Visiting the Mendocino Coast

Earlier this summer, my partner and I traveled up to the Mendocino coast, about 4 hours north of the San Francisco Bay area. We were seeking a quiet long weekend in a nature-filled place without excessive crowds or traffic, and we weren't disappointed! We left mid-day on a Thursday, and once we'd driven through San Francisco and crossed the golden gate bridge, the drive flew by. 

The area is sometimes referred to as the Lost Coast as it's the most undeveloped portion of coastline in the state and the closest major freeway is accessible via 30 miles of secondary roads that wind through redwood forests. Driving through the redwood forests, particularly with the sunshine coming through the branches, was an unexpected bonus of the trip. Visiting these trees is one of my favorite parts of living in California. 

The Mendocino coast had delicious food and much lower prices than in the Bay area which delighted us. The weather was cool and mainly in the 50s and 60s. We enjoyed exploring a beach known for its abundance of sea glass, a historic lighthouse, a coastal botanical garden, a local theater performance, a fantastic book store, a fun old west saloon, a delicious ice cream shop, and loved walking and driving along the rugged coast. Images below were taken by both of us.

About 30 miles from the Mendocino coast, this pull-off was a beautiful stop as we neared our destination. Sadly, this region was impacted by the Mendocino Complex fire in the weeks after we visited. 

Point Cabrillo Lighthouse 

I like to think I was reflecting on how happy the absence of crowds and cars made me feel.