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This North Coast vacation and travel guide will introduce you to one of the Golden State’s most charming areas which stretches from Point Arena at Mendocino County’s southern tip to the towns of Elk, Albion and Mendocino, then inland a bit to the Anderson Valley’s award-winning wineries, then north to the tallest trees on Earth in the Redwood National Forest near Eureka and, finally, to the Trees of Mystery park, near Crescent City and the Oregon border.

Along the way, you’ll enjoy rugged shale bluffs, headlands and offshore reefs. You may want to get out for a hike or a closer look at the teeming tide pools, or perhaps you’ll want to stop at a quaint seaside village for some shopping or at an easygoing winery to select an accompaniment for your picnic supplies.

If you’re visiting the North Coast between December and April, you may want to check out the whale watching opportunities at Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg. Beginning around the first of December, California gray whales begin their migration from the Bering Sea to the Gulf of Cortez, where they will calve. Then, toward the end of March, the adults (some weighing around 100,000 pounds) and their calves (weighing a mere 1,500 pounds) reverse the course and again traverse these waters on their return to Alaska. This 14,000-mile journey is the longest known distance any mammal migrates on an annual basis.

Spring also brings vibrant sprays of wildflowers like blue lupine and verbena to the area, and summer brings fog, fruit stands and first Friday art walks in Fort Bragg.

Mendocino gets in the game, too, with second Saturday art walks, and you can also look in the Mendocino Beacon’s “What’s Happening” section to find out which artists open their studios by appointment.

An interesting way to see inland Mendocino county is aboard the Sierra Railroad’s Skunk Train, so named because its original gas engines prompted people to say, “You can smell ‘em before you see ‘em!” From April through October, the Skunk Train runs 40 miles from coastal Fort Bragg to Willits (inland near US Highway 101), a route that’s considered one of the top ten train rides in the west. You’ll cross some 30 bridges and trestles and pass through two deep mountain tunnels, all while viewing cathedrals of Redwoods from the line’s restored rail cars. The halfway point of Northspur is a popular lunch spot, giving passengers a chance to snack before continuing to Willits or heading back to Fort Bragg. Roundtrip between Fort Bragg and Willits takes around eight hours.

The eastern boundary for the North Coast area is Lake County, which is home to Clear Lake, possibly the oldest lake in North America and California’s largest natural freshwater lake. Known for its exceptional bass fishing and emerging wineries, Lake County offers fun for the whole family.

Back to Hwy. 101 and heading north, you won’t want to miss the collection of ornate Victorian homes in Ferndale and Eureka. You can even tour Blue Ox Millworks, a company whose dedication to preserving 1800s woodworking craftsmanship played a major role in those houses’ restoration.

Between Orick and Crescent City you’ll find the Earth’s tallest trees preserved in Redwood National Park.  Some are as tall as a 36-story building and wide enough to drive through!

Are you interested in learning about other California vacation destinations? Check out these articles…

Central Coast Vacation Ideas

Central Valley Vacation Ideas

Deserts and Inland Empire Vacation Ideas

Los Angeles Vacation Ideas

Orange County Vacation Ideas

San Diego Vacation Ideas

San Francisco Bay Area Vacation Ideas

Shasta and Cascades Vacations Ideas

Sierras and Gold Country Vacation Ideas

Wine Country Vacation Ideas

While Southern California may be best for the beach boys and girls, the state’s North Coast beaches are perfect for heartier souls!

As you leave San Francisco’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area behind and head north along the California coast, you cover almost 400 miles of thinly populated, very rocky and rugged terrain. The north’s more frequent river mouths deposit silt and other soils along its coast, and its beaches tend to be more muddy than sandy.

Driving north on Rt. 1 from Marin County, you reach Sonoma Coast State Beach. This is actually a string of beaches, and if you get off the road and take the bluff-top trail you’ll be treated to some wonderful views.

You may also want to seek out Goat Rock Road, which will put you within an easy walk to some of those “hearty soul,” blustery North Coast beaches. The wind makes this area chilly year round, so be prepared with appropriate clothing. If you’re warm enough, you’ll be able to take a moment to enjoy how the Russian River — the northern boundary of Sonoma Coast State Park — cuts and curls as it approaches and enters the ocean.

Moving on, Rt. 1 then climbs and cuts back and forth along the cliffs. This is a stunningly picturesque California coast drive, second only for us to the views you can enjoy around Big Sur on the Central Coast.

Salt Point State Park boasts an undersea park where SCUBA divers and skin divers explore the kelp beds, caverns and rocky promontories. Miles of trails support serious hiking, horseback riding, camping and great fishing. While you’re in the area, check out the Kruse Rhododendron State Reserve next door.   It’s truly remarkable.

Gualala is a town (and river) that divides Sonoma County from the next county north, Mendocino. A public beach on the south side of the river and private lodging options on the north side and in town make Gualala a popular vacation destination. Gualala is great, but in our opinion Mendocino County is the best place to enjoy North Coast beaches. A favorite is Manchester Beach State Park, where you can enjoy camping, hiking and fishing along five miles of sand dunes, beaches, bluffs and grasslands that stretch all the way back south to Pt. Arena and the lighthouse and museum you can enjoy there.

The town of Mendocino is worth the drive no matter where you’re coming from or where you’re headed. A throwback to the ‘60s with a “West-meets-East” sort of vibe, the town is surrounded by seaside vacation rentals, a funky-to-fabulous range of hotels, cool restaurants and a cluster of large state parks (Russian Gulch, Mendocino Headlands and Van Damme State Beach Park). Cute and quaint, Mendocino is an excellent place to escape and “just get away from it all.”

North of Mendocino, you’ll find Fort Bragg, which has many hotels, motels and inns for travelers. It’s the largest town south of Eureka, so it’s also a good place to buy supplies and gear if you’re “roughing it.”

Eureka is an active port and mill town, still thriving off the nearby redwood forests but diversifying to become a services center – including some tourism. The beaches on the barrier peninsulas that protect the Eureka harbor (Humbolt Bay) are deserted, yet close to all the amenities a traveler might want.

North of town is a cute, isolated cove at Trinidad State Beach – right off the highway and worth seeing. A bit further on is Patrick’s Point State Park, with picturesque paths along sandy beaches and sheer cliffs that rise above them. Like most North Coast beaches, Patrick’s Point is for strolling — not so much for swimming — but watching whales and gazing on hearty wildflowers, gnarly driftwood and soothing sunsets is a different kind of exercise and enjoyment. Great camping, a visitors’ center, picnicking and trails will delight all outdoors fans and their families.

Redwoods Park covers thousands of square miles on the mountain side of the road, and a series of parks and state beaches embrace the shoreline here almost uninterrupted to Crescent City and the Oregon border 30 miles north.

Again, come prepared for the weather. Temperatures in this part of Northern California range from year-round chilly to downright blustery in the winter. Come prepared, as well, to enjoy the North Coast beaches. They’re desolate, pristine, absolutely gorgeous and definitely worth exploring on foot, by bicycle or by car.

Photo of Shell Beach, Sonoma Coast State Beach by northbaywanderer via flickr (Creative Commons); Photo of Sunrise at Irish Beach, Mendocino Coast, California by ”clairity” via flickr (Creative Commons); and Photo of Trinidad State Beach Park by ripkas via flickr (Creative Commons).

Related posts:

Best San Francisco Beaches

Best Santa Cruz Area Beaches

Best Central Coast Beaches

Misc. Travel Resources

Note: Information in this article was accurate
when it was published, but hours, prices, etc.
change constantly. Please confirm details
with local contacts before traveling.

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