Jenner: Fort Ross State Historic Park; things to do

1 North

Fort Ross State Historic Park  

19005 Hwy. 1, 12 mi. N of town, (707) 847-3286.  Daily 10-4:30.  $8/vehicle, $7/seniors.

path approaching Fort Ross State Historic Park in Jenner, California

Built by Russian and Alaskan fur trappers and hunters in 1812 as a trading outpost, this authentically restored historic fort compound consists of two corner blockhouses equipped with cannons—one with views of both the ocean and the cemetery, a small Russian Orthodox chapel (the first south of Alaska), an officer’s house, and a barracks.  An architecturally striking Visitors Center and picnic tables are also available.  Outside the gates, a picturesque bluff at the edge of the ocean ends with a path leading down to the beach.

Held annually on the last Saturday in July, Living History Day allows visitors to step back in time to the 1800s.  Costumed staff and volunteers perform musket drills and fire cannons, craftspeople demonstrate their skills, and a blacksmith pounds at his forge.  In fall a Harvest Festival features fruit picking and sometimes cider making, and a Russian Winter Festival is sometimes held (the dates/names of these two annual festivals change regularly).

2020 pandemic update:  During this period when we are emerging from shutdown, we need to carefully consider activities to feed our spirit.  Always visit a destination's website to check current pandemic regulations and schedules.

chapel at Fort Ross State Historic Park in Jenner, California

chapel and out building at Fort Ross State Historic Park in Jenner, California

exterior of Rotchev House at Fort Ross State Historic Park in Jenner, California

tools inside Rotchev House at Fort Ross State Historic Park in Jenner, California

ocean view from back gates at Fort Ross State Historic Park in Jenner, California

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images ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Jenner: Cafe Aquatica + WaterTreks EcoTours; restaurant review + things to do

1 North

Cafe Aquatica  

10439 Hwy. 1, (707) 865-2251.  Daily 8am-5pm.

front exterior of Cafe Aquatica in Jenner, California

Located at the mouth of the Russian River, this rustic waterside Cafe Aquatica makes everything from scratch with Certified Organic and non-GMO ingredients and baked goods are prepared fresh daily.  The smallish menu features items such as avocado toast and a Dungeness crab roll, and espressos, coffees, and hot chocolate are among the drink options.  Plentiful outside seating with a stellar water view is available, and an outside service window allows picking up orders there.  It is hard to imagine a more pleasant situation than enjoying breakfast or lunch while seated at a picnic table here, or reclining in one of the weathered Adirondack chairs.  Egrets, sea lions, and other wildlife are easily spotted.  Some seating is available inside, and live music is scheduled on weekends.  Dogs are permitted.

colorful crab "open" sign at Cafe Aquatica in Jenner, California

menu board at Cafe Aquatica in Jenner, California

order counter inside Cafe Aquatica in Jenner, California

outside pick-up window at Cafe Aquatica in Jenner, California

outdoor seating with Russian River view at Cafe Aquatica in Jenner, California

Russian River view at Cafe Aquatica in Jenner, California

WaterTreks EcoTours

Reservations advised.

Kayakers are usually plying the waters, and colorful kayaks can be rented across the street at WaterTreks EcoTours. 

view of WaterTreks EcoTours kayak group putting in to the Russian River
at Cafe Aquatica in Jenner, California

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images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Jenner: Fort Ross Vineyard & Tasting Room; things to do

1 North

Fort Ross Vineyard & Tasting Room  

15725 Meyers Grade Rd., 7 ½ miles north of town, (707) 847-3460.  Daily Mar-Dec 10-6; Thur-M Jan- Feb 11-5. 

To get to the Fort Ross Vineyard & Tasting Room for this winery, which has the closest vineyard to the Pacific Ocean in California, you’ll need to drive 2.6 miles up the hill on Meyers Grade Road.  When you enter the gates, the road becomes packed-dirt and leads past Pinot Noir grapevines, a redwood forest, and a pond—giving you a quick tour of the terroir of the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA.  Owner Linda Schwartz says she “did a dance of happiness” when this AVA became one of the country’s newest on January 13, 2012.  The AVA is unique in its proximity to the ocean, and at 900- to 1,800-feet-high it is usually floating above a sea of clouds.

So far, it remains the first and only vineyard tasting room along the Sonoma Coast.  It is a surprise way out here to find the sleek contemporary tasting room, softened a bit with heirloom climbing roses and tall grasses in the tamed entrance garden.  The tasting room and deck with picnic tables share a beautiful pastoral view.  I enjoyed tasting a smooth, fruity, but also buttery 2012 Chardonnay followed by three very nice Pinot Noirs and then an inky-colored Pinotage--a tasty, rarely-seen-here varietal from South Africa.  All grapes are grown on the winery’s estate, and processing is done in Santa Rosa.  A charceuterie/cheese plate can be purchased to enhance your tasting or to enjoy outside on the picnic deck.


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image courtesy of venue

Jenner: Timber Cove Inn; hotel review + restaurant review

1 North 

Timber Cove Inn  

21780 Hwy. 1, 14 mi. N of town, (800) 987-8319, (707) 847-3231.  49 rooms; $-$$$+.  Unsuitable for children.  Some gas fireplaces.  Fitness room.  Restaurant.  Pets ok. 

exterior of guest room building at Timber Cove Inn in Jenner, California

Perched on a rocky seaside cliff, the Timber Cove Inn offers rooms with magnificent ocean views and some with sunken tubs and private in-room hot tubs.  All have a balcony or patio.  Room 405 is a corner junior suite with a great view and deck and a remote- activated gas fireplace.  Opened in 1963, the inn's design was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright and features a dramatic Japanese-modern style.  The lobby has an inviting large seating area with high ceilings and a corner bar.  The property is the home of world-renowned artist Beniamino Bufano's 93-foot-tall obelisk "The Expanding Universe," which was donated by a previous owner to the state along with a 60-foot-diameter plot of land around it to protect it.  Now named Bufano Peace Statue Monument, it is the second-smallest California State Park.  A further claim to fame is that photographer Ansel Adams took the photos for the lodging’s original brochure, which is on display in the lobby.  Facilities include a fitness room built into solid rock with an ocean view from the treadmills, a croquet court, and a hiking path that runs throughout the property.

dining room at Alexander's at the Timber Cove Inn in Jenner, California

In Alexander’s restaurant everyone gets a view, and a central gas fireplace warms things up.  The kitchen makes use of local ingredients, and Sonoma County wines are featured on the extensive wine list.  Lunch and weekend brunch are particularly good times to enjoy the ocean view and perhaps a grilled salmon sandwich or a made-to-order omelette.


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images ©2013 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Jenner: Jenner Inn & Cottages; hotel review

1 North

Jenner Inn & Cottages

Having just had the pleasure of visiting the Jenner Inn & Cottages, I'd like to report that I particularly enjoyed the cozy communal lodge and its antique wood-burning stove, library of books and games, bar with a great view, and restaurant--also with a pleasing view. Is it romantic? Well, guests have actually named their children Jenner, Jennifer, and Jenn because they were conceived during stays at the inn. But the inn also offers solitude and is a place for personal renewal. Guests can also sit for a spell on the dining room’s red velvet couch, the very one that Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart sat on together in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo.”

The inn's Jenner Bistro serves a locally sourced menu and boasts a chef who is particularly gifted in preparing breads.


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image by Jamie Douglas