Location: Point Arena
Top Things to do in Point Arena
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10 Things to Do in Point Arena That You Shouldn't Miss
Point Arena (formerly, Punta Arenas and Puntas Arenas) is a small coastal city in Mendocino County, California, United States. Point Arena is located 32 miles (51 km) west of Hopland, at an elevation of 118 feet (36 m) . The population was 449 at the 2010 census, down from 474 at the 2000 census, making it one of the smallest incorporated cities in the state. Its main street comprises part of State Route 1, California's coastal artery. Along with a number of other Mendocino County coastal communities, Point Arena is associated with the hippie and subsequent counterculture groups. Reportedly, the economy is largely geared toward servicing the summertime tourist industry. The City is near the headquarters of the tribal lands of Manchester Band of Pomo Indians of the Manchester-Point Arena Rancheria. The City is adjacent to the recently formed Point Arena Stornetta Public Lands National Monument. Hiking Trails can be accesses at the Point Arena City Hall Parking. Spectacular coastal prairie and ocean views await. Of special note is Arena Cove and pier with huge ocean front bluffs showing power of the interface of the Tectonic plates.
Restaurants in Point Arena
1. B Bryan Preserve
Overall Ratings
5 based on 190 reviews
B Bryan Preserve is committed to the breeding and preservation of African hoof stock. Located on 110 acres, the preserve features upscale lodging along with tours by reservation. Critically endangered Rothschild Giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Hartmann's Mountain Zebra along with Kudu, Roan and Sable antelope are thriving in large open fields.Make us your base for discovering the Mendocino coast. The small town of Point Arena has a working pier on one end and a historic lighthouse on the other with African Hoof Stock in the middle.
Reviewed By hheathfrost - Oakland, California
A friend recommended the preserve and it was fantastic. No hype, no caged animals.
We got to see giraffes sparring, a normal behavior of dominance that wouldn't happen in a smaller enclosure. I knew I was watching WILD animals, not caged ones! The zebra markings were fascinating, different for each kind of zebra, and so beautiful. The guides were obviously engaged and dedicated and were eager for questions.
2. Point Arena Lighthouse & Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 350 reviews
The Point Arena Lighthouse stands as an iconic figure on the landscape of the American Pacific Coast. No other lighthouse offers such a fully interactive experience in the exchange between history, science and natural beauty. Sometimes brilliantly sunny, other times fog-shrouded and mysterious, always ruggedly beautiful, the lighthouse is a place to find something different, a place where the romance is real and the experience is profound. Surrounded by water on three sides, and shouldered adjacent to the Point Arena/Stornetta Public Lands, the Point Arena Lighthouse is the premiere visitor destination in Mendocino County. It is also one of the best whale watching spots on the North Coast, with the annual Gray Whale migration from late November through May, Humpbacks throughout the year, the occasional pod of transient Killer Whales and even Blue Whales. Watch for the spouts, tails and breaches from the top of the Tower and from the trails and gazebo. With nightly lodging and tours of the lighthouse offered daily, what will you discover on your next visit?
Reviewed By Matt F - Manhattan Beach, California, United States
Worth seeing museum and view form the top after 144 steps up. They are self funded so make a donation or buy something in their gift shopThank you Matt F. for such a fantastic review. We hope that you will come back and stay in one of our six cottages. Spend more time enjoying the sunsets and watching the whale migration with us! Hope to see you soon!!
3. Evergreen Cemetery
Overall Ratings
3 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By half-Brit - Oregon Coast
We stumbled upon this old cemetery by accident as we were driving around one day. It's located directly on Highway 1, at the corner of Mountain View Road. There is parking for perhaps a half dozen cars in a small gravel lot.
Although the sign just says "Evergreen Cemetery", I'd call it a pioneer cemetery. There are many graves from the mid and late 1800's.
We walked amongst the graves, reading the headstones, and noticed that there were quite a few for people who had died between 1878 and about 1881. Many of these were young people in the prime of their lives. Was there some sort of epidemic?
We saw lots of the usual children's graves, some for newborns, one of which just said "Twins". Then there were the two siblings who died on the same day in 1903 - were they killed in a wagon accident?
Cemeteries often leave us with more questions than answers...
This cemetery is not well kept up, and there was long grass all through it. There are no real walkways that we saw, although a private gravel driveway runs right through here going to a house - a car came out when we were there!
If you like poking around old cemeteries, though, this one is definitely worth a stop. It's about a mile or so south of the very small town of Manchester, near Point Arena.
4. Point Arena - Stornetta Unit of the California Coastal National Monument
Overall Ratings
5 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By Janis D - Auburn, California
We stayed in this area on our visit and was so pleased with the amount of hiking trails. It is open areas through forest and meadows that leads to stunning bluffs. The views north and south are stunning. Parents, the area is a great place to hike but keep close watch on the kids. Good place to learn about not getting to close to the edge due to erosion!
5. Manchester Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 53 reviews
This 650-acre expanse has huge sand dunes, driftwood and a profusion of wildflowers.
Reviewed By Carolyn M - San Rafael, California
An amazing off the beaten track beach where we were able to enjoy the beauty of our world unimpeded by the masses. Yes, as other reviewers have stated, a trek from the parking lot is involved, but very much worth the effort! This coastal haven has all the beauty of other Northern California coastlines, without the crowds due to it's secluded location. A gorgeous view of the Point Arena Lighthouse, lots of ocean tossed driftwood, tons of toe digging sand and lots of solitude. If you want the standard beach environment, i.e. too many people, then don't bother. If you want to enjoy the peace and beauty that our world has to offer, then do make a trek to this glorious place!
6. Schooner Gulch State Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 37 reviews
Reviewed By RLMartin - Windsor, Colorado
To get to bowling ball beach, you drive south of Point arena 3-4 miles and there's a parking area on the west side of the road that says something like "Park Facing South" or something like that. There are then two trails leaving from this area. The north trail goes to Bowling Ball Beach and the south trail goes to Schooner Gulch Beach. It's a short hike to the cliff and then climb down the stairs to the beach. The problem is the stairs don't go all the way to the beach and end up 10-12 feet above a stream flowing into the ocean. You have to balance walk across about 25 feet of 12" diameter log to get to a pile of logs to get down to the beach. You have to be in pretty good shape and have good balance to accomplish this. Once you get to the beach, you have to walk out onto the beach to see around the cliffs to actually see the area where the "bowling balls" are. It's a 1/4 mile hike down the beach, but it's definitely an interesting site to see large boulders in rows running down the beach. You also have to go at low tide or they'll be under water so it takes some planning and you need to be in good shape to make it down to the beach and be there at the right time.
7. Garcia River Casino
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 53 reviews
Garcia River Casino features great dining and entertainment, plus hundreds of your favorite slot machines! Take Riverside Drive in Point Arena then first left on Windy Hollow Road. Drive 1.8 Miles to the Casino.
Reviewed By ChanEvan - Memphis, Tennessee
Garcia River Casino is 5 years old, but it's well kept & still looks almost new.
A Native American Casino, it features 150 gaming machines in a 9,000 sq. ft. space, + a Bar & Restaurant.
The River Grill has a large menu & reasonable prices, so it's been a hit with the locals. There are not many restaurants in the area. Or much in the way of Entertainment, for that matter.
There are few patrons most of the time, which has a negative effect on the vibe. Probably more employees than customers.
8. Point Arena Pier
Overall Ratings
4 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By Neal S - South Lake Tahoe, California
The 330 foot pier juts into the Pt Arena Cove, a local destination for whale watching, fishing, surfing and meditating, with some tables, seating, bathrooms, and launch…The cove is quiet, protected from the wind, with open ocean views, a rocky bottom with depths of 20-100 feet. I was told that the Mendocino Trench which has some of the deepest water in the ocean is nearby. Supposedly great fishing from the pier and in the cove.
9. Arena Theater
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By thymetobe - The Sea Ranch, California
The Theater offers a variety of entertainment options: current (almost) movies, classic movies, live musical entertainment, opera, other live events.
10. 215 Main
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Wendy D - Jensen Beach, Florida
We were lucky to find this bar. Great BLT's (their bacon is soaked in brown sugar and red pepper flakes then baked). They often have live music. We liked it so much we went back several nights in a row.
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