Mendocino Headlands State Park is unforgettable. We walked straight from the village out along the…read morebluffs, with sweeping ocean views the entire way, then made our way down to a quiet beach where there was no one else around. Just sitting there with the sound of waves and birds felt incredibly peaceful. Simple, raw, and beautiful in a way that's hard to describe. One of those places that makes you slow down and just take it all in. Absolutely worth the walk from town.

Such a gorgeous coastal walk near downtown Mendocino! There's ample parking in town and it's an…read moreeasy walk from the coffee shops to where the trail along the coast starts. There's ample parking are some great viewpoints and really gives you a taste of the Northern California coastline without having to drive far or hike.

Big River State Park in Mendocino is absolutely stunning, one of those places where you're reminded…read morehow much nature is showing off along this coast. With the river winding through redwoods and opening out toward the ocean, the scenery feels almost unreal in its scale and beauty. There are trails everywhere, great spots for kayaking, hiking, or just sitting quietly and taking it all in. The whole Mendocino area is packed with parks, and this one is a standout for its grandeur and sense of peace. It really feels like a place to slow down and appreciate how incredible the natural world is.

I've visited Mendocino many times and somehow have never spent time at this wonderful (and free)…read morestate park. The entrance is off Highway 1, just outside Mendocino's shopping district and headlands. There are big wide beaches where the river meets the ocean which are visible right away. However, if you make a left at the bottom of the hill and drive a short ways to the end of the lot, there's a wonderful trail that meanders alongside the river. This former logging road is wide and gently graded (at least for the first 2.5 miles I walked on it.) It's great for bikes and more casual "hikes." It goes, I believe, about 7 miles inland so you can go as far as you'd like and turn around. It's a mellow journey and one more about the sites and sounds along the trail and the general peacefullness of the area, rather than a specific destination. You weave along the river and eventually in to the redwoods, where the water views become filtered through the trees. Along the way, we saw a few banana slugs and enjoyed a mostly shaded trail. I would love to come back with my bike and do the whole trail, end to end. The start of the trail had more people, which then tapered to just a few bikers and runners after the first mile or so. Seems to be a local's spot and they're very lucky to have it!

One of the most iconic bridges on the Mendocino coast. This state park is below the route 1. There…read moreis a large parking lot with direct access to the rivers mouth, sandy beachs and open nature. Also, a maintained restroom. We stopped for a while to take in the incredible views, walk on the waters edge and get a better look at the gulch bridge overhead. This special place is unique in its direct access to the river and area, and most just drive over the bridge without ever realizing the park is just below. This is a hidden gem on the Mendocino coastline and worth seeking it out and exploring a bit. 4.5 Stars rounded up for the direct water access 01190

The views and trails here are truly stunning. So peaceful and quiet, a perfect date hike or a…read morefamily adventure!

I forgot to review this lovely place I got the pleasure of staying for two nights back in November…read more2025. This was the absolute cutest idea I have done in a long while, although the nights were absolutely freezing during November which I do not recommend, if you can't withstand the cold. It was still enjoyable though. I recommend doing this during the lovely summer, I am sure it's amazing. They have clean bathrooms to shower. Communal area for coffee and breakfast with small snacks. They had this absolutely amazing apple bread I had to call them for the recipe, it was soooo good. It was a nice walk to get coffee, coffee was decent as well, no complaints. Raccoons will be the biggest problem, they do warn you prior and say to hide all dog food and human food in the large heavy chest that is located outside your tent. I thought I had put everything inside the chest and I was laying down and I heard something outside, so I get up and my neighbor said the raccoon had taken something from my bag, I finally realized the next day it was my dogs combs ugh. I was sad to say the least so don't make the same mistake as I did, make sure to put all things in that chest lol. I am assuming they thought it was food. The staff were very friendly upon check in, and when I called back to for the apple bread recipe. I forgot to mention that I wish they would invest in way better heated blankets for the colder months especially if we can't bring our own. The ones that were included and on the bed were just not heating up enough for the 40 degree temps. Cute little spot for a getaway!

Wonderful stay, super nice and helpful staff. Wish I could've stayed longer. Would be nice to have…read morea small mini fridge in the tents but not a must. Would love to go back.

Decided to rent some bikes while we were staying in Mendocino. The shop is cute with it being right…read moreon the water. Definitely debated renting a canoe as well but we just didn't have enough time. The bikes were perfect to get us around town and down a trial close by. We had them reserved for 3 hours but they weren't worried about our time limit as long as we got them back by 4:30. The owners of the shop are super chill and relaxed. We felt very welcomed in their space. It was easy to book online and they're very responsive and flexible. I will say the breaks on the bike were a little worn but didn't pose any issues for us. We felt safe riding around and had no trouble.

We got the outrigger canoe for three adults and one pet and it was such a fun experience doing this…read morewith our dog! I was a little bit nervous because our pup doesn't exactly love water nor do we canoe often, but Rick via email and the staff on site were so helpful in answering any lingering questions. Rowing away from site was easy and smooth, and we floated off the side for a bit to take in the view. Once the wind picked up, rowing back was harder since we were going against the current, but still manageable! Everyone had a great time. We didn't use up the full three hours we were booked for, but nonetheless made it quite the way before turning back. We also respectfully from a distance, saw many seals! Our pup ended up enjoying her time on the canoe, and was all smiles. She was so relaxed that she actually fell asleep on the way back while we worked to paddle against the current. I'd say totally add this to your itinerary and make sure you bring a hat, sunscreen, and water for hydration!

Van Damme Beach in Little River is a beautiful, peaceful stop just south of Mendocino. The beach is…read moretucked into a protected cove with calm water, driftwood, and lush greenery surrounding it, making it feel very serene compared to other coastal spots. It's perfect for a quiet walk, beachcombing, or just sitting and listening to the waves. Easy access and not overly crowded, which made the experience even better. A great hidden gem along the Northern California coast and absolutely worth a stop if you're in the area. Proud that I did not make Jean Claude Van Damme reference. Oops.

It was light fog on my first pass through here but still worth stopping but it was perfectly…read morebeautiful on the return the next day. This is a stunning beach and I'm so glad that I made the stops. Large parking lot that was almost empty both times in late May. I suspect that the location along CA-1 makes it rather packed and I hope you're able to get here and be at one with nature. Just sitting and being close to the Ocean and just... nothing. Perfect. [Review 17618 overall - 408 in California - 1137 of 2022.]

B. Bryan Preserve is a wonderful organization dedicated to protecting African wildlife. My partner…read moreand I did the self-guided driving tour in our own car, which was a great way to see some of the species up close. We went on a Saturday morning in February, so the experience was peaceful, quiet, and calm. While not a whole lot of animals were out during our slot (just doing their animal thing!), we were still able to see a nice variety of species. The absolute highlight was getting to feed the giraffes at the end of the tour! They are such majestic creatures, and it was a fun, interactive activity. We finished the tour fairly quickly since many animals weren't right up against the fence that day, but it's a fantastic activity to add to your itinerary if you're spending a full day exploring the coast. You can truly tell that the caretakers value and care deeply for these animals. It's a great experience that supports an excellent cause!

Early morning visit to a wildlife preserve…read more It was awesome seeing wildlife so up close. They all were healthy and well cared for. Feeding the giraffe was fun. We had a good time & the staff was very nice. #GoSee

Van Damme State Park in Little River is a beautiful blend of coastal forest and beach. The fern…read morecanyon trail and redwood groves are especially peaceful, with towering trees, soft light, and a true sense of quiet. It's an easy place to slow down and take in nature, whether you're walking through the forest or heading down to the shoreline. Not too crowded, well maintained, and very relaxing overall. A perfect stop if you're exploring the Mendocino coast and want both redwoods and ocean in one visit.

Returned to Van Damm State Park for a second time and already looking forward to future visits…read more I've yet camped at the upper campsites. Only experienced the two lower loops closest to the entrance as well as the beach across the highway. It's an overall great campground. The only concern would be your neighbors and the mosquitos at sites that are along the creek. Most if not all sites are RV friendly. Anything larger than a mid-sized travel trailer, you might want to be selective. For trailers that are low profiled, stick to the lower loops to avoid scraping. Opted to never pull a trailer here because I'm not a fan of towing on highway 1. Typically, the host would drive around the campground delivering firewood at 12 dollars a bundle. Otherwise, they are available at the host's designated site.

This was an amazing spa experience! You'd never know it looking at the front of the building, but…read morethe lot extends very far to the back where there are multiple buildings for lodgings and the spa/body work services. We booked the outdoor hot tub #2 for one hour on a Sunday. It's $40/person on the weekends. This was a rainy weekend early in the season, so the spa was very quiet. It was quite serene to be outside in the hot tub, with light rain falling down! There is complete privacy at the tub, but there is also a larger communal tub option as well. The sauna is also communal. One drawback is that the restroom and locker room area did not seem to have separated male/female spaces. Luckily, we had the place to ourselves besides some older women, so it was not an issue. However, I would not have loved it had it been busier. It's a small space, so heads up on that if you're going. Overall, this was a fun and unique experience to do in Mendocino. It was very relaxing and peaceful, and the price was decent for the service. I would definitely go again. Very fun!

The people at Sweetwater are good to work with. Liked- Asian…read moredecor, view, location, very convenient to groceries, bakery and restaurants. Didn't like -step up to living room(dangerous for older people), no air conditioning , just ceiling fan. (hot living room because of windows), no usable chest of drawers (not easy to pull drawers in and out), noisy kitchen cupboard doors ( no pulls, slam shut), only very small closet (basically had to live out of suitcases for five days.