Perched on the Sonoma coast where the Russian River empties into the Pacific, Jenner offers a ringside seat for a wildlife extravaganza starring river otters, harbor seals, great blue herons, and ospreys. You can contemplate the watery vistas while paddling in a kayak, standing on beaches and bluffs, or dining in a restaurant. It’s quite a show.
- Gaze at the Russian River at Cafe Aquatica, a cozy coffeehouse that dishes up freshly baked apple scones and focaccia, as well as creamy chowder crowded with clams and organic veggies.
- Inside the old Jenner Boathouse, the Sonoma Coast State Park Visitors Center includes an education center and a bookshop, with puzzles, trail maps, and exhibits for kids on river ecology.
- Take a guided kayak outing with WaterTreks EcoTours and learn about the flora, fauna, and American Indian history of mid-river Penny Island.
Goat Rock State Park.
David H. Collier
- Fly kites over craggy sea stacks or watch a colony of harbor seals at easily accessible Goat Rock Beach, one in a 17-mile strip of beaches and bluffs comprising Sonoma Coast State Park. Linked bluff trails go on for miles.
- Smoked trout chowder, grilled salmon wings, and seafood fettucine are just a few of the offerings at Coast Kitchen inside Timber Cove Inn. Dine on the outdoor patio or indoors, where the river rock hearth and floor-to-ceiling windows face the untamed ocean.
- Just north of the village proper on a ridge with dynamic views, you can sample complex, estate-grown pinot noirs, zesty chardonnays, and the lush pinotage at Fort Ross Vineyard Tasting Room.
- Indulge in a sunset feast at the intimate River’s End Restaurant, overlooking the river’s mouth and endless beaches. Pair a Russian River gewürztraminer with local oysters and wasabi tobiko (flying fish roe), followed by Petaluma duck fixed two ways.