It is quiet and serene here at this state park! The historical buildings offer good information and history to understand that glimpse in time wow this dates back to the 1800s Short walk to the beach which is a real treat too Visitor center in front is great and very neat Pay for parking before you step away! Or Pay at visitor center read more

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A very cool historical landmark with breathtaking views. We did the self guided tour and others were enjoying a picnic. It was a really nice stop or first time through Jenner. I had no idea about the area's Russian history. I hope they don't try to come back for it! read more

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Definitely worth the visit if you are around Sonoma Coast. We stumbled on this place on the way back from Redwoods and needed a break. The views of Sonoma Coast from here are stunning. The only thing I disliked was the windy road leading to the Fort. But worth checking out. You can go inside all the houses and highly recommend to do so to see the beautiful views of Sonoma Coast. read more

Fort Ross State Historic Park - Parks Near Me - Jenner, California

This park is pretty cool! Had a lot of fun walking around and taking in the history. Plus it has amazing views of the ocean. Only reason I docked a star is because some things were closed like the Hotel of Call Family. read more

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What a wonderful place. Great history and we were lucky to be the only people on site. Ok! Us some deer and the park rangers. I haver seen a fort in such great condition. They state of CA still putting things together but you can walk around and see the rooms, guns, powder, canons and daily things that were used. Great views from the fort over the cliff. We were so glad we found this beautiful gem. Please be kind if you go and leave a donation. read more

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Fort Ross is a fascinating place. We took at tour with guide Hank who was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the area's history. He's got an excellent grasp of not only the Russian narrative, but the long-time Native American inhabitants story. I highly recommend taking a tour to augment your experience. There is a museum and gift shop with great books and other materials. You can also take walks along the coast with magnificent, sweeping views. read more

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Fort Ross is a very interesting piece of history that's well maintained and very educational. Guided tours are offered at certain times, but we just walked around on our own and read the placards telling about the the fort. Definitely a family-friendly site. There is a fee to enter, but your entry fee allows you to enter other state parks and beaches on the same day. Well worth a stop to learn the history of the Russians in the area and to see how well the buildings were put together with their dove-tailing and beautiful wood. read more

Fascinating site. Everyone we met, at the entry, museum, gift shop, and especially Matt on our private guided tour, was friendly, knowledgeable, & helpful. If you make the effort to drive here, definitely sign up through the Conservancy for a private tour. $100 for 2 of us for 2 hours. Matt was an entertaining fount, if that's the right word, of knowledge, answering all our questions, explaining everything we saw, and tying the Russian presence here in with California's Spanish & Mexican past, the Anglos, even the French & English, while always being sensitive to the Fort's impact on the native Kashaya Pomo peoples, the native Alaskans that the Russians brought here, and the, unfortunately, decimated sea otter population. Wife & I understand our state's past & present so much better after our visit & especially our invaluable private tour. Thank you Fort Ross Conservancy! read more

Fort Ross has an incredibly rich history and I highly recommend taking their walking tour if you have an hour or more to spend (which I'd recommend doing anyways :-) ) Our host was amazing and provided us with the most detailed insights into the culture and history about this place starting with Russian settlements and it's evolution over the years. The tour ended at a point which allowed us to take the most beautiful pictures of the landscape and Pacific Ocean. read more

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Last Sunday my boyfriend and I packed up our picnic basket and payed a visit to see this incredible place! Inside the museum/gift shop we learned a lot about the Russian history and I purchased some Christmas cards made by a local and some gifts as well! When it was time to take the tour, we sat on the benches overlooking the apple tree. During the tour we learned about the rich history of the church, which still does services today, the fur room, how Tea was shipped for optimum freshness and about the Calls who lived in the Rotchev House which still stands today! I would highly recommend checking out this place, located on one of the world's most scenic coastal routes, boasting incredible views of the Pacific Ocean! They offer educational programs for children, you'll learn a lot about the Russian culture and although they do not sell food, they have plenty of picnic areas throughout the State Park and it's historic landmark that came to be in 1962! We'll be back to take a tour of the windmill our next visit, which has a history of it's own! read more

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This historic park is located in Fort Ross, Ca. It costs $8 a day and is free if you have the California State Parks pass. Fort Ross State Park is rich in history and we enjoyed walking through and learning all about this Russian settlement. The Fort Ross Colony was founded in 1812 by members of the Russian-American Company, who built it with the help of Alaskan Alutiiq natives. Once you park, you walk into the visitor center. You can grab a free pamphlet that has information and a map and check out the interpretive exhibits in the visitor's station to learn more about this place snd it's history. We exited out the back of the visitors center and followed the path over a bridge, saw the gardens, and saw the settlement that they did a great job preserving. They have buildings you can walk inside, a chapel, and lookout towers with windows and cannons for protection. From there you can walk down to the ocean and onto a beach if you would like. When you walk back, you can go past the visitor center on the trail to the Old Call Ranch House and buildings that represent the ranching era that followed the Russo settlement. There are picnic tables near the parking lot if you want to have a picnic and an old windmill. I learned a lot about the history of this Russian settlement and I'm grateful that they preserved this place. read more

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Most excellent! Very good historical location with incredible scenery as well, when you walk into the buildings, you can definitely see the staff did the best they could to recreate the original location. There is so much interesting information not only about the how the Russians settled there, but the history of their interactions with the natives and the ownership of the area as well. The whole place is beautiful with so much to see, and it's very interesting to see modern-day representations of the original buildings and the amount of research needed to revitalize this historical place. read more

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For those who remember the early Renaissance Faires of the 1960's, before they became such a big commercial production, here is yet another delightful yet modest fair. Historic Fort Ross has a Russian Festival in the month of August commemorating the Russian occupation along the California coast during the mid 1800s. Located about 20 minutes north of the tiny town of Jenner, the isolated park features a compound of reconstructed, timbered fortress walls and buildings surrounding a large, dirt parade ground. A relevant book store/gift shop is located outside the compound in between the parking lot and the actual fort. The coastal climate was thankfully mild the day we were there. The view is of the magnificently rugged California coastline graced with large groves of trees, the fog threatening to roll in even while the smells of pure ocean breezes and native plants spiced the air. The pathways are fairly smooth and able to accommodate a wheelchair. The feeling is electric. Families arrived to the large, dusty parking lot, many fully dressed in beautifully ornamented, colorful costumes of their mother country. The small children running around were all chattering in Russian. Surprising to me were the number of Russian-speaking, costumed participants who were obviously Alaskan native in appearance. Yes, the Russians and natives intermarried, their offspring were called Creoles. There was a tremendous sense of pride in their heritage and ancestors' contributions. Activities were scheduled throughout the day: demos of what life was like as a soldier, firing rifles, a cannon shooting demo, the sound of balalaikas and mandolins playing folk music, playful folk dancing where all could join in, wrestling, and other games. Pungent smells of an outdoor, open wood fire announced the authentic, homestyle Borsht Cooking Competition (we were the judges, got to taste and vote). Artisans set up small tents for selling their wares, demonstrated their skills, plus many activities were planned for entertaining the children such as doll making, basket weaving, beeswax candle making, and storytelling both in Russian and English. It is a beautiful place to linger, even if there is no fair going on. It is a reminder of a lesser known part of California history and the many cultures that had an impact on our state. To fluff out your visit, not too much further south is the well known Bodega Bay, known for its freshly shucked raw oysters, honored and slurped with gusto by many a ostreophagous gastronome. Not a bad reward after a day's trek back in history. read more

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The long and winding road That leads to...Fort Ross Will never disappear I've seen that road before... It's about 12 miles north of Jenner on Hwy One. Hairpin turns, steep grades and sheer cliffs dropping to the ocean thousands of feet below (not always protected by guard rails). This drive is not for the faint of heart, but venture north and you will be rewarded with the rich history and unexpected stories of many cultures all intersecting at this location... the southernmost settlement in the Russian colonization of the North American continent. Within the stockade walls are several reconstructed Russian era (1812 to 1842) buildings and one remaining original building. Guided tours, lasting about an hour, are offered on some days (call ahead to confirm times). From the visitor center/museum, take a short walk to the fort and meet under the apple tree just inside the stockade walls. This is the best way to experience the fort, get access to some areas otherwise off limits, and learn about the wonderful history of the fort. read more

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Wonderful Coastal Park. interesting history of Russian Settlement. Beautiful tails. Lots of Nature. Great Gift Shop.

The place is awesome! I have visited similar places in different countries. This place has its own vibe. It's like I'm back in the past! Absolutely recommend to visit. read more

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As they say, location is everything. It's not for nothing that people chose this spot. The day we went the sour grass (oxalis pes-caprae- oh, italic font, where art thou in this app?) was in full bloom, the winter sun low, and the sky not quite cloudless. A very nicely done park: spectacular coastal views as you drive in and walk around the grounds, a very full (and text-heavy) display at the main office, with video too, that prefaces a meandering walk through a mature eucalyptus grove, down to more views and the stockade itself. I didn't get a chance to read all of the display (with 2 small kids), but I'm hoping there was a bit about the native peoples here. It's all great that Russian influence has been so well preserved (samovars in a number of rooms), but I'd love to have learned more about the other peoples here too. read more

Fort Ross is located about 11 miles north of Jenner, along Highway 1. Although that doesn't seem far, plan on at least 30 minutes to wind your way up the coast from there. The complex of buildings themselves and the visitor center close at 4:30, so plan accordingly and allow for at least an hour or more to visit. Parking is $8, cash per, car and you'll see the Visitor's Center right by the lot. It's actually quite interesting to walk through there and read the history panels, see the displays and learn a bit more about the history and culture of the region. The walk down to the fort compound itself is short (1/4 mile or less) but it's a lovely stroll through some eucalyptus shaded paths. The buildings themselves were quite interesting and offer an educational glimpse into life back in the day. There is a schoolhouse, living quarters, barn buildings and more which have plaques describing the use and purpose for each building. I believe at certain days/times, they also have some demonstrations or reinactments which would be educational for you or the kiddies as well. As an added bonus you have gorgeous coastal views. We decided to take the short walk down to Sandy Cove for a closer glimpse at the beach. I've heard there is plenty of exploring and tide pool action but it was getting late in the day so we missed out on this visit. We also walked part of the way towards the Fort Ross cemetery, however, we weren't quite sure how far away it was and after a while, just wondered if the trek was worth it and turned back. Definitely worth a stop if you're going to tack this activity on to a day along the Sonoma Coast. We had spent some time earlier in Duncan Mills, then enjoyed the drive to Jenner and then up to Fort Ross, winding back down through Bodega Bay on the return trip. It was all in all a lovely day and I'm glad we decided to trek the additional miles up to the Fort. Well run by the State Park system and very well maintained. A small history/nature center at the visitor headquarters rounds out your visit. Highly recommend you make this a part of any Northern California "stay-cation" plans. Check posted hours on their website, as I do believe they close on certain weekdays. Enjoy!! read more

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The week after Christmas, I was driving along Highway 1 in a heavy rainstorm that was threatening to flood the roads: not the best time to visit Fort Ross. In the spring, when the lawn in front of the main structure turns into a bright green carpet, the entire fort looks out majestically toward the Pacific Ocean. Many of the buildings at Fort Ross have been reconstructed but they all serve to provide an unusual visitor experience. I suppose not many people make it to this section of Highway 1 but the opportunity to spend a fews hours here shouldn't be overlooked. Fort Ross, as beautiful as it is, must surely seem like an oddity even in California. A Russian settlement from the mid-1800s that served as a base for northern Pacific trade: it must have been a bustling place. Now, it's quite sublime when rainstorms aren't threatening to wash the entire coast into the sea. read more

We were not planning on stopping at this park on our drive along scenic route 1, but did so at the spur of the moment. Though there is an admission fee, it cost us nothing because we had a Limited Use Golden Bear Pass. On entering we took a short trail to he visitors center and continued on to the fort where we walked the grounds. It is unfortunate due to time constraints, we were unable to take advantage of our visit, but there are plans to return. read more

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This place feels a world away from the San Francisco bay area. I've been hiking and relaxing here for 7 plus years now. The northern coast/red woods of California have always been my favorite part of the California coast...I visit a few times a year, and sometimes stay in gualala. There are never too many people here(love it) and the views are definitely something to see . Coming here is an escape from everything. You would really have to visit to fully understand how great this place is. The fresh air is always good, the views amazing, peaceful, and a quick get away from the hustle and bustle of cars and people. There is hiking, an actual fort, a recently added windmill, and even a beach :) read more

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Pleasant state historic park. We enjoyed walking around the grounds of the fort and taking in the exhibits and buildings. Wonderful ocean views. read more

Riding down Highway 1 on our way back home from Salt Point, we chanced upon this state park, but the visitor center was already closed. Fortunately, the fort was hosting a girl scouts event and the event holders graciously let us in to roam around the buildings. The restored Russian settlement is super cool to see. Supposedly there's even a grave site nearby. Inside the fort, there's a well, cannons, a church, a bedroom, the kitchen, lots of guard towers, a storage room, etc. It's like stepping back in time. And the view of the ocean is spectacular as well. It would be worth it to come back and get a real tour of the place. Who knew they would close so early. read more

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There is really nothing to tell here. Ancient Russian settlement in the form of several buildings and a chapel behind a fence. The composition of the life of settlers is made up of authentic and sham items that are replaced in some places by modern ones. Large wooden buildings in which the settler government was located. View of the ocean opens on a small cape. In the traveler center you can watch a movie about the life of settlers, on the walls are hung posters with stories. It can be interesting for fans of history and those who have Russian ancestors. That's it.) read more

It goes without saying that the scenery on the drive to Fort Ross is spectacular. Highway 1 winds its way up the coast from Jenner to this fascinating historic site. If you get car sick, the drive may not be your favorite part of the trip, but the destination is worth the drive. Who knew that Russians built a fort in California???? The fort was built to protect the Russian fur trade in California and as a shipping point for grain raised in California. The idea was to ship the grain to Russian settlements in Alaska. Evidently, our ubiquitous California gophers put an end to the grain business. The fort has been restored some. The buildings are interesting. We spent a good amount of time in the store building. They have the largest collection of animal pelts I have ever seen, and you are welcome to touch them to see what the different furs feel like. I was very happy that they had an otter pelt because I wanted my boys to feel that amazing fur. No wonder everyone wanted an otter skin coat back in the day. I don't know where the park got the pelts, but I doubt the California State Park Service has an active trapping operation. For my boys, the best part of the trip was the walk down to the beach to the tide pools. If you can, time your visit for low tide. The tide pools were amazing. We saw crabs, starfish, lots of anemones, and of course mussels, barnacles, and limpets. Amazingly clean water. No swimming due to the tides, but a beautiful spot. Pro tip - bring a picnic or snacks. The store only has candy and chips, and there is nowhere close to buy food. Also, bring a jacket. Even if you come in July or August, just listen to me and bring a jacket. read more

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What an amazing place. You know I just sat there wondering, how at one time the same grounds used to be so packed with people who may look so different in the attire they wore that time. The events and everything that took place in the same spot that I stood. Imagine life rewinding itself right in front of your eyes. I had goosebumps when I touched the wood of those old houses. The church which must be filled with people in the weekend, followed by a big Sunday lunch. Iam just fascinated by all this thoughts. So when I visited there was no shows or anything, the whole place was empty but I hear on a typical day they do dress up like they used to around that time and put up shows. Also after u tour this place, you can walk down to the beach, it is nice and also from the parking lot theres a place where you can watch seals from. It's a great spot for family day out. Have fun while visiting this place.:) read more

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Explore history on California's coast! I actually had a really great time here - it was kind of an amazing place to spark the imagination as you learned the history and then wandered the grounds reliving it in your mind. Here's the order I'd recommend doing things: 1. BRING CASH for parking - And you might want to have exact change just in case. We were the first ones here (because we're dorks) and had no cash except for a $50 bill (cause we're ballers! bwahaha). We were turned away and had to drive a few miles to get change. 2. Head into the Visitor's Center and watch the movie first (it provides context for everything else). 3. Peruse the little museum and take in the artifacts and timeline. 4. Wander the grounds and explore the fort! There's a presentation and guided tour around 12pm which I also recommend. 5. Walk down to the beach and up the small path to the graveyard - it's not marked, but you'll see it if you're looking. There's no other way to get to the graveyard, and it's worth checking out! 6. Walk back along the road and check out the houses built after the fort. Not a lot of places to grab lunch nearby, we drove south to Bodega Bay and ate at the seafood place (which was awesome). read more

Fort Ross State Historic Park - Graveyard overlooking Fort Ross. There's a hidden path that you take from the beach to get here ;) - Parks Near Me - Jenner, California

Fort Ross State Historic Park is well worth the journey. Indeed, the journey itself is part of the fun! Plan on an all day outing, the drive from Petaluma will take 1.5 or so hours, don't stress, drive carefully and stop often to take in any sites and breathe the country air! The Fort itself is not huge and has only a handful of small buildings, the visitor center is bigger than all of the original enclosed structures combined and has the usual cool displays depicting the local history. There are extensive grounds surrounding the Fort and plenty of walking trails including walks along the headlands and cliffs. You can spend a leisurely two or three hours touring the visitor center, Fort and the grounds. There are several special annual events here which you may want to try to attend including the harvest festival in October and the Russian Festival in February. You may (or may not!) want to make your visit coincide with one of these events if you want more excitement and more company. We came here with our teens and everyone had a fun and relaxing time. As with any day trip bring snacks, plenty of water, layered clothes, comfortable shoes, and a camera! There is not a lot else around the park shopping wise, so be prepared. Go and have fun with nature and history! read more

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I've been wanting to go to Fort Ross SHP for a long time and finally did on Sat 7/25/09. We went for the special event Cultural Heritage Day, the last day of July. Hwy 1 is windy & slow heading there from Bodega Bay. Parking was $20 for this special event, I hope they can save this State Park but I'm not so sure so we had to go this year. $15 for senior - darn it should have asked V. to go with us. We got there after 11am & parking was full in the main lot, we were directed to parking on the grass. History of Fort Ross: From 1812-1841 Russian American Company Settlement Ross was home to a unique blend of cultural groups - Russians, Creoles, Native Alaskans, & Kashaya & Coast Miwok Native Californians. We saw: Volunteers wearing period pieces & Russian style clothes. Officials Quarters - many rooms to see, guy made us copper whistle Rotchev House - think I missed going in, oops, supposed to be a highlight! Kuskov House - some rooms to see Chapel - some liturgy going on inside, kinda neat. A highlight don't miss. SE Blockhouse- you can go up to the 2nd Fl, some cannons NW Blockhouse - you can go up to the 2nd Fl, some cannons Saw Call Ranch House - can't go in Sandy Cove - some activity going on, we didn't walk down to the beach Pacific Ocean - cloudy when we went Highlight: Musket and cannon demonstration - firing muskets (guns) & cannons! boom. 2 shows we stayed for 1 at 12 noon. Visitor Center - has small gift shop, there was some activities there to see & exhibits. Local Kashaya Natives were there - had some Kashaya food - acorn, huckleberry jam, piece of bread, seaweed. Demos & activities: blacksmithing, spinning, needlework, cooking, metalwork, woodwork, ropemaking $1, candlemaking $1, etc. Some food available: bbq & muffins, drinks - no borscht for sale - bogus. Bathrooms available. Flush toilet at visitor center, pit toilets elsewhere. read more

I grew up in California and have been to the ruins many times - in those days it was a grassy field with dilapidated buildings with nothing to see. Those were the days of Khrushchev and there was no joy when my mother would say, "Look boys! The Russians use to live here!"... and my father would drive on by with a beer in his hand at the wheel. There was nothing to see. (In those days, it was not only okay to drink and drive - but a normal practice.) I was quite surprised and happy to see the place has been restored! Why is this place unique? Read the free book: An Illustrated History of Sonoma County (1889) http://tinyurl.com/nmdrqrs and you will appreciate the signifance of this place in history. If you are Russian, you should be genuinely proud of the accomplishments of the Russians to organize and establish themselves. According to the history account, no one wanted them around but they couldn't remove them because they had cannon up the ying yang - but they were valued by early Californians because they had the craftsmen to build tools and buildings that was not readily available at that time... so they were grudgingly accepted. The story and politics of the Russians at that time is quite interesting if one wants to invest the time to read it. It's nice they finally decided to go away... otherwise I'd probably have to learn Russian and I'm not good at languages. There is a tall lanky Russian docent there - and guide material written in Russian. It's kind of nice to hear the Russian language at Fort Ross to honor the past with the present. I brought my own Russian along though. It was special to see the natural sense of pride of her past and the spontaneous surprise to see the small details of the restoration which she appreciated. My favorite was the huge Russian-style kitchen stove which I only heard described. Those stoves were made of brick and featured a place at the top where little kids could sleep and stay warm. Last weekend of July - big doings every year with Russians there to celebrate the historic spot with original costumes, song, food and dance. This place is also a beautiful costal spot with spacious views. As others have written - bring food and drink. You will not want to leave. read more

Fort Ross State Historic Park - Swimming in the cove - Parks Near Me - Jenner, California

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My kids learned about Fort Ross during their 4th grade CA history. I don't remember learning about this Russian settlement, but that was a long time ago for me. So you pay $8/car to park and that pass can be used at any CA state park for the remainder of the day. Most of the people working here are Russian. Every visitor we encountered was Russian. Talk about an authentic experience! There was a nice visitor center and then you take a short walk to the fort. They give you a map and everything is self guided. Inside the map is a description of each building. Only 1 building is an original, all the others have been replicated. There was a Russian woman who taught my children to do basket weaving which they found interesting and enjoyable. Overall, we stayed about 2 hours. read more

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A great place to stop. Well restored fort, formerly occupied by Russian fur seal and otter hunters. Nice display with authentic orthodox chapel, Russian buildings, cannon, muskets. Check it out if you haven't seen a wooden fort. We also had the pleasure of touring through the old home of the Call family, run by a knowledgeable volunteer who showed us turn of the century clothing, toys, the stove, dining area etc all just recently restored. read more

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We always come here in May. What a nice park, great place to have a picnic, bbq, or parties below. There is a Fort, a beach, and a cover to dive for abalone. They are fixing up the trails for a better hiking experience from the main lodge area to the fort, picnic, and other parts of the fort ross area. Nice place, great close area for families and friends to gather. read more

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I've never been to a fort, and I'm not much into "historic landmarks" but this was really cool! I enjoyed the museum it smelled of fresh lumber and had many interesting displays and information on the previous inhabitants. I enjoyed the fort itself even more than the museum though! They took great pains to make it look like the original construction right down to making the walls look like they were hand hewn with an ax (but I doubt they were). The structures are impressive and quite attractive inside and out. The cannons on the lawn inside the fort were really cool! All the kidlets were having great fun playing with them. I love the park itself also, beautiful trees & coastline. We didn't have time to go down and look but we heard TONS of sea lions down near the shore. There was a huge amount of parking available too. read more

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Apparently once a year the church in the fort is available for active worship and they also actually fire a cannon on the green, lit by one of the worshippers. We were lucky enough to show up right before that happened and it was awesome! The fort itself is quite interesting and well kept, although one portion of it is being renovated and is cordoned off, as well as one of the paths leading to the fort. There are volunteers roaming around who offer tidbits of information. The view from the fort is of course fantastic being right off the coast. The visitor's center offers significant historical information about the fort, little of which I knew before. I was interested in rock climbing around there but there were no obvious boulders nor anyone who knew about it, so if you plan to do that, bring a guide book or supertopo and do your homework before you come. read more

Nice place to be! Was fun experiance nothing like history to explor! All the old tools and furniture, guns and buildings! read more

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A Beautiful park with great views of the ocean. I enjoyed visiting this state park during the summer. We stopped by here for about an hour in a half and I loved looking at the history of this place. The visitor center restrooms were not working so they had portable potties outside. They were sitting there in the heat. So as we were walking up to the park you got a nasty smell of poop and pee. I didn't enjoy that very much. Inside the visitor center, it was nice and cool. They sell small gifts and even had Russian candy and goodies available for purchase. The visitor center is small so we walked through it quickly reading about the history of the fort. From the visitor center down it's another walk. We walked around and went into every building. Only the Rotchev house is the original building that remains. The rest of the buildings have been stocked with furnishings to resemble the original buildings. I had a good time and the views were wonderful, but I wouldn't go back again. read more

Really nice historic park. Great place to stop and picnic for the day. Its a beautiful setting on the coast. Very nice museum and guest center. Lots of people in era costume when we went there. Electric vehicle charging that's free, but $10 for parking. Got to charge up that was awesome. Very affordable and fun time for the family. read more

Maritime history and colonial expansion are some topics that really pique my interest so I was more than happy to pay the $8 entrance fee to explore this wonderland. I am more familiar with Western European exploration but I was vaguely familiar with the Russian expansion onto the western United States; however, the visitor center and information placards around the site really help to set the context of the historical, social, political, and geographic significance of the Northern California coast, or as it is colloquially know Alta California. The temperament climate was a major factor in the location of this outpost coupled with animal skins/pelts for trade purposes. Established by the RAC in 1812, Fort Ross (a take on Russiya) was designed to be a base that would provide provisions to further north outposts and also a place to carry on its fur trading enterprise. At a time when skins/pelts we selling for $100 a piece (a typical years salary for a yeoman) there was a money grab to be had in the ocean; however, as history always denotes, sustainability is something to strive for and Fort Ross stands as a testament to that hegemonic worldview. Come and visit. See the architecture, learn about the labor practices and those who helped to build this industry, discover a new found interest in the Native Pomo people, take in the glorious cliffs and undulating coastline, and most of all don't forget to remember Fort Ross for posterity. read more

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This place is so perfectly serene! I took a drive by myself and packed a picnic. It was a beautiful day! The day I went there were hardly any people which I loved! There are picnic tables outside by the windmill. You can take a short hike down the mountain which is not too steep all the way down to the beach. There were seals everywhere and plenty of great spots for meditation. I didn't do a tour of the inside of the Russian settlement because it was closed the day I went. I did get to walk around the parameters which was still very much worth the drive! There are several benches facing the edge over looking the coast. It is truly a beautiful spot to watch the sunset! read more

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