Mendocino, Fort Bragg, and the Rugged Coast

My husband and I love travelling in the fall - fewer crowds, beautiful foliage, and golden sunlight. This year we decided to return to Mendocino on the rugged Northern California coast. We last visited in fall of 2020 when the pandemic was in full swing (see Visit to Mendocino), and wanted to do some more exploring now that things are opening up. We armed ourselves with warm clothing, maps, a bucket list of activities, and our cameras.

Highway 128 is very curvy!

Navarro Vineyards and Winery on Highway 128

From the San Francisco Bay Area, we headed north and then followed the very curvy Highway 128 through oak forests, vineyards, and redwoods to the coast. The sky was gray and overcast, with a weather forecast of rain, but periodically the whole landscape lit up with golden fall light, and then just as quickly returned to gray. Many deciduous trees sported fall shades of yellow, gold, and red, so we had to stop to snap a few pictures.

Room with a view at Little River Inn

Little River Inn Restaurant for dinner

We checked into the Little River Inn just south of Mendocino, relaxed and prepared for dinner at the inn. It's hard to beat a room with a view of the Pacific Ocean. The rain storm blew in at sundown, so we walked to the Little River Inn Restaurant through pouring rain, and then enjoyed a delicious dinner in the main dining room.

Breakfast at Flow Restaurant (with some brief sunlight before the next rain storm)

The Ford House Museum

Historical diorama showing the logging operation in Mendocino

Exhibit of local mushrooms

We spent a day getting reacquainted with Mendocino, starting with breakfast at Flow Restaurant (last time it was "to-go" only), and then spending some time at the Ford House Museum across the street. We learned about the origins of the Victorian-era town and its logging heritage; and about local mushrooms (Mendocino artist, Miriam C. Rice, developed dye and papermaking techniques using the mushrooms).

Blair House Inn (a.k.a., Jessica Fletcher's home)

Trillium Café for dinner (you can still dine in the tent if you choose)

Another rain storm blew in, so we ducked into Mendocino Jams and Preserves to stock up on a few supplies; and then drove by Jessica Fletcher's "home" (technically, the Blair House Inn, where some scenes from "Murder She Wrote" were filmed). During a break in the rain, we walked on the headlands north of town and snapped a few photos of the churning waves. We ended the day with a delicious dinner inside Trillium Café.

Breakfast at Egghead's Restaurant in Fort Bragg

Craggy coast seen from Noyo Headlands Park near Fort Bragg

A very bold raven greeted us at Noyo Headlands Park

We spent a day in and around Fort Bragg, just up the road. We started with a late breakfast at Egghead's Restaurant (Wizard of Oz themed), and then explored the botanical garden (see Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden). We stopped at Noyo Headlands Park to walk along the bluffs and enjoy views of the rugged coast and Glass Beach; and then headed back to Mendocino for dinner.

A sunny day after lots of rain

The beautiful coast as we head south to Point Arena

The Point Arena Lighthouse

The Point Arena Light Station Museum

The lens

A very unique slate fence

A protected cove near Elk

On our final full day, the rain storm had finally passed through the area, leaving full sun, blue skies, and sparkling clean air. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at Good Life Café & Bakery (inside) and then headed south to Point Arena and the Point Arena Lighthouse. We pulled the car over several times to enjoy sunny views of the rugged coast and snap a few pictures. Back at the hotel, I enjoyed our final sunset from the rocking chair on the veranda (with a large wool blanket), and then we headed to Patterson's Pub (inside) for a delicious dinner.

Our last sunset from the hotel

A dinner guest

The next day, we returned home via Highway 128 feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. We saw many new sights, tried new things, and enjoyed eating inside with fewer restrictions (but still with caution). We had a great time exploring the beautiful Northern California coast!