Come Stay at Oceanside Inn and Suites . . .
Where The Only Disappointment is Having to Check Out.... eventually
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.