shell beach — Local services in Petaluma

The mixed reviews you see for Shell Beach are just a matter of expectations. Know that it is a 15 minute walk, and that you can't bring your dog. It gets busy with locals on the weekend, and parking is limited. Expect a sheltered beach on the inside of Tomales Bay. The water is clean but not super clear – you are in a shallow bay. Open ocean swells never reach here, making it a good place to swim. The water is warmest on a high tide in the afternoon when it rises to cover warm sand. At low tide, you have to walk out into mud to get to the water.

I find that Shell Beach is an excellent place for the family, especially when looking for a short adventure on a weekday. If we're lucky with warm weather and a high tide, we'll enjoy the...

Sounds like Lena N doesn’t want anyone to know about Shell Beach. It’s a lovely, secluded beach on the bay, ideal for those who enjoy a mellow saltwater plage that is safe and clean. I’ve never seen “sketchy locals” in the 30 years I’ve been going there, and yes, great whites do what they’ve done for millennia, all around the coast from the Golden Gate to Sonoma Coast beaches. Why? Their food is there: sea lions and harbor seals. Unlikely you’ll encounter any in the shallows of...

The place is super beautiful, for sure. But they are quite serious about the no dog rule. Don’t bring your dog unwittingly like we did! You won’t be able to call any of your friends and tell them you need to relocate because reception is spotty. And then your friends will arrive quite late and everyone in the meanwhile will give serious stink eye and call the ranger. Thems the...