Cruising south along Hwy-1, the first real town you come to, Fort Bragg (pop. 7,026), has a burly, blue-collar edge that comes as something of a shock on the otherwise undeveloped, touristy Mendocino coast. Home to a large Georgia Pacific lumber mill and the region’s largest commercial fishing fleet, Fort Bragg takes a mostly no-frills approach to the tourist trade, leaving the dainty B&B scene to its upscale neighbor, Mendocino. However, there are a few down-to-earth places to eat: Very good omelettes and other eggy dishes are available at the appropriately named Egghead’s Restaurant (707/964-5005) at 326 N. Main Street, while The Wharf (707/964-4283), along the Noyo River at 780 N. Harbor Drive, serves good-value seafood dinners. Perhaps the most popular place in town is North Coast Brewing (707/964-2739) at 455 N. Main Street, which serves a full range of food and pints of their tasty Red Seal Ale.
Fort Bragg also has many inexpensive (by Mendocino standards, at least) motels, including the Beachcomber Motel ($59–199; 707/964-2402), at 1111 N. Main Street, which boasts the coast’s only beachfront accommodation options (apart from camping).
For more information on the Fort Bragg/Mendocino area, contact the North Coast Chamber of Commerce (707/961-6300 or 800/726-2780), located at 332 N. Main Street.
