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We will be driving from San Francisco to Mendocino County. Staying in Mendicino 4 nights. We'd like to take in the best State Park, nautical sights, wildlife, redwoods, etc.
We'd also like to make the round trip 3 hour drive interesting along route with views and stops. Any suggestions?
San Francisco to Fort Bragg/ Mendocino County itinerary
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Are you taking 101 to 128 to 1 and, if so, are you willing to go up 1 all the way or take a detour off of 101?
Taking 1 all the way would be gorgeous, as long as nobody is prone to carsickness. Then you could stop at Point Reyes National Seashore and/or Sonoma Coast State Beach. Or, if you're in a hurry and want to take 101 part of the way, you can take a detour to Armstrong Woods to see redwoods. You can then drive to 1 via 116.
An absolute must-see is the Mendocino Botanical Gardens. It is on Highway 1 between Mendocino and Fort Bragg. The garden paths are varied and gorgeous and take you out to the ocean cliffs as well. A great spot for a picnic or eat at the cafe there.
We were just talking about the botanical gardens today
I haven't been, but everybody at our Fathers' Day celebration raved about it.
Use Fort Bragg as your base - MacKerricher State Park is an amazing place to camp, and an ideal spot to launch all kinds of outdoor adventures. Someone recommended the Botanical Gardens - it's 47 acres and goes from the highway to the ocean. You can also kayak on Noyo River or out Noyo Harbor, explore Glass Beach, ride horses on the beach north of town, walk or bike the beach-front 'haul' road, and stop to be awed by an old growth Redwood grove on the way to the coast. fortbragg.com tells you all about these things, this blog entry is a good place to start - http://tinyurl.com/fbredwoods
The drive on Highway 1 between Bodega Bay and Westport is filled with twists, turns, ups, and downs, but the reward is spectacular view after spectacular view.
I do not share enthusiasm for the Mendocino Botanical Gardens. When we were there it wasn't a complete waste of time, but it wasn't a "wow" either.
HTTY
if you're driving along Highway 1, then plan a stop at Fort Ross State Park.
If you've ever watched a western movie and see all the troopers dashing for the safety of a fort - pretty much all those forts were designed along the model of Fort Ross, which actually was a Russian built "fort"., therfore its name "Fort Ross/Russ")
"We'd also like to make the round trip 3 hour drive interesting along route with views and stops."
Maybe the OP could elaborate on which route they plan to take. And, by the way, any of the routes will take a lot longer than the OP has estimated.