🌤️ Your 3-Day Northern California Coastal Adventure: Itinerary, Spot-by-Spot Tips & Tricks for creators

This itinerary is designed for the modern creator, ensuring you capture every breathtaking moment with your iPhone, HoverAir X1, and Insta360. From the misty cliffs of Bodega Bay to the architectural ruins of Glen Ellen and the iconic Golden Gate views, this guide helps you spend less time searching and more time shooting.

Day 1: The Wild Sonoma Coast

Stop 1: Fishetarian Fish Market & Spud Point

• The Vibe: Authentic coastal harbor life. Fishetarian is modern and sustainable; Spud Point is a historic family window.

• Tip & Trick: At Fishetarian, park in their dedicated lot. Use the outdoor kiosk to skip the line. If you want Spud Point chowder, park along Westshore Rd—the line moves fast, but there is no indoor seating, so eat on the harbor wall.

• 📸 Gear Shot:

  • Insta360: Put it on the stick while you walk the docks at Spud Point for a "follow-me" harbor tour.

  • HoverAir X1: Dolly Mode in the Fishetarian parking area to show you with your fish tacos and the bay behind you.

Stop 2: Bodega Head

• The Vibe: Dramatic granite cliffs and 360-degree ocean views.

• Tip & Trick: Drive to the West Trailhead (the very end of the road). Walk the loop trail clockwise for the best "cliff edge" photos. In February, look for whale spouts!

• 📸 Gear Shot:

  • Insta360: Use the 3m stick here—drones are restricted, but the "fake drone" shot of the cliffs is epic.

Stop 3: Goat Rock Beach & Jenner

• The Vibe: Massive sea stacks and a river-mouth sandbar.

• Tip & Trick: Park in the South Lot. The walk to the "hole in the rock" is short but sandy. Stop at Jenner Headlands Preserve overlook (right on Hwy 1) for the best high-angle view of the town.

• 📸 Gear Shot:

  • iPhone: Use 0.5x Ultra-Wide at Jenner Headlands to fit the river, town, and ocean in one shot.

Stop 4: Armstrong Redwoods (Bonus Stop)

• The Vibe: A cathedral of giant trees.

• Tip & Trick: If you have 45 minutes, walk the Pioneer Nature Trail. It’s flat and paved.

• 📸 Gear Shot:

  • HoverAir X1: Perfect for Bird's Eye Mode straight up through the canopy.

  • Insta360: Tiny Planet at the base of the Parson Jones Tree.

Stop 5: Union Hotel (Occidental)

• The Vibe: 1870s Italian saloon and dining.

• Tip & Trick: Order the Gold Pizza or the family-style pasta. The "Union Hotel Saloon" next door has a cooler, more "antique" vibe for photos than the main dining room.

Day 2: Inland Peaks & Ruins

Stop 1: Jack London State Park

• The Vibe: Mossy stone ruins of a 1913 mansion.

• Tip & Trick: Park at the Ranch Lot. It’s a 1.2-mile walk. Go inside the stone "silo" for a cool "looking up" shot.

• 📸 Gear Shot:

  • HoverAir X1: Orbit Mode around the Wolf House ruins.

Stop 2: Sugarloaf Ridge (Bald Mountain)

• The Vibe: Peak views of the entire North Bay.

• Tip & Trick: Take the Bald Mountain Trail. It's steep! Wear your Columbia Boots. There are no trees at the top, so the wind picks up—bring a jacket.

• 🍴 Lunch Tip: Grab a sandwich at Les Pascals in Glen Ellen before you enter the park.

Day 3: The "Moody Marin" Pivot

Rainy Day Backup Plan

Stop 1: (STILL GO)

• Why: Rain turns the cypress bark deep charcoal and the grass neon green. It’s arguably more "main character energy" in the rain.

• Trick: Bring a Clear Bubble Umbrella. It lets light reach your face while keeping you dry and looks great as a prop in the center of the tunnel.

• 📸 Gear Shot: Use your iPhone in Portrait Mode. The wet asphalt creates a mirror-like reflection of the trees that is impossible to get on a dry day.

Stop 2: Bear Valley Visitor Center (Point Reyes Pivot)

• The Pivot: If Chimney Rock is too windy/wet, go to the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

• Why: It’s entirely indoors and houses massive whale skeletons and natural history exhibits.

• 📸 Gear Shot: Use your Insta360 for a "Tiny Planet" shot in the middle of the museum to capture the scale of the skeletons.

Stop 3: (Mt. Tam Pivot)

• The Pivot: If Mt. Tam is "socked in" with fog, head down into the canyon of Muir Woods.

• Why: The massive redwood canopy acts like a natural umbrella. It is much drier under the trees than on a bald mountain peak.

• ⚠️ Note: You must book a parking reservation at ($10).

• 📸 Gear Shot: Use the Insta360 on a stick (fake drone) to weave between the trunks. HoverAir cannot fly in the rain.

Stop 4: Fort Point (Battery Spencer Pivot)

• The Pivot: If Battery Spencer is too foggy to see the bridge, go to Fort Point (directly underneath the bridge).

• Why: This massive civil-war era brick fort has a roof! You can walk through the historic archways and stay dry while being inches away from the Golden Gate's base.

• 📸 Gear Shot: iPhone 0.5x Ultra-Wide from the interior courtyard looking up at the steel bridge structure. The rain makes the "International Orange" steel look much more vibrant.

Stop 5:

• Why: It’s on your way to SFO. The massive rotunda provides a huge, dry space you can walk under.

• 📸 Gear Shot: Place your iPhone upside down near a puddle on the paved path to get a perfect mirror reflection of the dome and columns.

Rainy Day Tech "Survival" Tips

• Insta360 Lens Wipe: Keep a microfiber cloth in your pocket. One drop of water on an Insta360 lens will blur half of your video. Wipe it before every take.

• The "Fake Drone" Rule: Since you can't fly the HoverAir X1 in the rain (it’s not waterproof), the Insta360 on the 3m stick is your best friend. It gives you the high-angle look without risking your drone.

• Boots are Mandatory: This is exactly why you need the Columbia Boots. Pavements and trails will have deep puddles; you don't want wet socks for your 7:00 PM flight!

🍴 Final Dinner Tip: in San Bruno. There is nothing better than a steaming bowl of Pho on a rainy day before heading into the airport.

Google map Day1 , Day 1/2   Day2   Day3