Bill Noellert and his wife arrived last week in Bodega Bay for a weekend getaway, only to discover the company they had paid for a rental home was gone -- and so was their money. Vacation Rentals ...

Middle ground: The Bodega Harbour Inn and the small, artsy Bodega Bay Inn both have rooms under $100. Also, sharing a small vacation rental house can save you the cost of dining out.

Here you will find a wealth of shorebirds, sea lions, quaint towns and vistas set among the coastal mountains and, just inland, redwood forests.

Alfred Hitchcock filmed "The Birds" in Bodega Bay, California. The town is also known for redwoods, wine and beach walks. Here's how to visit.