Things To Do
Noyo Harbor District
Our cute small-town harbor on the Noyo River is a great place to get a quick bite to eat with lots of fresh locally caught sea food with amazing views of the river. We often see wildlife including sea lions, harbor seals, otters, and birds, as well as fishing boats entering and exiting the harbor. There are also many local charter companies for fishing or whale watching.
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
If you like flowers, this is a must stop for you! Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is a unique, natural treasure located on the bluffs of Northern California. Since the 1960s, the Gardens has cultivated a wide array of plants with 47 acres to explore. This is one of our favorite go on a walk in the summer time, don't miss the dahlia garden in bloom!
Town of Mendocino
This little ocean side town a few miles south of Fort Bragg has our favorite breakfast/lunch restaurant (Good Life Cafe), an amazing book shop with a resident cat, as well as many other unique and fun shops - all with stunning ocean views. There are also coastal trails to walk which will take you along the Mendocino coastal headlands with breathtaking views, possible whale sightings, access to Portuguese beach (steep trail), and on the north end a natural occuring arch, large sea bird colonies and a view of the Pt Cabrillo Light House. Local dive shop, Ledges, offers many different types of rentals for water sports if you are feeling adventurous.
Favorite Trails & Hikes:
Mendocino Land Trust Trails & Hikes
Many of our favorite trails are managed by Mendocino Land Trust, we hope you're able to get outside and enjoy this magical place as much as we do.
Spring Ranch Mendocino
Spring Ranch Trail is a lovely spot with long winding trails offering spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, historic barns, and a rocky intertidal shelf. There is good wildlife viewing here, especially at low tide, when the seals haul out onto offshore rocks. Watch for whale spouts and tails along the horizon! We recommend having dogs on their leash the entire time, we have seen many coyotes in the fields.
Jug Handle State Natural Reserve
This is one of our favorite hikes located within the Jug Handle State Natural Preserve. A 2.5-mile moderate trail that explores coastal forest, riparian forest, redwood forest, and the intriguing and unique pygmy forest. The ecological staircase is a series of several marine terraces, each with its own geology, soils, and plant communities. Jug Handle received a “Natural National Landmark” designation because of the site’s unique natural history. An awesome hike where there is so much to stop and look at while hiking and you start out at the ocean and then get to go under the bridge before entering the forest. Jughandle beach is great beach to hang out at as well!
Ocean Drive
Beautiful trail that weaves through a forest filled with pine trees that opens up on a flat grasses headland over looking a secluded beach and the pacific ocean. You can walk down to the beach, follow the trail and watch your step as you go down to the beach. Open beach to let your dogs run free, plenty of rocks to climb on a low tide and sunsets that pictures won'd do it justice. The website link is a google/maps link which directs you to a small little parking lot to the left after you turn off the state highway on Ocean Drive.
Belinda Point Trail
Hidden on a small backroad in a grove of towering ecoliplse this short trail offers a small rocky beach, great for tide pools and relaxing. It also offers spectacular view of the Mendocino Coastline and on a clear day you can see the Northern California's coastline disappear into the horizon.
Big River Beach
Big River Beach is a large sandy beach just south of the town of Mendocino where Big Rover meets the ocean. Very family friendly and dog friendly, the river is clean with shallow water for kids to swim in. The Big River trail is great for biking, walking and hiking. The beach is great for walking, picnics, beach fires, surfing and relaxing.
Stanford Inn Gardens (Allie works here!!!)
Park at the Inn or Catch A Canoe road and explore the gardens where Allie works! They grow food crops for The Ravens restaurant, lots of flowers, and have some experimental farming plots.
Caspar Beach
This lovely beach is where the ceremony will be held! This beach has two different creeks flowing into the ocean, the northern creek is Caspar Creek and the southern creek is Doyle Creek. Over looking the beach, there is an old cemetery which has a walking trail from the beach or upper parking lot, look up and you'll most likely see the local Osprey flying over. This is a great beach for the family to have a beach day, is nice and sandy, close to the parking lot, and has shallow water with a gradual slope. The Caspar RV Park has a little shop with snacks, drinks and other little items. We love this beach!