Bioluminescence Kayaking & Local Seafood Dinner on Tomales Bay

Tickets Available through Eventbrite

Experience the magic of Tomales Bay with an enchanting evening of bioluminescence kayaking and delicious local cuisine.

Start on Hearts Desire Beach with a fresh locally sourced seafood dinner prepared by chef and author Maria Finn, showcasing the bay's finest offerings as the sun sets.

As night falls, expert guides will lead you on a mesmerizing paddle through tranquil waters. Witness the ethereal glow of bioluminescent organisms creating a natural light show beneath your kayak. This unique adventure offers a fresh perspective on the bay's ecosystem, perfect for nature lovers and food enthusiasts alike.

Space is limited. Reserve your spot to explore Tomales Bay in a whole new light.

Cost: $399.00

Get $20.00 off using code: Save20

Schedule

4:30 Arrival

Heart's Desire Beach in Tomales Bay State Park (on the west side of Tomales Bay, north of the town of Inverness).

5:00 Seafood Dinner on the Beach

Maria Finn has assembled a bountiful menu mainly sourced locally around Tomales Bay.

Menu

Mocktails

Seasonal Soda from West Marin Culture Shop with wildcrafted bitters

Starters

Local oysters with huckleberry mignonette

Pt. Reyes blue with Lebanese style fig jam

Tomales Farmstead Taleeka cheese with smoked and pickle black grapes

Bread – Portside bread served with scratch-made seawSeed butter

Salad

Star Route Farms greens, sugar snap peas, and mint salad with nasturtium oil-infused dressing and nasturtium flower garnish

Main Course

Local halibut cooked in fig leaves and served with roasted nectarine, maitake mushroom and soft herb and seaweed salsa.

Pearl couscous with heirloom tomatoes, basil and preserved lemon

Dessert

Wild plum and cardamom clafoutis with California Bay Laurel leaf infused whipped cream

Dietary alternatives are available

6:30 Kayaking adventure Preparation on Beach

No prior kayaking experience necessary. We will have guides.

Tandem kayaks used only on all evening tours, so everyone will be paired with one other.

Each paddler must be at least 13 years old. Everyone under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

7:15 Paddle Out! - Bioluminescence Kayaking

Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. On dark (moonless) nights on Tomales Bay, bluish white flickers are visible in the water column, which come from blooms of bioluminescent “dinoflagellates”. These tiny creatures emit short flashes of light when disturbed, and at certain times of the year put on quite a show for kayakers. Schools of fish in the bay create a phosphorescent trail which can look like a glowing cloud in the water.

Shoreline and Wildlife Sighting Opportunities

Seals chasing the fish may create a phosphorescent event which can be very exciting to watch. Night Herons are often out and about as well, chasing the same schools of fish. All this glowing activity is only visible at night when the sun and moon are both down. The evening paddles should afford some good viewing as well.

Bioluminescence is a naturally occurring phenomenon and we cannot guarantee that you will see Bioluminescence.  These trips are scheduled when there are the most ideal viewing conditions.

9:30 Return to Hearts Desire Beach