This Saturday we will experience the popular return of Castles & Kites at Doran Beach. 

  This annual celebration of sandcastle building and kite flying welcomes amateurs and experts alike along the 2 mile beach in beautiful Bodega Bay. The center of attention will be at the Boardwalk section of the park.  For kite flying you can bring your own or sit back and watch the colorful display as others show off their kite-handling skills.  You can always pick up a new kite at one of the local shops.  For Sandcastle building, tools and molds will be on loan from Parks’ staff while experienced sand sculptors will be at work on their elaborate creations.  

Typically parking fills up completely by midday almost every weekend, so we recommend getting there early for best access.

If you find the scene at the coast is a little too busy you can certainly find quiet and remote experiences throughout the County.  Some of our favorite out-of-the-way picnic sites that offer serenity are located in North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park. At the end of the one-mile long Umbrella Tree Trail, you’ll find a lone picnic table with an expansive ridge top view at 1,500 feet above the Santa Rosa Plain.  

Another spot is just a few hundred yards of easy walking from the trail head of the same park. This will bring you to a picnic area deep in shaded redwoods on the side of the flowing Matanzas Creek along the Ridge Trail.

Check out the Regional Parks events calendar, or become a Parks Member!

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