Mendocino

Amazing, quaint, friendly, yummy, beautiful, quite. No bog boxes!!! So, please don’t go there and spoil things up.

This town is just as beautiful as I remembered it when I was a much younger child, visiting with my parents. My boyfriend and I visited Mendocino yesterday, and it’s still just as enchanting as I remember it. The way the fog sits on the city, and how quaint and quiet it is. I want to come back as soon as possible for another weekend getaway exclusively in the town. Love it!

Big Sur used to be my turn off the TV, leave the cell at home getaway. What a difference a weekend makes.
This town is charming and full of history. Make sure you take time for the walking tour Saturday at 11am. The docents give a great history of the town, it’s boom, demise and resurrection.
+ 3 stars.

Mendo is a short drive from Fort Bragg. Turning 30 is a huge deal for me and I’ve definitely found myself over the past few days while exploring the north coast.
We spent a few hours taking in the coast line, exploring the downtown area, visiting the bookstores, driving into the forest, and eating some very expensive chocolate.
Mendo isn’t for everyone but you’ll definitely find yourself here. Your phone won’t work in this town so good luck. It’s just you, the trees, the sights, the stars, and the amazing coastal view.
Downtown is loyal to its people so no chains either. Everything is owned and operated by locals so yes, it’s expensive. Eat in Fort Bragg or save some money and splurge. I love the local markets here. You will find some amazing and interesting things but do enjoy being able to disconnect and just be free. You deserve it.

Honestly, this place reminded me of Silent Hill when the fog rolled in.
Went here for a wedding last August and I pretty much panicked when I realized that no cellular reception means no GPS on the phone. Screwed! Not only that but the curvy roads that lead to this quaint little town was too much for me and over half the wedding guests. Don’t be surprised when you see cars making pit stops along the road so that passengers can throw up. Oh, also be on the look out for hitchhikers.
The bed and breakfast that we were staying at didn’t have very good plumbing. I was told they get their water from a well. Since there are no chain restaurants or stores, things are pretty expensive and overpriced.
It’s a nice place if being in total seclusion from the rat race is your thing. No cell phone towers to distract you. But it’s really just NOT for me. And it’s not that easy to just drive to San Francisco if you’re bored. It’s 3 hrs away.

Well, what can I say? I grew up here, born and raised. Let me tell you a little bit about my hometown:
It’s a historic town so we are not allowed to have any chain restaurants or stores of any sort here! This makes for all locally owned places, leading to new places you would never get to eat or shop at otherwise.
Also, all of our telephone wires are underground to give you that historic feeling — Look up and see clear blue (or gray) skies! No strings attached (Pun intended).
It’s tiny and for people who have never been to the NorCal coast, it will amaze you. Plus, the drive over is a whole hour’s worth of the Redwood forest which in itself is pretty amazing. There is a lot of ourdoorsy stuff to do here including the beach (cold but its a beach!), kayaking, hiking through GREAT forests, star gazing (it’s so nice to get away from the lights and actually see bright, shining stars!), walking on the headlands, blackberry picking (on Main street in November!), whale watching, etc.
Although I personally think it’s boring haha that is only because I grew up here! If you’re looking for a getaway and you aren’t expecting the city life AT ALL then you will most likely enjoy Mendocino.
NOTE! THIS ISN’T THE IDEAL PLACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (AGES 20 – 30) UNLESS YOU KNOW SOMEBODY OR ARE WITH A GROUP.

Yes, I rediscovered Mendo too.
Had only passed through it before, thinking one of the coastal towns, same-​same.
But so many fun things to do.
Great restaurants. Many of them organic. Nice stores.
Some of them too expensive. But some are real gems.
A great view while doing shopping in downtown.
Actually the road to downtown goes to the coastal state park. How cool is that!
The wineries nearby are great!
And if you miss the cityness, you can get some of that over at Fort Bragg not too far.
And when you get too bored, just drive down to the grind of Sf bay area.

Everything my Unilocal friend Karen G. said… and…
I haven’t been to Mendocino in at least 15 years, and have fallen in love with it all over again. Beautiful seaside town. Very down to earth locals. Not so tourist-​y M-​F. Way too tourist-​y on Sa/​Sun. I love it here. Thankfully I have a friend with a wonderful place in town so we can walk to everything. The drive over is fun, too, taking one through the winding road (Hwy 128) and the California redwoods.
I will say that I’m floored at how many people smoke up here! Ugh!

Picture this… a quaint seaside town perched high above the Pacific Ocean. A cool ocean breeze blowing gently through your hair. Sounds idyllic right? For those of you in Nor Cal, this wonderful place is within reach… Mendocino, one of my favorite places.
As mentioned before, Mendocino is located on the beautiful Pacific Coast, north of San Francisco. It reminds me of an old seaside town on the east coast. Mendocino is full of charm and history. It is the perfect place for a day excursion or a nice weekend with a special someone. Most of the merchants are also very dog friendly and welcome your four legged friends (especially if they are in a chic doggie carrier).
There are some really yummy restaurants too. I highly recommend partaking in some fish and chips. I also love to stop at the candy shop to pick up some raspberry bark. It is made with fresh raspberries and white chocolate. It melts in your mouth. The milk chocolate and caramel pecan bear paws are another favorite. Chewy, crunchy and creamy all at the same time. A little piece of heaven for your mouth.
Of course, what would an excursion be without a little shopping? Mendocino has some quaint and fun little shops. I love to spend time browsing. They have some perfect places to pick up a gift or a little something for yourself.
If you are looking for a charming, quaint seaside town to visit, even for a day, plan an excursion to Mendocino. Enjoy that cool ocean breeze! ;)