Fun and cheap things to do in Mendocino?
October 30, 2007 12:13 PM Subscribe
Fun, inexpensive things to do in/around Mendocino?
There have been a number of questions here that involve Mendocino, CA in some way, but not quite what I'm looking for. I'm going to be spending three days (this Saturday, Sunday, Monday) in a cute B&B in the town of Mendocino with my girlfriend, and we're looking for some fun but cheap things to do. It seems a lot of activities around there involve spending a fair amount of money.
Some suggestions we've gotten thus far:
- The lighthouse/museum at Point Arena
- The pygmy forest in the Jughandle State Reserve
- Botanical Gardens
We like hiking, don't mind cold & fog, and would probably be willing to spend money on one or two things but just don't want to blow the bank on a whole weekend. We have a car, too. We're mid-20s, active but not too active, mellow, easy-going, FWIW.
Thanks!
There have been a number of questions here that involve Mendocino, CA in some way, but not quite what I'm looking for. I'm going to be spending three days (this Saturday, Sunday, Monday) in a cute B&B in the town of Mendocino with my girlfriend, and we're looking for some fun but cheap things to do. It seems a lot of activities around there involve spending a fair amount of money.
Some suggestions we've gotten thus far:
- The lighthouse/museum at Point Arena
- The pygmy forest in the Jughandle State Reserve
- Botanical Gardens
We like hiking, don't mind cold & fog, and would probably be willing to spend money on one or two things but just don't want to blow the bank on a whole weekend. We have a car, too. We're mid-20s, active but not too active, mellow, easy-going, FWIW.
Thanks!
Jughandle is nice. If you like hostel-style accommodations, you can stay there cheaply. Besides the pygmy forest, Jughandle has a beautiful secluded beach you can hike down to.
The next town north is Fort Bragg. I spent a year there in woodworking school. Look at a map and you'll see Pudding Creek on the north edge of town; there are just a few side streets north of it. Somewhere in there is a little trail head, a gate across the end of a road keeping cars from going further. There's a lovely path up through the woods to a cleared hilltop from which there's a beautiful ocean view. This isn't developed park land, so no signs. I wish I could give better directions, but it's been about seven years since I was there. If you got near the area, a local could probably direct you. The trail is popular with mountain bikers. I could stand to do that hike again.
Fort Bragg also has a tourist railroad (steam) that goes back into the woods. I'm not sure of the price.
posted by jon1270 at 1:00 PM on October 30, 2007
The next town north is Fort Bragg. I spent a year there in woodworking school. Look at a map and you'll see Pudding Creek on the north edge of town; there are just a few side streets north of it. Somewhere in there is a little trail head, a gate across the end of a road keeping cars from going further. There's a lovely path up through the woods to a cleared hilltop from which there's a beautiful ocean view. This isn't developed park land, so no signs. I wish I could give better directions, but it's been about seven years since I was there. If you got near the area, a local could probably direct you. The trail is popular with mountain bikers. I could stand to do that hike again.
Fort Bragg also has a tourist railroad (steam) that goes back into the woods. I'm not sure of the price.
posted by jon1270 at 1:00 PM on October 30, 2007
Glass Beach in Ft Bragg is very cool. Afterwards, go to North Coast Brewery and drink beer!
posted by rtha at 1:04 PM on October 30, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by rtha at 1:04 PM on October 30, 2007 [2 favorites]
On the north side of Fort Bragg there's a wonderful little hidden place called Glass Beach. I think there used to be an old bottle factory there or something, but the whole beach's worth of "sand" consists of tiny, smoothed-out pebbles of multi-colored glass. It's quite amazing.
Oh, and if you're in Mendocino (and it still exists) go visit "Out of This World" (a science-themed shop) and the wonderful Gallery Bookshop/Bookwinkles on Main street.
posted by you're a kitty! at 1:06 PM on October 30, 2007
Oh, and if you're in Mendocino (and it still exists) go visit "Out of This World" (a science-themed shop) and the wonderful Gallery Bookshop/Bookwinkles on Main street.
posted by you're a kitty! at 1:06 PM on October 30, 2007
Mendocino can be a bit too precious for more than a short time, and I've preferred to hang out Fort Bragg for at least part of the time I've been there. (on preview, dittoing.) You could also check out Albion and the other small communities.
posted by anadem at 1:07 PM on October 30, 2007
posted by anadem at 1:07 PM on October 30, 2007
How could I forget Glass Beach? I believe it was, long ago, the town dump. All the broken bottles have been polished by the sea.
Not sure if it's the one anadem refers to, but Mendocino does (or did) have a great used book shop.
Kayak rental somewhere along there comes to mind, too.
posted by jon1270 at 1:12 PM on October 30, 2007
Not sure if it's the one anadem refers to, but Mendocino does (or did) have a great used book shop.
Kayak rental somewhere along there comes to mind, too.
posted by jon1270 at 1:12 PM on October 30, 2007
Walking around the headlands is wonderful - there are trails around and you can go down to the beach. You could also check out the art center, maybe even take a class if the timing works out for you. There's not a lot going on there because people go there to relax and the townies are pretty low key.
posted by jasper411 at 1:31 PM on October 30, 2007
posted by jasper411 at 1:31 PM on October 30, 2007
rtha stole my two recommendations. I'll add, though, that you really need to go to Glass Beach when you're there -- Ft. Bragg decommissioned the bottle dump 30 or 40 years ago, and the pieces of beach glass you'll find there get smaller every year. It's a wasting, non-renewable resource.
The North Coast Brewery has tours, but I think they're only once or twice a week. Call ahead.
Ft. Bragg also has a great restaurant on the main drag, not to pricey: Mendo Bistro.
The Skunk Train -- pfft. For my money, no fun unless you go with a four-year-old who's into Thomas the Tank Engine.
posted by mudpuppie at 2:40 PM on October 30, 2007
The North Coast Brewery has tours, but I think they're only once or twice a week. Call ahead.
Ft. Bragg also has a great restaurant on the main drag, not to pricey: Mendo Bistro.
The Skunk Train -- pfft. For my money, no fun unless you go with a four-year-old who's into Thomas the Tank Engine.
posted by mudpuppie at 2:40 PM on October 30, 2007
Yeah, the tours are limited, but they do have a brewpub, which is open...well, a lot. For eating and drinking I don't remember anything about the food, but the beer! Oh, beer!). We are especially fond of their Old Rasputin.
posted by rtha at 3:08 PM on October 30, 2007
posted by rtha at 3:08 PM on October 30, 2007
Another vote for Jughandle. It's a moderately strenuous hike that covers over a dozen microclimates.
Downtown Fort Brag is quite small and walkable, and has a few funky stores. Downtown Mendocino is also small and walkable, though a bit higher-end. You'll have no problem finding decent coffee at either.
posted by dws at 4:02 PM on October 30, 2007 [1 favorite]
Downtown Fort Brag is quite small and walkable, and has a few funky stores. Downtown Mendocino is also small and walkable, though a bit higher-end. You'll have no problem finding decent coffee at either.
posted by dws at 4:02 PM on October 30, 2007 [1 favorite]
The Redwood forest mentioned above is Montgomery Woods. It happens to be one of my favorite palces in California. If you two are up for a (gorgeous!) drive inland a bit, I highly recomend going there. It's not very large, so 2-3 hours should be plenty of time to see the whole thing, and that can include a picnic. You can stop off at Ukiah Co-op in Ukiah for supplies(Safeway across the street also). Here is a defunct page of mine with some pics from the area I took a few years ago on a road trip with my Swiss friend Daniele.
Also in Ukiah is a museum called the Sun House. You can learn a lot of really interesting local history there, and go through a fascinating hand-built house as well.
Definately go to the Mendo Botanical Gardens, very nice place that goes from almost woods, to meadows to rocky coastline.
Fort Ross is just South a bit. I haven't been inside (it's closed every time I roll past it..), but there are a couple pics in the 'California Coastline' link on my photo page.
You might think about Saturday and Monday on the coast with a jaunt inland on Sunday for a hike and a poke around Ukiah. There is, of course, a lot more things (even cheap ones) to do around there, but these are highlights I think everyone should see.
I've only really spent time in the city of Mendocino once, with a girlfriend. While we were there, we joked that there must be some city ordinances re: what plants can go together so that the blooms will complement each other and the houses. Heehee, the place is just TOO DAMN CUTE!
posted by a_green_man at 4:46 PM on October 30, 2007 [1 favorite]
Also in Ukiah is a museum called the Sun House. You can learn a lot of really interesting local history there, and go through a fascinating hand-built house as well.
Definately go to the Mendo Botanical Gardens, very nice place that goes from almost woods, to meadows to rocky coastline.
Fort Ross is just South a bit. I haven't been inside (it's closed every time I roll past it..), but there are a couple pics in the 'California Coastline' link on my photo page.
You might think about Saturday and Monday on the coast with a jaunt inland on Sunday for a hike and a poke around Ukiah. There is, of course, a lot more things (even cheap ones) to do around there, but these are highlights I think everyone should see.
I've only really spent time in the city of Mendocino once, with a girlfriend. While we were there, we joked that there must be some city ordinances re: what plants can go together so that the blooms will complement each other and the houses. Heehee, the place is just TOO DAMN CUTE!
posted by a_green_man at 4:46 PM on October 30, 2007 [1 favorite]
Here's a hike we did a couple of months ago at Russian Gulch just a couple of months ago. It's a nice quiet redwood hike just a few minutes north of Mendocino. It takes in a secluded waterfall, and doesn't even involve a lot of elevation change unless you opt for one of the longer trails. There's also coastland headland and a blowhole located in the park.
posted by yorkie at 5:03 PM on October 30, 2007
posted by yorkie at 5:03 PM on October 30, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Malor at 12:46 PM on October 30, 2007