Location: Mendocino
Top Things to do in Mendocino
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Top 10 Things to do Good for Couples in Mendocino, California (CA)
Shop, eat, and enjoy the feeling of going back in time to a simpler era as you groove to the vibes of downtown Mendocino’s hippy past and quaint New England style architecture. Find a secluded bluff, and listen to seals splashing and barking. Visit the Mendocino Art Center, started by San Francisco artists in the 1950s. Enjoy a Mendocino Theater Company performance. Stop in historic Ford House, which doubles as city museum and Mendocino Headlands State Park visitors center. Mendocino Headlands State Park winds around Mendocino Bay, and is a wildlife corridor linking coast and inland areas. Savor the spring wildflowers. In July the Headlands and city are home to the Mendocino Music Festival. Groove to the ocean views, blowholes, wave tunnels, sea arches, grottos, and tide pools as you hike the beaches and cliff trails. Along the Mendocino Headlands Trail, watch for old cross-ties from the oxen-powered railway that dumped lumber to ships below the bluff. Drive 2 miles north of Mendocino to Russian Gulch State Park for rock fishing, swimming, skin diving, tide pools, bicycling, a 36-foot high waterfall, and a Devil's Punch Bowl of churning water. Savor spring rhododendron blooms at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Take the family on the half-day Skunk Train roundtrip from Fort Bragg to inland Northspur. Bird watch at Cleone Lake, a tidal lagoon in MacKerricher State Park, 3 miles north of Fort Bragg. Enjoy MacKerricher’s wheelchair accessible nature trail, Ten Mile beach, fishing, hiking, jogging, horseback riding, and bicycling. Take the kids to Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park. Tee off at the 5,458-yard, 9-hole coastal golf course at Little River Inn, which also offers llama treks. Take the family to Little River State Park and Van Damme Beach State Park, which are near Little River Airport (KLLR). Kids love the recently renovated Point Arena Lighthouse, because they can climb to the top.
Restaurants in Mendocino
1. Mendocino Coast
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 756 reviews
A scenic drive along California's Pacific coastline offering beaches, historic lighthouses and old-time fishing villages.
Reviewed By Martysfo - San Rafael, United States
Great cliffs, fog and quiet mark this coast. It is cold and chilly, even in August. Yet it is a must see so one can step back in time to how California used to be. A bonus is the trip up through the Anderson Valley Wine Region on the way to the coast from the Bay Area.
2. Mendocino Coast Massage
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 11 reviews
Our Mendocino massage studio is conveniently located right in the village of Mendocino at 45180 Main Street directly across from the bay. We are also happy to come to your home, hotel room or vacation house serving the Coast from Fort Bragg to Point Arena. Whether you are visiting the beautiful Mendocino Coast for a few days, or live here full-time, we would love to help you feel relaxed, rebalanced and refreshed. With a genuine desire to meet your individual needs, we can offer a fabulous massage in your choice of location.
3. Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 88 reviews
The Stanford Inn's Catch a Canoe & Bicycles Too is open year round to both Inn guests and the general public. Established in 1972, Catch a Canoe offers kayak, outrigger and canoe rentals on Big River Estuary. Locally made redwood outriggers are extra stable, efficient and easy to control with a foot operated rudder. Perfect for couples, families and pets. Mountain bikes are also available for rentals or for sale. Open daily from 9 to 5.
4. Russian Gulch State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 291 reviews
This park's view of the Mendocino headlands is enhanced by a spectacular array of wildflowers.
Reviewed By barfiemermaid - Costa Mesa, United States
Main trail to the falls is closed so we had to take the north trail which adds a few more miles. We did almost 11 miles with altitude. It was a beatiful hike almost completely shaded. The cliffs on the north side was gorgeous as well as the sink hole!
5. Jughandle State Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 131 reviews
This reserve is famous for its Staircase Trail
Reviewed By okayaway - Benicia, United States
great views on the ocean and hills. easy to find off of highway 1 and a few great easy hikes out to the ocean cliffs.
6. Van Damme State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 233 reviews
Picturesque spot known for its Pygmy Forest of small trees and Fern Canyon.
Reviewed By paulmU4660DC - Walnut Creek, United States
Hike beside the Fern Canyon Creek from the Van Damme Visitor Center to the Pygmy Forest Natural Preserve. The trail, originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, crosses over the creek on 10 bridges. The trail follows the Creek up to the Pygmy Forest, but it's not a strenuous climb. The Pygmy Forest has a guided boardwalk explaining why the forest trees species are different from the flora and fauna in the Canyon.
7. Big River
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 98 reviews
A beautiful estuary in which to observe nature.
Reviewed By KarinaL101
We walked down to this area where the river meets the ocean. People were surfing, paddle boarding and boating in kayaks. The beach area was immense.
8. Ross Ranch
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 50 reviews
This 11 acre ranch rents out horses for beach and mountain trails.
Reviewed By Lapin1967 - London, United Kingdom
Memorable experience of horse riding on a deserted beach as inexperienced riders. Tobi and Nancy were very attentive - sharing fun facts about horses and the local coast. The horses were gentle. The scenery was spectacular. My 13 year old daughter loved it. Highly recommended.
9. Mendocino Headlands State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 500 reviews
A scenic and appealing rugged promontory along the California coast.
Reviewed By Abacus3 - California, United States
Beautiful views and a lovely walk. It's also a great whale watching spot. Take your binoculars and a picnic, you'll want to stick around.
10. Mendocino Art Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 121 reviews
