Mendocino, California – The Perfect Coastal Town

I’m back again and gearing up for the second of many blog posts to come from last month’s Pacific Northwest road trip! This post is all about the quick pit stop we made in Mendocino, California, AKA the perfect coastal town. This little slice of charm — try 7.5 square miles little — is nestled on its own jutted-out archipelago, hugging the Pacific Ocean. It’s totally one of those quaint places you can’t get out of your head after leaving.

Here’s a Pit Stop in Mendocino: The Perfect Coastal Town:

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The History of Mendocino

Originally founded in the 1850s as a logging town, Mendocino drew in hundreds of people from the east coast. Other original settlers of Mendocino were Chinese immigrants and Portuguese fishermen. After the economy began declining less than 100 years after establishment, Mendocino’s population dwindled. The building of the Mendocino Art Center in the 1950s brought the town back to life. While less than 1000 people call it home, the location and the art colony has made it very tourism-popular.

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A Quick Pit Stop in Mendocino

While I didn’t get to spend as much time here as I wanted to, we squeezed in a stop on our road trip.

Within a week of moving to California last year, I started making a list in a notebook about nearby places to visit. Mendocino has been on that list from the beginning. I first learned about the tiny town on Pinterest, reading blog posts that detailed its vintage, artistic vibe. Chatting with people who claim it’s one of their favorite places, I knew I had to see it myself. Within seconds of pulling up into the town, I could feel exactly what everyone had been describing.

Let me attempt to show you why Mendocino is the perfect coastal town!

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Bustling Artist Colonies

Historically speaking, the artists are really what saved this little town from failing. You can find about a dozen art galleries sprinkled down the couple of main streets that run through Mendocino. Looking for a wrought-iron bike sculpture, a pastel painting of the California coast or glass-blown pipes? Look no further than the galleries in Mendocino. While prices definitely aren’t budget friendly, purchases made in these galleries directly support the locals and their dreams.

The true core of Mendocino is the Art Center. Along with a gallery of a broad-range of artwork, the center offers bi-weekly art classes and monthly exhibitions for local and national artists to display their pieces.

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Vintage Vibes

Mendocino does a fabulous job of holding on to history and it’s one of the most charmingly vintage places I’ve been. I mean, how many little towns have a Village Toy Store with old wooden tops and yo-yos for sale?

I do recall a comment from a California-native about Mendocino that I’ve never forgotten. “It’s where all of the old white hippies go.” Ironically enough, when we arrived in the town, we parked in front of this old VW van overlooking the ocean. As soon as we got out of the car we noticed the faint sound of a violin traveling through the air. Sure enough, this older gentleman was sitting Indian-style in his 70s shaggin’ wagon, retro blinds and sliding door wide open, breathing in the salty air, looking out over the ocean and strumming along on his instrument. Odd? Oh, yeah. But is that dude living the life? You bet ‘cha.

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Historic Buildings

The plain-white Mendocino Presbyterian Church found on Main Street is the oldest used church of its kind in California. It’s now gained the ranking of a historical landmark.

The 200 year old Temple of Kwan Tai is also a California historical landmark as it’s the oldest Chinese house of worship.

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Wine, Please!

Being in a cute, artsy place like Mendocino just makes me crave wine! The county’s wine history goes back 150 years when failing Gold Rushers returned back to farming.

During the prohibition, most of the vineyards were replaced with fruit and nut trees but one company, Parducci Wines, flourished. They were the only producers in Mendocino until the 1960s when Fetzer Wines came into the picture. That company is not only the largest producer of wine in the area today, they also paved the way for sustainable agriculture. Currently, over 25% of Mendocino’s vineyards are organic.

While there aren’t any wineries in the town of Mendocino, a short drive to the south will bring you to over a dozen different vineyards.

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Grub or Dine

After all of the walking around and photo-snapping I did, my better half was getting hangry. It’s later in the evening, like 8 o’clock, so I assume most restaurants won’t be open much longer..

The first option we find for food is on the main drag called Flow. The place looks pretty classy and the menu prices make us think it’s more of a dining. experience. Searching for something more grub-style, we see a burger joint around the corner but it’s closed. Walking across the street to the Mendocino Cafe, the place is so small there’s no way we’re fitting in there.

That’s about the time we stumble upon Frankie’s for some of the best pizza I’ve had. They also serve salads, soups, beer, ice cream and falafels and offer the cutest outdoor seating area for their guests.

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The Perfect Coastal Town

The adorable homes, vintage buildings and artsy vibes definitely make this place what it is. Truthfully though, there really isn’t THAT much to do in Mendocino yet that’s the beauty of the town. From what I’ve learned, most people who come here aren’t looking for something to do; they’re coming here to do nothing. They want a place to escape their fast-paced lifestyle or the hustle and bustle of nearby San Francisco.

If you’re looking for a local coastal escape where you can sip on wine while watching the sunset then Mendocino is the place for you.

Read More California Travel Posts Here

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