MOMENTS & PLACES OF QUIET

The Inn has been extra blessed this year with the addition of Sous Chef Tori Menna, she made a complete package for us when we transitioned to our new Executive Chef, and we are continually impressed by her artistry…

We love enticing our guests into taking a shot at something new on the coast. We are proud to say, they did not disappoint…

I can’t help but picture garden gnomes and fairies flitting about their branches and nestling in the soft petals of the blooms.

…We had gotten a little taste of the joy that inspires the passionate enthusiasm of the dedicated mushroom forager. And we were ready for more!

We ordered the classic Stout-Braised Pot Roast, made with Covelo beef, carrots, mushrooms, fingerling potatoes and horseradish cream. Scrumptious bits of beef and vegetables in their own juices were beyond comforting on this autumn day.

Attention espresso lovers visiting Mendocino, this is the place to get the dreamy espresso, perfectly foamed latte, or frothy cappuccino. Drum roll please…

…We asked the staff at the inn where they liked to go to hang out and relax, and here is what they had to share…

…if you read that and thought, “Wait, does a brand-spanking-new employee file mean that the Brewery Gulch Inn has a new chef?” you would be absolutely correct!…

The newest restaurant on the coast, with the best British fare on the Mendocino coast. Guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds!

…A couple of months ago, Tom had mentioned how much he loved the natural rock arches around the headlands, and out of that comment had blossomed this plan for an early morning stroll to go admire them together…

“Estrellaaaaaa...” Guy staged whispered as he walked through the office to his desk. It was lunchtime, and he was oh so subtly trying to convince me to go get tacos with him…

A fabulous day viewing the legendary houseboats on the Albion River…

…an anniversary like the big 2-0 deserves all the fun and fancy toasts and celebrations we can fit in. So read on, and then go to Goldeneye and raise a glass of their delightful bubbles along with us as we cheer for another equally wonderful 20 years to come…

…it was sort of a special moment when we looked at the calendar and realized, “Wow! The inn is turning 20 this year! We’ve been doing this for a while!”…

…We were in the mood for something fairly casual and friendly, homey even, so we picked up the phone and called Husch Vineyards to see if they could fit us in for a tasting…

…What a beautiful morning. Beautiful. And it had all been for me…

…The wind may still have been brisk, the seas still rough, the skies still frequently filled with full and dripping clouds, but at last the bright breath of spring was beginning to make its presence known – truly news to make us glad…

…So what are you waiting for? Go now and enjoy your own taste of this wonderful little gem of a spot down in Noyo Harbor. It’s totally worth it!

…since we’re already dreaming, we thought we’d share all the lovely things that have been floating through our brains… Read on, read on, and maybe you’ll find something sweet that you can’t live without either!…

…I am, of course, talking about Glass Beach, that charming stretch of little rocky coves up in Fort Bragg that nearly every single first time visitor asks directions to, eager to scratch another well-known destination off their list…

…After a split second of staring at the screen, Guy looked up at James and I. “We’re getting this for lunch, right?” We were quick to agree – this pizza sounded too good to pass up!…

…when we saw the magnificent way the waves were crashing along the coastline and we realized we had a bit of a break in our day to steal away from the paperwork on our desks, we grabbed our sneakers and made a beeline for good ol’ Point Cabrillo…

It’s a moody evening out here on Navarro Beach. The day started out fairly gray earlier this morning, migrating gradually into sunshiny warmth, and now has reverted back to the lowering mass of clouds so typical to Mendocino winter…

…We tasted 6 ciders altogether. They were all delicious, filling our mouths with the flavors and feelings of happy holidays and cheery harvest time…

…We rose from our stools at the barrel and stretched our legs, commenting to Kim how hard it was to choose which wines we wanted to purchase and take home. “That’s what I love about working here,” he said. “All the wines are good!”…

…I lingered over each bite and sip. The latte was comforting and creamy. And my snack… well…it was fantastic!…

…Why should we want to go spend the day in the Anderson Valley? … we’re itching to get out and experience some of the newest additions to all that the Anderson Valley has to offer…

…This was what we needed. Good soup. Good company. Beautiful evening in a beautiful place. Café Beaujolais had done it again, and everything was just right…

…the next time you find yourself dreaming of a little escape to Mendocino, book a stay with us and set up your own private tasting with Guy and Sarah of Fathers + Daughters Cellars…

…Being so darn toasty, we relished the instant cool that washed over us as we crossed the threshold of our destination – the invitingly cheery Mendocino tasting room of Meyer Family Cellars…

…So we thought we’d put together a weekend itinerary for these intrepid wanders, a little sampling of some of our favorite trails, both more and less well known, stretching out for longer miles and beautifully condensed into shorter bites of exploration…

…One more slow gaze around the entire cove, my heart filling up to the brim with the peaceful calm of the place, and I at last turned back to my car and the day ahead, ready to face the world…

…more often than not I find myself ever so gently trying to convince guests that they should leave themselves a little more leeway in their vacation, a little more space to breathe and let what I like to call the “Mendo chill” take over and guide their stay…

…This was just what I needed. A short break from the rest of the world. A quiet trail inviting me to step away from work and bills and deadlines of any and all sorts. A chance to explore and gain fresh perspective. A sweet little escape…

…Super Tortas is delightfully unrefined, as any good hole in the wall should be, but what they lack in polish they more than make up for in finished product – they may look small, but they sure do deliver big, in more ways than one!…

…We were slowly making our way along the meandering grassy paths of the perennial garden… oohing and aahing over every burst of color, every interesting texture of leaf, every variation in size and form…

…It felt almost like the kind of place where a fairy or a woodland nymph would hide away from the noise of humankind – tucked away and nestled into the heart of the forest…

…And so I meandered along the trail, enjoying every breath of free and wild air, forgetting the world outside these lovely trees…

Do you find yourself craving a glimpse of waves, the freedom to wander paths and trails along ocean-side bluff tops, and that tickle in your nostrils of the sweetly golden air of sunset as day sinks down beyond the boundless expanse of the sea?…

…One recent Saturday morning saw us heading into the Jackson Demonstration Forest from a trailhead a few miles up Little Lake Road…

Guys, I got a massage. It. Was. Glorious…

…how do you express that ineffable sense of peace and rest that steals over you as you simply slow down and savor the experience of dining at the Harbor House Inn?

Oh sunset, sunset. Such a lovely time of day…

Wow, just wow.” We stared up at the trees standing off the steeply twisting trail ahead.

A few months ago, we had an amazing day meandering our way down the Anderson Valley.

…if we were forced to rank all the amazing hikes around here

…“It looks like this is everyone else’s favorite pub too!” we heard rolling back from the leader to the last man pushing through the curtain…

…have we got just the thing for you! Tahto Wines, dear reader, Tahto Wines…

…We had been dreaming of the day we would finally be able to get a taste of their fabled food… and we just this week found our way through their door…

…We were slowly making our way along the meandering grassy paths of the perennial garden…

…The gal in our group who ordered the Ultimate Club was so in love with her lunch

…in the back of our minds we carried away that wonderful hour of morning glory, and it suffused the rest of the day with peace…

…This was our first experience with Coro, and we were excited to get to see what it was all about…

…What a personal, beautiful opportunity to get to know some of the most iconic and majestic creatures of the African landscape…

…we had logged roughly 3 miles of meandering through what may have become our new favorite. Seriously. We’re going back with a picnic soon!

…We were already familiar with some of these tiny trails, but others were brand new to us – so we went out and explored!…

…A true-blue, old-fashioned crafter of the finest of footwear. That’s what Jason Clapp is…

…this is one of the most popular weekends of the year, with rooms getting snagged a good couple of months ahead of time…

…The highlight of the week…was the long, leisurely day that we spent meandering down the Anderson Valley…

…We looked at each other and laughed out loud, knowing that we were just going to have to get another…

“We started doing these rides on the beach 23 years ago, and I absolutely love it… I can’t imagine doing anything better with my life." -Tobi Ross

For about a year now, we’ve been hearing glowing reviews of the pizza that Café Beaujolais started making last May at their Brickery. “Creative!” “Delicious!” “You’ve GOT to try it out.” And finally, this past weekend, we did just that…

…out on the sheltered back deck of the Noyo Harbor Inn, all we got was a gentle breeze ruffling our hair as the sunshine warmed our backs and the Noyo River rolled quietly by...

When we were expecting our daughter Ella in 2012… we embarked on the adventure that would eventually become Fathers + Daughters Cellars.

…We sighed in contentment, for despite (or perhaps because of) the rain we had managed to have what could quite practically be called a near-perfect day…

…We were chatting recently with several local friends about this romance that fills the air, and we came up with a list of the best places to get into the spirit of things…

…We thought we’d let you know about some of our favorite activities and events that are going on this spring, activities and events that you are definitely going to want to add to your itinerary!

…After too short of a pause, we hefted our packs and headed back down the trail, content that we had indeed found the perfect place for putting our forest bathing ideas into action…

…sometimes there are things that are so phenomenal that they demand the use of more than just one exclamation point to highlight how truly amazing they are. And Good Life Café’s new pop-up ramen nights qualify, trust us...

…are the Skunk Train’s railbikes worth adding to your itinerary during your next visit to Mendocino?…

…Of late, we’ve found ourselves starting almost all of our ocean-side strolls at the Noyo Headlands Park trailhead located on the southern section of the Coastal Trail that runs along the western edge of Fort Bragg. Why?…

…Searching for a place in which to further pursue her own dreams of what ag could be, Gowan partnered with her mother Ellen, her step father Jef, and a few other like-minded folks to open Fortunate Farm about five years ago…

…So if you ask us where to go for a laid-back lunch and a great glass of beer, we are totally sending you to Overtime Brewing Company up in Fort Bragg. Trust us, it’s worth it.

…we’ve schemed up a little sightseeing excursion of our own heading south down the Mendocino coast. Nothing crazy, just enough to fit comfortably in a day…

…It was a moment of true mental and emotional refreshment while the gentle rain refreshed the world outside – just what the doctor ordered.

…once you’ve pondered this darling Presbyterian Church, you’ll know why we think of it as a true local gem, why we love that we get to count it as a vital part of our community…

…For those who are in the mood for something away from the crowds though, one walk that continually stands out in our minds is the trail at Spring Ranch…

…For the past couple of decades, the greater Mendocino community has been celebrating this annual parade put on by our water-loving neighbors with a full season of Whale Festival events…

It is, in essence, steeping oneself in the peaceful presence of nature for medicinal benefits – if that isn’t a modernized, scientific version of Mendocino’s “back to the land” mentality, then we don’t know what is.

Are you looking for the ultimate foodie moment? Have you stopped by Pennyroyal Farms yet to try their farmstead goat and sheep cheeses and their luscious wines?

“Wait, what am I seeing?” Our guest peers closer at the paintings in the Great Room, eventually walking right up and touching the wooden barns to verify that, yes, it is in fact real wood that creates that 3D effect…

…We have been highly looking forward to this moment, and we mean to savor every second of it…

…we find ourselves daydreaming of longer days, of spring, of wildflowers.

…Knowing that The Portable Painter is a unique opportunity to experience Mendocino on a different level, we invited Suzi to come give us a class at the inn…

…It was, after all, pretty much impossible not to get up and dance with that infectious Latin beat filling up every square inch of air…

…we moseyed on up to Noyo Harbor this past weekend to chat with joint owners and best friends Wendy Holloway and Captain Heather…

…We clocked off from our duties one evening, intent on stretching our legs…

So delicious. Truly. Ingredients perfectly blended in every bite. Tart. Bright. Crunchy. Delectably deep savor. So piping hot fresh. Mmmmm….

…This crab extravaganza, which used to be called the Crab Festival, will take place January 18-27. It’s going to be 10 glorious days of crab, wine, beer, and more crab…

A favorite local holiday tradition was born 8 years ago when Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens unveiled their very first Festival of Lights extravaganza.

For over 100 years, Mendocino has been a favorite location for Hollywood producers.

She is, in fact, totally and completely, no doubt about it, head over heels in love with antique buttons.

…It has a couple of absolutely breathtaking groves of old growth redwoods that will make you want to just plunk yourself down on the nearest bench or fallen log and stare in wonder…

There’s something magical about that golden hour when the sun starts to slowly descend…

One of our innkeepers recently tried out the paddle boarding option with a good friend, and they had such a fantastic time she can’t stop raving about it…

We positively LOVE being up here in rugged Mendocino when the wind starts to howl and the clouds get particularly thunderous.