Discover the Adventure
Mendocino Village

You'll Love the Eastern Seaboard Feel of Mendocino Village

In fact, your first time in Mendocino Village, you may have trouble remembering that you're on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, not the Atlantic.

Filled with Victorians, Cape Cod shingles, saltbox homes, wooden water towers and kitschy shops, you could not be blamed for thinking you'd been transported to the coast of New England!

You can almost picture yourself gathering on the beach with family and friends for clam bakes...

Or imagine launching your sailing skiff for a few hours at sea...

Or you might even envision battening down the hatches in preparation for the next big hurricane.

What you might find instead are dungeness crab feeds, kayaking through the sea caves, and enjoying a nice fire in front of your picture window as the occasional Pacific storm passes through.

What's your favorite Mendocino experience?
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Mendocino Village:
The Cabot Cove of the West Coast

Blair House - an 1888 Victorian first built for Elisha Blair and his family and now a popular Bed and Breakfast in the heart of Mendocino Village - played the role of Jessica Fletcher's home for the television show.

And many of the locals played background parts or speaking parts in the series! After your visit, watch some Murder, She Wrote reruns to see if you recognize anyone.

The village is lined with beautiful Victorian inns, unique shops - some on the main drags, and some nestled back in little alleys and by-ways that are beautifully landscaped - museums, saltbox homes, art galleries, and gourmet restaurants.

And the setting is unbelievably dramatic! The whole village sits atop the bluffs of the Mendocino Headlands, with the constant crash of ocean waves on the rocks and beaches below acting as nature's musical backdrop to village life.

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Things to do In and Around Mendocino Village

• Thanks to the concern of Mendocino's citizens for the preservation of this beautifully scenic spot, the seaside bluffs, the islets, and the beaches surrounding the Village have been designated as Mendocino Headlands State Park - meaning that you and your family can wander the paths and cliffs of the headlands, have a picnic on the beach, and explore the ins and outs of the sea caves and grottoes.
• Meander the streets of the Village, peeking in here... poking your nose in there...
  
  You'll find that each shop is completely unique, offering such diverse wares as ethnic musical instruments, specialty chocolates, Mendocino brand mustards, telescopes and science toys, Irish goods, kitchenware, and jewelry.
  
  Be sure to say Hello to the friendly shopkeepers! They love a good chat and are always ready to share something you might not know about their village.

• Stray outside the commercial area of the Village and enjoy the Victorian and saltbox homes, and the collection of historic wooden water towers.
• Enjoy a massage, hot tub, or sauna treatment at one of the
  day spas in town
• Immerse yourself in an artsy experience at the Mendocino Art Center - you'll find classes, exhibits, concerts, theater productions, local art for purchase, and a garden tour
• Learn something about the fascinating history of Mendocino and the North Coast and the founding families by visiting the Ford House Museum or the Kelley House Museum; or stop in at the historic Mendocino Presbyterian Church - don't miss the Turrentine Memorial Rose Garden while you're there

• Visit Mendocino Village during one of its festival events: the Taste Mendocino Festival, December through March, features local wines and foods; the Mendocino Whale Festival in March celebrates the gargantuan whale migration; and the Mendocino Film Festival in June highlights independent films that offer fresh insights into politics, the arts, and the environment
• Enjoy whale watching from the bluffs or one of the many ocean-view restaurant dining rooms, December through April; or take a whale watching cruise out of Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg
• Feast on gourmet meals and wines at some of the excellent restaurants in the Village; have a drink and play a game of darts at Dick's (where the locals drink), or at the historic Mendocino Hotel

Whatever you do, and however long you can stay, you're sure to bring fond memories home with you after a trip to Mendocino Village!

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If you have time - and be sure to make time if you possibly can! - visit some of the other areas of Mendocino County as well - you won't be sorry you did!

• Fort Bragg
  Fort Bragg has a glass beach, the Skunk Train, a fishing harbor, and much more!

• Little River
  You'll find a hidden gem of a place in Little River! Just south of Mendocino, it's pristine and peaceful, but you'll never be bored!

• Mendocino County
  Be pampered, hike the redwoods, wine AND beer taste, dive for abalone, see a pygmy forest, and explore botanical gardens with an ocean view - inn Mendocino County California!

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