I’ll be honest. I honestly had no idea about this place (aside from Mendocino Farms) until my friend suggested it as a potential destination. And honestly, we used this trip to also just relax and bond so I edited our actual itinerary into a more action-packed long weekend if you want to see as much as you can!
Why Go?
Like I mentioned, I didn’t really have the highest expectations, but after having gone, seeing the coastal cliffs, eating the freshest seafood, and enjoying the small town charms, I can see why it’s such a gem of a place. Just be prepared for a long drive to and from the Bay Area although driving through Anderson Valley is a highlight in itself.
Where to Stay?
My friend found a fantastic AirBnb and it became my first “glamping” stay. She’ll say it’s not, but I like to think it is! Take a look for yourself and book a stay if it strikes your fancy. The hosts were lovely and it was in a great location.
How to Get Around?
A car is definitely needed. Not only is it a drive from the airport through Anderson Valley to Mendocino, but the towns of Mendocino and Fort Bragg are also separated by a 20 minute drive. There was no public transportation that we saw and I doubt Uber/Lyft is a convenient option given how small the towns were.
Day 1
For the first day, the itinerary is shorter since it includes the drive from the airport in the Bay Area. Depending what time you fly in and start the drive, there are wineries in Anderson Valley to stop at. If you have even more time, I recommend visiting Glass Beach at Fort Bragg. Sure, it’s touristy but collecting sea glass is always fun and relaxing. If the beach isn’t your thing, there’s also a Sea Glass Museum in Fort Bragg that’s donation-based for entry.
For dinner, I recommend Cafe Beaujolais in the town of Mendocino. The special mussels that we had that day were the best mussels I’ve ever had in my entire life! They were sweet and fresh, unlike any other mussel I’ve had before. Afterwards, I recommend walking around the town – there’s an ice cream place for dessert, Frankie’s (mushroom flavor anyone?), or you can enjoy the view of the ocean from the various paths leading out from town.
Day 2
For the second day, head back up to the Fort Bragg area again for a really great seafood brunch in the Noyo Fishing Village! We started at the Princess Seafood Restaurant. The oysters were fresh, the crab sandwich was stuffed full of crab, the clam chowder was creamy and not too salty, and there was a great dessert selection as well! I think you can definitely find something for everybody here. Just a few steps away, there’s Sea Pal Cove which has fantastic fish and chips that are also not to be missed! My friend said it was the best fish and chips she ever had and she’s not even a fan of fish and chips normally so I think that says something! We also had their clam chowder and while it was chock full of clams, it was a bit salty for my taste.
After eating so much, a walk or hike might be nice! We got really lucky with our AirBnb where it had its own trails that we took advantage of. However, we were also looking at trails at the Russian Gulch State Park or the Van Damme State Park. For dinner, I recommend Ledford House – they have a daily 3 course meal that changes daily for $35. Hard to find a deal like that anywhere! The day we went, we had salad, fish cakes, and a crumble. Delightful!
Day 3
Before leaving, enjoy one last brunch/lunch in Mendocino. I recommend Trillium Cafe. They rotate their California-centric menus to the season so you’ll always get something different. They also have a pastry chef so their desserts are top notch! My friend and I got 3 of them since they all sounded so good and they all were – the semifreddo and the “Dubai Bar” were our favorites though!
On your way out of Mendocino County, if you’ve got time and didn’t have time on your way in, definitely spend some time at the wineries in Anderson Valley. We saw a lot of beautiful estates/wineries, but unfortunately didn’t have time for a visit aside from one place. I think we got really lucky though with Gowan’s. It’s a family owned business (on their sixth generation!) and they definitely treat you with family warmth! To boot, they also have award winning ciders that are refreshing and so easy to drink. And if you’re not a drinker, they also have a non-alcoholic cider and slushie!
Extra Things To Do
I don’t have much in this section for Mendocino since I had a lovely time and felt like I did everything that I wanted. If you’re a bigger nature fan than me, you might want another day to hike, camp, or just be outdoors. If I were to go back, I would only want more time earlier or later to spend time in Anderson Valley and visit wineries.
Final Thoughts
While it’s full of small town charm and coastal mountain views, I do think it bears a similar vibe in that sense with San Luis Obispo, which is 3.5 hours from Orange County. Therefore, instead of flying up to the Bay Area and then driving 3.5 hours, I would personally just drive to San Luis Obispo. However, if I were to go again, I would recommend flying into Sonoma for a shorter drive and spending more time in the area (i.e. combining a trip to Wine Country with Mendocino).
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