This Northern California destination has 24 national and state parks and 90 miles of idyllic coastline.
That’s how it should be in Mendocino County because so much of the area is protected.
StunningHendy Woods State Park, for example, was established in 1958 to preserve old-growth redwood trees.
alantobey/Getty Images
(The only other place Ive seen such coastal beauty is actually 150 miles south, inPoint Reyes.)
Hike Fern Canyon Loop.
Find this6.2-mile loop trailinRussian Gulch State Park, which is just south ofthe town of Fort Bragg.
Courtesy Visit Mendocino
Today, any route on theSkunk Trainis a slow and easy ride kids and train enthusiasts will love.
Glass Beach is the site of Mendocinos third water dump.
Visit another Mendocino beach.
Brendan McGuigan
Note that even in July, the average high here is 66 degrees Fahrenheit.
TryFog Eater Cafefor plant-based Cali cuisine.
And don’t skipCafe Beaujolais, a French spot in an 1893 Victorian farmhouse.
Chelsea Loren/Travel + Leisure
Other tasting rooms for your list areLichen Estate,Toulouse Vineyards, andGoldeneye.
Note that most require a timed reservation, so its best to plan your visit in advance.
Boonville
An agenda-less day in a small town is a good day, and Boonville (pop.
David Pu’u/Getty Images
If youd like to stay right in town, check in at the one-of-a-kindBoonville Hotel and Restaurant.
On hot summer days, youll see people swimming in cool pools along the Navarro River in the park.
The Apple Farm in Philo
My grandmother was a religious farmstand shopper.
Courtesy Goldeneye Winery
The farmstand is open daily, so you might stock up on apples and pears for your hiking adventures.
Thatcher Hotel
Set inland in the adorable town of Hopland (pop.
The hotel was established in 1890, but its current look is the result of a somewhat recent renovation.
Aubrie Pick
The inn team will help you book adventures, too, like forest bathing and seasonal foraging excursions.
They also plant a redwood tree for every guest better yet, theyll help you plant the seed yourself.
Mendocino Grove
For a glamping experience, considerMendocino Grove.
Nick Z Photo
The site has 60 tents set up in well-spaced neighborhoods, as the resort calls them.
Theres live music around the campfire on select summer nights, and a campfire cookout series, too.
The highway pitches you left and right as you curve west through redwood forest.
Stopping at Navarro River Redwood State Park is a must, and the aforementioned Boonville is here, too.
From there, Mendocino Village is 95 miles away.
