Spectacular coastline, majestic redwoods, prime wine country—why choose? Mendocino County packs in all the West Coast highlights.
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WHE RE I J U LY 2017
WILD AND DIVERSE, MENDOCINO could be appreciated as a quick getaway from San Francisco or as an extended, epic summer road trip (at nearly 4,000 square miles, the county is bigger than Delaware). We explore the area's three defining landscapes: coastline, redwood forest and wine country.
Along the Coast A portion of scenic Highway 1 leads drivers along the Mendocino shoreline. Point Arena-Stornetta coastal preserve, protected as the newest portion (and the only landbased segment) of the California Coastal National Monument, lies near the starting point. These two miles of untouched coastline contain hiking paths, picnic spots, the Point Arena Lighthouse and prime spots for whale and seal spotting. At nearby Bowling Ball Beach, low tide reveals spherical sand-
stone formations millions of years in the making arranged in striking chains. About halfway up the Mendocino coast is the artsy town of Mendocino with a population of less than 1,000. Stroll the bluff-top coastal trails running parallel to its downtown and go inland to browse the shops and galleries. Unwind with an artisanal cocktail at the Victorian-era MacCallum House’s small bar or stop for fish and chips at Patterson’s Pub, which locals consider the best in the county. The Mendocino Music Festival (July 8-22) brings genre-spanning concerts to a massive white tent pitched right on a cliff overlooking the Pacific. If you’re up for an adventure, rent a kayak or canoe to get up close to the wildlife (River otters! Harbor seals! So many birds!) on the lazy 8.3-mile Big River estuary, which flows into the Pacific just to the south
©BOB WICK
Mendocino, Three Ways