I heard some non-Californians think "Hollywood" when they hear "California". In reality, "Hollywood" is a small part of California. Agriculture is our No. 1 industry and goegraphically, we are mostly mountains, forests and deserts. Mendocino to me, is quintessentially California: wild and rugged, with gluten-free organic vegan options available for your dining pleasure.
Mendocino is a great place to bask in the beauty of California from the comfort of your cabin or room. Enjoy a West Coast sunset from anywhere you happen to be when the sun is setting. There is no bad spot.
Things to Do
1. Mendocino Headlands State Park is easy to get to - it surrounds the Town of Mendocino! Not only is it beautiful, it is free!
2. Check their calendar for festivals. During normal summers, the festivals are held right on Main Street, overlooking the ocean. Can't think of a better venue for a festival in this region.
3. Walk around the Town of Mendocino.
4. Temple of Kwan Tai is small and interesting. Came out of nowhere, and it's all good!
Places to Eat
5. Mendocino Village Pharmacy is also a supermarket and has a kick-ass deli. If you're looking for a good meal but don't want to deal with food servers and wait times, come on over and grab good drip coffee, warm dish from the deli and fresh food from the chiller.
6. Good Life Cafe & Bakery is worth the long line to order. Even early in the morning, but it is so worth it. Try at least once. Great coffee, great pastries and great breakfasts.
7. Grab a treat at Chocolate Haus while walking Mendocino's Main Street boardwalk.
8. Frankie's is also a great place to grab a quick lunch and dessert. Their pizza slices and ice cream cones were a hit with the kiddos!
Places to Shop
10. Astoria Home is such a cute store with a lot of great items that you never knew you had to have.
11. Gallery Bookshop & Bookwinkle's Children's Books is a great place to get souvenirs for the kiddos. If you have to buy them souvenirs, why not books, right?
12. Mendocino Jams & Preserves local and handcrafted in small batches. Also, they're great gifts to give away.
Where to Stay
Mendocino Hotel apparently is not just the hotel building on Main Street. The houses surrounding the hotel have been converted into suites. This is great! Our stay in one of these former houses made me more comfortable than I would have been had we stayed in one of the hotel's rooms.
MacCallum House Inn is a historic building and quaint inn right on Main Street.
By the way, you'll notice an inordinate amount of water towers while walking around. Apparently, they are still used to provide water for the town. You can read more about it here.
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