The Best Small Town In Northern California For A 3-Day Weekend
If you’re looking for the perfect place to spend a memorable three-day weekend in Northern California, check out Mendocino. Set atop a rugged headland overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this beautiful small town occupies one of the most dramatic settings on the magnificent California coast.
Located 150 miles north of San Francisco, this former lumber town grew around a sawmill built in 1852 that produced the wood needed to construct the New England-style Victorian homes that still dot the community. This unique architectural heritage has now been recognised by the National Register of Historic Places, securing the preservation of the Mendocino and Headlands Historic District for folks like you to enjoy.
Visit today for a weekend getaway, and you’ll find no end of fun things to do in Mendocino. Walking the headland trails, browsing quaint shops, and dining at farm-to-table restaurants are all so enjoyable here thanks to the town’s stunning natural setting… and, of course, that backdrop of perfectly preserved New-England-style architecture.
Where To Stay In Mendocino
First things first: where to stay? MacCallum House tops most lists of the best places to stay in Mendocino, and deservedly so. Built by a local lumber baron in 1882 and given to his daughter as a wedding gift, the residence was built from local redwood in the pointed cottage style so popular in Victorian times. Although a survivor of the 1906 earthquake that devastated so much of NorCal’s coastal region, it was, however, moved to its current location after shifting off its foundations.
Today, historic MacCallum House offers a variety of authentic accommodations spread across the Main House, the Historic Barn, and several surrounding cottages. Highlights include claw-foot soaking tubs, sleigh beds, river-stone fireplaces, private hot tubs… and best of all, spectacular views of Mendocino Bay.
Nicholson House at Beaujolais is another great choice for your three-day weekend. Constructed between 1887 and 1891, the property was recently reimagined as a classy boutique hotel featuring guest rooms that blend Victorian architecture with Art Deco design elements. Antique fixtures, local handmade furniture, crystal chandeliers, and heated tile flooring all add to its character and comfort.
Dine Locally
Once settled in, plan on spending a little time enjoying somewhere great to eat in Mendocino. Topping our list is Café Beaujolais, next door to Nicholson House, and it is so popular that you’ll need a reservation. Opened in 1969 in an old farmhouse dating from 1893, the dinner menu emphasizes seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, including wild mushrooms, dayboat scallops, and fresh-caught seafood. The wine list is also regionally focused and features several Mendocino County producers. For a super weekend lunch, The Brickery serves wood-fired pizza in the restaurant's garden.
Shop Locally
Shopping in Mendocino is a not-to-be-missed part of your weekend retreat. Bookworms will want to head to Gallery Bookshop & Bookwinkle's Children's Books, a staple in the community since 1962 and one of the oldest independent bookstores in California.
Chock-full of bestsellers to regional titles unavailable elsewhere, the store's front windows offer up probably the best bookshop views in the country. Cushioned window seats invite you to kick back and enjoy the Pacific Ocean spread out before you… as well as a good read, of course.
The nearby Mendocino Art Center is a must-visit for those interested in arts and crafts. This cool venue offers retreat-style classes in everything from ceramics to fiber arts, fine arts to jewelry, as well as metal arts. The center’s galleries are worth browsing and display work by Northern California artists, some of whom live and work in residence.
Explore Local Attractions
History buffs and folks who like old places of worship will want to visit Mendocino Presbyterian Church. One of the oldest Protestant churches in continuous use in California, it has been around since 1868 and features a distinctive English Gothic design from native redwood with a tall steeple that stands out among its neighbors. Part of the Mendocino and Headlands Historic District, you can even pop in on a Sunday for a service.
The big draw here, attraction-wise, is Mendocino Headlands State Park. Surrounding the village on three sides, this area of outstanding natural beauty features plenty of spectacular scenery, from its grass-covered bluffs, tucked-away beaches, and mysterious sea caves.
Three miles of trails here wind along cliffs that in places rise as high as 70 feet above the ocean. They offer wonderful views of sea arches, tidepools, and rocky outcrops, including Goat Island, part of the California Coastal National Monument.
Blowholes And Winter Whales
At the west end of Main Street, Point Mendocino Trail leads to a blowhole known as the Punchbowl, where the sea collapsed a section of headland to reveal churning water below. Fenced paths allow safe viewing of this unique feature and its large archway.
Ford House Museum on Main Street, the park’s official visitor center, is also worth seeing, especially for its scale model of 1890 Mendocino. You can also find out more about the park’s whale watching experiences here. Taking place from November through April, more than 20,000 California gray whales migrate between Alaska and Baja California, passing right past Mendocino and making winter an especially good time to enjoy a weekend getaway here.
The Bottom Line
Mendocino delivers everything you’ll need for a perfect three-day weekend getaway, including classy historic accommodations, locally owned restaurants and shops, and, of course, spectacular scenery. Best of all, it’s all within a three-hour drive of San Francisco. Best of all, once parked, you spend your weekend exploring on foot, whether it’s the town’s headland trails or quaint main street. Spring, summer, fall, or winter, Mendocino is an ideal spot for a 3-day weekend in Northern California.
