Overview of the Region with South Coast Mendocino Highlights...

Mendocino County is one of the most picturesque areas in the state of California.  It's terrain includes breathtaking coastline, rolling, vineyard-covered hills, redwood forests and rugged mountains.  It is traversed north to south by Highway 101 in its interior, and by Highway 1 on the coast.  Several routes connect the two main highways, including Highway 128 and Highway 20.

Mendocino County is approximately two hours north of the Golden Gate Bridge and is known for its wineries, restaurants and fine lodging as well as for outdoor recreation such as camping, diving, fishing, whale watching, sea kayaking and hiking.  It has approximately 80,000 residents.

Most of Mendocino's towns are situated along the main highways.  Hopland, Ukiah, the county seat and largest city, Willits, Laytonville and Leggett all straddle Highway 101.  Gualala, Anchor Bay, Point Arena, Manchester, Elk, Albion, Little River, Mendocino, Fort Bragg and Westport are all tiny former logging communities that line Highway 1.  The coast is a popular weekend getaway for residents of the San Francisco Bay Area and has scores of excellent restaurants and dozens of bed and breakfast inns, vacation homes and motels.  The whole town of Mendocino is a State Preservation District due to its lovingly preserved buildings, most of which date from the late 1800s.

Mendocino County has several state parks and recreation areas, including Sinkyone Wilderness State Park which encompasses some of the most pristine coastline in the lower 48 states.

Although not as noted for fine wine as Napa or Sonoma counties, Mendocino has more than 30 world-class wineries that welcome visitors to their tasting rooms.  Most of the wineries are located in Hopland, Ukiah, Redwood Valley and along Highway 128 in Yorkville and the Anderson Valley.

Weather in Mendocino County is generally mild.  Fog and sea breezes usually keep the coastal areas cool, while inland temperatures can reach the 90s during the summer months.
 

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South Coast Mendocino Highlights

Arts in the Redwoods Festival
Annual event held each August by Gualala Arts, Inc. features hundreds of exhibits by local artists,
at the Gualala Art Center.
707.884.1138

Gualala Point Regional Park
Trails, picnicking, camping by the ocean, whale watching.
707.565.2041

Schooner Gulch State Beach
Fishing, surfing, trail access to Bowling Beach.
707.937.5804

Manchester State Beach
Five-mile sweep of sand and surf features 760 acres of meadows, sand dunes,
 wildflowers and ocean views.
707.882.2463

Point Arena Lighthouse
115-foot tower with two-ton Fresnel lens and 666 hand-ground and polished crystals,
maritime museum in adjacent Fog Signal Building.
707.882.2777
www.PointArenaLighthouse.com

Point Arena / Arena Cove
Public access fishing, restaurants, lodging, restrooms.

Sea Stacks
Hugh rocks and rock formations just off the coast of Elk, explorable by small boats and kayaks.

Redwood Coast Chamber of Commerce
800.778.5252
www.RedwoodCoastChamber.com