Last updated on March 31st, 2024 at 05:59 pm
Looking for cool things to do in Mendocino County, California?
Located three hours north of San Francisco, the Mendocino coast is known for its beautiful beaches and state parks, wineries, redwoods, and quaint seaside towns. Whether you are visiting for the day or spending a few days on a Northern California getaway, don’t miss these fun things to do in Mendocino County – with kids or without!
Mendocino Things to Do
From hiking through the redwoods to sampling local wines, the Mendocino coast has countless activities to enjoy. Though it is known for its serene and relaxed atmosphere, there are tons of fun Mendocino activities the whole family can enjoy.
Start in the Village of Mendocino
Settled by New Englanders around 1850 as a logging town, Mendocino found new life in the 1950s with the founding of the Mendocino Art Center. Today this quaint village with a Bohemian vibe still boasts colorful Victorian homes and charming wooden cottages. It is also where you will find many of Mendocino’s inns and restaurants.
Be sure to check out the colorful Temple of Kwan Tai, one of he oldest Chinese temples in California. It is located just a few blocks off Main Street. The temple – built in the 1850s and restored in 2001 – commemorates the history of the Chinese residents in Mendocino County.
Pedal Through the Redwoods
California’s majestic redwood forests are as beautiful as they are famous, and a not-to-be-missed experience when visiting Mendocino County! Railbikes are an amazing way to take in these legendary redwoods.
One of the most unique Mendocino activities you can experience, railbikes are two-person, pedal-powered vehicles that sit securely on the train tracks, allowing passengers to make their journey in a peaceful atmosphere unlike anything else found on a railway.
Departing from the Skunk Train Depot in Fort Bragg, railbike excursions will take you on a one-hour round trip ride through a redwood forest along the Pudding Creek Estuary, and to a turnaround at the historic Glen Blair Junction.
At $250 per bike, it is not an inexpensive outing, but it is definitely one of the most unique outdoor activities you’ll ever get to try!
► Click here to read everything you need to know about Pedaling Through California’s Redwoods on Railbikes.
Ride the Skunk Train
Named for the smelly fumes originally emitting from the trains of the late 1800s, the world-famous Skunk Train is a coastal treasure that runs through thick old growth redwood forest, over scenic trestle bridges, through spectacular tunnels and into the breathtaking Noyo River Canyon.
There are two routes:
- Departing from Fort Bragg, the Pudding Creek Express chugs through the Pudding Creek Estuary for a scenic 7-mile, 75-minute round trip ride.
- The Wolf Tree Turn departs from Willits, traveling 2 hours and 16 miles round trip from the Willits valley floor to the line’s highest point before descending into the redwood-thick Noyo River Canyon.
Climb the Point Arena Lighthouse
The coastal lookout since 1908, Point Arena Lighthouse stands 115 feet high. Guided tours take visitors to the top by way of a winding staircase. The climb is worth it for the 360-degree views of the picturesque surroundings and sea lions.
Housed in an 1896 fog signal building, an onsite museum displays historical artifacts tracing the light station’s past.
Jug Handle Creek
In one of the most unusual beach experiences anywhere, you and the kids can literally climb through time at Jug Handle State Natural Preserve.
The park’s 2.5-mile Ecological Staircase Trail is a geological exploration of the history of the glaciers, rising seas and tectonic plates that built the Coast Range. The Staircase is made up of five uplifted ocean terraces. You’ll climb back in time 100,000 years on each level. If you make it to the top, you’re 500,000 years in the past.
That trail, five miles round trip, can be strenuous. For an easier hike, take the flat, half-mile Headlands Loop trail that covers the first seven stops of the Ecological Staircase.
Explore the Beauty of Glass Beach
The devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake caused far-reaching destruction on the California coastline. As a result, massive amounts of broken glass were dumped into the ocean.
Over the last century, the power of the ocean turned glass into a beautiful display. Today, smooth rounded pieces of colorful sea glass lay strewn across Glass Beach, making it one of the most unusual beaches in the world. Keep the kids occupied for hours as they comb through the sandy treasures.
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Located on 47 acres along the coast, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens showcases more than 125 species of spring-blooming rhododendrons and a stunning array of multichromatic dahlias that appear each fall, family photos taken in the gardens are sure to be frame-worthy.
Kelley House Museum
The Kelley House Museum is the place to go to learn about Mendocino County’s rich history.
This historic home and research center is located on the scenic north coast of Mendocino. Built in 1861 by William Kelley, the house overlooks the ocean and is surrounded by gardens filled with flowers and lawn. The museum, along with docent-led walking tours of the historic preservation district, invites visitors to step back in time and imagine life in a bustling, 19th century logging town.
Catch a Canoe & Bicycles, Too!
Catch a Canoe & Bicycles, Too! offers everything you need for a family-friendly outdoor adventure. Enjoy the scenery and wildlife of the beautiful Big River in a redwood outrigger canoe, or on a mountain bike.
The redwood outrigger canoes are available in several sizes to accommodate from one to nine paddlers. Stable, fast, and fun, each one is handcrafted by Mendocino’s own Secret Harbor Boat Works. You can also rent single and double kayaks.
The Mendocino coast offers many opportunities for two-wheeled adventure, whether on the easy and popular Big River Trail or the radical and challenging Manley Gulch. Ride straight from the shop to one of several nearby destinations, including the Russian Gulch waterfall, the Van Damme fern canyon, and the Point Cabrillo lighthouse.
Kayak Through Sea Caves
Another amazing outdoor adventure is a guided sea cave tour on ocean kayaks, which you can join at Van Damme State Park in Mendocino.
Along with the sea caves, you’ll see harbor seals, shorebirds and other wildlife in this incredibly rich and diverse habitat. All tours are easily paddled by beginners and require no prior experience, and are safe for the entire family to enjoy.
Drive through a Tree
Located in Leggett, the Drive-Thru Tree is an iconic photo spot. The tree dates back 2,000 years and stands more than 300 feet high. Its circumference is an astonishing 70 feet, and you can drive right through it like a tunnel!
See the Animals at B. Bryan Preserve
Committed to the breeding and conservation of African hoofstock, the B. Bryan Preserve is open for tours and self-guided car drive throughs.
Bringing a piece of the African savannah to the California coast, the preserve is home to Greater Kudu, Sable Antelope, Roan Antelope, Grevy’s Zebra, Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra and Nubian Giraffe. Spend some time touring the preserve and you’ll have the opportunity to view and feed the animals.
State Parks in Mendocino County
The Mendocino coast is home to a number of parks, offering numerous options for experiencing the region’s natural beauty via hiking, biking, birdwatching and even horseback riding.
Whether you’re looking for coastal hiking trails along the Mendocino Coast or hushed redwood forests, these are the top parks and the best Mendocino hikes in the area.
Hendy Woods State Park
Located about 45 minutes away from Mendocino in Philo, Hendy Woods State Park is a great place to see redwood trees in the Anderson Valley. Take a short hike on Discovery Trail to see Big Hendy Grove, the park’s most impressive redwood forest.
Van Damme State Park
Van Damme State Park is an 1,800-acre park that stretches from the beach to the forest. The park’s hiking trails, including the short and lovely Pygmy Forest Trail, meander along the fern-carpeted canyon of Little River. There is also a boardwalk for strollers, wheelchairs and bikes.
Van Damme State Park has a beautiful beach dotted with sea caves. You can explore them on a kayak.
Russian Gulch State Park
Russian Gulch State Park is where you’ll find Frederick W. Panhorst Bridge, an art deco bridge built in the late 1930s. It has beaches, a waterfall, redwood trees and miles of hiking trails.
MacKerricher State Park
MacKerricher State Park is located three miles north of Fort Bragg in Mendocino County. It stretches along nine miles of coastline and contains several types of coastal habitat, including beaches, dunes, headlands, coves, wetlands, tide pools, forest and a freshwater lake, making it a wonderful destination to experience a day outdoors enjoying nature.
Mendocino Headlands State Park
Understandably, hiking takes center stage at the Mendocino Headlands State Park where rugged cliffs, warm ocean breezes and breathtaking ocean views come together. It’s possible to spot dolphins frolicking in the ocean below. During the fall and winter months, try whale watching from the shore.
When you’re ready for a break from hiking, enjoy a picnic at Big River Beach. Specializing in deli sandwiches made with fresh meats and cheeses along with custom side dishes, the charming Mendocino Market in the village packs picnic lunches to go.
A Foodie Heaven
Even if you are visiting Mendocino with kids, don’t miss the fabulous food scene in Mendocino County!
The natural beauty and bounty of the area are reflected on the menus at the best restaurants in Mendocino. They feature dishes with locally grown ingredients, fresh seafood and organic local wines. For diehard foodies and people who just love experiencing unique and tasty cuisine, these Mendocino restaurants have something to offer everyone.
Here is just a small sampling of the amazing restaurants in Mendocino County.
Little River Inn Restaurant
Located at the Little River Inn, the Little River Inn Restaurant offers fine dining with beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.
Garden seating at Little River Inn Restaurant makes dinner even more special. Twinkly lights, lush foliage and heat lamps make for a cozy dining atmosphere. And you don’t have to stay at the Inn to eat here!
Mendocino Café
Enjoy fresh seafood and Thai cuisine on an outdoor deck overlooking the ocean at the Mendocino Café. The menu also features sobo noodles, Thai burritos, Indian-style masala curry and signature entrées of sesame seed-crusted ahi tuna, tequila prawns, and peppercorn-crusted New York strip steak.
Cafe Beaujolais
Cafe Beaujolais is the #1 recommended Mendocino restaurant for breakfast. Plus, there’s a satellite coffee shop next door that is the place to go for vegan and non-vegan bakery goods and locally roasted coffee.
Opened in 1968 in the heart of the historic town of Mendocino, Café Beaujolais is located in an old Victorian farmhouse.
This elegant Mendocino restaurant serves California French cuisine in a laid-back setting. The food is accompanied by a distinguished wine list featuring many local Mendocino wines.
Noyo Harbor Inn
The Noyo Harbor Innis home to the HarborView Bistro and Bar. The restaurant’s patio and manicured lawns boat beautiful views of Noyo River’s port, all the way out to the Pacific Ocean.
HarborView Bistro and Bar features California Coastal Cuisine, including fresh wild caught fish from the harbor below and herbs and vegetables gathered from the French-trained Chef Fabrice Jean-Pierre Dubuc’s on-site garden. It is one of the best places to enjoy Coastal Inn Cuisine in Mendocino.
MacCallum House Restaurant
MacCallum House Inn is a historic boutique hotel in Mendocino, and its restaurant is said to be one of the nicest in the area!
Everything about the MacCallum House Restaurant is warm and inviting, from the sunny wrap-around porch with amazing ocean views to the fireplace inside. The “Mac” is a great starting point for getting to know Mendocino.
Albion River Inn
The Albion River Inn Restaurant celebrates California’s north coast bounty of fresh seafood, locally grown produce, creative pasta dishes, and desserts.
The dining experience at Albion River Inn is equally special. Window walls provide spectacular ocean views from every table, and a cozy fireplace and burnished bar lend a soft romantic glow to the interior.
Luna Trattoria
Luna Trattoria is a cozy Italian restaurant in Mendocino. They serve hearty pasta dishes, wood-fired pizzas and calzones, fresh-baked bread, and fresh seafood. Some of their popular dishes include wild mushroom risotto, spinach and ricotta cheese gnocchi, and a variety of pasta, meat and fish dishes. Everything is prepared with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients.
Indoor and outdoor seating is available, and the restaurant offers an extensive variety of Italian wines and craft beers.
Trillium Café
Trillium Cafe is a Mendocino restaurant that prides itself with being a farm-to-table kitchen, cooking with organic ingredients and featuring a rotating seasonal menu.
Located in a quaint house in the heart of Mendocino, Trillium Café features cozy seating, bay windows, a crackling fireplace and an outdoor deck with views of Big River Bay. The restaurant’s menu includes Dungeness crab, grilled wild fish, tortellini and Gulf prawn with wild mushroom risotto.
If you prefer a picnic, Trillium Cafe will pack you a basket. They will even include a map to their favorite nearby picnic spots. The picnic baskets include everything you need – linens, silverware, wine glasses, dishes, and a cutting board.
Raven’s Restaurant
Located in the Stanford Inn in Mendocino, Ravens’ Restaurant is an award-winning restaurant serving organic vegan cuisine in a laid-back setting.
Innkeeper and restaurant owner Jeff Stanford uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Popular entrees include Portobello Benedict, Ravens Chilaquiles, house-made English Muffins, Citrus Polenta, and Ravens signature Sea Palm Strudel.
Wine Tasting in Mendocino County
The Mendocino Coast is a 30-minute drive from Anderson Valley, aka, Mendocino Wine Country.
Though often overlooked for more popular destinations in Sonoma and Napa Valley, Mendocino also has a number of vineyards and wine tasting rooms. You can sample local wines, and some offer winery tours.
Three wonderful wineries worth a stop for wine tasting are Pennyroyal Farm, Lula Cellars and Fathers & Daughters Cellars.
Pennyroyal Farm is an especially family-friendly destination, as it offers a farm tour (with goats!) in addition to wine tasting. It also has a creamery, where families can view each stage of the cheesemaking process. There is a tasting room, too!
► Click here to read Family-Friendly California Wineries Welcome Kids to Wine Country.
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