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The Northern Coast of Mendocino County provides not only breathtaking scenery but also wonderful culturally-rich small towns. This region begins just above the town of Elk and continues past the town of Westport, and includes two of the county's most popular tourist spots, Mendocino and Fort Bragg. Five state parks are also contained within the Northern Coast region.
The tiny town of Albion, the first one you'll reach as you travel north along Highway 1 through the Northern Coast region, started with one home and a sawmill…the first sawmill to begin operation along the Redwood Coast.
With the sawmill long gone, the Albion of today is a quiet town with a small population, famous for its wooden bridge (the last remaining one on the coast highway) and its Pygmy Forest.
Little River, just above Albion, was founded by trappers in 1854 and later became a thriving mill town. Little River sits on a bluff, providing spectacular views of the ocean and overlooking one of Mendocino County's favorite beaches, where abalone diving is popular.
The town's Little River Inn provides Mendocino lodging at its finest, with comfortable rooms and an excellent restaurant for dining with a view. It's also a great place for weddings…and honeymoons.
If you keep heading northward, you'll land in Mendocino County's most visited city…Mendocino. This village is a must-stop location for any visitor and some head to this county particularly to spend time in this quaint New England-style town.
Guests are treated to 'gingerbread' architecture, a few museums, dozens of shops, lots of art galleries, and the coast's best selection of B&Bs and restaurants. What started as a logging town has truly became an art colony, with artists from every corner of the world descending on the town to work in its peaceful and supportive atmosphere.
As a matter of fact, one of the centerpieces of the village is the Mendocino Art Center, which hosts literally hundreds of classes and seminars each year and sponsors an artist-in-residence program. The Art Center also sponsors the Annual Summer Fair, a 2-day celebration featuring arts and crafts booths, kids' activities, barbecue, music and lots of happy faces.
The annual Mendocino Music Festival is also a much anticipated summer event, featuring both classical and contemporary music, and lectures, in addition to special performances for children.
The town of Mendocino has been declared a National Historic Preservation District and one of the best pastimes here is taking a stroll around the village to view the historic buildings, most from the turn-of-the-century. Stop at one of Mendocino's fine restaurants for a bite to eat, offering everything from casual bistro dining to four-star cuisine.
Many choose Mendocino for an overnight stay and Mendocino B&Bs are usually the lodging of choice. You'll find a vast selection of romantic accommodations in town - just right for couples - as well as some B&Bs that heartily welcome children.
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 whale watchers gather at Headlands in the winter. Staff at the onsite Ford Museum provide interesting wildlife lectures.
Between Mendocino and Fort Bragg, make a stop at the pretty Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, nearly a century old and the perfect place to stop for some photographs and a tour of the structure. Then head on to Caspar, California. This town of 500 jokingly boasts 'two perfect beaches, a community center, a bar, a shul, art galleries, businesses, and a strong sense of place.' Make a stop and take a walk around this friendly town. If you're here in August, you might even catch the annual World Folk Festival.
You'll definitely want to make your next stop the city of Fort Bragg, just a few miles north of Caspar. Fishing and wood products are the primary industries in this town, but tourism is quickly catching up. It's no wonder! There's plenty to do here. Guests can explore tide pools and collect glass on the unique Glass Beach, visit the picturesque Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, or climb aboard the Skunk Train for a spectacular 40-mile run between Fort Bragg and Willits, through the redwoods and across 30 bridges and trestles.
Fort Bragg lodging includes a number of excellent B&Bs, a large selection of hotels and motels, and plenty of campgrounds for those who prefer to 'rough it.' Vacation rentals include some of the town's best real estate, with great views of the Pacific. Fort Bragg dining is diverse as well, with offerings ranging from pizza and burgers to fine local seafood.
Cleone, located just above Fort Bragg, serves as the entrance to pretty MacKerricher State Park, where visitors and locals head to hike, horseback ride, or camp near the waters of the Pacific.
Twelve miles north of Fort Bragg, you'll find one of the only wineries on Mendocino County's Northern Coast. The Pacific Star Winery offers free tastings and a well-stocked wine store.
Finally, the northernmost town of Westport - once a lumber town of 20,000 but now home to about 200 - offers awesome scenery and friendly folks. With two inns in town, it's possibly to spend the night here, but you won't find much in terms of restaurants.
Visitors, however, appreciate the peace and quiet of the Westport CA area and many have decided to make it their home, purchasing one of the 20-acre parcels of spectacular real estate known as Westport Estates, just north of town.
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