Linen and Tide Pools: A Beach Picnic on the Sonoma Coast

The Sonoma Coast is dramatic in a way that catches inland visitors off guard. Cliffs, fog banks, sea stacks, and water that is genuinely cold in July. It is also, with a little planning, the best picnic in California. ## The setup We scout the cove the morning of based on wind and tide — usually somewhere between Goat Rock and Shell Beach. By the time you arrive, the table is up: linen, low arrangement of wildflowers, glassware, throw blankets within reach. ## The basket A rotating menu from a Sonoma chef. Recently: - Dungeness crab toast with Meyer lemon - Little Gem salad with green goddess and toasted seeds - Roast chicken with herb butter and grilled focaccia - Olive oil cake with macerated strawberries - A bottle of Sonoma Coast chardonnay, plus sparkling water and a thermos of tea ## Best months Late April through October. Bring a layer even on warm days — the marine layer can roll in fast, and that is part of the magic. ## How to do it We run it as a private add-on to any private shuttle day. Two-hour minimum on site.