Mendocino
Coast Botanical Gardens
The
Gardens has a bird watching hike once a month. Beaches, coastal
trails and parklands are all beautiful and rewarding areas
for bird watchers whether spending a few hours or a few days.
Check with the Gardens as they have many special events occurring
through out the year.
Whale
Watching
November through April the whale migration is viewed from the rugged coastline.
Catch a glimpse of a tail or a whale spouting from the headlands, your balcony
or a whale watching boat out of Noyo Harbor. Walks along the coast line with
a picnic lunch work well also.
Noyo
Harbor
Where the commercial sport fishing fleet anchor. There are also
whale watching, coastal cruises, salmon fishing, crabbing, and
home to the Coast Guard. Many fine sea food restaurants in this
the, largest harbor between San Francisco and Eureka. See below
 Party
Boats/Ocean Fishing
Many
boats based in Noyo Harbor, will take you out for any number of excursions. salmon,
rockcod, albacore, ling cod, bottom fishing, crabbing, and sunset cruises with
karaoke. There are as many fishing boat trips as there are fish types. Check
out what is available.
 Ecological
Staircase and Coastal State Parks
Journey back into time with a park ranger to witness the earth’s
formations and how they were formed in each geological age
and transition. The Staircase is located at Jughandle State Reserve
but the Mendocino Coast has many State and Private Campgrounds. This
link will take you to the State listings.
Anderson
Valley Wine Country
A narrow winding road through a beautiful secluded valley of small world-class
wineries. Stop and smell the roses and experience your favorite wines.
 Redwood Excursion
Skunk Train
Known to locals as the Skunk Train, this railroad is like no other
in California. Started in 1885 as a logging railroad it now
operates passenger trains through the Redwood Forest, along
the Noyo River and over the Coastal Mountain Range. The “All
Aboard!” call starts you on either a half day or a full
day trip through natural beauty you won’t soon forget. Visit the Skunk
Train web site.
Pygmy
Forest
Trees one hundred years old are six to eight feet tall with
a diameter the size of a quarter. The “soil” is grey and hard as
cement.
Nurseries/Fuschiarama
Hundreds of beautiful plant species to observe or purchase.
 Glass Beach
What once was the town dump is now an attraction for both visitors and residents.
A beach unlike any other you are likely to find, for this beach is covered
in small, now smooth bits of colored glass. Tiny bits of glass, like those
you might find in an aquarium, now fills the beach from one end to the other.
You can walk for hours picking up different colors, and some have even been
known to keep a couple of interesting pieces they find.
World
Class Micro Brewery
The Brewery opened in 1988. We couldn’t be more proud of
them. Our North Coast Brewery has been named One of the Ten Best
Breweries in the World by the American Beer Association. Needless
to say, no trip to Fort Bragg would be complete without sampling
a little home brew and maybe catching a tour of the brewery itself
located north of downtown.
Horse
Back Riding
Want to take a horse back ride along the beach at sunset? Or meander through
the woods at a cowpokes pace? How about a brisk trot through the foam on a
beach while the waves crash right next to you? Ricochet Ridge Ranch in Fort
Bragg can make all your horse-based dreams come true. The ranch offers both
English and Western riding. Half hour to all day private rides, as well as
scheduled half hour rides. What about a week-long riding vacation? Ricochet
Ridge Ranch can set it all up for you.
 Train
and Lumber Museum
In the middle of town, on the west side of Main Street, perched atop a small
knoll sits a beautiful old Victorian home known as the Guest House Museum.
Within the museum walls you will find display after display on local history,
including logging, fishing, trains, and even pictures of those families who
used to reside in our fair city many years ago. So take a step back through
history and explore the birth of the largest town on the Mendocino Coast.
Galleries
Ever wondered what would happen if you surrounded people with natural beauty
for years and then asked them to express it? We know what would happen… a
small town only four miles long would be gifted with enough artisans
to fill more than six galleries. And how would a small town go about
celebrating those artisans? Why, it would hold parties on the First Friday
of every month to open the new exhibits at all those local galleries.
Pudding
Creek Trestle
The
last remaining wooden train trestle of an era when
logging trains ran along the shore, then inland along
the Ten Mile River to pick up redwood logs for return
to the Union Lumber Company mill. The tracks were torn
up in 1954 and logging trucks continued to use the
trestle to deliver logs to what is now Georgia Pacific.
Tidepools,
Headlands, Secluded Beaches,
The state parks have miles of beaches and rock formations. With endless interest
you could be spending many pleasurable hours studying the many and various
colorful life forms along the shore and coastal inlets.
 Kayaking
and Canoeing
Want to take to the rivers and explore? What better way then
in a kayak or canoe? Visit Noyo Harbor from the water level,
explore the peaceful intertidal environment of Noyo River,
paddle up Big River and picnic on a spot of beach, or brave
the currents and paddle right into the ocean! See sights you
can’t
get to on foot and would never dream of from a car. Are you a novice to paddling
around? No problem! Lessons and safety equipment are available (including
wetsuits). The Coast offers two places for rentals.
and
of course Great Shopping
Antiques, collectibles, crafts, souvenirs, jewelry, boutiques, mini-malls, galleries,
glass blowing, tatoos, jams, jellies, wines, micro-brews, smoked meats and
fish, etc.
|
