In my opinion, there is never a bad day to visit the ocean. Sure, sometimes it is cold and foggy or warm and sunny, but it is usually so impressive that is suits any weather. When it is hot in Sacramento, it is a perfect time to leave the valley and head for the much cooler coast. Fortunately, the coast near Bodega Bay and Marin County are close enough for a brief visit.
OK, so there are other reasons to hit the coast. Specifically, the crab sandwich at the Spud Point Crab Company. They are notably famous for their clam chowder, but the freshly caught and picked sandwich on toasted bread always gets my favor. LOTS of fresh crab, a little dressing, and a beautiful ocean vista makes for a nice lunch. Unfortunately, the wind was very strong on my trip so I was unable to bear much time on the ocean.
I decided to head south into dairy country. Marin County is home to a major dairy industry, including many organic options. Clover Stornetta, Straus Family Creamery, and several cheese companies including my favorite Point Reyes Original Blue claim most of the milk from the cows. I took the above video just off California State Route 1 near Tomales, CA. The cheese from the area is simply amazing and tastes just like the fresh grass and sea air in the area - in a good way! I stopped at Cowgirl Creamery to see their operations and drove by dozens of family farms that supply the milk and cream I use on a daily basis.
Of course, no trip to the region is complete without a stop at Lagunitas Brewing Company. This place is EXTREMELY popular and almost always crowded, but they make good beer so that is expected. Lagunitas is famous for making very high alcohol beers, especially those that use a lot of hops. You need a lot of hops to counteract the higher malt content of a high alcohol beer, otherwise it is too sweet. Their only lager is a favorite of mine - Pils - a pilsner lager with just a little bit more alcohol. That said, I usually will not refuse an IPA or even a Little Sumpin' Sumpin' They have food, but fresh brewery-only beers is the biggest draw.
A sunny Memorial Day weekend is a great time to take a gorgeous drive to escape the heat, and getting some fresh seafood and beer is always a treat. It is nice to see where your food comes from and the people who make it taste so good. Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.
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