We have never been to any beach in Marin county. We thought it might be nice to get a vacation rental for a few days. We are considering Easter week in April or late June. The temperature appears to be about the same year around 60s? Is it always cold like Ocean beach in SF? When would be the best time to go for maximizing fun on the beach? Is water warm and calm enough to get in for kids, assuming we go in June or maybe in August. Can you see whales from Dillon Beach in April? Does it get crowded? What are some fun things to do in Bodega Bay with grade school aged kids? Thanks!
Yes, the water is always cold, and sometimes dangerous with sneaker waves. More for walking along than swimming in, and even then it requires watchfulness. April is better than June because it is unlikely to be foggy. For a more classic “beach” vacation nearby, Santa Cruz is a better choice. That said, it is beautiful and there are remarkable tide pools.
It's almost always cold/foggy, especially in the mornings. In the summer or late summer, it will generally burn off in the early afternoon so you can get some nice hours outside. The water will always be cold, though. It's rarely crowded (in part because it's not a place known for swimming!). There are great hikes in the area to do, and some great places to eat. For hikes, a kid-friendly one would be Bodega Head, which is about a 45 min loop with gorgeous views (certain times of year you can see whales) and pretty easy. There are a couple of picnic tables along the way so you can grab crab sandwiches or clam chowder at the places on the way (Spud Point, and a place across from it or next to it if Spud Point is too busy). We love Casino for dinner (go early or call and make sure they have food left, it's a small menu but you can find it on facebook).
A wonderful place in Marin County is Pt Reyes National Seashore. There are many beaches (Limantour is the closest) which are beautiful and wild-not good for swimming, but lovely. For swimming, the beaches on Tomales Bay are good- Hearts Desire Beach, Secret Beach, many others. June will be warmer than April, and September is the best time for swimming there. There are many airbnb's in Inverness. Lots of great hiking. Pt Reyes is a treasure.
Hi! I've been to Bodega Bay for a week both in late June and also in mid October and it wasn't particularly warm either time, though in October we had 2 half sunny days and in June we had none! It's pretty foggy but also lovely if you dress correctly. There isn't a ton to do other than go to the beach, collect shells, build sand castles, go get ice cream in town, or go down to the wharf to look at the boats and eat seafood. It's a pretty quiet area, and very relaxing but not a ton of activities or even that many playgrounds. If your kids like cold water they could swim, but in June especially, it's really foggy, windy and blustery. If you're looking for sun/beach activities I'd look south like to Santa Cruz or Watsonville rather than Bodega Bay.
No, you can't count on the water being calm and warm enough to really "go in" anywhere on the CA coast north of Pismo, regardless of time of year. The Sonoma Coast is noted for being rough and we've had lifeguards shoo us off the beaches there before when it looked fine to us. (Bodega Bay is in Sonoma, not Marin) I would say take a day trip up that way before you spring for a vacation rental. Or, plan to go south, like San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara.