Mendocino
Feb 23rd, 2016, 08:44 AM
#1
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Mendocino
Hello! My boyfriend and I (late 20's) will be spending three days in Mendocino from May 25 - 28. We're renting a cottage near town. Looking for recommendations on the best things to see and do, based on our itinerary... if anyone has any thoughts on our itinerary, we'd appreciate it!
Wednesday 5/25 - Land at SFO, rent car, lunch at Lagunitas in Petaluma, take RT 1 up the coast and stop at vista points along the way. Any recommendations on where to eat our first night in Mendocino?
Thursday, 5/26 & Friday, 5/27 - Looking for suggestions on wine tastings, great hikes, breakfast spots, places to eat, other outdoor activities, etc.
Saturday, 5/28 - Will leave Mendocino early, and take 128 to 101, stopping for lunch in Healdsburg - any recommendation there or stops on the way back to SF?
Thank you!
Wednesday 5/25 - Land at SFO, rent car, lunch at Lagunitas in Petaluma, take RT 1 up the coast and stop at vista points along the way. Any recommendations on where to eat our first night in Mendocino?
Thursday, 5/26 & Friday, 5/27 - Looking for suggestions on wine tastings, great hikes, breakfast spots, places to eat, other outdoor activities, etc.
Saturday, 5/28 - Will leave Mendocino early, and take 128 to 101, stopping for lunch in Healdsburg - any recommendation there or stops on the way back to SF?
Thank you!
Feb 23rd, 2016, 09:05 AM
#2
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We enjoyed the Fern Canyon trail in Van Damme State Park. We also enjoyed kayaking in Mendocino; if memory serves there are several outfitters who rent kayaks/offer tours.
I can't help you much with eating out. For ate most of our meals at our VRBO rental. We enjoyed the beer at North Coast Brewery in nearby Fort Bragg.
In Healdsburg, we had a great lunch at Willi's.
I can't help you much with eating out. For ate most of our meals at our VRBO rental. We enjoyed the beer at North Coast Brewery in nearby Fort Bragg.
In Healdsburg, we had a great lunch at Willi's.
Feb 23rd, 2016, 09:22 AM
#3
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MaryLovestoTravel, your trip is one of my ideal trips, so I hope you enjoy it!
(We even always stop at Lagunitas for lunch on our way from the airport
)
In Mendocino, we had a lovely dinner at Cafe Beaujolais, just stellar food, and the classic French cocktails were fun.
On the much more casual side, we also liked Patterson's Pub for fish and chips and a good tap selection. Warm atmosphere!
We spent a couple of hours wandering around the redwoods in Hendy Woods State Park, and another several hours exploring the Mendocino Headlands, all easy walking more than hiking, but stunningly scenic.
As for wine tasting, I'd say Roederer Estate is a must; you can take the tour or just turn up at the tasting room. They usually pour their rose sparkling in both the 750ml and magnum formats, which makes for an interesting comparison, and the tasting room has nice views from atop a hill. We also really like Goldeneye (pinot noir is the specialty of the valley, and theirs might be the best); Toulouse; and there's a wine bar in Ukiah that pours selections from area wineries, if you find yourselves there. This is a good map of wineries in the Anderson Valley:
http://www.avwines.com/anderson-valley-appellation-map/
Finally, I love Healdsburg, but my absolute favorite stop for lunch (or any meal) is Diavola in Geyserville.
Again, have fun!
http://www.avwines.com/anderson-valley-appellation-map/
(We even always stop at Lagunitas for lunch on our way from the airport
)In Mendocino, we had a lovely dinner at Cafe Beaujolais, just stellar food, and the classic French cocktails were fun.
On the much more casual side, we also liked Patterson's Pub for fish and chips and a good tap selection. Warm atmosphere!
We spent a couple of hours wandering around the redwoods in Hendy Woods State Park, and another several hours exploring the Mendocino Headlands, all easy walking more than hiking, but stunningly scenic.
As for wine tasting, I'd say Roederer Estate is a must; you can take the tour or just turn up at the tasting room. They usually pour their rose sparkling in both the 750ml and magnum formats, which makes for an interesting comparison, and the tasting room has nice views from atop a hill. We also really like Goldeneye (pinot noir is the specialty of the valley, and theirs might be the best); Toulouse; and there's a wine bar in Ukiah that pours selections from area wineries, if you find yourselves there. This is a good map of wineries in the Anderson Valley:
http://www.avwines.com/anderson-valley-appellation-map/
Finally, I love Healdsburg, but my absolute favorite stop for lunch (or any meal) is Diavola in Geyserville.
Again, have fun!
http://www.avwines.com/anderson-valley-appellation-map/
Feb 23rd, 2016, 09:32 AM
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Oh, and I have to give a plug to Anderson Valley Brewing--if you're stopping at Lagunitas you probably already know about them. Nice tasting room with a big selection of beers they don't distribute.
http://avbc.com
http://avbc.com
Feb 23rd, 2016, 09:39 AM
#5
• Fern Canyon
• Glass Beach
• the Botanic Gardens (which are amazing and should be absolutely at their • best in May after the wet winter we've had)
• Pacific Star Winery. Probably the most amazing view of any tasting room in California (not the tasting room in Ft Bragg but at the winery several miles north of town) https://www.google.com/search?q=paci...n9CcUQ_AUICCgD
• North Coast Brewery
• at least one seafood dinner or lunch in Noyo Harbor down below the Highway at the mouth of the river.
LOTS more but w/ just wandering around Mendocino itself you will run out of town long before you run out of time. In fact I probably wouldn't dawdle on my way up and maximize my time around Mendocino/Ft Bragg.
• Glass Beach
• the Botanic Gardens (which are amazing and should be absolutely at their • best in May after the wet winter we've had)
• Pacific Star Winery. Probably the most amazing view of any tasting room in California (not the tasting room in Ft Bragg but at the winery several miles north of town) https://www.google.com/search?q=paci...n9CcUQ_AUICCgD
• North Coast Brewery
• at least one seafood dinner or lunch in Noyo Harbor down below the Highway at the mouth of the river.
LOTS more but w/ just wandering around Mendocino itself you will run out of town long before you run out of time. In fact I probably wouldn't dawdle on my way up and maximize my time around Mendocino/Ft Bragg.
Feb 23rd, 2016, 09:47 AM
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A note about North Coast Brewing (which is in Fort Bragg): instead of a brewery tasting room, they have a pub/restaurant that opens at 2pm every day. There is also a shop across the street from the restaurant that sells packaged beer and t shirts and such but doesn't do tastings.
Does the restaurant do tasting flights? We turned up before it opened and were disappointed.
Does the restaurant do tasting flights? We turned up before it opened and were disappointed.
Apr 23rd, 2016, 03:34 AM
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Thank you everyone for your great advice so far. We are only about a month away from our trip and so excited. I've put together some thoughts on a general itinerary and wanted to share in case anyone thought some things were unreasonable or we're skipping any cant miss opportunities. Thanks in advance!
Wednesday 5/25 - arrive at the airport, pick up car at noon. Drive to Petaluma for lunch at Lagunitas. Drive to Mendocino along coast, stopping at Bowling Ball beach in Point Arena. Casual dinner at Patterson's Pub.
Thursday 5/26 - hopefully catch the sunrise and explore the headlands. Kayak tour of sea caves at 11:30, drive out to Anderson Valley to visit Anderson Valley brewing company. Dinner at Cafe Beaujolais back in Mendocino.
Friday, 5/27 - explore Fort Bragg including glass beach and a ride on the skunk train. Lunch in Noyo harbor - maybe Sea Pal Cove? Stop at North Coast brewing and then Pacific Star Winery north of FB.
Saturday, 5/28 - head out of Mendocino, stop for lunch in Headlesburg on the way back to SF.
Wednesday 5/25 - arrive at the airport, pick up car at noon. Drive to Petaluma for lunch at Lagunitas. Drive to Mendocino along coast, stopping at Bowling Ball beach in Point Arena. Casual dinner at Patterson's Pub.
Thursday 5/26 - hopefully catch the sunrise and explore the headlands. Kayak tour of sea caves at 11:30, drive out to Anderson Valley to visit Anderson Valley brewing company. Dinner at Cafe Beaujolais back in Mendocino.
Friday, 5/27 - explore Fort Bragg including glass beach and a ride on the skunk train. Lunch in Noyo harbor - maybe Sea Pal Cove? Stop at North Coast brewing and then Pacific Star Winery north of FB.
Saturday, 5/28 - head out of Mendocino, stop for lunch in Headlesburg on the way back to SF.
