• Home
  • Start Here
    • Meet Lia & Jeremy
    • Our Year-Long Honeymoon
    • Read These Posts
      • Year in Review Posts
      • Travel Stories (& Travel Fails)
    • About Practical Wanderlust
      • Our Mission Statement
      • Meet The Team
    • Lia’s Book
    • Podcast
    • Contact Us & FAQ
  • Destinations
    • Browse All
    • Asia Travel
      • Indonesia
      • Nepal
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Norway
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
    • North America Travel
      • Canada
      • Mexico
      • United States
    • Central America
      • Costa Rica
      • Mexico
      • Panama
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • What to Pack for South America
      • 30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in South America
    • United States
      • Browse All USA
      • California
      • National Parks
      • Disney
    • Virtual Travel
  • Travel Tips
    • How to be a Responsible Tourist
    • How to Plan a Trip
    • Travel Safety Tips
    • Travel Insurance Guide
    • Long Term Travel
  • Packing Guides
    • General Packing Guides
    • Packing Lists by Destination
    • Product & Gear Reviews
    • Our Travel Essentials
    • Browse All Packing Lists
    • Gift Guides
  • Lia’s Book
  • Blogging Tips
  • Podcast
  • Work with Us
    • Partner With Us
    • Press & Media
    • Write for Us
    • Coaching & Mentoring
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Practical Wanderlust

Responsible Travel on a Budget

  • Home
  • Start
    • Meet Lia & Jeremy
    • Read These Posts
      • Our Year-Long Honeymoon
      • Browse All Personal Posts
      • Travel Stories & Fails
      • Year in Review Posts
      • 30 Things Nobody Tells You About Quitting Your Job to Travel
      • 32 Things Nobody Tells You About Long Term Travel as a Couple
      • More Things Nobody Tells You…
    • About the Blog
      • Our Mission Statement
      • Meet The Team
    • Podcast
    • Book
    • Blogging
      • Income Reports
      • Pinterest Tips
      • Digital Nomad Tips
      • Write for Us
    • Contact Us & FAQ
  • Destinations
    • Browse All
    • Asia Travel
      • Indonesia
      • Nepal
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Norway
      • Spain
    • North America Travel
      • Canada
      • Mexico
      • United States
    • Central America
      • Costa Rica
      • Mexico
      • Panama
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • What to Pack for South America
      • 30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in South America
    • United States
      • Browse All USA
      • California
      • National Parks
      • Disney
    • Virtual Travel
  • Travel Tips
    • Packing Guides
      • General Packing Guides
      • Destination Packing Lists
      • Product & Gear Reviews
      • Travel Essentials We Bring on Every Trip
      • Browse All
    • Responsible Tourism Guide
    • How to Plan a Trip
    • Travel Safety Tips
    • Travel Insurance Guide
    • Long Term Travel
      • 30 Things Nobody Tells You About Quitting Your Job to Travel
      • Our Year-Long Honeymon
      • Digital Nomad Tips
      • What Not to Pack for Long Term Travel
      • How to Quit Your Job & Travel Book
      • Browse All Long Term Travel
      • Gift Guides
        • 50 Perfect Travel Gifts
        • Eco-Friendly Travel Gifts
        • Gifts for Hikers Under $25
        • Travel Gifts for Coffee Lovers
        • Funny Travel Gifts
    • Lia’s Book
  • Work with Us
    • Partnerships
    • Press & Media
    • Write for us
    • Coaching
Home » 14 Marvelous Things to Do in Mendocino, California on a Weekend Getaway

14 Marvelous Things to Do in Mendocino, California on a Weekend Getaway

By Lia Garcia | Updated on: March 1, 2022

Mendocino, California is located a few hours north from San Francisco along the scenic Highway One/Pacific Coast Highway. It's the perfect destination for a weekend getaway!
Please double check what's open before your trip and follow all local mask guidelines to keep yourself and others safe! Also, ads are how we pay our bills and keep our blog free for you to enjoy. We also use affiliate links; if you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.
775 shares

Mendocino, California is located just a few hours north of San Francisco on California’s stunning Pacific Coast Highway. It’s one of the best weekend trips from San Francisco, and we’ve been up to visit multiple times. Mendocino is known for it’s world-class wine and stunning coastal views, and the area is a perfect spot for a romantic getaway or girl’s trip!

The first time Jeremy and I visited Mendocino, we were actually going primarily for Glass Beach – just north of Mendocino in Fort Bragg, and one of the most popular spots in the area. And while Glass Beach was pretty rad – and we even met a pig named Ollie frolicking on the beach, which isn’t like … a regular thing, but nonetheless memorable – we fell in love with so many spots along the way leading up to Fort Bragg, like Elk, Little River, Point Arena, and Mendocino itself. 

The cherry on top of our first visit was that we happened to go tidepooling the same day that some kind of Porsche Club had their annual kite outing? No, I’m serious – the beach was like, FILLED with rich old people flying kites. So for a while we had the weird impression that Mendocino was full of people who drive Porsches and fly kites. Which, in fact, it isn’t … usually. But Mendocino left such an impression that we’ve been dying to return for years! Last weekend, we finally did.

Here are our favorite things to do in Mendocino! None of them involve Porsches, kites, or frolicking pigs, sorry to dissapoint.

Table of Contents

  • Where to Stay in Mendocino
  • How to Get to Mendocino from San Francisco
  • Things to Do in Mendocino
    • Take a Road Trip
    • Experience Mendocino Wine Tasting
    • Explore Mendocino’s Coast by Kayak
    • Go Hiking
    • Meet Marine Critters in their Tidepool Homes
    • Eat Delicious Local Seafood
    • Eat Delicious Local Treats
    • Shop for Locally Made Goodies
  • What to Pack for Mendocino

Planning a Highway One road trip? We’ve created a detailed 10-day California Coast road trip itinerary to help you plan! Enter your email below and we’ll send you a printable version, plus tips to plan your trip.

We also have a Highway One podcast episode! A humanist cult, a Danish hideaway, a gravitational anomaly, towering trees, a spoiled rich kid’s castle, clothing-optional hot springs, and the cutest (and weirdest) animals imaginable: in this episode, we cover everything you need to plan your trip up the California Coast – and all the weird history you never knew along the way.

Listen below or just click here! Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes.

Psst: Looking for more places to explore in our beautiful home state? Here are some of our favorite places to visit in California, or take a look at all of our California travel guides:

  • The Ultimate 10-Day California Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary
  • The Best Weekend Trips from San Francisco, California
  • 24 Stunning Northern California Hikes (Near San Francisco)
The Andiron Inn in Mendocino, California rooms and lounge.
The Andiron Inn in Mendocino, California is quirky, charming and adorable! We fell in love with it the minute we walked into fondue and wine by a crackling fire at Happy Hour.

Where to Stay in Mendocino

We actually discovered the adorable Andiron Seaside Inn & Cabins almost on accident. It was 2 days before our trip to Mendocino and we were frantically browsing local accommodations trying to find anywhere to stay, when we came upon this little gem. The pricing was reasonable, the location was great, and we suspected the place might have that ~character~ that our favorite places to stay do. You know what I mean, right?

When we arrived, we were blown away. The Andiron Inn is totally weird and kitschy, and SO up our alley!

We arrived during Happy Hour and gratefully sat down by a crackling fire to enjoy local wine and beer, home-made fondue with apples, bread and mushrooms, and local mustard with pretzels. We chatted with the other guests and the incredibly friendly (and totally cool) owners while taking in the eclectic weird-ness of the decorations.

Also, Jeremy made some goat friends. Yep: The Andiron Inn has goats (and chickens, too!) Jeremy loves all animals indiscriminately, but I had a traumatic experience growing up on my parent’s farm in Kentucky. Long story short, we had a goat and her name was Daisy and she was SO mean to me. Wow, that sounded a lot less traumatic than it actually was. OK, there IS a longer story than that, but it’s a really long story, so I’m just gonna show you some pictures of Jeremy hanging out with these goats instead, which seemed a lot nicer (from a safe distance).

  • The adorable entrance to the Andiron Inn in Mendocino, California.
  • Meet the Andiron Inn Goats: Peanut Butter, Cocoa, and Sugar!
  • Jeremy instantly bonded with the goats. I had a traumatic childhood experience with a very mean goat named Daisy, so I did not.
Meet the Andiron Inn Goats: Peanut Butter, Cocoa, and Sugar!

After stuffing our faces with fondue, we were shown to our room and given instructions for the night-time hot tub, which is located in a tucked-away spot in the forest: perfect for a late-night romantic rendezvous. Bring your bathing suits (or don’t, oh my).

Our room was named “Curious” and themed around curiosity (duh) and exploration, and it was so freakin’ weird, you guys, in the best possible way! We walked in to the sound of weird 1950’s TV, poked through weird 1950’s space ephemera, looked through the telescope, played with the archery set outside, and generally nerded out. At night we relaxed in bed as the wood burning stove filled the room with warmth. We were bummed to leave after too short a stay and we’re dying to return!

By the way, if you’re curious: this was NOT a sponsored stay, and we paid our own way fully out of pocket. We just really and truly adored this cute little inn! Check prices and availability.

Check availability & rates for the Andiron Seaside Inn

There are also plenty of fantastic vacation homes in Mendocino, like this Serene Coastal Home, which has incredible ocean views, exposed beams and a deck to watch the waves roll in – perfect for a romantic hideaway!

READ THIS POST
The Ultimate Guide To Whale Watching in California: 42 Places and; When To Go
The Point Arena Lighthouse and coastal flowers in Mendocino, California.
The drive up to Mendocino on Highway One is half the fun of visiting Mendocino! This is our favorite stop along the way: the Point Arena Lighthouse. Be sure to stop for a photo and look closely at the rocks below for napping sea lions!

How to Get to Mendocino from San Francisco

There are 2 ways to get to Mendocino from the San Francisco Bay Area: the fast route, and the scenic route! We recommend you take the scenic route one way and the fast route the other way.

The Scenic Route is Highway One, aka the Pacific Coast Highway, aka the most beautiful coastal drive in the world. Most folks think that Highway One runs along California’s Central Coast between LA and SF and then ends, not realizing that it actually continues north for even more stunning coastal vistas!

READ THIS POST
The Ultimate 10-Day California Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary

We’ve driven the entire length of the 1 many times and we’re just as in love with the North route as we are with the South section. Driving north from San Francisco to Mendocino on Highway One will take around 6 hours. To make it a little bit shorter, connect with Highway 1 north of Point Reyes. But if you’ve never taken this route, it’s really worth the extra time!

The fast route is Highway 101. You’ll be driving up through wine country, then cutting over towards the coast on Highway 128 – a windy, scenic road through rolling forested hills – and after about an hour, you’ll reach the 1 for just a few miles of coastal scenery. Driving north from San Francisco to Mendocino on Highway 101 will take around 3 hours.

Everyone knows half the fun of a good road trip is the stops along the way, so we’ve included our favorite stops along each route below!

READ THIS POST
14 Epic Things to do in Yosemite National Park, California

Things to Do in Mendocino

Fresh apples at the apple farm in Philo, California on Highway 158.
We recommend taking Highway 1 to Mendocino and taking Highway 101 on the way back. On the way to the 101, you’ll pass right through Philo, home of this adorable apple farm with yummy fresh apples! And apple chutney, cider syrup fresh juice, and more delicious apple goodies.

Take a Road Trip

So, we know that driving up the Pacific Coast Highway technically isn’t a thing to do IN Mendocino, but a big part of the reason we love visiting Mendocino so much is the beautiful scenery along the way. It’s one of California’s best road trip destinations! We recommend taking the scenic route on at least one leg of your journey, but we’ve got some suggestions for both routes to help make your road trip truly amazing.

READ THIS POST
The 32 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops: California Towns, Landmarks, and Restaurants

Highway One: The Scenic Route

  • Stop for a snack near Point Reyes at an oyster shack. One of the most unique things to do when driving along Highway One is to stop for fresh oysters! You’ll pass right by The Marshall Store and Hog Island Oyster Co, two of the most popular spots for oysters near San Francisco. We’ve got a few more of our favorites written up in this post.
  • Stop in Gualala at Trinks Cafe. Order a Double Chocolate Salted Caramel Cookie (or some unbelievable pie). Adorable Gualala is fun to explore (and to say outloud), but those cookies are honestly worth the stop alone.
  • Take a detour to see the Point Arena Lighthouse. Just off Highway One you’ll see a sign for the Point Arena Lighthouse. You’ll take a winding detour for a few minutes towards the coast, and your journey will be rewarded with one of our favorite (and most picturesque) spots along the Pacific Coast Highway: the Point Arena Lighthouse. Stop here to take photos and admire the crashing waves below – and keep an eye out on the rocks for napping sea lions! If you’ve got some time, you can also tour the lighthouse itself – and even stay overnight.
  • Eat at Queenie’s in Elk and order the Blue Cheese Bourbon Burger. It’s worth the stop and it’s our favorite place to get lunch on a northern Highway One road trip!
READ THIS POST
San Diego Weekend Getaway: The Perfect 3-day Itinerary

Highway 101: The Fast Route

  • Eat at Queenie’s in Elk and order the Blue Cheese Bourbon Burger.  If you skipped it on your way up, be sure to stop on your way down – you’ll actually be driving on Highway 1 for a tiny bit and you’ll go right through Elk! While you’re there, be sure to pop into some of the local markets and mercantiles (there aren’t very many, Elk is teeny tiny).
  • Highway 128, aka The Wine Road: The route between Highway 1 and Highway 101 is Highway 128, aka the Wine Road! This route is home to countless wineries – here’s a guide. We suggest a stop at Navarro Vineyards & Winery for wine & cheese. Whoever isn’t driving can sample delicious locally made wine (there’s no tasting fee!) and whoever is driving – or isn’t quite old enough yet for wine – can enjoy a grape juice flight. Pick up some cheese, salami and crackers and have a stunning picnic overlooking the vineyards.
  • Stop at the Philo Apple Farm on Highway 128 for fresh apples & apple goodies. At the self-service Farm Stand – which runs on an honor system if no one is around – you’ll find several varieties of delicious fresh apples to choose from, plus chutneys, jams, Apple Cider Syrup (which is amazing), balsamic vinegar, and fresh-pressed apple juice! Everything is grown and produced right here on the farm. Also, there are some REALLY cute dogs who live on the property, which we think is important to note.
  • Stop in Booneville, a charming little town right on Highway 128. This adorable little town is the perfect spot for a quick leg stretch and a snack. Browse locally made crafts and other goodies at The Farmhouse Mercantile and get some fresh organic ice cream at Paysanne.
  • Eat dinner at Sol Food in San Rafael. Located off of Highway 101 just north San Francisco you’ll find the Bay Area’s favorite Puerto Rican restaurant, serving up absolutely incredible Puerto Rican food in adorable downtown San Rafael. There’s only one catch: this restaurant isn’t a hidden gem – everyone knows about it, and they all know it’s well worth the trip north, too. So expect a wait, but rest assured: it’s well worth it. If you’re unwilling to wait, the Mill Valley location is a bit out of the way but usually less crowded.
READ THIS POST
41 Marvelous Things to Do in Monterey, California
The tasting room at the Mendocino Country Store in downtown Mendocino, California.
You can’t go to Mendocino and NOT go wine tasting! In case you don’t make it to an actual winery, you can stop by the Mendocino Country Store and visit their tasting room: look for the big blue building in downtown Mendocino.

Experience Mendocino Wine Tasting

Mendocino’s claim to fame is its world-class wine. Whether you’re a low-key wine snob like us or you just like wine in/around/near you, Mendocino is the spot!

We haven’t actually visited most of Mendocino’s famed wineries, so we recommend checking out Visit Mendocino’s list of local wineries. Most of the wineries are located along Highway 128, aka The Wine Road, so if you’re not too picky, just head down 128 and stop at wherever catches your eye!

We’ve heard good things about Pacific Star Winery, Navarro Vineyards & Winery, and Nelson Family Vineyards. Sea Rock Inn also has an excellent guide to their top 10 favorite wineries in Mendocino. 

Kayaking on the Big River Estuary in Mendocino, California! Kayaking is one of the best things to do in Mendocino.
Kayaking on the Big River Estuary in Mendocino, California! Kayaking is one of the best things to do in Mendocino.

Explore Mendocino’s Coast by Kayak

One of the best ways to see Mendocino is on the water, and there are several excellent kayaking opportunities in Mendocino. Whether you’re hoping to stay a day or just want to make friends with otters and sea lions (UM YES), the best way to explore Mendocino’s coast is via kayak!

  • For Cave Lovers: Mendocino’s coastline is dotted with stunning natural sea caves! Explore them on the Kayak Mendocino Sea Cave Nature Tour, led by Kayak Mendocino.
  • For Daredevils: Get your adrenaline pumping on the Whitewater of the Sea Adventure Tour led by Liquid Fusion. No prior kayaking experience is necessary, but like … you need to know how to swim. Also, prepare yourself to get wet: you’ll be careening through waves, whitewater, and rock gardens. This is exactly the kind of activity that Jeremy loves and I’m terrified of!
  • Not For Daredevils: Prefer to keep your kayaking experience as dry as possible? Look, me too, no judgment. The tour for you is the Noyo Meander River tour, aka the “Dry and Mild.” Ah, yes, now you’re speaking my language. You don’t even need a swimsuit: just relax and get ready to meet Mendocino’s many resident harbor seals, sea lions, river otters, and coastal birds. If you’re looking for something similar but prefer a self-guided trip, rent a kayak at Catch a Canoe and paddle down the Big River Estuary, which is where we took the photo above.
READ THIS POST
19 Fabulous Things To Do in Napa Valley, California
Exploring Point Arena Lighthouse in Mendocino, California.
In Mendocino, you can hike on coasts and cliffs, in redwoods and pygmy forests. There’s excellent hiking for all levels of skill and difficulty!

Go Hiking

Mendocino is home to both coastal bluffs and towering redwoods – the kind of hiking scenery that you can truly only experience in Northern California! Check out this guide to Mendocino’s best-hidden hikes, or explore the parks below for some of the best hiking in Mendocino.

  • Van Damme State Park: The main trail through the park, the Fern Canyon Trail, is 5 miles long and winds through Fern Canyon and up to the 100-year-old Pygmy Forest. Yes, there’s a Pygmy Forest. Be aware that there are some river crossings along this hike which will be trickier during the wet/winter months. We recommend hiking in quick-drying trail runners (these are Jeremy’s and these are mine) and waterproof socks – they make river crossings a breeze! 
  • Russian Gulch State Park:  This park is relatively small, but the highlight is the 36-foot tall waterfall which runs nearly all year long! This 3.8-mile loop isn’t terribly difficult and will take you through the forest to see the waterfall.
  • Mendocino Headlands State Park: This park is right on the coast and features stunning coastal scenery. If you like long walks on the beach, this is right up your alley. Try the four-mile Mendocino Headlands Trail or just meander along the coast for 2.5 miles.

Psst: If you’re planning to visit multiple parks this year, we recommend picking up an America is Beautiful National Parks Pass. The pass is valid at over 2,000 National Parks and 10% of the sale proceeds are donated to the National Park Foundation, helping to keep our parks beautiful! The average cost of admission to a National Park is $35, which means that the pass quickly pays for itself after just a few visits. AND you are supporting the National Park Foundation. Win/win!

You can pick up a pass online at REI or in person at any National Park

Overlooking a Pacific coast cove in Mendocino, California.
Using my eagle eyes to seek out critters down below … seriously though, there are so many otters and harbor seals in Mendocino! Not to mention starfish and crabs chillin’ in tidepools along the coast. It’s a marine dream!

Meet Marine Critters in their Tidepool Homes

Tidepooling is one of our favorite activities in any rocky coastal spot! Mendocino is home to excellent tide-pooling – not to mention being near the rocks makes it more likely you’ll catch an otter or a sea lion swimming by looking for a snack. Most of the parks with hiking also have tide-pooling, so pack a snack  (and then pack that trash right back out with you, please) and make it a day!

IMPORTANT: Before you go tide-pooling, please brush up on your Tidepool Etiquette. First and foremost: look, but do not touch! Tidepools are not there for your personal touching and squishing pleasure, and the oils on your hands could kill the very critters you’re admiring and harm their fragile ecosystems. Also, please be careful on the rocks and wear shoes with good grip – rocks may be slippery and you could fall. Walk, don’t run. Look up the tide times in advance and head out during low tide for best results; high tide not only covers up the tidepools you’re seeking but could actually be dangerous.

  • MacKerricher State Park: Just north of Fort Bragg about 20 miles up the coast from Mendocino, you’ll find one of the best spots for tide-pooling on the northern California coastline. We recommend driving to the  Seal Watching Station (YASSSS SEALS) to visit the tidepools at Laguna Point. There is a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk here as well.
  • Mendocino Headlands State Park: You’ll find tidepools on the far western bluff, not to mention beaches and sea caves. You can combine tide-pooling and hiking on the easy four-mile Mendocino Headlands Trail!
  • Van Damme State Park: You’ll find tidepools on the southern end of Van Damme Beach. You don’t need to hike to access the beach – it’s at the base of the hill below the Little River Inn.
Fresh seafood at Wild Fish restaurant in Mendocino, California! Arrive early or make a reservation - there are only a handful of tables.
Fresh seafood at Wild Fish restaurant in Mendocino, California! Arrive early or make a reservation – there are only a handful of tables.

Eat Delicious Local Seafood

Mendocino is home to a huge amount of delicious, locally grown, incredibly fresh food. And in a state known for excellent food (I’m biased, but like … California food is the best in the country, y’all, and we grow it ourselves, too) Mendocino is up there with the best of them!

For an incredible and scenic dinner, make a reservation at Wild Fish. You’ll be treated to an artfully prepared meal in a stunning setting overlooking the ocean.

But arrive early or make a reservation! There are only a small handful of tables, and Wild Fish is popular – especially on weekends.

Brunch at Circa 62 in Mendocino, California.
Sure, this isn’t chocolate. BUT both of the meals we ate in Mendocino were so darn beautiful I had to include them both! This was our brunch at Circa 62, which has sadly since closed.

Eat Delicious Local Treats

Jeremy and I are the kind of people who will go to a restaurant JUST to order dessert. So it just happens that we have some experience finding treats in Mendocino thanks to our raging sugar addictions! Here are our favorite places to get a sweet treat in Mendocino.

  • Bread Pudding: We’ve had THREE mind-blowing bread puddings in Mendocino! We can’t pick just one and neither should you. At Good Life Bakery, you can try two flavors of bread pudding custard: covered in fresh blueberry sauce, or smothered in caramel espresso sauce. I can’t tell you which is better. You just have to try both and see. We also had an excellent bread pudding at Mendocino Cafe topped with whipped cream and a rich rum sauce. Mmmmmm, I’m drooling.
  • Fudge & Truffles: Mendocino is home to not just one, but TWO local chocolate shops! Both of them make delicious chocolate confections. Head to Mendocino Chocolate Company for fudge or toffee or try the white chocolate park made with fresh, whole raspberries at Papa Bear’s Chocolate Haus.
Local shops and products in Mendocino, California.
Mendocino is full of adorable shops and small businesses selling locally made crafts and gifts! On the left is the Mendocino Country Store, and right is Matson Mercantile in Elk, just south of Mendocino.

Shop for Locally Made Goodies

We usually don’t seek out “shopping” as an activity when traveling, but Mendocino is an exception. We love supporting small and locally owned businesses when we travel, and Mendocino is home to some INCREDIBLY locally made goodies! From wine and wine accessories (including wine bottle candles, which we’ve recently become obsessed with) to homemade mustards and chutneys and soaps and more, there are tons of places to support local businesses AND treat yo’self.

Wander down Main Street or peruse the shops in downtown – you can spend a pleasant afternoon just browsing with not a chain store in sight. Ahh, heaven. Here are two of our faves.

  • Mendocino Jams & Preserves: MAN I love me some good old fashioned locally made jams, preserves, chutneys, marmalades jellies, nut butters, and mustards. This adorable store at the end of main street is such a gem, and not just because there are like, 298296296 free samples and no judgment. That’s a big part of it, though. We bought a giant jar of the best chutney I’ve ever tasted in my life and we’ll be back up for more once we run out!
  • Mendocino Country Store: A totally Instagrammable store in the heart of town. There are tons of yummy wine bottle candles, homemade bath and beauty products, a tasting room, a wall of mustards and hot sauces, and even a tasting room. Be careful when shopping to see what’s made locally, though: a lot of the products here are actually imported from elsewhere. 
READ THIS POST
50 Things to Do in Louisville, Kentucky: The Ultimate Local's Guide

Travel couple and suitcases in the perfect rental car to explore Highway 1 to visit the Central Coast, California.
All layered up for yet another weekend trip up Highway One! (No – they NEVER get old.)

What to Pack for Mendocino

Don’t make the rookie mistake of assuming that all of California is warm, or that “coastal” means “beachy.” Replace those mental images of palm trees with redwoods instead, and then cover your whole mental image in fog and drop it down about 30 degrees: that’s northern California coastal weather.

What I’m trying to say here is: Mendocino is chilly and foggy. Don’t worry – it’s not like, winter cold. We’re talking a breezy, coastal 55 degrees or so. But you’ll want to pack some warm clothing!

If you’re planning on going hiking and kayaking, you’ll want to pack active clothing that’s warm, too. If your hair is anything like my hair, you might want to prep a little bit for the salty sea air and fog and bring a good leave-in conditioner – that one is fantastic for ocean recovery.

For winery hopping and town exploring, my favorite jacket that’s cute AND functional is the prAna Marabelle Jacket. It’s warm and insulated and also incredibly adorable, especially with a scarf. Oh, bring a scarf, too.

And don’t forget to pack a pair of travel jeans! Mendocino has perfect jeans weather year-round. I’m absolutely OBSESSED with my Aviator USA travel jeans. First of all, they have ENORMOUS POCKETS. Like, pockets you can fit your whole hands in, with hidden pockets that you can ALSO fit your whole hand in. You can stuff like 3 phones and a wallet in there and still have room to spare. It’s liberating! Also, the jeans are soft AF – they’re the only jeans I’ve ever worn comfortably on planes and long road trips. They’re as close to sweatpants in jean forms with giant pockets as you can get! Jeremy’s obsessed with his, too. 

Finally, and crucially: leave room for some new purchases. Like we’re talking EDIBLE purchases: a few bottles of wine, a jar of chutney, 3 pounds of fudge … that kinda thing. Leave some room in your bag to take the best of Mendocino back home with you.

READ THIS POST
14 Beautiful Big Sur Campgrounds: The Best Camping in Big Sur, California

Which of these marvelous things to do in Mendocino are you dying to experience? Drop us a comment below!

Planning a Highway One road trip? We’ve created a detailed 10-day California Coast road trip itinerary to help you plan! Enter your email below and we’ll send you a printable version, plus tips to plan your trip.

Psst: Looking for more places to explore in our beautiful home state? Here are some of our favorite places to visit in California!

  • The 32 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops
  • The 10 Best Weekend Trips from San Francisco, California: A Local’s Guide
  • Glamping Near San Francisco: A Romantic Weekend Getaway Itinerary
  • 24 Stunning Northern California Hikes (Near San Francisco)
  • 8 Quintessential Places to Visit on California’s Central Coast
xo Lia & Jeremy signature graphic
FOLLOW US!

Did you find this post informative? Save it to refer to later on Pinterest!

Mendocino, California is located a few hours north from San Francisco along the scenic Highway One/Pacific Coast Highway. It's the perfect travel destination for a weekend getaway or California road trip! #Travel #California #UnitedStates
775 shares

Our Top Travel Tips & Resources

Here are our favorite travel tips & resources for saving money and planning travel logistics! For more tips, check out our travel tips resource page or our guide to planning a trip.
  • Booking Flights: To score flight deals, search on Google Flights or Kayak. Money-saving tips: fly mid-week or on the weekend; fly carry-on only on a budget airline; and take red-eyes or early morning flights.
  • Accommodations: We usually stay in budget-friendly vacation rentals, boutique hotels or private rooms in hostels. We use Booking.com to book hotels (we love their flexible cancellation policy) and Hostelworld to book hostels (low deposit, easy change/cancellation, and excellent reviews). For vacation rentals, we prefer to book using VRBO because they've got lower fees and better support than Airbnb, and we're not fans of Airbnb's unethical track record. You can also book vacation rentals on Expedia and Hotels.com. We also use TrustedHousesitters as both hosts (for our home and our fur-child) and travelers!
  • Travel Insurance: We always, always, ALWAYS buy travel insurance for international trips, and we STRONGLY suggest it - visit our Travel Insurance Guide to find out why. We recommend either World Nomads or SafetyWing for international travel insurance. SafetyWing is one of the few policies that covers Covid-19, and they have excellent monthly policies that are perfect for Digital Nomads and long term travelers!
  • Travel Credit Card: We book all of our trips on our favorite travel credit card. Not only do we earn cash back that we can spend on more travel, but the card offers fantastic travel perks like travel insurance, trip delay and cancellation coverage, lost baggage reimbursement, and rental car coverage, which helps protect us on our travels. Learn more here.
  • Vaccines & Meds: We use the travel guides on the CDC website to research recommended medications and vaccines for international trips. We always recommend getting every vaccine recommended by the CDC! You can get them at your primary care doctor's office or a walk-in pharmacy.
  • Tours: We love booking guided tours, especially food tours and walking tours, to get a local's perspective and a history lesson while sight-seeing! We book our tours using Viator and GetYourGuide.
  • Transportation: We use Rome2Rio to figure out how to get from place to place, and book local transportation online using Bookaway wherever we can. When we book a rental car, we use Kayak to compare rental companies and find the best deal.
  • Luggage Storage: Whenever we're checking out early or taking advantage of a long layover, we use LuggageHero to safely store our luggage while we're running around. Use the code PRACTICALW for 2 hours of free luggage storage on us.
  • VPN Service: A VPN keeps your digital information (like website login details, bank info, etc) safe, even when you're connected to an unsecured network while traveling. Plus, it lets you use Netflix & other streaming sites abroad! We use NordVPN. Use the code WANDERLUSTPROMO when you sign up!
  • What to Pack: Here are the travel essentials that we bring on every trip. We also have packing lists for hot weather, cold weather, and many more. Take a look at all of our packing guides!

Booze Travel California Highway One Mendocino Northern California Pacific Coast Highway The West The West Coast USA Drinking Weekend Getaway Wine Tasting

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cate and Jeff - Liquid Fusion Kayaking says

    May 14, 2021 at 1:44 pm

    Just came across you posting and love the way you describe our wild and mild kayaking options. Thanks for the fun description! We really appreciate it. Cheers, Cate and Jeff

    Reply
  2. Julie Sweeney says

    September 25, 2018 at 9:01 am

    Beautiful description on the area. Love The Andiron, even if I am a little prejudice ( being Scott and Madeline’s aunt). Been going for years and want to go Kayaking next time.

    Reply
  3. Lisa Geer says

    September 24, 2018 at 9:38 pm

    Lovely article, you really capture the north coast! Next time stop by and visit us at the Ledford House Restaurant in Albion! We have endless ocean views, a petanque court, decks, locals AND bread pudding…. thank you, Lisa & Tony Geer

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      September 25, 2018 at 2:03 am

      That sounds wonderful! Plus, you said bread pudding, so we’ll definitely be there 🙂 Thanks Lisa!

      Reply
  4. Mr. and Mrs. Andiron says

    September 24, 2018 at 8:44 pm

    You are our favorite people, maybe ever. Thank you for the sweetest, perfectest, and kindest story about our Inn that we’ve ever read. It’s wild when people get our brand of weird. You totally did. AND, you have created the BEST guide to everything and everyplace else around here that we dig. We’re just gonna send people to this post from now on when they ask us what to do/see/eat.*

    Love, your new best friends forever,
    Mr. and Mrs. Andiron
    (aka Scott and Madeline)

    *Not kidding. We are!

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      September 25, 2018 at 2:04 am

      Oh, you’re SO sweet! We love when we find a place whose weird clicks with our weird 🙂 We’ll definitely be back – and we really appreciate you sharing the post with your guests!! Thanks again for being such wonderful hosts.

      Reply
  5. Anna says

    September 15, 2018 at 10:48 am

    Never heard of it, so thanks! Great read. You’re so right, I always have such a stereotypical picture of California, so this was a really refreshing and new take for me (I’m in Scotland and have no experience of most of the states!). We do have great fudge here though so i’ll remember this place and if I make it over I can see how it compares to ours!

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      September 17, 2018 at 12:04 pm

      So many people think of California as warm and sunny with palm trees etc, and really that’s only southern California 😛 Northern California is TOTALLY different! Come see if for yourself 😀

      Reply
  6. Rebecca says

    September 15, 2018 at 5:39 am

    We’re planning a huge road trip up the California coast next year, so have saved this – it’s got everything we need to know for our stop in Mendocino! That Inn looks like it’s straight from the 70s, so cool!

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      September 15, 2018 at 5:44 am

      Oh funnnn! Yeah it’s like quirky 70s vibe crossed with today-levels of decor. Very ~vintage chic.

      Reply
  7. Harmony, Momma To Go says

    September 15, 2018 at 4:59 am

    When I was in college, I worked at a restaurant called Mendocino Wine Bar. THe propieter was obsessed with California and this region. I always thought it was further south and that all there was to do there was eat and drink wine! Apparently wrong on both fronts there. I need to get back to Cali, I love the vibe (and of course food and wine) and all the outdoorsy stuff to do!

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      September 15, 2018 at 5:44 am

      Noooo it’s a county in northern California! It’s full of redwoods and vineyards and coastal spots like the actual town of Mendocino and beautiful road trips and tiny adorable towns. It’s wonderful! Come visit 🙂

      Reply
  8. Tina says

    September 15, 2018 at 4:50 am

    I’ve honestly never heard of Mendocino (I’m from Australia) but I’m getting some Australian coast vibes looking at your pics. And, you had me at Blue Cheese Bourbon Burger… plus, all your other stunning food pics that are making me hungry right now (it’s 10pm here) and there’s absolutely nothing to eat, so I’ll just stare at these photos and let my stomach eat itself.

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      September 15, 2018 at 5:45 am

      Hahahah my stomach starts growling just looking at those pics, too. The food there is SO good. I totally get a Highway One vibe when I look at parts of the Australian Coast, so I do think there’s definitely some overlap there 😉

      Reply
  9. Sarah - Borders & Bucket Lists says

    September 14, 2018 at 10:40 pm

    As usual, I love the edits on your photos and your writing style. Thanks for the great read!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Travel bloggers Lia and Jeremy in front of a colorful background with welcoming text.

In 2016 we quit our jobs, put our stuff in storage, and took off on a (disastrous) year-long honeymoon. Today, we share down-to-earth travel tips from our many (mis)adventures on our blog and podcast!

low-key stalk us here

Get a FREE Travel Planning Guide!

Need some help planning your next adventure? Sign up and we'll send you all of our travel tips, hacks, printable packing lists, and more!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

You'll also be subscribing to our monthly newsletter. Unsubscribe anytime.







Latest Posts

Sally Lightfoot crabs on black volcanic rock by the sea in the Galapagos Islands.

Santa Cruz Galapagos Island Guide: What to Do, Where to Eat, & Where to Stay on Santa Cruz

Powdery snow. Blue skies. The feel of the wind on your face. That one little kid who is infinitely better than you. Ahhh, ski vacations: where Jeremy snowboards and I practice my professional hot-tubbing. From the ski vacation essentials that find their way into our suitcases year after year to the things you'll never find us packing (like ... an actual snowboard. Rentals exist for a reason!), here's all the tips you need to pack for your next ski vacation, whether it's your first or you're a ski bunny regular!

Ski Trip Packing List: 32 Essentials to Pack for the Snow

Traveling with curly hair: all the low-maintenance tips you need to look fabulous abroad.

Traveling with curly hair: the low maintenance guide to amazing curls abroad

Where to Stay in Barcelona (& Where NOT to)

Lia and Jeremy are the married couple behind the Practical Wanderlust travel blog!

Meet Lia & Jeremy

3 years ago we quit our jobs, put our stuff in storage, and took off on a (disastrous) year-long honeymoon. Today, we share down-to-earth travel tips from our many (mis)adventures on our blog and podcast! Low key stalk us here and on social media.

FOLLOW US!
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter Podcast YouTube

Footer

About Us...
  • Meet Lia & Jeremy
  • Browse Destinations
  • Travel Tips
  • Packing Tips
  • Contact Us & FAQ
  • Work with Us
  • Mission Statement
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
@practicalwanderlust

Get the Free Travel Planning Guide!

Need some help planning your next adventure? Subscribe and we’ll send you our FREE 22-page Travel Planning Guide. The guide includes everything from the hacks we use to save money on travel to printable packing lists. We’ll also send our favorite travel tips straight to your inbox!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Copyright ©2023, Practical Wanderlust. Site by Pixel Me Designs
As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases
Back To Top