A glass of Edelzwicker in the vineyard
Picnic in Navarro Vineyards
The beautiful sea
Deck with ocean view
The MacCallum House Inn
Breakfast at the MacCallum House
Driftwood covered beach at the headlands
Bloody Mary's at Dick's
Shops on Main Street, Mendocino
The Moose Cafe
Driftwood on Big River BeachDriving along 128 through the beautiful Anderson Valley, we always stop at Navarro Vineyards. We love this place so much we once thought (years ago) about holding our wedding there, until we decided the logistics of gathering everyone would have been difficult. After tasting almost everything on their list including fruity-crisp Chenin Blanc and luscious late harvest Riesling, we purchased their fabulous Pinot to take back, and a bottle of their delightful Edelzwicker for our picnic on their grounds.
Most of our previous Mendocino visits took us to our standby homey cabins at Fools Rush Inn, which were located in Little River, about a mile south from the town of Mendocino. This is where we stayed on our very first trip together, many moons ago. Our beloved Fools Rush Inn was recently sold, however, and after renovation has become a more updated property called Cottages at Little River. We decided to try someplace new, so at our friend Vijay's recommendation we stayed at the historic MacCallum House in town. The main house is a beautiful Victorian overlooking the sea, but there are a variety of cottages and rentals that are a part of the estate.
We stayed in the charming renovated barn house, just across the lawn from the main house. Our room had a plush bed with huge fireplace, and a deck with ocean view. Our bed came with a wonderful breakfast which we enjoyed with cheery service each morning on the main house's expansive sunlit porch. We also had dinner one night in the cozy and romantic MacCallum House Restaurant, where I had meltingly delicious seared kona kampachi and oysters with a Bloody Mary granita. Again, wonderful service, friendly staff. Considering we also received a two-nights-for-one deal through internet booking, the entire weekend was a worthy experience.
We started off our mini-vacation with massages at Mendocino Massage, just a couple of blocks from our lodgings. Couples can book simultaneous massages, and we experienced our fifty minutes of soothing bliss in their lovely garden gazebo.
In town, a variety of shops offer books, decorative items for the home, new age knickknacks, handmade candy. One shop I enjoy looking in just to see beautiful things for the home is Golden Goose on Main Street. I recommend it if you feel like blowing some cash on one-of-a-kind glassware or imported linens.
Our second night found us dining at the Moose Cafe, where you can always count on a well-prepared seasonal, affordable menu in their warm wood-floor dining room. The cafe was almost packed and we were lucky to get a table without reservations. I had a wonderful white bean soup that I could go for right now.
Two other places we have to visit are Dick's Place, a colorful local's hangout featuring awesome Bloody Mary's and the only neon sign for miles, and Patterson's Pub, which is an atmospheric Irish-style pub that feels lived-in but is a relatively new establishment (we remember when it used to be a video rental shop). Patterson's is good for a pint and comforting pub fare with a game of dominoes or dice, if you can ignore the six plasma TV's (on mute, though).
I haven't even gone into the many beaches and other natural splendors that abound in Mendocino. You're just surrounded by spectacular vistas at every turn. There's really something for everyone: tidepooling, kayaking, hiking, whale watching, botanical gardens, beaches covered by driftwood or sea glass. We always vow to stay longer next time, there is so much to see and enjoy.
