This was a cute little place to stop and take pictures at we really enjoyed the view. It is very…read moresketchy to go down into the beach area and we almost fell a few times. There is a lot of different people around all over the place taking pictures. Overall definitely a nice rest stop. Idk if I'd go out of my way to visit though but it's cool to have come once.

A few miles south on Hwy 1 from Pt. Arena. Takes a few minutes to get there, park at the beach sign…read more(heading south) AND make sure to look for the trail head to the North side on that lot. Get there 30 mins, or an hour BEFORE LOW TIDE, walk down the trail (Be Careful) and watch the tide head out- you'll see the massive Bowling Balls. Keep track of the tides, Be safe.

Worth it for the baby seals. We didn't actually go down to the beach and instead chose to stay on…read morethe cliff and do the trails. Trails are easy from the parking lot and is dog friendly. As you get to the viewing point for the seals though, dogs are not allowed. (We saw a seal turn around and go back into the water after making eye contact/smell contact with our dog as we were walking near the cliff!) There were also seal docents who can explain what you're seeing and share binoculars.

This is a lovely cove beach, but I didn't find many shells! We were there at low tide and only…read moresaw a couple other people.

This is my kind of beach. If you are there at times during the week you can walk 5 miles of beach…read moreand not see another person. Massive pieces of drift wood are scattered along the beach, one wonders where it all came from and how long it drifted at sea. The only sound you hear is the wind and the waves crashing on the shore, it can almost be hypnotic. To me there almost seems to be something magical or spiritual about the place. A short walk from the state campground or the nearby KOA. While walking down to the ocean you can see deer, rabbits, squirrels, even occasionally a snake. I have thoroughly enjoyed my several visits to the park, and plan to make may more visits in the future.

This place has great coast views! Camping is quiet and without amenities! Sites are spread out! No…read morehost on site! Self register and $35 overnight! Great sunset from my site! Must drive or it's a very long hike to the beach! I can also see the Point Arena lighthouse from my site! Overall good camping for the price! I would give it a five stars if it had power hookups!

The staff was great. The facilities (not that I'm an expert) seem spacious and clean. The staff…read moreobviously care about the animals and are knowledgeable. They spent a lot of time explaining all the health care the animals have available. The tour was definitely worth the price. I read some of the negative reviews. These seem to be from a few years ago, so they are listening and correcting. The ONE thing that irritated me, my wife and others (judging from comments at the time): They start showing a documentary before the tour (show up at least 30 minutes early). They don't finish, but you can watch it all on streaming. The irritating part is they are preparing for the tour during the documentary. Lots of us would have liked to hear, but the manager and employees were all talking (or shouting) preparations. Maybe they could do this BEFORE the documentary or OUTSIDE?? But it is definitely five stars, even with this little glitch. Check it out and help the animals!

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!

Fish Rock Beach is in front of the Anchor Bay Campground in the community of Anchor Bay just north…read moreof Gualala, California. Wander around the rocks to other little pockets along the beach. The cove is popular for scuba diving, fishing, abalone diving, sea kayaking, and whale watching. Swimming is usually safe here as rip currents are rare, but the water is always cold. Anchor Bay is in an area called the "Banana Belt" which stays clearer than the surrounding Mendocino and Sonoma coastline that gets more fog and rain. Winter storms can strip the beach of its sand turning the beach into a rocky shore, but the sand gets pushed back into place naturally every year.

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.

Pros: - We went with my mom who has arthritis and it was…read moreflat and a great spot for us to walk as a family - Incredible views!!!!! - Lovely from both sides - we hiked the south part one morning and the north part another morning Cons: - Windy! I'd recommend a windbreaker or jacket, even on a warmer day. If you have longer hair, bring a hat or headband.

Beautiful hike near where we were staying. Definitely off the beaten path and recommended for those…read morewith time on their hands. We meandered through this area a few days along the cliffs, through the fields, and along the tree groves. Spectacular scenery and highly recommended for bird lovers and sea lion fans!

One of my favorite beach parks on the coast! Beautiful trail through the cypress grove with…read morestunning views of the ocean and Pelican Rock. Plenty of driftwood along the wide beach, and the view of the town in the distance adds a nice touch.

Lovely campsite. Every single site is shaded. Some are huge, some are tiny, some are practically on…read moretop of each other. Half of them are also right on the river. We had sites 1+2 which were great for a group; 1 was VERY spacious (could have easily fit 4-5 tents). See my notes below - sorry for the incomplete sentences, I was doing this on my phone walking around. The raccoons are ruthless once it's dark out! They swiped food from our picnic table while we were sitting at it, just 5 feet away from it. I had my trunk open and left my car for a few minutes; when I came back they'd grabbed things from the cooler and broken some eggs we had. Be vigilent!! There is a beach nearby, with 4-7 year old kids, it was about a 40 minute walk. They definitely needed a lot of motivation to get there and back, but it was doable! The beach is beautiful, with all this stripped away dead wood that made for fun playhouses for the kids. But the waves are really tough there and there are about a million signs saying don't go into the water, as the sand gets very deep quickly, which creates these death trap waves. We had a dog off leash and someone told me that the rangers are really strict and will actually ticket if your dog is not leashed. *Note that EVERY SINGLE site is very well shaded. I stopped putting this in my notes halfway through when I realized this. F - 1 small tent, 2nd area for medium or large tent only, flat, river view, full shade, v private E - 2 tents,shade, river view, kind private D - two small tents, right on path no privacy, no river view, shaded C - 1 large tent, Right on path. No privacy, River view, shaded B - 2 medium tents A - two medium tents A/B basically like one site 11 - A little sloped, to medium times, no Riverview, kind of private 12 - not very private from the road, two medium tents s but would be tight, shaded but feels more open. No River View 13 - 3-4 of tent spots, isolated from other sites, shaded but feels open, a little bit Sloped, no River view 14 - very small, space for maybe one tent, shaded 15/16 - basically like one campground, very open right off the road, space for three to four tents 17 - space for two to three tents, open but shaded, semi-private 19 - Small, space for one to two tents, right off road 1 - very large for four or five tents 2 - space for 3 tents 3 - space for one or two tents, has the best river view 1-3 all in one line, shaded, on the river. 1 has the most trees 8 - One or two tents 9 - 1 tent 10 - 1 tent 8-10 All close to each other and not very private 8-9 very integrated, could be a group site. But really close to other sites on either side of the road 5-6 small, one tent each, could be a group site 4 - Small, maybe one or two tents. Right on River

A total coastal sanctuary that's off the beaten path. When it comes to beaches on the Mendocino…read moreCoast, Greenwood State Beach is the key to peace and seclusion. It's located in the small town of Elk, so you can expect less crowds. Getting down to this beach requires a short but steepish hike from the parking lot. Keep this in mind if you plan on lugging anything down there. But it's well worth it to pack a picnic because you could literally spend your entire day here. There are restrooms right at the parking lot, and you'll be able to see the beach from the top of the hiking path. Once you make it down to shore, your eyes will be met with the most majestic views of the Mendocino Coastline. This is where shallow white waves meet soft white sand in essence. Where sunny blue skies and picturesque mountain top views conjoin. The sand dunes seem to be endless and you'll feel like you're almost in complete solitude. I love when I have beaches all to myself. Since it's located further down, it has that cove-ish feel, making it nice and warm during the summer. And yes, the water is teal! A beautiful teal. Super clear, clean, and beautiful. It's also the perfect temperature, so hop on it or have fun just getting your feet wet. I brought a bottle of Rosé and a sandwich to this beach and had an amazing little Sunday afternoon picnic here. It was so relaxing that I honestly didn't wanna leave. But alas, I had to get back home. It was my favorite beach stop whilst road trippin' down the Mendocino Coast. It's definitely out there, but if you're driving down the coast, I'd would absolutely recommend that you stop and explore this lovely beach.

This a beautiful place to take a short hike to the beach and take in some cool rock formations in…read morethe sea. Many come here to make structures with the driftwood. It's very accessible, there's a clean bathroom and gorgeous views

The point arena lighthouse is very impressive and it's history is very interesting. This is…read moreactually the 3rd lighthouse on the premises. It is well worth the $5 extra fee to climb to the top. The views from the top of the lighthouse are inspiring and very beautiful. Very polite staff and a nice gift shop as well.

I went out to the light house but parked outside the gate. Beautiful scenery and view of…read morelighthouse. Grounds look nice and clean. Ample parking inside and outside the main gate. Views of the oceans and lighthouse. I had my dogs with me and they needed to run. I'm confident the light house and grounds are just as spectacular inside the complex as they looked from outside the gates.