Day 62 (September 30)
Mendocino, California
After our morning hike in Big Hendy Grove, we take advantage of the break in the rain and head back to the coast to see Mendocino.
Walking the Headlands
At the first public lot we reach (south of town along Highway 1), we park the car and walk the headlands’ paths through golden grasses and spent wildflowers to reach the sea. The rocky cliffs drop steeply to the water’s edge. The surf is violent and crashing. Sea stacks dot the bluer than blue Pacific coastline.
Village of Mendocino
Part of what makes the town of Mendocino so special is its promontory location, and that all of the coastline to the north, west, and south of the town were protected from development.
When walking through downtown Mendocino, it is easy to forget that one is in California because of the the town’s resemblance to a New-England village. Charming pocket gardens are abundant. Towers are a repeated architectural theme, although each tower is different in style and the function of some of them (or the reason for their existence) is a bit of a mystery to me.
Mendocino Headlands State Park
As skies return to gray, we leave the sweet little village but venture only a few blocks northwest to reach Mendocino Headlands State Park. We eat a picnic lunch out of the cooler and do a bit more wandering along the shoreline. Unlike other state parks along this stretch of coast, there is no day use fee to visit Mendocino Headlands State Park or the headland paths we hiked earlier south of town.
Daylight is fading and the rain returns, so we head back to Hendy Woods State Park, once again enjoying the idyllic scenery along Highway 1.
Despite the short amount of time that we spent in Mendocino, when I look back on last year’s 18,000 mile western road trip, Mendocino stands out as one of my favorite spots. Although Mendocino County is over 2,500 miles from my current home in Tennessee, I anticipate we will find a way to visit again. And again. And hopefully again.
Read about our other Mendocino County wandering here:
Wandering South on the Pacific Coast Highway: Humboldt Redwoods to Hendy Woods State Park
Bahl Hornin’ (Good drinking) in Anderson Valley, California
Westward We Wander 
great photos; Mendocino looks like a quaint village on the coast.
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Thank you, Jim! Mendocino is quite a special place 🙂
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I’m glad you got to experience it!
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Looks beautiful. I didn’t know you live in TN. What’s that like?
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Tennessee is very pretty, though I often feel more kinship with my native state of California (even though my family moved east when I was only six). I’m in Chattanooga, kind of a darling river city perfect for outdoor-lovers looking for a reasonably priced mid-sized city with a lot to do. But having been here for so long I often take that for granted and get bored with this kind of beautiful. There are great people here though, and I often say that Chattanooga is the kind of city I’d dream of moving to if I hadn’t grown up here. And being within a couple hours of the Smokies and Cumberland Plateau is pretty great.
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I’ve only driven through TN twice as a kid on family road trips to FL. Interesting to hear your thoughts. Thanks for sharing.
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We will love Mendocino when we eventually get there! Your pictures make me want to start that way now instead of heading back to NH for a family visit!
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I am always drawn to the California Coast (as a native, it’s in my blood), but New Hampshire sounds very nice this time of year. I look forward to reading your posts!
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