California Vacation Guide 2015 - 69

NORTH COAST

Mendocino
EVENTS

North
Coast
SPRING
Mendocino
Film Festival,
Mendocino County.
Small-town venues
throughout the
county host silverscreen luminaries,
plus screenings of
independent ﬁlms,
documentaries, and
shorts. MAY 28-31

TRIP
IDEA

From Sea to Sip

EXPERIENCE COASTAL MAJESTY, FRESH TASTES
FROM THE SEA, AND SOME OF THE STATE'S TOP
CRAFT BEERS AND WINES ON THIS LOTS-TO-DO DRIVE.
START: SAN FRANCISCO
GUALALA (115mi/185km; 2hr

1

45min). Walk to Whale Watch
Point for a glimpse of migrating
grays. Pitch a tent near rocky
coves at Gualala Point Regional
Park; dine on luscious seared sea
scallops at romantic St. Orres Inn.
POINT ARENA (14mi/23km;
19min). Climb to the top of
the tallest Paciﬁc coast lighthouse. At low tide, see teeming
tidepools and really weird rocks
at Bowling Ball Beach. Learn
about endangered wildlife at
B. Bryan Preserve.
MENDOCINO (35mi/57km;
55min). Meander this
postcard-perfect village's downtown, gather picnic lunch from
Mendocino Market, then spread
a blanket atop plunging cliffs at
Mendocino Headlands State Park.
FORT BRAGG (10mi/16km;
16min). Stop in for a cold
one at North Coast Brewing, a
mainstay in the local craft brewing movement for more than 25
years. Then feel the sea breeze
from atop Pudding Creek Trestle,
a historic redwood rail bridge.

2

3

KODIAK GREENWOOD

4

5

GARBERVILLE (66mi/106km;

1hr31min). See old growth
redwood trees; view natural history exhibits in the Richardson
Grove State Park Visitor Center, a
cool 1930s lodge. Dip in summer
swimming holes on the Eel River.
WEOTT (27mi/44km; 31min).
Gather around the campﬁre for interpretive programs at
Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
Feel oh-so-small cruising Avenue
of the Giants, a 31-mile-long drive
through the park's towering trees.
FERNDALE (46mi/74km;
47min). Explore Main Street
with its handsome Victorian-era
homes. Browse for antiques and

6
7

EUREKA
FERNDALE
WEOTT
GARBERVILLE
FORT BRAGG
MENDOCINO

UKIAH

POINT ARENA
GUALALA

KELSEYVILLE
101
1

SAN FRANCISCO

oddities at Golden Gate Mercantile. See hand-forged sculptures
at The Blacksmith Shop.
EUREKA (20mi/32km;
25min). On the ﬁrst Saturday
of the month, enjoy Arts! Alive,
when galleries, museums, and
theaters stay open late. Indulge
in seasonal fare and a 3,400-label
wine list at Restaurant 301.
UKIAH (157mi/252km; 2hr
43min). Find calm in the lush
gardens of the Sagely City of
10,000 Buddhas, an international
Buddhist community; soak away
your cares at Vichy Spa in naturally carbonated mineral baths.

8

9

10

KELSEYVILLE

(42mi/67km; 46min). Try
pale ale brewed with local hops
at Kelsey Creek Brewing; tour
Clear Lake's outstanding wineries; admire the art as you savor
crispy ﬂatbread and local wines
at Saw Shop Gallery Bistro.

Whale and Jazz
Festival, Gualala.
Whale-watching
pairs with live
jazz and jazzinspired art over
three consecutive
weekends in spring,
when gray whales
migrate along the
North Coast on
their way to Alaska.
APR
SUMMER
Arcata Bay Oyster
Festival, Arcata.
Slurp fresh-fromthe-sea oysters, or
try them roasted,
barbecued, fried,
or doused with
creative sauces as
area chefs show
off their culinary
skills. JUN
Frontier Days,
Willits.
Saddle up for
California's oldest
continuous rodeo
(since 1927). Watch
the Black Bart
Gunﬁghters tonguein-cheek shoot-out,
or see top-ranked
cowgirls and cowboys rope calves,
wrestle steers, and
ride bulls.
JUN-JUL

TO SAN FRANCISCO:

122mi/197km; 2hr19min

More ideas at
visitcalifornia.com

More at
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