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Wright’s Beach: An Ideal Family Weekend

Wright's BeachMarin mom, food writer, recipe developer, and frequent Marin Mommies contributor Nicole Cibellis-Andrews shares her family's experiences at Wright's Beach, a fun and easy camping destination on the Sonoma Coast.

Wright’s Beach, on the Sonoma Coast—just an hour-and-a-half north of Marin County—has been one of my family’s favorite camping trips for years. With miles of beautiful beaches, campsites on the beach, and the lull of ocean waves to fall asleep to, this campground provides an ideal location for a long weekend of relaxation and recreation. Which comes in handy, since it’s one of the only Northern California campsites open year-around.

We make this trip annually with another family who enjoy this trek as much as we do. We do find that camping with another family who has kids around the same age as ours always makes camping more enjoyable.

To start our journey, we travel from Marin to Highway 12 west out of Santa Rosa. On our way, we love to stop in Freestone, home of the famous Osmosis Spa (another favorite of ours, but it’s for adults only so, that‘s for another trip). In Freestone, we hit up the equally famous Wild Four Bread Bakery, a favorite of locals and cyclists alike. They have a beautiful garden to walk the kids through, so that they can see all the yummy ingredients that the bakery adds to their outrageously edible breads.

Wright's BeachWright's Beach

Did I mention you could taste all their breads while debating which ones to buy? That always wins everyone over.

After our drop-in at Wild Flour, we walk over to the Joseph Phelps Winery and picnic at their benches, while their staff brings out their best wines for the adults to sip. Not only is this a kid- and dog-friendly winery, but also they have beautiful redwoods the kids can play in, while the adults enjoy the well-needed break.

From Freestone we usually head directly to Wright's Beach—unless it’s October, in which case we always sidetrack to one of the pumpkin patches at many of the local farms so the kids can play, soak up the season, and get ready for their trip to the beach.

There’s something for everyone on this trip: Dad, Mom, the kids, and even the dog! As we make our way to Wright's Beach, the car winds around the country road with stunning views of cows roaming the hills as you head out to the coast along Bodega Bay. The beauty of the drive will surprise you. Then, only 15 minutes north of Bodega Bay, the campgrounds spread out before you. We always bring Suki, our dog, camping. I'm fairly convinced that Wright’s Beach is one of her favorites, because I don’t think I ever see her as happy as when she is frolicking in the sands there. It’s a true dog’s paradise. But so it is, too, for the kids. The endless miles of beach are fun to run and play on, even though the water is really too treacherous for swimming. But any parents who have seen the signs for sharks and hard surf along the northern coast of California already know this.

In exchange for the less-than-hospitable surf, we love to play frisbee, whiffle ball, and football on the beach. It is also perfect for kite flying. This year, the boys have been obsessed with Star Wars, so they pretended the beach was Tatooine and battled each other with light sabers.

Depending on the time of year, the fog can roll in, and it can get cold on the beach. So (ever the prepared parents), when that happens, we head inland for the day to Guerneville and Stumptown Brewery—both kid- and dog-friendly. I enjoy how the brewery is full of young families and how you can pen your dog in a welcoming little spot while having a beer and some grub on their massive deck overlooking the Russian River. Stumptown even has a beach you can launch from, so be sure to bring your kayak, canoe, or float.

Wright's BeachWright's Beach

Come the end of the day and it’s back to the beach to watch the amazing sunset, which turns the sky an intense orange and purple that fill the horizon.

Time to start up the fire, open an amazing bottle of wine, and eat one of our favorite camp dinners. On a recent night we enjoyed Meatballs with Sunday Sauce, which I had prepared at home and brought in a disposable tin container. I just kept it chilled in our cooler, and quickly heated it up with our camp stove. We finish the meal with s’mores, sitting around the campfire, and talking about the fun day we just had—this camp trip can’t be beat.

A few secrets worth keeping in mind before you go:

  • Wright’s Beach allows for RV’s, so if you are car/tent camping stay away from the center campsites. They are rockier and not great to tent-camp on.
  • In the winter, Bodega Head—only 10 minutes south—provides one of the best whale-watching in Northern California.
  • Wright’s Beach does not have showers but campers may use hot showers at Bodega Dunes Campground.

No matter what time of year you visit you won’t be disappointed. It is one of our true Northern California treasures. Sonoma State Beach, particularly right her at Wright’s Beach offers coves, tide pool and headlands so beautiful that you and your whole family won’t want to leave – not even the dog!

Check out my blog for family-friendly meals and some of our favorite camp dinners at www.afamilythateatstogether.com and be sure to “like” us at www.afamilythateatstogether/facebook.