For my birthday weekend, Tommaso and I spent a few nights away in Sonoma County.

I wanted to go somewhere I hadn’t been but that’s still relatively close to home. We ended up staying three nights in the tiny rustic town of Guerneville located along the Russian River surrounded by towering redwood trees. We stayed at Dawn Ranch, a cool hotel where they have several types of accommodations ranging from tents, cabins, and chalets. The grounds were beautiful with lots of open green space and they even had their own vegetable and herb garden.

The day we arrived was my actual birthday so we just walked the grounds at Dawn Ranch before our dinner reservation at Farmhouse Restaurant where we had a fantastic meal highlighting seasonal local produce and seafood.

The following morning, we took a stroll down to the Russian River and the water looked so peaceful. The weather was also perfect and not excruciatingly hot like the day before.

For brunch we headed to The Altamont General Store, a marketplace with a café with some delicious eats in the small town of Occidental.

We ordered an earl grey latte and a matcha latte, both scrumptious and not overly sweet. We shared the pork sausage sandwich with Cheddar cheese, pickled red onions, and a tomato romesco aioli and the breakfast burrito with chorizo, potato, egg, cheese, and salsa. Both definitely hit the spot.

We spent the majority of the afternoon canoeing along the Russian River which was actually way more physically strenuous than both of us were expecting.  We also saw the cutest baby ducks in the river, so precious.

Of course after an afternoon of “exercise” warranted a sweet snack. Nimble & Finn’s is a local handmade ice cream shop that’s actually inside an old bank. With fun and unique ice cream flavors, this is a popular spot for visitors.

We walked back to Dawn Ranch where we relaxed before our dinner at The Lodge, the hotel’s restaurant that specializes in open fire cooking.

The warmed sourdough bread with the dill butter was so good. A beautiful crackly crust with that fluffy interior was the perfect way to start the meal.

We actually had dadinhos de tapioca on In Situ’s menu so I was excited to try their tapioca and cheese fritters. This traditional Brazilian snack is fried and has a slightly chewy bouncy texture with a mild cheese flavor. It’s also served with a sweet and spicy sauce that adds another layer of flavor.

I love a refreshing cucumber salad espeically with sweet notes from the juicy honey dew melon. The yogurt dressing added richness and the peanut salsa macha added crunch and a little heat.

The tostada was my least favorite dish of the night as I felt that the proportions were off. I love fresh herbs but the mound of them made it quite difficult to eat. The bluefin tuna’s flavor didn’t come through as it was masked by whatever sauce it was mixed with.

Lightly seared scallops were nicely cooked with a translucent tender center. The cashew cream on the bottom was light and airy and the fingerlime added that pop of acidity.

Moqueca is a Brazilian fish stew and their take was to make a sauce out of the typical ingredients found in the stew such as tomato, onion, garlic, coconut milk, and spices. The sauce went really well with the tender and flaky white fish.

I wish the server told us that this wasn’t a typical cake with a moist interior. I can’t recall what exactly it was made of but the texture reminded me of mochi but much more heavy and thick. While I enjoyed the flavors, the texture was a little too dense.

This was not I imagined as a traditional cobbler but I did enjoy the flavors with the fresh raspberries, soft cake with an almond topping, and the crème anglaise.

Our last full day was spent visiting the various quaint towns within the county. First stop was breakfast in Jenner at Café Aquatica which was right along the water. It was actually quite foggy here as it’s almost along the ocean.

We got the poached eggs and toast with avocado, smoked salmon, and aioli and the rainbow sandwich with cabbage, avocado, beets, carrots, and aioli. Both were so scrumptious, highly recommend.

After our brunch, we stopped by the estuary where all the seals were relaxing (hard to see in the first picture but they were all lined up along the water in the distance).

Afterwards we headed to Bodega Head, the rocky headlands with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

The last stop of the afternoon was in Bodega, the town where Hitchcock’s The Birds was filmed. The Potter Schoolhouse and St. Teresa of Avila Church were both featured in the famous thriller.

Before heading back to the hotel, we wanted a sweet snack and got a few treats at Gold Coast Coffee & Bakery in Duncan Mills, another tiny town. Both the sticky bun and chocolate chip cookie were solid baked goods.

The last dinner of our trip was at Terrapin Creek Café & Restaurant in Bodega Bay where they serve New American cuisine. While the menu could sound generic, every dish was actually executed very well and seasoned to perfection. When dishes are more simple, the attention to detail is crucial.

Of course we had to start off with their seed crusted bread and it was so light and airy that we got seconds.

Nothing screams summer more than a heirloom tomato and peach salad. The Feta cheese added a nice sharp saltiness, the avocado added creamy richness, and the honey mustard vinaigrette brought everything together.

I love crab cakes especially since I rarely eat them. Nicely crusted and browned and served with a remoulade, this crab cake was delicious.

Another tasty appetizer with thinly sliced pieces of charred octopus and roasted cauliflower topped with arugula, toasted almonds, and a smoked pepper aioli.

Campanelle is a fun pasta shape, a cone with a ruffled edge, which I rarely eat so this was a treat. I was a little hesitant regarding the sauce but I was quickly humbled as it was so good. It was a shrimp and sweet pepper sauce with sausage, tomato, and pistachio pesto. An unexpected combination which was so scrumptious.

The last savory dish was the Mediterranean fish stew, a lighter version of cioppino with a tomato and fennel broth. I loved the variety of seafood which consisted of salmon, rock cod, mussels, and calamari.

A decadent chocolate cake with topped with cream cheese frosting, a drizzle of caramel sauce, and toasted coconut flakes.

The cheesecake wasn’t too heavy and the cherry and vanilla sauce paired nicely with the tangy crème fraîche flavor.

Lastly, the bread pudding had roasted peaches with caramel and vanilla sauce and whipped cream to finish it off.

We were both super satisfied with our dinner at Terrapin Creek Café and Restaurant and would definitely go back if we’re ever in the area.

Before heading home the following morning, we stopped in Bodega Bay to try some seafood joints. Surprisingly enough, two of the most popular spots were located right next to each other so you know we had to try both. We started at Spud Point Crab Company and shared the crab sandwich and clam chowder. The sandwich was on the small side which was a little disappointing given the price tag. Both the sandwich and chowder were tasty but not mind blowing.

Located right next door was Fisherman’s Cove which had a more extensive menu. Here we ordered the clam chowder with garlic bread and the lobster roll. Overall we liked Fisherman’s Cove a tad more but either place would hit the spot if you’re craving chowder and other seafood dishes.

I couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing and of course delectable birthday weekend. It’s always a treat to discover new areas that are close to home yet have a foreign feel and I’m sure I’ll visit these places again in the future!