Mendocino is a temple of nature worship and slow living. Perched atop cliffs on California’s North Coast, the village of Mendocino is made up of a patchwork of historic Victorian structures and lush gardens surrounded by emerald forests on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. As my friend Jessica reflected on a recent visit, “Mendocino is a place you have to deliberately want to get to. You don’t just stumble upon it or drive through, it takes effort and intention to get here.” And that’s part of the magic of Mendocino. When you arrive after a long, winding scenic drive on the Pacific Coast Highway or through the inland redwood groves and rolling vineyards, you’re dropped into another idyllic dimension. The purity of the quiet and drama of the ruggedly beautiful landscape is matched by the quality of the organic cuisine and the welcoming embrace of the free-spirited local community.
STAY at the MacCallum House in the heart of town. The B&B’s rooms are sprinkled throughout a cluster of buildings around the main house and for an even quieter atmosphere, they also have a handful of luxury suites a few blocks away on the outskirts of town. Next door to the luxury suites sits a spacious 2-bedroom vacation rental house (#34, The Jedediah Smith) that is ideal for a girlfriends' getaway or family and comes with all the hotel perks like daily gourmet breakfast. The Mendocino Hotel is another quaint lodging option on Main Street. A short distance from the main village is the Stanford Inn, a full service luxury eco-resort with an earthy, contemporary feel.
EAT at the MacCallum House Restaurant, whether or not you stay there. Breakfast and dinner are served in the cozy, rustic rooms on the main level of the Inn—the menu is carefully crafted using seasonal, local produce, the wine list is primarily Northern Californian and everything is absolutely delicious. The Garden Room at the Mendocino Hotel is an inviting setting for an informal meal and the Lobby Bar is a Victorian era throwback. Patterson’s Pub is a popular go-to for thoughtfully executed pub grub with daily seafood specials like lobster melts and oysters and tons of beers on tap. Trillium Café is a local favorite for an elegant meal and Ravens Restaurant at Stanford Inn serves exclusively vegan fare with ingredients sourced from their organic farm.
SHOP or just browse through the eclectic assortment of shops as you walk up and down the village streets. Honey & Ro offers a stylish and beautiful selection of clothing, jewelry and home wares. Sallie Mac is a treasure trove of gifts and art with divine smelling candles and European-inspired garden and home accents. Gallery Bookshop is an absolute gem where you can while away the hours looking through the well organized sections and settle into one of the sunny nooks with a book. Harvest Market is a solid one stop shop for all things food, drink and personal care.
Get out and EXPLORE the beaches, trails, rivers and nearby towns. South of Mendocino off Highway 1, the Point Cabrillo Light Station grants amazing views from the top of the lighthouse. To the north, Fort Bragg is a hub of restaurants, shops and attractions like Glass Beach, Mendocino Botanical Gardens and the Skunk Train. Hiking trails are abundant as are opportunities to get on the water, be it ocean kayaking or canoeing up river.
