Mendocino California

Mendocino California Information

But the town wasn't always like this. As is true with most of the towns on the North Coast of Mendocino County, Mendocino Village was once inhabited by the Pomo Indians, long before the Europeans arrived in the middle of the 19th century. A saw mill was built here as early as 1852 and the town began to prosper, with a population of more than 700 by the end of the Civil War.

It soon became a hub of economic activity and buildings sprung up everywhere, making it the most important town along the northern coast of California.

Today, you'll find that many of those 19th century buildings have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places and a trip to Mendocino won't be complete without visiting a few of them, many constructed from native California redwood.

Most modern-day visitors head to the village of Mendocino for its great cultural environment and interesting shops. This is truly the art capital of Mendocino County and you'll need to spend at least a few hours here enjoying the work of local and regional artists who've decided to call Mendocino their home, finding a peaceful and nurturing atmosphere in which they can produce some of their finest works. The result is a treat for visitors who can purchase everything from oil paintings to baskets to jewelry and other unique gifts here in Mendocino.

At the hub of all village activity is the Mendocino Art Center, which sponsors an artist-in-residence program and offers hundreds of classes, lectures, and seminars each year. The Art Center also hosts the Annual Summer Fair, a 2-day celebration featuring arts and crafts booths, kids' activities, barbecue, music and lots of happy faces.

Music plays a large role in the life of Mendocino residents as well. The annual Mendocino Music Festival takes place each summer and is an event that draws huge crowds, boasting performances ranging from classical to contemporary and everything in between. Other types of festivals are plentiful all year long as well.

If you've come to the coast to stay at one its many B&Bs, the village of Mendocino will provide you with the largest variety of choices. Many are quite ornate; decorated with antiques, strewn with romantic touches, and boasting restaurants that are among the best in the county. Yet others are more casual and heartily welcome children to their establishments. In peak season, rooms disappear fast so advanced planning is usually necessary.

In this town that has been declared a National Historic Preservation District, you'll also find a number of great places to eat, ranging from pizza joints to bistro casual to five-star fare.

Headlands State Park surrounds the village of Mendocino on three sides and is the ideal place for guests to come and unwind. The 3 miles of trails here at the park provide spectacular views of the ocean and avid whale watchers gather at Headlands each winter.