Escape for a Weekend in Fort Bragg, California
Beautiful anytime, the area truly shines during the fall and winter.
Boasting a rugged, misty seashore with pounding waves, extraordinary oceanic rock formations and soaring redwoods, the Mendocino coast is a mesmerizing sight. November through April is an especially opportune time to make the 3.5-hour drive north from San Francisco because whales can be spotted making their annual migration. Yet no matter the time of year, a weekend getaway promises unforgettable outdoor—and indoor—adventures.
Things to Do
At Pacific Star Winery in Fort Bragg, relax in an Adirondack chair overlooking the Pacific Ocean while sampling five wines for $15. The winery may sit atop an earthquake fault, but owner-winemaker Sally Ottoson finds no need for concern, leaning into the mirth instead with her “It’s My Fault’’ blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Viognier.
Stretch your legs down the back alleys of downtown Fort Bragg to take in more than two dozen arresting murals depicting sea creatures, enormous flowers, and the town’s colorful history and culture. Since 2018, local artists have contributed to the Alleyway Art Project by turning sides of buildings into creative canvases. Download a map to discover each one.
Explore a piece of history at the Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park, where you’ll find an ideal place to whale-watch during the season, as well as a small museum, and a 1909 lighthouse that was constructed to help guide ships through the area’s perilous waters. It features one of only three known Fresnel lenses still in operation in the United States. First developed in 1822, this lens design incorporates a lamp bulb surrounded by hundreds of pieces of specially cut glass that concentrates light into an intense narrow beam. From April through October, a limited number of tours are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to view this historic lens.
Outdoors
Hikers will find a paradise at Russian Gulch State Park. Expansive and serene, it offers 15 miles of trails through a stunning landscape of leafy canyons, pygmy and redwood forests, a large concrete arch bridge that rises 100 feet from the bottom of the gulch, rocky ocean shores, a 36-foot-tall waterfall, and a massive sinkhole known as “Devil’s Punch Bowl’’ that was carved from years of crashing waves.
From trash to treasure is the story of the unique Glass Beach adjacent to MacKerricher State Park near Fort Bragg. Years of punishing waves have transformed garbage once dumped here by local communities in the early 20th century into glistening, smooth shards of sea glass on the beach. Visitors are encouraged to admire the colorful phenomenon—but to refrain from pocketing any to take home.
Paddle through the Big River Estuary just southeast of Mendocino that teems with wildlife. Catch a Canoe rents locally made outriggers fashioned from reclaimed wood from redwood barns. They are especially stable, making them a good choice for beginners.
Where to Eat
Visitors and locals alike flock to the no-frills Sea Pal Cove in Fort Bragg for fish and chips plus bowls of gluten-free clam chowder made from a family recipe more than 40 years old. Order at the window, and take a seat to watch boats and sea lions in Noyo Harbor. A firepit keeps the outdoor dining-only spot cozy.
For decades, the restaurant at the MacCallum House Inn has been the go-to place for fine-dining in the heart of Mendocino—for good reason. At this historic Victorian, Executive Chef Alan Kantor sources sustainably raised meats and organic produce for a la carte selections and the seasonal, five-course tasting menu. Patrons dine in the former library warmed by two river-stone fireplaces or outside on the charming sun porch. Dishes include wild mushroom risotto, grilled filet mignon with horseradish crème fraîche, and dark chocolate pudding enriched with hazelnut mousse.
A 26-minute drive south from Mendocino is where you’ll find tiny Elk, home to the area’s only Michelin two-starred restaurant. At the Harbor House Inn, Executive Chef Matthew Kammerer serves an 8- to 12-course tasting menu that captures a true sense of place. Situated on a secluded bluff overlooking the dramatic Wharf Rock Arch in the Pacific Ocean, the 20-seat restaurant not only has its own culinary garden on site, but also its own nearby farm. Kammerer even makes his own salt from sea water. The 1916-era Craftsman-style inn also offers 11 guest rooms, accommodations that garnered a Michelin Key hotel ranking in 2024. Just be sure to book room and dining reservations way ahead of time.
Where to Shop
Louisiana native Carol Hall has long bottled and jarred her Southern hospitality into jams, jellies, mustards, and marinades sold at local grocers. Her complete line of products, though, can be found at her Carol Hall’s Hot Pepper Jelly Co. store on Fort Bragg’s Main Street. Don’t sleep on the raspberry jalapeno pepper jelly or fig jam with orange brandy.
With all the hiking trails around, make sure your feet are outfitted comfortably at the Village Sock Shop in Mendocino. The family-owned shop emphasizes fair-trade goods and natural-fiber products. Moreover, 1 percent of all sales is donated to local nonprofits. The store offers an array of novelty, compression, hiking, and dress socks for all ages.
Pick up a one-of-a-kind piece at the downtown Mendocino Jewelry Studio, a gallery that sells the designs of 14 local jewelry makers and five glass, ceramic, and wall artists. Shop for everything from Art Nouveau-inspired earrings to hand-blown glass vases and whimsical mixed-media collages.
Places to Stay
Book one of the 11 rooms (almost all with ocean views) at Brewery Gulch Inn on the Mendocino Coast, and experience a wine hour unlike any other. Sure, there will be four local wines to sample, but there will also be enough food to encompass a full-fledged supper. Like a bento box on steroids, it’s served individually in heavy, handcrafted lidded trays made from the same eco-salvaged redwood used in the construction of this Arts and Crafts-style building. A cooked-to-order breakfast is also included at this tranquil resort that borders 48,000 acres of meadows and redwoods in the Jackson Demonstration State Forest.
On 225 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the family-owned Little River Inn in Mendocino, has been welcoming guests for 85 years. Its wide range of rooms and cottages includes #102, the room where James Dean stayed while filming East of Eden. Along with a nine-hole golf course and tennis courts, there’s also the convivial Whale Watch Bar and a restaurant that serves locally caught seafood in generous portions.
Discover what is thought to be the only completely plant-based retreat in the United States. The Stanford Inn & Resort on the Mendocino coast is pet-friendly and offers wellness classes, spa treatments, daily yoga, a fitness center, and a solarium-enclosed saltwater swimming pool. An organic, vegan breakfast is included in your stay. At dinner, the resort’s Ravens restaurant serves plant-based versions of favorites like enchiladas, raviolis, and pad Thai, featuring ingredients sourced from the resort’s organic farm.