Mendocino/Fort Bragg, CA Weekend

Day 1

Drive from the Bay Area to Mendocino, this is about 4-5 hours if you take Highway 1 along the coast. This is a windy road but beautiful way to see the coast. Our first stop was at Bowling Ball Beach where we ate a picnic lunch. From here we drove about 1 more hour to the Skunk Train in Fort Bragg. Our first time when we went in December we rode the train. Our second time we pedaled on the track on bikes in June. It is a fun way to see the forest and the have know added a structure that provides cover, games, fire pits, and if you're there at the right time a bar and food at the end of the line. After the train ride we went to Glass Beach, an easy and flat walk to the beach, less than a mile one way. After the beach we checked into our hotel and had dinner at one of the many local restaurants in down town Fort Bragg.

Day 2

The second day we spent driving up and down the coast popping into beaches (Jug Handle, Big River Beach), state parks (Russian Gulch State Park, Mendocino Headlands State Park), and looking at lighthouses (Point Cabrillo Lighthouse) (see the itinerary below for more specifics). There are so many along the coast and you can spend as much or as little time as you like at each. We experienced beautiful sunsets in December and in June. 

Day 3

We spent the morning going back to a few beaches to walk around before we headed back home from our weekend getaway. On our way back we stopped at Twomey Winery in Anderson Valley for a tasting and lunch. They have tasting rooms in Napa and the Russian River so check which one works best for your way home.

Twomey Philo, Anderson Valley

twomey.com