Kyle Siler (aka Carlos Amigos) set his sights to building his own roadside attraction back in 2008. His artistic journey was well-rounded; he learned to weld and completed a pilgrimage to Wisconsin to view the art of Fred Smith, his inspiration. His goal was to put his small town on the map with a classic roadside attraction. Deciding on a whale them was easy, what better way … [Read more...]
#50 – Mendocino Coast Model Railroad and Historical Society
The steam engine and the highly specialized logging railroad formed an integral part of the Mendocino coast’s rich history from the late 19th century through the 1930s. Though now long gone, they have not been forgotten. In a barn just behind the Skunk Train Depot in Fort Bragg, the Mendocino Coast Model Railroad and Historical Society has built a remarkable model logging … [Read more...]
#43 – Railbike Excursions
There’s now an amazing new way to experience the Redwood Route — on the back of a custom-built railbike. These two-person railbikes sit securely on the track, allowing passengers to make their journey in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere unlike anything else found on a railway. These railbikes are quiet enough that it’s likely you’ll see a great collection of animals, including … [Read more...]
#37 – Noyo Center for Marine Science – The Crow’s Nest
Touch a sea star, look through whale baleen, zoom in on migrating whales using high-powered telescopes, and walk next to a life-sized terra-form blue whale. Those are just a few of the things you can do when you follow the Fort Bragg Coastal trail to The Crow’s Nest Interpretive Center by the Noyo Center for Marine Science, located on the southern portion of the Coastal Trail … [Read more...]
#16 – Cuffey’s Cove: A Coastal Ghost Town
In the mid-1850s, about a mile north of Elk, sat Cuffey’s Cove. Resident James Kennedy built and operated a wharf and a purpose-built chute to move railroad ties and shingles down the steep bluffs to be loaded onto schooners moored below. At its height, the town hosted nearly 500 residents and included hotels, bars, and restaurants, supported by abundant local timber and a … [Read more...]
#8 – Garcia River Casino
Located right off California Highway 1 just outside of Point Arena, the Garcia River Casino offers the latest and best in new and progressive slots, including top titles like Wheel of Fortune, Lightning Link, Buffalo Grand and Fort Knox. The River Grill serves Breakfast until 2pm, as well as tasty lunches, nightly dinner specials and tantalizing desserts. Relax between games … [Read more...]
#5 – A “Road Less Traveled” from Hopland to Ukiah
If you’re headed from Hopland to Ukiah and you’re not in a hurry, and if you’d like to take in some Northern California countryside not often seen by visitors, here’s a 55-mile tour with stretches that range from the serene to the pulse-pounding. It’s perfect for experienced motorcyclists looking for a challenging ride, and it’s a treat for adventuresome motorists. There are … [Read more...]
#1 – Six Great Hike and Bike Adventures Using the MTA Bus
You don’t need a car to transport yourself plus a backpack or bicycle to Mendocino County’s most exhilarating places. Here are six day or weekend trips for hikers and bikers who want to maximize the scenic factor while minimizing their carbon footprints. MTA’s van-style buses have bike racks for two to three bicycles and room for several more inside. There is no extra charge … [Read more...]
#36 – Noyo Headlands Park
Fort Bragg’s newest park is situated atop the bluffs overlooking Fort Bragg’s dramatic, rocky Pacific shore. Its northern section was opened in 2015, extending the Pacific Coast Trail from Pudding Creek at the northern end of town down to Otsuchi Point. It includes a stairway down the bluffs to Glass Beach. In 2016, the southern section of the park was opened. It comprises 2.3 … [Read more...]
#6 – Gualala Point Regional Park
Open daily from dawn till dusk, Gualala Point Regional Park is popular with day hikers and picnickers, and even offers a beautiful setting for small weddings. This lovely park encompasses almost 200 acres of peaceful meadows, dramatic coastal forests and delightful sandy beaches. The Gualala River runs lazily through it, and offers limited seasonal fishing (check the local … [Read more...]
#7 – Anchor Bay & Fish Rock Beach
When Sunset magazine ran a feature called “Top 10 Beaches of the West” a few years ago, Anchor Bay came in at number 3, just behind ‘Aliomanu Beach in Kauai, Hawaii, and well ahead of beaches in Carmel, Santa Barbara and San Diego. Located in the heart of the Mendocino “banana belt,” the coastal village of Anchor Bay is warmer, with less fog and wind, than the surrounding … [Read more...]
#11 – Point Arena Pier at Arena Cove
Point Arena Cove is a popular destination for fishermen, surfers, whale-watchers, beachcombers and sightseers. Including its 330-foot Point Arena Pier, it offers something for just about everyone. The cove has a rocky bottom, and is about 20 to 100 feet deep. Point Arena Creek runs into it a little south of the pier. Offshore lies the Mendocino Trench, with some of the deepest … [Read more...]
#12 – Point Arena Lighthouse
Set in some of the most spectacular yet peaceful surroundings on the northern California coast, and right next to the Point Arena-Stornetta Unit of the California Coastal National Monument, stands the Point Arena Lighthouse. It is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast (115 ft.), and you can climb to the lantern room at its very top. The panoramic view from there is … [Read more...]
#10 – B. Bryan Preserve
Go on safari in Mendocino County at the B. Bryan Preserve! Established by Dr. Frank and Judy Mello in Point Arena in 2004, the preserve was designed to aid in the conservation of rare and endangered African antelopes, zebras and giraffes. The preserve has three species of antelope, two of zebra and one species of giraffe living on over 110 acres of land. All are endangered to … [Read more...]
#9 – Schooner Gulch State Beach & Bowling Ball Beach
Local lore has it that Schooner Gulch got its name back in the era of sailing ships when a mysterious schooner ran aground there at dusk one evening, only to have vanished without a trace by the following morning. Today, Schooner Gulch State Beach offers its visitors not only great fun and exciting activities, but also some of the most magnificent views anywhere. Spend the day … [Read more...]
#15 – Greenwood Creek State Beach
Just south of the small town of Elk you’ll find picturesque Greenwood Creek State Beach. Here you can soak up the sun, go swimming or have a picnic lunch on the coast. It’s also a wonderful place to go for a stroll and watch the sunset any time of year. Greenwood, the old name for Elk, was a lumber town in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today the Greenwood State Beach Visitor … [Read more...]
#13 – Manchester State Park
Manchester State Park, with nearly 18,000 feet of ocean shoreline, offers a beach with an abundance of driftwood, sand dunes and rich grasslands. A beautiful sandy beach runs southward for about 5 miles towards Point Arena. Among its many attractions is the excellent steelhead fishing in its two streams, Brush Creek and Alder Creek. Please check with the Department of Fish and … [Read more...]
#14 – Ross Ranch Horseback Rides
At Ross Ranch on the Mendocino coast, couples can ride horseback along a deserted sandy beach or through a majestic redwood forest, just like in the movies! The ranch offers 1 1/2 hour rides in both locations. On the Manchester Beach ride, you will pass sea stacks and other rock formations, driftwood, and rolling surf on an unspoiled sandy beach. The forest tour will take you … [Read more...]
#22 – Historic Village of Mendocino
In July of 1850 the Frolic, a two-masted clipper ship bound for San Francisco from China, shipwrecked a little north of present-day Mendocino. A salvage crew was unable to recover the cargo, but did discover vast stands of old-growth redwood trees. A mill was built, and the village of Mendocino grew up around it. Perched on bluffs painted with wildflowers and overlooking the … [Read more...]
#21 – Golfing at Little River Inn
For a memorable coastal golfing experience, try the award-winning regulation nine-hole golf course at Little River Inn. With three placements and dual greens on holes 7 and 9, you can play it like an 18-hole course. Tucked among the hills and redwoods, it comes complete with such unexpected challenges as stunning ocean views that vie for your attention, and deer, frogs, blue … [Read more...]
#19 – Mendocino Art Center
With the decline of the lumber industry, Mendocino fell on hard times. Then, in 1957, a local mansion that appears in the James Dean movie East of Eden burned down, and Bill Zacha acquired the grounds with a $500 deposit. With the help of friends, other artists and townspeople, by 1959 he and his wife Jennie had established the Art Center there, utilizing the still-standing … [Read more...]
#18 – Afternoon Tea at Glendeven Inn
Venture a few minutes south of Mendocino Village to the historic Glendeven Inn, home of intimate winemaker dinners, and experience the venerable English tradition of afternoon tea. With so many things to do outdoors and in the lovely villages and small towns along the coast, it’s a welcome relief to drop by and relax in the inn’s ocean view Tea Room lounge. An afternoon at tea … [Read more...]
#26 – Annual Whale Migration, Whale Festival
The annual migration of California gray whales takes them from their feeding grounds in the cold waters of the Bering Sea near Alaska to the warm waters off Baja California, Mexico, and back. Their young, called calves, are born in the protected lagoons of western Baja, and do not begin their trek northwards until they are about a month old. Unlike other whale species, … [Read more...]
#19 – Mendocino Music Fest
From July 8 through 22, 2017, music lovers will have the opportunity to enjoy a smörgåsbord of some of the world’s greatest music. Performances this year will include over two dozen concerts from blues to bluegrass, symphonies to opera, and jazz to Celtic and African. This year’s operatic offering will be the well-loved opera buffa, or comedic opera, Don Pasquale by Gaetano … [Read more...]
#18 – Mendocino Film Festival
With the decline of the lumber industry, Mendocino fell on hard times. Then, in 1957, a local mansion that appeared in the James Dean movie East of Eden burned down, and Bill Zacha acquired the grounds with a small deposit. With the help of friends, other artists and townspeople, by 1959 he and his wife Jennie had established the Art Center there, utilizing the still-standing … [Read more...]
#25 – Mendocino Theatre Co. / Helen Schoeni Theatre
Since 1976 the Mendocino Theatre Company has produced over 200 plays at its intimate, 82-seat Helen Schoeni Theatre on the Mendocino Art Center Campus. Composed of a uniquely talented group of actors, directors, designers and theatre technicians, they have performed exciting, meaningful plays ranging from the classics to the cutting edge. In the process, they have strived to … [Read more...]
#23 – Kayak Mendocino Sea Cave Nature Tours
How would you like to be a marine mammal for an hour and a half, and explore the Mendocino coast’s incredibly rich and diverse sea caves? It’s easier than you might think. Hop aboard a sit-on-top ocean kayak, and take one of Kayak Mendocino’s professionally guided sea cave tours in Van Damme State Park. Here you will join harbor seals, sea otters, giant anemones, kelp and other … [Read more...]
#29 – Mendocino Headlands Park
When visiting the town of Mendocino, take some time to see Mendocino Headlands State Park. The park surrounds the town on three sides with delightful expanses of land perched atop stunning bluffs. From there you can enjoy whale-watching in the winter, wildflowers in the spring, nesting seabirds in the summer and vivid color throughout autumn. Miles of trails wind along the … [Read more...]
#24 – Ford House Museum
In 1851 Jerome Ford made his way overland to the Mendocino headlands, looking for salvage from the shipwrecked Frolic, which had met its fate off nearby Pt. Cabrillo the previous spring. He found no booty — local Pomo indians had beaten him to it — but he did discover vast stands of coast redwoods instead, and soon partnered with an eastern entrepreneur to establish both the … [Read more...]
#27 – Van Damme State Park
Fantastic outdoor fun and delightful scenery await you at Van Damme State Park, where you can enjoy hiking, camping, fishing and abalone diving among other recreational activities. The park straddles Hwy 1 where Little River empties into a protected rocky bay that is very popular with divers and kayakers. The surf here is usually calm enough to allow launching boats and sea … [Read more...]
#17 – Point Cabrillo Lighthouse & Preserve
The demand for lumber to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake meant that maritime commerce on the north coast was at an all time high, and a lighthouse was critical to the safety of the ships and their valuable cargo. Construction of the Point Cabrillo Light Station began in 1908, and its lens, a British-build Fresnel lens, was illuminated for the first time in 1909. … [Read more...]
#28 – Stanford Inn’s Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too!
Established in 1972, Catch a Canoe & Bicycles, Too! is the Mendocino coast’s only full-service outdoor shop, providing rentals, sales and service of a wide selection of kayaks, canoes, outriggers, and bicycles year-round. They also offer professionally guided tours of Big River State Park, including the eight-mile Big River estuary. These river tours use unique redwood … [Read more...]
#34 – Big River & Big River Haul Road
The Big River Unit of Mendocino Headlands State Park offers 7,400 wild acres for exploration. Acquired in 2002, it includes 1,500 acres of coastal estuary wetlands. You can swim, bike, canoe, jog, walk your dog (leashed) or hike along the beautiful Big River. The beaches along the river are perfect for swimming and sunbathing. Big River’s lower 6 to 8 miles provide a wonderful … [Read more...]
#33 – Caspar Headlands State Reserve
The title of “State Reserve” in California is only given to areas of land that have outstanding or unusual natural or scenic value. Caspar Headlands State Reserve certainly lives up to this title. Located about 4 miles north of Mendocino off Hwy 1, this 3-acre reserve is located just south of the town of Caspar and sits atop one of California’s most strikingly beautiful coastal … [Read more...]
#32 – Caspar Headlands State Beach
Nestled adjacent to Caspar Headlands State Reserve just north of Mendocino, this dramatic stretch of coast offers a beautiful beach with swimming, boating, fishing and other popular beach activities. From it you can enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean meeting the headlands’ rugged cliffs and coastal bluffs. If you happen to arrive between November and June, you might get … [Read more...]
#35 – Jug Handle Ecological Staircase
It is likely that you will never experience anything quite like the Jug Handle State Natural Reserve’s Ecological Staircase. The “staircase” is a land formation that stretches for two and a half miles over five wave-cut terraces formed by glacier, sea and tectonic activity. Starting in the inter-tidal zone, it ascends through a series of areas that include prairie, pine forest … [Read more...]
#31 – Pygmy Forest at Van Damme State Park
Northern California is famous throughout the world for towering redwood trees that grow to be hundreds of feet tall. There are other trees in the area, however, that cannot grow to a height of even 10 feet, or much thicker than an inch wide. To experience this Lilliputian and Brobdingnagian contrast for yourself, take a trip to Van Damme State Park’s Pygmy Forest, located off … [Read more...]
#30 – Russian Gulch State Park
This is a gem of a park, offering over a mile of ocean frontage with great beaches and tide pools, plus more than 10 miles of lush, forested hiking trails and plenty of horseback riding trails. You’ll find a beautiful picnic area perched on a cliff overlooking a dramatic cove; spacious, well-laid out campgrounds with bathrooms and hot showers; a 3-mile long paved bicycle trail; … [Read more...]
#36 – Abalone Diving in Coastal Waters
Because it’s where the largest number of abalone are found, and because of regulations designed to protect the small populations that live elsewhere, most of California’s abalone-diving is concentrated on the coast of Mendocino County. For decades hordes of recreational divers have descended there beginning in April every year, lured by the legendary red abalone. Traditionally, … [Read more...]
#44 – Historic Skunk Train, Fort Bragg Depot
If you don’t happen to have a time machine, the next best thing would probably be a trip on Mendocino County’s famous Skunk Train. From the restored historic rail cars to the dramatic views of majestic redwood forests, scenic upland meadows, and the pristine mountain waters of Northern California, what you will experience is largely unchanged from the way things were in the … [Read more...]
#41 – Mendocino Chocolate Company
The Mendocino Chocolate Company has been making delectable chocolates and other treats for almost 30 years. Stop by their Fort Bragg store, or their newer store in the Village of Mendocino, and you will see for yourself why the Mendocino Chocolate Company views candymaking as an art form. Their delightful handmade confections are as pleasing to the eye as they are delicious. … [Read more...]
#47 – Gloriana Musical Theater
Since 1976, Gloriana Musical Theatre has entertained Mendocino County audiences with blockbuster Broadway musicals, musicals starring young performers, and one of a kind special productions. Audiences were amazed by the vocal and acting ability of the Gloriana Young Performer’s 2014 spring production of “Guys and Dolls, Jr.,” set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City and … [Read more...]
#42 – Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Lose yourself for an hour—or all day—at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, one of a handful of public gardens that front an ocean shore. The number one Mendocino Coast attraction on TripAdvisor, our 47 acres encompass manicured gardens, fern-ringed ponds, hidden pocket gardens, coastal pine forests, and wildflower-strewn bluffs at ocean’s edge. Enjoy a picnic on a lush meadow … [Read more...]
#39 – Horseback Riding at Ricochet Ridge Ranch
Ride along deserted beaches and through ancient redwood forests on the back of a fit, well trained horse. Lari Shea’s Ricochet Ridge Ranch offers both group and private trail rides along Ten Mile Beach, across vast cattle and horse ranches overlooking the ocean and through majestic Redwood forests. California’s unique climate offers unmatched riding days year-round. Horses are … [Read more...]
#48 – Fort Bragg’s Family-Friendly City Parks
Pomo Bluffs Park offers spectacular views from the southern bluffs above Noyo Harbor. This 25-acre park offers outlook points and benches, coastal pedestrian and bike trails, and interpretive exhibits. From Hwy 1 take Ocean View Drive to Cliff Way to get there. Open dawn to dusk. Otis R. Johnson Wilderness Park is located at the east end of Laurel St., southeast of Fort Bragg … [Read more...]
#38 – MacKerricher State Park
MacKerricher State Park offers miles of magnificent rocky coastline, beaches, dunes, bluffs and headlands that give way to forests, seasonal streams, grasslands, and a lake. Some of California’s richest tidepools form during low tide along the shore near Laguna Point, where offshore rocks attract black oystercatchers and provide a rookery for harbor seals. The park encompasses … [Read more...]
#40 – Old Haul Road (Ten Mile Trail)
Starting at the Pudding Creek Trestle, the Ten Mile Coastal Trail, part of the vast California Coastal Trail system, is located on Northern California’s Mendocino Coast in MacKerricher State Park. The Beachcomber Motel front desk staff provides visiting walkers with the Ten Mile Coastal Trail log book to sign their names and join the ranks of the hundreds of people who have … [Read more...]
#46 – World Famous Triangle Tattoo & Museum
While wandering around the sleepy North Coast town of Fort Bragg, consider a permanent souvenir from the stellar artists at Triangle Tattoo & Museum on Main Street, where the big red heart TATTOO sign hangs over the sidewalk. Climb up the bright red stairway where you will feel enveloped by the spirit, history and excitement of Tattoo. They were founded in 1986 and are … [Read more...]
#49 – Guest House Museum
Resting atop a small knoll in Fort Bragg on the west side of Main Street lies an ancient storehouse of history, a three-story Victorian mansion known as the Guest House Museum. Built primarily of coast redwood, the building has served numerous functions over the years. Its first role upon completion was as the Fort Bragg Lumber Company’s guest house for out of town company … [Read more...]
#45 – Emerald Dolphin Mini Golf & Fun Center
Wow, what a blast! At the Emerald Dolphin Mini Golf and Fun Center, all 18 challenging holes are located in and around gorgeous streams, fountains and waterfalls, and are designed to be tons of fun for all ages and experience levels. Also, the first 9 holes are handicapped-accessible. To top it off, Emerald Dolphin Inn guests receive their first round free (although some … [Read more...]
#55 – C.V. Starr Community Center Pool & More
Much more than a swimming pool, fitness center, community center and outdoor activity area combined, the C.V. Starr Community Center offers people of all ages a wealth of wonderful, exciting things to do and magnificent facilities to do them in. The physical infrastructure is a 4-acre campus that hosts an off-leash dog park, a 10,000 square foot skate park, sun deck, BBQ and … [Read more...]
#51 – Glass Beach Treasures
At first glance you may think this beach is covered with glass that has gathered there for eons. Not so. For centuries it was a common practice of people who lived in seaside cities to dump their trash into the ocean, and from the turn of the century through 1967 it was true of people in Fort Bragg as well. In 1967 the practice came to a halt, however, and the coastal dumps … [Read more...]
#52 – Jackson Demonstration State Forest
Sitting in the spray of a very pretty waterfall on Chamberlain Creek Trail, or staring out at the uninterrupted view from the top of Riley Ridge after a long hike through old redwood forests on the remote Volcano Point Trail, it’s easy to forget the bustling history of the land in Jackson State Forest. A booming industrial logging center from 1862 until 1947, the land now … [Read more...]
#53 – Bird Watching with the Audubon Society
There are hundreds of coastal birds that frequent Mendocino County, and the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society invites you to see them for yourself. Join the MCAS for endlessly fascinating walks and field trips at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, MacKerricher State Park, Van Damme State Park, Virgin Creek and elsewhere. The walks at the Botanical Gardens are regularly … [Read more...]
#54 – Surfing the Mendocino Coast
Whether you are an experienced surfer or a beginner, you will find waves to suit you on the Mendocino coast. Many of the area’s more experienced surfers will be found at Point Arena Pier (35 miles south of Mendocino Village) and Virgin Beach, which is just north of Fort Bragg. Look for “overhead” and “double overhead” (literally higher than your head, or twice as high as your … [Read more...]