- Introducing our amazing Sous Chef Tori Menna
- KW Saltwater Grill
- Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
- A-mushrooming we shall go
- The Mendocino Café – Staple of the Village
- Introducing Zoe King & The Waiting Room
- Moments & Places of Quiet
- There’s a new cook in the kitchen
- The Caspar Pub House
- The arches of Mendocino
- La Estrella
- Kayaking the Albion River
- Toasting 20 Years with Bubbles and Caviar
- We’re 20 years old
- Husch Vineyards
- Portuguese Beach
- Out come the wildflowers
- Casa del Sol
- Sweet Mendocino
- Glass Beach
- Farm to Pizza
- Point Cabrillo Light Station
- Navarro River Beach
- Gowan’s Heirloom Ciders
- Lula Cellars
- Goodlife Café & Bakery
- A day trip through the Anderson Valley
- A good night for soup
- Fathers + Daughters Cellars at the Brewery Gulch Inn
- Meyer Family Cellars
- A hiker’s weekend
- Buckhorn Cove
- The art of the freeform vacation
- Old Smith Ranch Preserve
- Super Tortas!
- Revisiting the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
- Chamberlain Creek Waterfall
- The Forest History Trail
- To refresh yourself with the sea
- Wandering in the woods
- Time to relax
- The art of slowly savoring
- Sunset in Mendocino
- Stunningly wild
- Half a day in the Anderson Valley
- Russian Gulch State Park
- Patterson’s Pub
- Tahto Wines
- Fog Eater Café
- Dahlias and begonias and fuschias, oh my
- For a truly superior sandwich
- Morning glory on Big River
- Coro Mendocino
- B Bryan Preserve
- Pelican Bluffs
- Just you and the ocean
- Mendocino Shoeworks
- Independence Day
- A Great Day for Wine
- Affogato at Frankie’s
- A Different Kind of Beachside Stroll
- The Brickery at Cafe Beaujolais
- A Sunny Summer Lunch
- Fathers + Daughters
- When the Weather won't Cooperate
- Romance in Mendocino
- Spring Fun
- Forest Bathing in Action
- Ramen Nights
- Riding the Rails
- Noyo Headlands Park
- Fortunate Farm
- Overtime Brewing Company
- A little day trip south
- A quiet day in the rain
- One of our most iconic landmarks
- Spring Ranch
- It’s time for whales
- What is shinrin yoku?
- Foodie Fun!
- Barn Talk
- Bubbles & Caviar
- Bring on the flowers
- The Portable Painter
- Passion for the Beat
- For Love of the Sea
- An evening stroll
- Simply Delicious
- Crab Time
- A Festival of Lights
- Hollywood's Favorite Backlot
- Button Love
- A Stroll Amongst Giants
- That Golden Glow
- Just like walking on water
- Storm Chasers
To Refresh Yourself With the Sea
Experiences, Food, Hiking, Outdoors, Activities, Itinerary | May 15, 2020
A one-day itinerary to fully satisfy your craving for water
Ah, the ocean!
Do you find yourself craving a glimpse of waves, the freedom to wander paths and trails along ocean-side bluff tops, that tickle in your nostrils of the sweetly golden air of sunset as day sinks down beyond the boundless expanse of the sea? Well, we’ve got your back! You may not be able to physically join us here on the Mendocino coast quite yet, but we’ve put together this little itinerary to transport your imagination out our way for a bit. And who knows? Maybe it will give you some inspiration for your next visit to our little corner of the world!
Wake up in your cozy bed at the inn, wrap yourself in your robe, then slowly fill your mug at the coffee bar downstairs. (Yes, you can wear your robe downstairs – it’s morning, and who cares? You’re on vacation!) Watch the coffee and cream swirl together as you carry your mug back to your room. Pull your easy chair around to look out the window over Smuggler’s Cove and tuck the throw blanket around you. Enjoy the view as you sip your steaming hot coffee. Ah. That’s the way to wake up in the morning.
Looking out over Smuggler’s Cove from our loft rooms.
If you’re an early riser and want to get in a little pre-breakfast exercise, take the walk down to the Mendocino Bay Viewpoint. Roughly two miles there and back, it has lovely views of the water and the picturesque village of Mendocino almost the entire way. For breakfast, maybe call down a room service order to the Front Desk so you can eat on your own private deck, or snag one of the tables closest to the giant windows in the dining room that overlook the bird feeders and the cove beyond.
Now that you’ve got your first taste of those watery views for the day, let’s go soak up some more ocean!
On the bluffs around the Mendocino Headlands
First, drive the mile or so north into Mendocino village and head out to the end of Main Street. Whatever else you do today, you HAVE to meander along at least part of the Mendocino Headlands State Park. The views along this trail are iconic Mendocino and would be a shame to miss. The full circle is roughly 3 miles, but you can do as much or as little as you like. Stop by Harvest at Mendosa’s (our great local market) afterward to pick up some snacks for later.
A couple of miles farther north, you’ll find the Point Cabrillo Light Station. One of the few remaining lighthouses to still have a functioning lens up top, this small but mighty lighthouse is chock full of charm. Plus, the views on the ½ mile walk down from the parking lot are stunning, and there’s an additional trail that winds farther north along the bluff edge for those in the mood for a little extra walking.
Point Cabrillo Light Station
Now it’s time to put your toes in the sand, maybe even sit for a while. A few miles north of Point Cabrillo, you’ll find Jughandle State Reserve just off of Highway 1. The Reserve has a great 4-mile round trip hike inland, but right now we’re more interested in the tiny beach down the sandy steps close by the parking lot. There’s something magical about this little cove. We’re not sure what it is exactly, but we love it. It’s just so perfect. Find a good spot to sit down and hang out here for a while. Watch the soft waves curling up on the sand and maybe even over your toes if you’re up for the chilliness of these North Coast waters.
If you’ve already consumed your snack from Mendosa’s and find yourself hungry for lunch, head up to the Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg. Get some stellar seafood from Noyo Fish Company or Princess Seafood and eat by the water of the harbor. Watch the life of this active fishing community as you savor the fruits of their labor.
This basket of shrimp and chips from the Noyo Fish Company was so good we ate half of it before remembering to take a picture!
Wow. That’s been a busy day so far! If you’re up for some more exploring, maybe go up to the north end of Fort Bragg to see what Glass Beach is all about. Too much glass has wandered away in visitors’ pockets over the years for it to be the treasure chest that some still expect it to be; but even so, we think it’s fascinating to go down and sift through all the tiny pieces of glass and rock, to imagine what the coast must have looked like before. There’s also a fantastic coastal trail that runs by Glass Beach if you want to go for a longer walk.
Before heading back to the inn, stop by Cowlicks Ice Creamfor some of the best ice cream you’ve ever had. Their hot fudge sundays are always a hit, and the coffee and ice cream shakes they call “Caffeinators” are crazy good. And of course, you can’t leave without trying the Candy Cap Mushroom Ice Cream… if they haven’t run out, that is!
By now you’re probably pretty tired, so let’s call it a day and end things well with some relaxing on the couches out back on the Main Deck at the inn. The sound of the surf in Smuggler’s Cove will fade in with the chorus of frogs starting up their evening concert. Enjoy the Wine Hour meal put on by our kitchen, kick back with an extra glass of Anderson Valley wine, and stare out over the water until the final glowing ray of sunlight has sunk beneath the waves. To end it all, fall into bed and dream, full to the brim with the sea, and your craving for the ocean fully satisfied.
Still up for one last saunter by the sea? Go for a sunset stroll along Big River Beach just a mile north of the inn.
Want to dream of the water a little more? Or planning a longer stay and want some more ideas for getting in all the ocean-side charm you can manage? Check out these fun “hidden” trails, this long stroll in the sand, this horseback ride on the beach, and this solitary hike down in Point Arena.
~ Words and pictures by Laura Hockett
Choose Your Next Read
Introducing our amazing Sous Chef Tori Menna
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…
KW Saltwater Grill
We love enticing our guests into taking a shot at something new on the coast. We are proud to say, they did not disappoint…
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
I can’t help but picture garden gnomes and fairies flitting about their branches and nestling in the soft petals of the blooms.
A-mushrooming we shall go
…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!
The Mendocino Café – Staple of the Village
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.
Introducing Zoe King & The Waiting Room
Attention espresso lovers visiting Mendocino, this is the place to get the dreamy espresso, perfectly foamed latte, or frothy cappuccino. Drum roll please…
Moments & Places of Quiet
…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…
There’s a new cook in the kitchen
…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 Caspar Pub House
The newest restaurant on the coast, with the best British fare on the Mendocino coast. Guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds!
The arches of Mendocino
…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…
La Estrella
“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…
Kayaking the Albion River
A fabulous day viewing the legendary houseboats on the Albion River…
Toasting 20 Years with Bubbles and Caviar
…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…
We’re 20 years old
…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!”…
Husch Vineyards
…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…
Out come the wildflowers
…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…
Casa del Sol
…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!
Sweet Mendocino
…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!…
Glass Beach
…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…
Farm to Pizza
…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!…
Point Cabrillo Light Station
…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…
Navarro River Beach
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…
Gowan’s Heirloom Ciders
…We tasted 6 ciders altogether. They were all delicious, filling our mouths with the flavors and feelings of happy holidays and cheery harvest time…
Lula Cellars
…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!”…
Goodlife Café & Bakery
…I lingered over each bite and sip. The latte was comforting and creamy. And my snack… well…it was fantastic!…
A day trip through the Anderson Valley
…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…
A good night for soup
…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…
Fathers + Daughters Cellars at the Brewery Gulch Inn
…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…
Meyer Family 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…
A hiker’s weekend
…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…
Buckhorn Cove
…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…
The art of the freeform vacation
…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…
Old Smith Ranch Preserve
…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!
…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!…
Revisiting the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
…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…
Chamberlain Creek Waterfall
…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…
The Forest History Trail
…And so I meandered along the trail, enjoying every breath of free and wild air, forgetting the world outside these lovely trees…
To refresh yourself with the sea
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?…
Wandering in the woods
…One recent Saturday morning saw us heading into the Jackson Demonstration Forest from a trailhead a few miles up Little Lake Road…
The art of slowly savoring
…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?
Stunningly wild
Wow, just wow.” We stared up at the trees standing off the steeply twisting trail ahead.
Half a day in the Anderson Valley
A few months ago, we had an amazing day meandering our way down the Anderson Valley.
Patterson’s Pub
…“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…
Fog Eater Café
…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…
Dahlias and begonias and fuschias, oh my
…We were slowly making our way along the meandering grassy paths of the perennial garden…
For a truly superior sandwich
…The gal in our group who ordered the Ultimate Club was so in love with her lunch
Morning glory on Big River
…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…
Coro Mendocino
…This was our first experience with Coro, and we were excited to get to see what it was all about…
B Bryan Preserve
…What a personal, beautiful opportunity to get to know some of the most iconic and majestic creatures of the African landscape…
Pelican Bluffs
…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!
Just you and the ocean
…We were already familiar with some of these tiny trails, but others were brand new to us – so we went out and explored!…
Mendocino Shoeworks
…A true-blue, old-fashioned crafter of the finest of footwear. That’s what Jason Clapp is…
Independence Day
…this is one of the most popular weekends of the year, with rooms getting snagged a good couple of months ahead of time…
A Great Day for Wine
…The highlight of the week…was the long, leisurely day that we spent meandering down the Anderson Valley…
Affogato at Frankie’s
…We looked at each other and laughed out loud, knowing that we were just going to have to get another…
A Different Kind of Beachside Stroll
“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
The Brickery at Cafe Beaujolais
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…
A Sunny Summer Lunch
…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...
Fathers + Daughters
When we were expecting our daughter Ella in 2012… we embarked on the adventure that would eventually become Fathers + Daughters Cellars.
When the Weather won't Cooperate
…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…
Romance in Mendocino
…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…
Spring Fun
…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!
Forest Bathing in Action
…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…
Ramen Nights
…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...
Riding the Rails
…are the Skunk Train’s railbikes worth adding to your itinerary during your next visit to Mendocino?…
Noyo Headlands Park
…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?…
Fortunate Farm
…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…
Overtime Brewing Company
…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.
A little day trip south
…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…
A quiet day in the rain
…It was a moment of true mental and emotional refreshment while the gentle rain refreshed the world outside – just what the doctor ordered.
One of our most iconic landmarks
…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…
Spring Ranch
…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…
It’s time for whales
…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…
What is shinrin yoku?
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.
Foodie Fun!
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?
Barn Talk
“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…
Bubbles & Caviar
…We have been highly looking forward to this moment, and we mean to savor every second of it…
Bring on the flowers
…we find ourselves daydreaming of longer days, of spring, of wildflowers.
The Portable Painter
…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…
Passion for the Beat
…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…
For Love of the Sea
…we moseyed on up to Noyo Harbor this past weekend to chat with joint owners and best friends Wendy Holloway and Captain Heather…
An evening stroll
…We clocked off from our duties one evening, intent on stretching our legs…
Simply Delicious
So delicious. Truly. Ingredients perfectly blended in every bite. Tart. Bright. Crunchy. Delectably deep savor. So piping hot fresh. Mmmmm….
Crab Time
…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 Festival of Lights
A favorite local holiday tradition was born 8 years ago when Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens unveiled their very first Festival of Lights extravaganza.
Hollywood's Favorite Backlot
For over 100 years, Mendocino has been a favorite location for Hollywood producers.
Button Love
She is, in fact, totally and completely, no doubt about it, head over heels in love with antique buttons.
A Stroll Amongst Giants
…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…
That Golden Glow
There’s something magical about that golden hour when the sun starts to slowly descend…
Just like walking on water
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…
Storm Chasers
We positively LOVE being up here in rugged Mendocino when the wind starts to howl and the clouds get particularly thunderous.
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