Want a relaxing weekend getaway in Mendocino, a beautiful coastal town in Northern California with some of the best beaches and cliffside hikes that’s only a few hours North of San Francisco? The best part is that it’s also dog-friendly! Mendocino was a logging community that became the Mendocino Lumber Company. The earliest settlers in this town were from New England, Portuguese Fishermen and Canton immigrants from China. The town revitalized itself through art after a steep economic decline in the 1940s. It is now a popular destination for artists and tourists and a perfect destination for your next weekend getaway!
Best time to visit
Mendocino is a great place to visit throughout the year. We went in February and the weather was pleasant enough to be outdoors. Just pack some light clothes and layers and you are good to go.
- May – November is the best time for warm weather, clear skies and hikes.
- November – April is great if you plan to watch gray whales migrating. Around February, the weather is relatively pleasant for hiking and spending time outdoors, provided that it’s not raining.
Where to stay?
Below I have listed places that cater to various types of travelers from those who prefer luxury hotels to budget hotels and airbnbs for your next weekend getaway in Mendocino.
Luxury stays
The following are wonderful options for luxury travelers. Make sure to check for special rates and promotions because all of them have many good deals most of the time.
- The Inn at Newport Ranch ($700+ per night) – The Inn has 2000 acres of private land comprising of various trails and miles of coastline.
- Brewery Gulch Inn ($500+ per night) – has been ranked in the top 100 hotels in the world by Conde Nast Magazine. Please take a look at their special discounts like when you stay for 5 nights, you get third, fourth at 15% and 50% off respectively and the fifth night for free which can bring the average price down by 33% and that’s a great deal!
- The Blue Door Inn ($450+ per night) – This is part of 3 Inns of Mendocino – the Four Sisters collection of small boutique hotels. Each of the inns have about five to eight guest rooms. There’s complimentary breakfast for two during your stay and a wine and cheese hour included every afternoon.
- Stanford Inn and Resort ($450+ per night) – This resort specializes in romantic getaways. The resort has onsite organic gardens, a plant-based restaurant, 9 EV charging stations and various vacation packages and retreat options to suit your style.
Semi-luxury stays
- Mendocino Grove Glamping ($300+ per night) – Beautiful safari-style platform Glamping tents that are family friendly in a relaxing forest setting for luxury camping lovers.
- SCP Mendocino Inn and Farm ($300+ per night) – Specializes in many retreat options, wellness with beautiful views all around. There is complimentary wine tasting every day during your stay.
- The Little River Inn ($250+ per night) – Family friendly, pet friendly, ADA friendly stay offering rooms on various price ranges with stunning ocean views and the best amenities.
Affordable stays under $300 per night
All the below hotels have pet-friendly rooms but please check the website for up to date information.
- Headlands Inn Bed and Breakfast
- Beachcomber Motel in Fort Bragg
- The Beach House Inn in Fort Bragg
- Harbor Lite Lodge in Fort Bragg
- North Cliff Hotel in Fort Bragg
Airbnbs
If you would like to have the whole space to yourself and be able to cook your own meals, checkout Airbnbs in Mendocino and Fort Bragg area.
Stay with points for free
Always evaluate using points vs cash to get the most rewards.
- Holiday Inn Express Fort Bragg (IHG)
- Super8 by Wyndham
Places to visit and things to do in Mendocino
Explore the State Parks
Mendocino, Fort Bragg and Little River are all amazing places for beautiful coastal hikes and beach days. Hiking is one of the best things to do during your weekend getaway in Mendocino. The trails marked with 🐕 are all dog-friendly.
1. Mendocino Headlands State Park
This park surrounds the small town of Mendocino and is great for hiking with access to the Big River Beach. Enjoy all the view points to stare far out into the majestic Pacific Ocean watching waves crash into gigantic rocks. If you are visiting during the whale migration season, don’t forget to bring your binoculars to watch them. You can end your day by watching a beautiful sunset from Big River Beach.
Mendocino Headlands Trail 🐕
- Length – 4.2 mi out and back
- Elevation gain – 95 ft
- Dogs are welcome on leash only
Hike on cliffside trails with stunning views of the coastline on a route that goes around the town of Mendocino.
Big River Trail 🐕
- Length – 16 mi out and back
- Elevation gain – 564 ft
- Dogs welcome on leash only
While you are in Mendocino, experience this gorgeous Redwood forest hike with great views of the Big River. You can shorten this hike without having to do the full 16 miles.
2. Russian Gulch State Park
This is a beautiful park for hiking, camping, biking and kayaking. Dogs are allowed in select places such as the campground, beaches and trails west of Highway 1 including the campgrounds so check before you go. While you are here, hike along the Fern Canyon Trail, visit Devil’s Punchbowl and relax by the beach north of Jenner. You can’t miss it since it’s under a bridge.
Russian Gulch Fern Canyon and Waterfall Trail Loop
- Length – 6.2 mi loop
- Elevation gain – 570 ft
- Dogs not allowed
This is a beautiful trail located in Russian Gulch State Park which has a mix of forest and coastal trails. The highlight of this trail is the 36 ft waterfall in Fern Canyon. The waterfalls is only a short hike from the beginning and you can finish the whole loop to experience the variety of vegetation and habitats that this park offers.
3. Van Damme State Park
Want to explore lush fern and pygmy forests as well as relax by a nice beach? Stop by at Van Damme State Park near Little River.
Fern Canyon Scenic Trail
- Length – 8 mi loop
- Elevation gain – 688 ft
- Dogs not allowed
This is a beautiful trail near Little River that goes through Redwood forests and creeks. I saw latest reviews as of 2023 that parts of the trail are closed for repair work, so check before you go.
Pygmy forest trail is a very short walk where you can see Pygmy trees. The boardwalk here is accessible to people on wheelchairs as well.
Explore the colorful Glass Beach in Fort Bragg
Glass beach is full of colorful, small and smooth pieces of glass that were left over after a dump site was cleaned up in Fort Bragg. I saw many visitors collecting the glass pieces. Please refrain from doing that and leave them for future visitors to enjoy. Dogs are welcome on leash here.
Visit Point Cabrillo Light Station
This is a gorgeous walk to a light station standing tall, adjacent to humbling cliffside views. You will love all the charming cottages with the red roofs as you walk to the light station. It’s so picturesque and serene.
If you would like to go to the top of the light station or watch the gray whales migrating, time your visits using their event calendar. This place has some rental units if you would like to stay overnight around the light station area. They have pet-friendly units as well.
Enjoy the food and boutique stores in Mendocino
Walk around the downtown area and check out the cute shops and restaurants around. GoodLife Cafe and Bakery has mouth-watering pastries and food. They have a wide variety of options for vegetarians and vegans as well.
We stopped by at Mendocino Jams and Preserves and I picked up some Olallieberry Jam which is about two-thirds blackberry and one-third raspberry. I loved the unique flavor!
Ride the famous Skunk Train
This is a straight out of a fairytale train ride through tall and lush redwood trees. Ride the Skunk train to the heart of Noyo River Canyon as you cross scenic bridges, tunnels and groves. This has been in operation since 1885 and they have done an incredible job so far in maintaining the pristine environment around the tracks for visitors over the years. You can get your tickets here. They also host rides on special days or celebrations such as Christmas so keep an eye out for those to plan accordingly. Dogs are welcome. This is one activity that’s on the list during our next visit.
Another couple specific activity is to take a rail bike in Pudding Creek or Noyo. You will both pedal along the rail bike tracks with unobstructed views of the redwood forests on either side! What other way to spend a romantic weekend getaway in Mendocino with your partner?
Relax in Noyo Beach
This is a must stop if you are traveling with a pet because dogs are allowed to be off leash and can run free here. This isn’t the most beautiful beach and it’s small but after a full day of being held on leash, your dog might really enjoy some dog-time and they really don’t care whether or not you are getting the most Instagrammy picture!
Hope you enjoyed reading this post. Mendocino is a great place to travel year-round due to its pleasant weather. It is also pet-friendly, kid-friendly and a wonderful place for a romantic couple’s getaway. Some hotels give special rates for solo travelers seeking an adventure as well. I can’t believe that a place so close to San Francisco can cater to so many types of travelers. Save this post to plan your weekend getaway in Mendocino! Subscribe here to be notified when there are new posts. Have a wonderful week ahead!
