One of the prettiest towns on the California coast (as seen in TV shows like Murder, She Wrote and numerous movies), Mendocino (pop. 1,100) is an artists’ and writers’ community par excellence. Now firmly established as an upscale escape for wage-slaving visitors from San Francisco (hence the local nickname, “Spendocino”), the town was originally established as a logging port in the 1850s. In recent years, Mendocino has successfully preserved its rugged sandstone coastline—great for wintertime whale-watching—while converting many of its New England–style clapboard houses into super-quaint B&B inns. The area is ideal for leisurely wandering, following the many paths winding through Mendocino Headlands State Park, which wraps around the town and offers uninterrupted views across open fields, heathers, and other coastal flora to the crashing ocean beyond. For field guides, maps, or a look at Mendocino in its lumbering heyday, stop by the visitors center in the historic Ford House (707/937-5804) at 735 Main Street.
Along with its many fine art galleries and bookshops, Mendocino also has a delicious collection of bakeries, cafés, and restaurants. If you’re not getting a breakfast at a B&B, come to the hippy-dippy Mendocino Cafe (707/937-2422), at 10451 Lansing Street, where locals have been starting their days for nearly 20 years. Lunch or dinner at the Moosse Cafe (707/937-4323), at 390 Kasten at Albion Street, is always unforgettable, and for a total splurge, try one of California’s best restaurants, Cafe Beaujolais (707/937-5614), two blocks from the waterfront at 961 Ukiah Street, which serves a world-famous prix fixe gourmet feast of California cuisine delicacies for dinner, nightly 6–9 pm.
Places to stay in Mendocino are rather expensive but generally delightful. The lovely MacCallum House ($150 and up; 707/937-0289), at 45020 Albion Street, includes a beautiful garden, good breakfasts, and a cozy nighttime bar and restaurant. Another place to stay is the circa 1858 Mendocino Hotel ($95 and up; 707/937-0511), on the downtown waterfront at 45080 Main Street.
