Mendocino

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A favorite weekend getaway for Northern California Bay Area residents, the town of Mendocino is located on the coast of Mendocino County. The town has long been a haven for artists, and is famous for its art galleries as well as its restaurants and trendy shops. It is smaller and more "refined" than its blue collar neighbor to the North, Fort Bragg.

[edit] Understand

The city is sometimes called Mendocino town to differentiate it from Mendocino County.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

The closest international airports are in San Francisco, Oakland, and now Santa Rosa.

[edit] By car

From the Bay Area, the most scenic drive to Mendocino is on coastal Highway 1, winding through western Marin County and Sonoma County. A faster but less impressive alternative is to take highway 101 to the junction with tiny state Highway 128 just north of Cloverdale, then 128 to 1, about 2 miles south of the town proper. This route takes you through the Anderson Valley, which is one of Mendocino County's main wine-growing regions. Mendocino is about 165 miles north of San Francisco.

From the north, it's easiest to take Highway 1 south from highway 101 at near Garberville, through Fort Bragg. An alternate is taking state highway 20 west from Willits to Fort Bragg, then south to Mendocino.

[edit] Get around

The town is easily walkable, but you will want a car for visiting nearby beaches and sights. The Headlands, the bluffs on the west end of town, are only a half-mile from the eastern part of town, which is only several blocks from north to south. Mountain bikes are another fun option.

[edit][add listing] See

  • A favorite pastime from February-April is whale-watching. Pods of Grey Whales are visible off the coast, migrating to and from their winter home in Mexico.

[edit][add listing] Do

The Mendocino Botanical Gardens at 18220 North Highway One is a seaside garden on 47 acres. It is open daily and admission is $10.00.

The Skunk Train [1] is a train that goes into the redwood forest. It is a fun family trip.

Since 1962 Gallery Bookshop (& Bookwinkle's Children's Books, added in 1988) has been one of the main attractions of this town for visitors and locals alike. The bookstore has earned its reputation for great service and selection -- something for everyone. Under new ownership from September, 2006, the store continues to prosper and serve as a meeting place. There are children who found their first books here now bringing in their own children to enjoy the space. There is a fantastic view of Mendocino Bay from the front windows, and Mendocino Headlands State Park (complete with picnic benches for reading and eating) is only steps away.

  • 955 Ukiah, +1 707 937-1955. Mendocino chic, next door to Cafe Beaujolais and equally good
  • Albion River Inn, +1 707 937-1919. Ocean views, piano music
  • Café Beaujolais, +1 707 937-5614. International reputation, Italian-leaning menu in an intimate setting
  • Ledford House, +1 707 937-0282. Sunset dining, mellow jazz
  • Little River Inn Restaurant, +1 707 937-5942. Ocean view bar, fine dining
  • MacCallum House Restaurant, +1 707 937-5763. Café, bar & fine dining set in an old in with lots of atmosphere
  • Mendo Bistro, +1 707 964-4974. Eclectic menu, reasonable $
  • Moosse Cafe, +1 707 937-4323. Great soups & salads, with a full dinner menu
  • Ravens, +1 707 937-5615. Vegetarian
  • Rendezvous Inn, +1 707 964-8142. Intimate, attention to detail (www.rendezvousinn.com)
  • Restaurant at Stevenswood Lodge, +1 707 937-2810. Exceptional cuisine
  • Sharon’s by the Sea, +1 707 962-0680. A harbor-side dining treat
  • Victorian Gardens, +1 707 882-3606. Worth the drive

[edit][add listing] Drink

  • Glendeven Inn's Wine Bar[n], +1 800 822-4536. 8205 N Highway 1. Full tasting menu and light fare on the grounds of Glendeven Inn. The bar has a contemporary lounge feel, with a fine art gallery and huge windows facing the gardens and water tower. Anderson Valley wines are highlighted.
  • Mendocino Wine Co., +1 800 860-3347. 45070 Main St. Pleasant tasting room right in town, featuring the various wines of the Parducci Winery.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

There are several inns in the Mendocino Village.

  • Glendeven Inn & Wine Bar[n], 8205 N Highway 1, ☎ +1-800-822-4536 (), [2]. An eight acre luxury farmstead with ocean views, wood-burning fireplaces, forest, headland, and beach trails with 10 rooms and 2 vacation rental homes. Gourmet three course breakfast brought to your room. Llamas, fresh chicken eggs, free WiFi, and a Wine Bar[n] serving and selling local Anderson Valley wines on-site. $150-575/night.  edit
  • Abigail's Bed and Breakfast, 499 Howard Street, ☎ +1-800-531-7282 (, fax: +1-707-937-1131), [3]. Oceanfront home offers seven rooms or suites with private baths and gourmet full breakfast. Sister to Whitegate Inn Bed and Breakfast, nearby, but Abigail's has rooms with kitchens and is more kid- and pet-friendly. Address is for Whitegate Inn, ask innkeeper for directions to Abigail's. $99-289/night.  edit
  • Sweetwater Spa and Inn, 44840 Main Street, ☎ +1-800-300-4140 (), [4]. Unique ocean view rooms and suites with full spa ammenities — the quintessential Mendo experience. Onsite spa offers various massage packages. Little River Lodging, under same owners but 3-4 miles south, has 7 rooms, some pet-friendly. $110-295/night.  edit
  • Auberge Mendocino, 8200 North Highway One, ☎ +1-800-347-9252 (), [5]. Seaside Inn and four private cottages. Located 1.7 miles south of Mendocino village. Formerly "Rachel's Inn". Free wireless internet access. Check web site for last-minute specials and internet deals. $179-355/night.  edit
  • Coast Getaways, 10501 Ford Street, ☎ +1-800-525-0049 (, fax: +1-707-937-1080), [6]. Offers some 25 oceanfront and oceanview vacation homes, each with 1-5 bedrooms. $445-1380/2-night stay.  edit
  • The Headlands Inn, Corner of Howard and Albion Streets, ☎ +1-800-354-4431 (, fax: +1-707-937-0421), [7]. Located in the historic village close to shopping, art galleries and the Pacific ocean beaches. Free wireless internet. Breakfast is very nicely presented and served in the room. Some of the rooms have a fireplace and ocean view. Ask about last-minute specials as low as $99/night. $129-229/night, most about $179.  edit
  • Joshua Grindle Inn, [8]. Bed and Breakfast with American Automobile Association (AAA) 4 diamond rating.
  • Mendocino Hotel and Garden Suites, +1 707 937-0511, Toll Free: +1 800 548-0513,[9]. Located in the heart of the historic village, this California hotel overlooks the Mendocino Headlands and the Pacific Ocean beyond.
  • Dennen's Victorian Farmhouse, [10]. Historic Mendocino bed and breakfast offers romantic accommodations along the Northern California Coast. Dennen’s Victorian Farmhouse features in-room breakfast, luxurious amenities and excellent service.
  • Whitegate Inn Bed and Breakfast, 499 Howard Street, ☎ +1-800-531-7282 (, fax: +1-707-937-1131), [11]. Small, six-room oceanview bed and breakfast with gourmet breakfasts and wine & cheese hour. Sister to Abigail's Bed and Breakfast, nearby, but Whitegate Inn is more luxurious and romantic. Wireless internet access. $179-289/night.  edit
  • Lighthouse Inn at Point Cabrillo, 45300 Litehouse Rd, +1 866 937-6124 or +1 707 937-6123, jimk@pointcabrillo.org, [12]. Oceanfront and cliff-view bed and breakfast on the headlands at Point Cabrillo State Park.

In addition to the many Bed and Breakfasts in town, there are a number of rental properties in the area. These tend to be booked on holiday and summer weekends, but many bargains are available off season.

[edit] Get out

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

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