Walkin' & Talkin': 7 Simple Pleasures of Mendocino

Discover the Seven Simple Pleasures of Mendocino

02.19.2026
The Skunk Train in Mendocino and Fort Bragg going through redwoods

Seven simple pleasures. One wildly beautiful Mendocino weekend. Here are all the wonderful ways to spend a few days adventuring, relaxing, trying new things, and exploring everyting from village charms to redwood havens and beaming beaches.

We’re Walkin’ & Talkin’ through it all.

Weekend Sherpa
7 Simple Pleasures of Mendocino | Coastal Weekend Guide

Sunset Strolls at Mendocino Headlands State Park

Beach Time at Big River.

People wandering the sands at sunset at Big River Beach in Mendocino

A Vintage Skunk Train Through the Redwoods.

People walking a boardwalk to board the Skunk Train in the redwoods of Mendocino

Hidden Spring Ranch Views.

A woman stands looking out to the sea at sprawling Spring Ranch in Mendocino

River Otters at MacKerricher State Park.

A woman standing on a deck overlooking the tidepools and Pacific at MacKerricher State Park in Mendocino

A Cozy Stay at the Stanford Inn.

A woman stands on a hotel room balcony overlooking the lush green grounds at Stanford Inn at the Sea in Mendocino

A Downtown Made for Wandering (and Cuisine Adventures)

Cafe Beaujolais in downtown Mendocino

All Aboard the Mendocino Coast!

Where dramatic—and secret—headlands meet a rollicking sea and a historic train winds through fragrant forest, Mendocino invites you to slow down, stay awhile. Ride the rails to a redwood grove with a beverage bar and bonus hike, wander wild bluffs and windswept beaches, then toast the day in a postcard-perfect village with a thriving culinary scene. This is Mendo-time. Check out this itinerary by Weekend Sherpa.

 Bonus Gallery

 

 

 

 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Sunnyvale and Salty

    For up-close bird watching, it’s hard to beat a walk along the San Francisco Bay. This 5-mile loop on the Sunnyvale coast is a favorite of local wildlife photographers.

    View
  2. A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas

    Dragon Quest

    The newly reopened, 4-mile out-and-back hike at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas mixes the physical with the spiritual for a serene hiking experience.

    View
  3. Mike Zakowski (aka Mike the Baker) standing in front of his wood-fire oven at the Sonoma Valley Farmers' Market

    NEW! Walkin' and Talkin': Break Bread, Go On a Panoramic Hike

    What’s a world-traveling, medal-winning baker’s favorite local hike? Weekend Sherpa co-founder Brad Day caught up with Mike Zakowski (aka Mike the Baker) at Sonoma’s Friday farmers' market, where his wood-fired loaves draw loyal crowds. Between bites of fresh-baked bread, they talk baking, travel, and why Sonoma's Overlook Trail is one of his favorite quick, panoramic hikes.

    View

  4. Hidden Botanical Garden

    Forget a dozen roses. Give your love a botanical garden. Hidden on the western slope of Sonoma Valley’s Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma Botanical Garden has one of the Bay Area’s best displays of Asian flora—and it’s a brilliant place for a quiet picnic and some calming contemplations.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on ice learning to curl at Hollywood Curling

    You Go, Curl!

    Hollywood Curling’s Learn to Curl classes make the perfect setting for newcomers. Take the ice, and friendly curling instructors will teach you the basics.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

    View

  3. Fall for These Falls

    Chase waterfalls in Redding’s Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. This 42,000 acres of wilderness park is home to four waterfalls. Hike to the tallest, the three-tiered, 220-foot Whiskeytown Falls.

    View

  4. Oh Snow Nice

    Live in California long enough, and you’ll come to know the rite of passage called “going to the snow”–when we ditch our fair-weather cities and towns in search of winter weather. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks deliver a winter wonderland worth a visit if there’s been a good dose of snow.

    View