Why thank you for the gentlemanly (ladylike?) response, DAX. I wasn't trying to be contradictory to those who love Mendocino -- simply wanted to point out that it's not for everybody, despite its being touted in every Ca guidebook.

I would love to participate in the mushroom festival. Let me know when, where, and how to elude the men in blue.
;;)

I know not everyone loves Mendocino, and I probably should have explained my joyous comments a bit more. It has certainly changed over the years - I would not want to be there at the height of the tourist season. But janmart is traveling in February and I think you have a chance of still seeing the good ol'-fashioned Mendo in February.

My grandparents owned a cabin in the woods a few miles from town for nearly 30 years. I grew up spending long weekends and holidays at that cabin, going into town for shopping and nice dinners. We built forts in the woods, walked for hours on 10-Mile Beach near Fort Bragg, and watched the sunset from the headlands while eating giant ice cream cones. It was pretty darn idyllic. It was still idyllic when I got married in the little Mendocino Presbyterian church 7 years ago. Some of my favorite shops are gone, but the town has not lost its aging-hippie charm.

Mendocino has an interesting history, and I love the fact that it is home to so many artists (successful and aspiring). You can stay in some incredible places, eat incredible food, drink incredible wine, and enjoy some of the most beautiful ocean vistas on the California coast. Not too bad, if you ask me.

hausfrau: Mendocino is a nice relaxing place indeed. I've heard a lot of similar stories and the last one was about about oyster (or abalone?) diving that people do every year. I heard they barbeque them right on the beach.

Lucie: The mushroom festival occurs in October. I'm a fan of mushrooms, the legal kinds of course. Well you'd never know though what they have in Mendocino, as hausfrau mentioned, it had its share of hippies. ;)