California
Where California's Redwoods Meet the Sea
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Mendocino sits on a dramatic headland above the crashing Pacific, a New England-style village somehow transplanted to the wild California coast. The town's Victorian architecture—white clapboard buildings with peaked roofs—creates an almost surreal contrast against the rugged coastline and towering redwood forests.
Founded by New England loggers in 1851, Mendocino retains its 19th-century character. There are no franchises, no chain stores, and no traffic signals. Artists discovered the town in the 1950s, and today galleries and studios share space with excellent restaurants and intimate inns.
Mendocino Headlands State Park surrounds the village, offering blufftop trails with whale watching in winter and wildflowers in spring. Nearby, Big River flows through preserved wetlands perfect for kayaking, while the Anderson Valley wine region lies just inland.
State park surrounding the village with dramatic coastal bluffs
Remarkably preserved 1850s buildings in New England style
Thriving art colony with galleries showcasing local painters and craftspeople
Pristine estuary for kayaking through preserved coastal wetlands
Mendocino is located on the Mendocino Coast, about 3 hours north of San Francisco via winding Highway 1. Winter brings whale watching and dramatic storms; summer offers fog-free mornings and wildflower meadows.