Mendocino County is one of my top picks for places to travel in California. From the coast to the redwoods, it has everything I love about the Golden State. I’ve published a lot of Mendocino itineraries on the California Wayfaring blog over the years, and today I’m pulling them all together in one post. They’re perfect guides if you want to experience the best of this stunning part of Northern California. Read on for the highlights. There are maps, too.
Mendocino County Travel
Just north of Sonoma County, Mendocino is not only one of my go-to places to take in stunning coastal scenery and hike through forests, but also one of my top picks for a spot to explore unique beaches, go wine tasting, and see lighthouses. As a Bay Area native, I’ve been coming here my whole life. I hope my itineraries encourage you to do the same.
My Mendocino County guides cover a variety of things to do and places to visit both on the coast and inland. They include stunning beaches, beautiful local hotels, award-winning restaurants, canoeing, hiking trails, wine tasting, and more. Whether you want to explore the charming streets of Mendocino village, stroll along a river, or ride a historic train through a redwood forest, they have something for everyone.
I plan to bring you many more travel itineraries for Mendocino in the future, and I’ll add them to this blog post as I publish them. If you want to bookmark it or pin it on Pinterest, you can use it as an easy reference for finding all my guides.
1. Mendocino Road Trip
I’ll start my list of Mendocino itineraries with a road trip. It’s one of the most popular ways to see the county, after all. This one is for you if you want to experience everything from cute towns to coastal areas, restaurants, redwoods, and shops. It will show you a broad range of things to do and see in 2 days.
My Mendocino road trip itinerary includes visits to the county’s renowned wineries, time exploring the pretty streets of Mendocino village, stunning clifftop walks, and stops at local beaches. There’s a cool place to stay for the night and a famous restaurant for dinner as well.
If discovering a variety of things to do in Mendocino County sounds like your kind of road trip, you can see the full itinerary and map here. It’s ideal for first-time visitors and those looking for a broad overview of what this part of California has to offer.
2. 48 Hours in Mendocino
The next of my itineraries is also great if you want to spend a couple days in Mendocino. It’s perfect if you’re interested in seeing the big sights and discovering some local favorites. It will show you a range of things to do in a weekend or on a mid-week getaway.
My itinerary for 48 hours in Mendocino includes coastal accommodation, a stop in the charming town of Boonville, a walk along the cliffs and around Point Mendocino, drinks with views, visits to the area’s famous lighthouses, a trip to Fort Bragg and its unusual glass beach, a railbike adventure, a stroll around Mendocino village, and good dinners.
If experiencing a range of the highlights of this part of the Northern California coast sounds like your ideal escape, you can see the full itinerary and map here. This one is great for first-time visitors. It’s also fun if you’re bringing a dog.
3. Long Weekend in Mendocino
The next of my Mendocino travel guides is for you if you have a bit more time and you want to discover additional parts of the county. It’s a fun 4-day itinerary that will show you the highlights of both the Mendocino coast and the inland areas.
My itinerary for a long weekend in Mendocino County includes time at the beach, great wineries, coastal walks, forest hikes, canoeing, a nighttime train ride to a bar in the redwoods, a botanical garden, and more. It also features things to do and see in the village, from boutiques to bakeries and restaurants.
If experiencing the best of Mendocino County sounds like your kind of vacation, you can see the full itinerary and map here and the YouTube video here. It’s a fun one if you have several days in the area and you want to get a good overview of things to do and see here. It’s dog-friendly, too.
Mendocino Itineraries
I hope my itineraries have inspired you to come visit this beautiful part of Northern California. There’s so much to do in the county, whether you want to see the famous coastal areas or get into the local scene.
If you’re after additional ideas, you can take a look at my blog posts about the best California itineraries and classic California road trips. They have lots more good tips for places to visit in the Golden State. No matter if you want to go to a city, a coastal area, the mountains, or somewhere else entirely, they have you covered.
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