18 reasons to love Mendocino, California

Last updated on August 21, 2023

Mendocino is a place I had a feeling about before I got there. I knew next to nothing about it, but somehow the name and the vague mutterings I’d gathered from TV shows had conjured something magical in my mind: a place I longed to go. No doubt I’d heard the words ‘bohemian Californian beach town’ somewhere along the way and my mind had run with that promise.

And you know what? That inkling was correct, and when we finally reached Mendocino on our California road trip, it was truly love at first sight. Mendocino is the kind of California I dream of: a pretty coastal town with oodles of charm and plenty of indy businesses.`The food’s top notch, the people friendly and the views of the ocean epic. It’s no wonder it’s a place that has attracted artists and writers for decades. 

Here are 15 reasons we fell in love with it, including some of the best things to do in Mendocino.

Also see our Pacific Coast Highway road trip itinerary, which you can start in Mendocino. Or our San Francisco to Seattle road trip, which passes through Mendocino en route.

18 best things to do in Mendocino

Little River Inn

The Little River Inn is a dreamy spot right on the coast, with the sights and sounds of the Pacific on your doorstep. All rooms come with an ocean view, the bar’s lively with locals and guests alike, and the fairy-light-lit outdoor restaurant is a magical place to dine. There’s even a room named after James Dean because he was resident there during the filming of East of Eden.

Rooms vary from simple doubles to cottages, with some on the main site and others further down the coast. We stayed in one of the rooms with a shared balcony and loved it. Book your stay now.

Avenue of the Giants

I think part of the reason I fell so hard for Mendocino was the way we arrived. We drove from Ferndale along the magnificent Avenue of the Giants, one of the world’s most spectacular drives. And after the redwoods, as you continue to Mendocino, you emerge onto the Pacific Coast Highway. Getting to experience both the Avenue of the Giants and the PCH on the same drive makes for a particularly epic, bucket-list-busting day. 

The cute downtown

Reminiscent of a New England village, downtown Mendocino is picture perfect with colourful saltbox cottages and Victorian homes fronted by pretty gardens and white picket fences. It’s a joy to simply walk around. The shops on Main Street have prime position with epic ocean views.

Gallery Bookshop and Bookwinkle’s Children’s Books

No dream town is complete without a charming independent bookshop, and the Gallery Bookshop and Bookwinkle’s Children’s Books is up there with the best. You know it almost immediately from the name (Bookwinkle’s!) and the shop itself delivers with an expertly curated collection housed in a historic building with friendly, expert staff.

If you’re heading the bookshop, also pop into the science-based Out of this World toyshop across the road.

The coast

On a dramatic ocean bluff, Mendocino is winning from the offset. In downtown, you’re surrounded on three sides by Mendocino Headlands State Park with its gorgeous ocean views. You can even walk down to the water where there are pretty beaches just minutes from the town. The boys loved playing on Portuguese Beach where people had been making dens with all the driftwood.

The beaches

There are some incredible beaches near to Mendocino town with lots of fun tide pooling. Some of the best options are:

• Van Damme State Beach – a sage, shallow cove with gentle wave breaks and tide pools at the south end
• Caspar Beach – a large beach on Cabrillo Drive off Highway One with good tide pooling during low tide
• Big River Beach – a very popular beach with opportunity for surfing. The tides can be dangerous. 
• MacKerricher State Park – this one is about 20 miles from Mendocino town, but worth visiting if you’re heading that way. It’s known for having some of the best tide pooling in California. Plus there are seals at Laguna Point.

Trillium Cafe

Trillium Cafe is the kind of place I’m thinking about when I rave about California’s farm-to-table dining scene. Showcasing the freshest flavours in simple yet inventive dishes, it’s a friendly local restaurant with a food-forward vibe. Don’t miss it!

A place for creatives 

The town has the vibe of a place that attracts creatives and I loved seeing the character that people had added to their homes and businesses. A favourite was a garden filled with fun sculptures. 

Some galleries to visit in town include The Highlight Gallery, the Prentice Gallery, and the Mendocino Art Center, all featuring work by local artists.

Water towers

Mendocino’s water towers give the town a unique character on top of its obviously gorgeous setting. There were once more than 100 towers storing water for the town and now the ones that remain are designated as California Historical Landmarks. You can even stay in some of them. 

There’s not one but two chocolate shops

For your chocolate fix, there are two chocolate shops in Mendocino. First there’s the artisanal Mendocino Chocolate Company, serving exquisite truffles and fudges. And then there’s Papa Bear’s Chocolate Haus with a more homemade aesthetic and old favourites like cornflake clusters. 

Brickery Pizza

As you know, we always make it our mission to find the best pizza in town and I think we hit gold with the Brickery pizzeria. It’s part of the popular restaurant Cafe Beaujolais. and pizza is served in a pretty garden behind the restaurant. The focus is on seasonal, fresh ingredients and they also specialise in craft beer. It was one of the many places that prompted me to wistfully dream of moving to Mendocino.

Goodlife Cafe and Bakery

On a weekend morning in Mendocino, the vibes are strong at Goodlife Cafe and Bakery. It’s the place to go for a big breakfasts and amazing baked goods. The scones were top notch, and our kids loved the pancakes. 

Flowers, flowers everywhere

I love a place where the flowers take centre stage, and while the ocean occupies that prime position in Mendocino, the flowers are a beautiful embellishment, filling the gardens and decorating the streets. It’s a recipe to make you happy.

The mist

On one hand, the mist might be seen as a downside of Mendocino, hiding sunny skies and lowering the temperature. But because it tends to lift as the day goes on, you get the best of both worlds: atmospheric misty mornings, followed by sunny afternoons. It adds to the town’s charms.

Sea glass beach

Just 30 minutes from downtown Mendocino is the famous glass beach in Fort Bragg. There seem to be various theories about why the phenomenon has occurred, but either way it’s resulted in a surprising beach made up largely of coloured glass pebbles.

The skunk train

Another great thing to do just outside of Mendocino is the Skunk Train from Fort Bragg. There are few different options, but we did the Pudding Creek Express, a 7-mile, 75-minute round trip where you get to ride a historic steam train through the redwoods and along the estuary to a stop in the heart of the forest. You get time to explore the forest for a while before riding back to Fort Bragg.

The best place to be on the train is the open-air carriage where you get lovely views of the forest and river. And for something more active, you can ride rail bikes along the same route. I’d have loved to do this, but the kids were a bit too young. Next time! Check availability and book tickets for the train and the rail bikes.

The wine

Mendocino County is home to one of California’s wine regions and it turned out to be one of our favourites alongside Sonoma. Drive along Highway 128 to explore the wineries of the Anderson Valley. Our favourites were the Roederer Estate, which produces sparkling wines. And the family-friendly Meyer Family Cellars where they even have a playground.

The first wineries of the Anderson Valley are about 40 minutes’ from Mendocino town. Plus because it’s so close, most of the places in town can be trusted to have an excellent wine list.

There’s so much incredible nature to explore

Mendocino is surrounded by state parks, offering plenty of hiking opportunities as well as beaches. The views are epic and akin to Big Sur. Be aware that the coast can be unstable, so stay well away from bluff and cliff edges. As always, stick to the designated trails.

Some of the most popular parks are:

• Russian Gulch State Park – just south of Mendocino, this area is often compared to the Big Sur. Hike the moderate Fern Canyon and Falls Loop Trail for redwoods and a waterfall. Or opt for one of the easier trails along the bluffs.
• Mendocino Headlands Park – surrounding the town of Mendocino, this park has miles of trails with epic ocean views. Combine your hike with a trip to Big River Beach.
• Mendocino Woodlands State Park – hike or horse ride along the 10-mile Big River Haul Road from Big River Beach to get to Mendocino Woodlands State Park. Expect redwoods, Douglas firs, seals and birdlife.
• Jug Handle State Natural Reserve – a gorgeous park, home to the beautiful 5-mileEcological Staircase Trail, which leads you to a pygmy forest.
• Van Damme State Park – famous for its easily accessible pygmy forest that you can get to via a short quarter-mile trail. Another popular and longer hike is the one to Fern Canyon. Plus it’s also a popular spot for kayaking.

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More California travel tips

We’ve spent a lot of time in California and have put together guides to our favourite spots. See ur favourites below, plus our epic California road trip guide.

California destination guides: Laguna Beach Guide  San Diego Guide | Santa Barbara Guide | Santa Cruz Guide |Shasta Cascade and Redding Guide| Sonoma Guide |Tuolumne County Guide | Yolo County Guide

California family travel guides: Los Angeles with kids | Sacramento with kids| San Diego with kids | San Francisco with kids