Bay. Definitely worth checking out :)

It's June and COLD at the beach. We don't mind. I like this beach because of the close parking and…read morethe availability of bathrooms. It's an easy (long) walk from end to end if you want some physical activity. Great spot for kites. I took a nap and woke up to this bird carefully approaching our blanket spread probably hoping for a sleepy person not guarding the snacks. Not today birds!

My niece, my brother and myself went to Napa Valley in June. We were just walking around and my…read moreniece said we should gp check out the Welcome Center. Maggie was super helpful, and gave us very good recommendations and also explained where we could visit in Napa Valley. She suggested a few good wineries as all.

Educational with photo-ops! I came across this storefront while walking around the downtown Napa…read moreshopping plaza. I ended up picking up a handful of great souvenirs to bring back home. Checkout the topographical map of Napa Valley while you're here! There's a lot of cool info about the area near the door.

What a somewhat hidden gem! Definitely lesser traveled than a lot of other NPS places. When we…read morewent, in the beginning of July, it was cold and windy - about 55F but with windchill. I ended up buying a sweater at the visitor's center and used it during the entire trip! Our itinerary included the Bear Valley Visitors Center, Chimney Rock, Elephant Seal Overlook, Lighthouse, Drakes Beach, Cypress Tree Tunnel, then back to the Bear Valley Visitors Center. The entire trip took about 6.5 hours - it was great! The visitors center was clean, well-stocked, and informative. Bathrooms on the outside, plenty of parking. Inside there's a shop with lots of goodies including clothing, totes, stickers/pins, first aid supplies, and more typical goodies. Rangers were very friendly and informative. Lots of interactive displays as well. Chimney Rock was a quick hike. There's a bathroom and a bench or two at the trailhead. We thought the hike was pretty easy. Lots to see including wildflowers, bugs, birds, and deer! Plus, the view at the end is gorgeous, and there's a geological stamp there too. No elephant seals at the overlook, but it's not peak season, so we weren't expecting any. The lighthouse was a nice surprise! According to the website, it should have been closed on a Tuesday, but the ranger told us that summer hours are different, and it was open! We went to the small visitors center, then walked the 313 steps down to see the lighthouse. It was super windy. There are several rest points along the staircase in case folks need it. While we couldn't climb into the lighthouse, we could go inside and peak around, which was pretty cool. There was a ranger there who answered questions, and we saw some people looking for whales. Drakes Beach was gorgeous. We ended up staying for about 1.5 hours because the kids had so much fun digging in the sand and watching crabs scurry along the beach. There was barely anyone else there, so we had a huge part to ourselves. And there are a bunch of sand dollars! That was so cool to see. Most of them were cracked, but occasionally we saw some whole ones. The visitors center here was closed, but looked like it was well-stocked with unique goodies. Bathrooms were open, big, and clean. Cypress Tree Tunnel was every bit as beautiful as I've seen in photos. Quite a few people there walking the tunnel and taking photos. The boys earned their Junior Ranger badge at the end of the visit. And we got our stamps! Fun times - we'll definitely be back!

How fortunate we are to have Point Reyes National Seashore. The headquarters is fantastic- maps,…read morerecommendations, nice restrooms & plenty of free parking. Today we chose the Bear Valley hike trail. The path is wide and mostly flat and even includes a bathroom midway. As you walk you are able to hear the beautiful sounds of the babbling brook along the route. Being late Spring we were able to spot a good amount of wildflowers- buttercups, poppies, bleeding heart, foxglove and more. We encountered several equestrian's throughout our hike.

One of the better stocked visitors centers I've visited, and with such friendly ranger service!…read more Lots of interactive displays that the kids enjoyed. We ran our visit by a ranger and got feedback and a set of Junior Ranger books. We returned around 4:45pm and the kids turned in their Junior Ranger books. We also got a special 250 year stamp! In terms of swag, they've got plenty of clothing including shirts, long sleeves, sweaters, goodies, and beanies. Point Reyes was cold, even in July! They also have brochures, books, Junior Ranger gear, plushies, binoculars, stamps, stickers, pins, tokens... so much. And a good selection of first aid supplies. Cancellation stamps are right at the entrance. Clean bathrooms on the outside. Plenty of parking.

4.5 stars Bear…read moreValley visitor's center is a really nice and well-maintained visitor's center. Inside, there's a little museum explaining the wildlife found in the area. There's a gift shop area with books for all ages and small selection of souvenirs. The restrooms are also pretty clean. There's free parking on site and additional parking and restrooms across from the visitor's center. There's also plenty of space for picnics. Idk what the rules are, but I did see horses and horse riders, so I think there's a horse trail nearby?? Would recommend the stop for maps, souvenirs, restroom breaks, and/or picnics.

The Santa Rosa Visitor Center is a nice place to get information on Santa Rosa. They even have a…read morescavenger hunt for all the Peanuts characters and other related Peanuts characters all around the city. It's a nice way to explore the city. The train has a stop at this location too.

The Peanuts characters are all around Santa Rosa and so we're on a quest to find several of them…read more This meant we were in a small office part around the Stony Point Lake office park on a Sunday afternoon. The offices, coffee shop and restaurant were all closed so it was easy to explore and take pictures without being disturbed. There's allegedly an aggressive security guard here (at Stony Point Lake) but we didn't see him. Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus with his blanket, Woodstock in a nest and Snoopy as Joe Cool with sunglasses. Easy and fun and free. [Review 21012 overall - 529 in California - 1997 of 2023.]

SCW and I visited Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Park one day while staying nearby. I'd use…read morecaution when using a driving app to get here as we were led along a very narrow road through a local residential area with no room and switchbacks galore. Suffice it to say we saw a few locals along the way that seemed perplexed why we were driving very slowly through their neighborhood. I think that had to do with a bridge closure. Anyways... The return was not the same route thankfully. The park has for pay parking areas and what seemed to be free parking along the road to the park at your own risk. We found a spot in the paid lot ($10). Get a receipt, put it on your car's dashboard and off you go. There's a small welcome center and info at the entrance as well. The Redwoods are incredible here, some alive for 1400 plus years. You simply can't see the tops of the Redwoods from the ground. Truly incredible. The trails are well marked and it's highly discouraged to get off the trails as the environment is very ecologically sensitive. Unfortunately we saw some disregard for that. Stay on the trails people! You'll find placards noting interesting names and places along the way in addition to information about the flora and fauna. The history of the park and previous residents from indigenous peoples to the parks name sake are along the trail. It's an incredible park to visit and appreciate nature. The redwoods are incredible and certainly worth a visit.

Wow! What can I say that will convince you to come visit the splendor at Armstrong? We walked…read more Hiked. And drove our vehicle up a tiny one lane hillside road to the top for a spectacular view of the whole area. It was beyond words! The park was immaculately clean. Everyone was kind and polite. The air was so fresh. I hope to return soon.

Love this Visitors Center!! Staff are super friendly and knowledgeable here…read more Highly recommended for you to stop by! Whether you are a first time or frequent visitor, you will be sure to pick up a few interesting facts or new coupons. Great spot and highly recommended!

Came to Sonoma for a day trip and had no plans at all. Walked over to the visitors center and met…read morewith Ruth. She was so sweet, amazing and gave such great advices! We were lucky and came when Sonoma Sips was happening! Ruth was awesome, I left with a plan and great advice! We did the tours, wine tastings and ate around town!

1 of 2 Yelp reviews. Sorry, photos posted on my Napa…read moreDowntown Review. Quality/Quantity - Always so welcoming, pun intended. And I like your new location. Large self service touch screen computers to get Napa information - Restaurants, wineries, hotels, suggested things to do, events, maps, travel information, etc. Ambiance - Cool new location, better and more centrally located. Clean restrooms. Cool decor, even a hot air balloon basket selfie station. Service - 5 stars. EVERYone was so friendly and welcoming! As our guests were shopping, I ended up making small talk and hanging out with the team. Price - Depends on what souvenirs you buy. Owner Comment - Thanks for having this consistent amazing service.

Very cute store lots of wine products, California, Napa items. Shirts, earrings, bags, coasters,…read moresome snacks. We bought a cute baby shirt that said 'I'll take the house white' and has a picture of a wine glass filled with milk :) :) The only reason I give 4, and NOT 5 stars is because I bought a box of pistachios across the street for $10, but this store sold them for $11 (same brand of course) So that let's me know they're marking things up just slightly

Our stay at The Inn at The Tides was amazing. Upon arrival, Rebecca, the Inn's manager, surprised…read moreus with an upgrade to a King bed suite with breathtaking views of Bodega Bay. As if that weren't enough, a bottle of wine was waiting for us. It was a great touch! The two young men at the front desk deserve a special shoutout as well. Since we were both new to the Bodega Bay area, we had no shortage of questions and these two employees answered every single one with warmth and patience, They made us feel like welcomed guests from the moment we walked through the door. Dinner at the in-house restaurant was nothing short of memorable. The food was exceptional, and having a live pianist set the most elegant atmosphere. It was the perfect way to celebrate my wife's birthday. When we left The Inn at The Tides, we already wanted to make plans to return. If you're looking for a place that combines stunning scenery, gracious hospitality, and a truly special dining experience, look no further. Highest possible recommendation!

Starting off, the spot is beautiful. On arrival the greeting…read morestaff was great, explained everything and got us checked in quickly. On entry to the room, first reaction was, this place sort of smells. Not great, but not awful. Not sure what cleaner they use, but smelled like a 1980's Motel 6. Really put us off. Opened a few windows (weather was great) and that helped some. Again, view out the now open windows was great. Place was very clean, old but nice inside, no complaints there. Free continental breakfast was pretty good. Not sure why a croissant and a muffin were needed, especially since the muffin was a bit uninspired, but can't complain about free. The granola and juice were quite good. Would I stay again, probably, but not saying I won't shop around first to see if anything else hits me better.