The Essence of Mendocino
A two-night itinerary for your next visit out to the Mendocino coast
If you are anything like us, you are starting to dream right about now – to fantasize about getting out of the house and refreshing yourself with a shift of scenery and someone else’s cooking for a change! Don’t get us wrong, we love it here in Mendocino! It’s a beautiful place, and quite a few of the great local restaurants are still cooking up delicious food to go. And at least we have the advantage over our city-dwelling friends of a bit more elbowroom and abundant nature at our fingertips. Still, we’re starting to feel that itch.... We want to go exploring! Since we will be remaining at home for a while longer yet though, we’re scratching that itch with the next best thing – jotting down ideas and looking at pictures and planning out some adventures soon-to-be.
Among other jaunts and capers, we’ve been dreaming up post-SIP escapes for you too! Here’s one of them, a three-day / two-night itinerary for anyone coming from out of area – it’s a great reintroduction all that Mendocino has to offer. We’ve shared other itineraries and trip ideas before, but this particular one just makes us happy because it feels like a crash course in the essence of Mendocino, with a little bit of everything we love about this wonderful area thrown in.
Such joys await at Pennyroyal Farm… (photo courtesy of Pennyroyal themselves)
Day 1
On your way up to Mendocino, make a stop at Pennyroyal Farm in Boonville on Highway 128. If you time it right and book ahead, you should definitely go on one of their creamery tours – be prepared to fall in love with all their adorable sheep and goats! There is even a delightful mini wine and cheese pairing that comes at the end of the tour. Can’t make the tour? No worries! Enjoy your own personal wine tasting, order a tasty lunch off their short, garden-fresh menu, and have the attendants help you pick out the perfect wine and cheese pairing to enjoy tomorrow.
Make a stop at Gowan’s Oak Tree Fruit Stand once you pass Philo to pick up a few more fun snacks. This local staple has been around for generations, and it’s well known for its fresh apple cider and dried apples, all made from their heirloom orchards.
Check in at the inn by 5:00pm. This will give you plenty of time to settle into your room and then wander back down to the Great Room at 5:30 to savor your way through our Wine Hour and accompanying evening meal.
A late evening view of Mendocino village from the walk down to Mendocino Bay Viewpoint
Go for an after-dinner stroll from the inn down to the Mendocino Bay Viewpoint for one of the best views of Mendocino village. As you walk down the quiet side road to the lookout point, keep an eye out for sea birds out over the rolling waves of the Pacific – or grey whale spouts if you’re here during the whale migration!
Sunset at the inn
Wind down with a final glass of wine back at the inn as you watch the sunset from your private deck or on the Main Deck’s relaxed couches. Then off to bed – you’ve got things to do tomorrow!
Day 2
Big River is glorious in the early morning!
If you’re an early riser, go for a pre-breakfast walk or run up Big River – it’s gorgeous as the sun starts to wake up the world. Or sleep in! You’re on vacation, after all!
Indulge in one of our chef’s delicious breakfasts, then put on your hiking gear, fill up your water bottles with the inn’s fresh well water, and grab those snacks you bought at Gowan’s yesterday. It’s time to head the couple of miles north to Russian Gulch State Park. Pick up your parking pass at the ranger station, and then drive down to the trail head to enjoy one of our favorite hikes in the area. It’s 5-7 miles roundtrip, depending on which loops of the trail you take, but you could also do less if you’re in a more leisurely mood. Before leaving the park, drive out to the little parking lot near the bluffs – the picnic tables out there have an amazing view to go along with your snack break!
The Russian Gulch falls running full
Now that you’ve taken the edge off your hunger, head back into the village of Mendocino and straight to the best independent bookstore in the world, Gallery Bookshop. Peruse the shelves and find something new (or classic!) to immerse yourself in later this afternoon.
By this point, you’re probably hungry, so walk the couple of blocks east and go up Lansing Street to Good Life Café & Bakery, one of our favorite spots in town for a casual lunch. We love getting their panini and soup combo with whatever the soup of the day is, and then following that up with a cookie to share… or maybe not share…
The lovely Mendocino Presbyterian Church is a California-designated historic landmark as one of the oldest continually-running churches on the West Coast.
As the post-lunch food coma sets in, meander over to the historic Mendocino Presbyterian Church. Take a moment to drink in its sweet architectural details, and then take the wooden steps leading down the trail behind it. Keep left and go down the wooden staircase to Big River Beach. Find a cozy spot in the sand, maybe with your back against one of the giant old driftwood logs, and pull out that book you picked up at Gallery Bookshop. Or take a nap to the soothing sound of the waves. Or stroll along the edge of the water and watch the curling foam. Or do all three!
A peaceful afternoon on Big River Beach
If you’re all tuckered out by this point, head back to the inn and take a refreshing shower or soaking bath. Take your Pennyroyal wine and cheese out on the Main Deck and celebrate life as the acorn woodpeckers and Stellar’s jays make exuberant dashes at the bird feeder in the tree nearby.
Now, wouldn’t you know? It’s 5:30 already and time to partake in the inn’s Wine Hour evening meal. Ahh. It’s almost like being at home, except someone else is cooking the food and doing all the dishes!
Scrabble time!
End the day with a quiet game of Scrabble or cards and then a movie selected from our library of DVDs. As you drift off to sleep, dream about…..
Day 3
Another day, another amazing breakfast from the chef! Take your time this morning before packing up and checking out by 11:00. Then back to town for a little bit.
Meander through a couple of the art galleries on Main Street – Highlight Gallery is one of our favorites, as it showcases a good sampling of the local artistic variety. The Mendocino Art Center is also worth a visit as one of the pivotal players in rescuing Mendocino from obscurity during the 60s and 70s.
Any visit to Mendocino would be incomplete without a walk out along the Headlands.
Before you leave, take a stroll out along the Mendocino Headlands and breathe in the clean Mendocino coastal air. Do the full 3-mile circuit, or just as much as you are up for – you’ll have beautiful views no matter how much or how little you do.
Because you can’t tear yourself away quite yet, snag lunch at one of the deck tables at Trillium Café and feast your eyes on their lovely garden, with the Mendocino Bay in the background.
There are lots of quiet places to sit and contemplate in Hendy Woods.
Once you leave, stop by Hendy Woods on your way back through the Anderson Valley. You can spend as much or as little time as you like basking in the peace of this park’s beautiful virgin old growth redwood groves. Definitely worth a visit!
For the final, crowning glory on your itinerary, raise a toast to Mendocino at Scharfenburger Winery (we adore their Cremant). Then feast your eyes on the rolling vineyards and towering trees along Highway 128 as you finally head on out.
And just remember, there is even more than this that awaits to be explored!
Here’s to many coming adventures!!!
Words by Laura Hockett
Photos mostly by Laura as well. And yes, they are almost all gleaned from past posts, because… well… we’re stuck at home!