Sharon

I will be going to Mendocino for the week after Thanksgiving. Any ideas on what to expect weatherwise, scenery-wise, restaurant-wise, pasttime-wise? Thank you in advance.

Faina

In that area I think you can expect strong wind, so make sure you're dressed appropriately, and I mean not only a warm sweater, but a windbreaker or a light jacket. The wind will be in your bones. You can check weather.com but add wind to those degrees. Is the skunk train in Mendocino? I think so. They have a web to check if this train runs in November.

Sharon

I have checked around since I posted this question and have come across some interesting sites. A KOA heated wood cabin on the beach in Manchester for $39. a nite, and the Elk Cove Inn and some other inns. Any suggestions or ideas on these?

Jacque

Sharon-
Mendocino is about 4 hours from where our family lives and we go at least twice a year. It's a beautiful part of the California coast. There are many State parks and beaches in the area. The skunk train is in Ft. Bragg. Mendacino itself offers many restaraunts and shops. Mendacino sits on a bluff of sorts and has spectacular views. The town itself looks like it should be in New England. In fact, the house they used to show in the opening of "Murder She Wrote" is actually in Mendacino. There are beaches and tidepools. Since it's almost always overcast and damp there, they have beautiful fern "canyons" that you can hike through. The locals say they have about 2 weeks of sun there. We stayed there for a week once it fog every day. When we left we drove maybe 5 miles inland and there was sunshine. The fogs not bad, just don't go expecting to lay on the beach in the sunshine. Have fun (I'm sure you will).

Tory

Sharon,

Are you into wine? There are several wineries along highway 101; the one my husband and I visited is Fetzer's, whne when we made a trip from the north coast of CA down to SF. It's not far from Mendocino. That time of year will be a little chilly, so make sure you take sweatshirts and a jacket. I've heard Fort Bragg is a nice, quaint, though small town that has a great view of the ocean. Can't help you with resraurants. Enjoy your planning.

steve

If it's wine you want, drive a few miles south on 101 to State Route 128 and go to the Navarro/Philo area, several good wineries and the Boonville brew pub has good food and beer, very lovely valley as well.

Fran

Staryed at the Elk Cove Inn. Very nice and a great innkeeper (Elaine, I believe). Breakfast was great.

charles

We just visited the area before thanksgiving. We weren't that excited about Mendocino, being from New England. (It doesn't look -that- much like NEw ENgland). We loved Ft Bragg though. Nice town with good food and a genuine flavor. Mendocino, on the other hand, has been turned into solid Bed and Breakfasts. Not nearly so interesting, as a result.

In Ft Bragg we liked Eggheads, the Ft Bragg Bakery, and Cafe Prima, a Kenyan restaurant (my first).

In general, seems like it would be a wonderful place to live if it didn't rain all the time. OR, if you didn't mind the rain.