Mendocino’s location on the northwest coastline of California gives the coastline and forest a rustic remoteness that it is well known for. However, this does make it harder to get to than some other coastal counties in California. The nearest airport is in Santa Rosa in Sonoma, around a two hour drive away, and for international connections, San Francisco is your best bet, which is a 3-4 hour drive. Best featured as part of a west coast road trip, the Highway 1 runs through Mendocino connecting some of the smaller towns.

Mendocino county has some lovely boutique hotels and guesthouses which provide cosy rooms and a friendly welcome, perfect for falling into after a day exploring the rugged landscapes. Brewery Gulch Inn, just south of Fort Bragg, is a perfect example of this, with delightful suites, a centrepiece fireplace and an array of boardgames to get stuck into on colder evenings!

If you do end up staying at Brewery Gulch Inn, you’ll be able to enjoy the divine supper hour that they lay on for guests every evening, including a delicious buffet and wine pairings. If you’re looking to head out, Wild Fish in Little River showcases the best produce from the coastline, with fresh catches such as Sablefish with yellow squash puree.

Away from the coastline, Mendocino is another area which is famed for it’s wines. Most prominent is the Anderson Valley, where a number of producers grow delicious pinot noir, chardonnay and other varietals. There are even many sparkling producers here (including some houses from Champagne). A top spot to seek out is Goldeneye, where you can enjoy their beautiful gardens and try a selection of their wines.

Mendocino is famed for its towering redwoods, along with its northerly neighbouring county, Humbolt. A great way to explore the forests is with the Skunk Train, based in Fort Bragg. This historic train line dates back to the 19th century, historically transporting goods and workers who set up logging camps across the county. Today, you can explore the route from the comfort of the restored train carriages or, for the more adventurous, take a specially converted ‘railbike’.