what to do when in mendocino
Stay: Glendeven (now the SCP Mendocino Inn and Farm). I can’t say enough good things about our Glendeven stay. It’s nothing fancy, but it is so cute and quaint, and really feels like a family run bed & breakfast. There are chickens and alpacas running around, they have a full vegetable farm, and they bring you breakfast in a picnic basket each morning with fresh eggs and freshly baked pastries. Note: since we visited, SCP bought Glendeven, so I’m not sure if anything about the hotel has changed.
Day 1:
Lunch at Mendocino Cafe.
Explore the town - they’ve got a lot of cute artisan shops. Go to Loot & Lore if you are into crystals ;)
Drive to Glass Beach (named because it used to be full of seaglass from dumping garbage into an area of coastline nearby). You can still find some seaglass, but nothing compared to what it used to be.
Walk the Novo Coastal Trail, located by Glass Beach.
Cowlick’s Ice Cream - honestly might be some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had.
Check into Glendeven, explore the grounds and feed the chickens.
Drive into town, get a bottle of wine and head to Mendocino Headlands State Park for sunset.
Dinner at Fog Eater - vegan restaurant loved by many non-vegans.
Day 2:
Breakfast at Glendeven (if you are not staying at Glendeven, GoodLife Cafe & Bakery).
Rent an outrigger catch-a-canoe. You have to book this in advance (usually), and if they don’t have availability, Kayak Noyo is a good backup option.
Lunch at Princess Seafood in Fort Bragg - delicious, fresh seafood.
Drive to Anderson Valley for a tasting at Goldeneye Vineyard.
Drinks at Little River Inn.
Dinner at Trillium.
Day 3:
Breakfast at Glendeven.
Walk the headlands at the Van Damme State Park (4 miles).
Lunch at Cafe Beaujolais for wood-fired pizzas.
Stop by Pennyroyal Farm on the way home.
