Lady’s Ultimate Mendocino Road Trip

Today I want to bring you my guide to a Mendocino road trip on the Pacific Coast Highway in Northern California. This underrated area is perfect if you want to see the best of the California coast without the crowds.

Mendocino Road Trip

The Northern California coast is breathtaking. I’ve been driving it all my life and I still can’t get over how beautiful the beaches and boulders are.

Today I’m especially in awe because I’m heading up Highway 1 to Mendocino County, one of the highlights of my home state.

Located north of the famous wine regions of Napa and Sonoma, this laid-back area is one of California’s best kept secrets.

California Road Trip

After traveling to San Francisco and Yosemite, my West Coast road trip has brought me back to Highway 1 to explore more of Northern California.

My Mendocino road trip is part of an epic drive to Seattle, and there are three places I have to stop before I continue north and up into Oregon and Washington.

After settling into my hip cabin at The Andiron, I set off ready to explore the area.

Mendocino

Mendocino County is best known for its stunning coastline, but there’s a lot more here than just the Pacific Ocean.

Mendocino town, for example. One of the prettiest seaside towns in California, Mendocino’s simple grid of streets is lined with historic wooden houses and pretty restaurants and shops.

Narrow trails lead out to cliff walks and down to sandy coves, and wherever I go I’m never far from a dramatic panorama.

But the highlight of my time in Mendocino is dinner in the garden at Trillium Cafe. Sitting at a table on the verandah, my boyfriend and I enjoy an amazing seafood dinner with ocean views.

Anderson Valley

But Mendocino isn’t just about the Pacific. The county covers a lot of inland territory, too. And in this part of the US, that means one thing: Pinot Noir.

The Anderson Valley is a short drive from the coast and has enough vineyards to fill several days of wine tasting in California. But we only have one day to visit on our Mendocino road trip, so we have to be selective.

We start at Goldeneye Winery, one of the best in the area. The Pinot Noirs are as enjoyable as the garden, and we leave with several bottles and lots of love for the land.

From there we make our way north to Handley Cellars, where the complimentary tasting and organic wines show us a different side of the valley’s winery culture.

We round things off with a visit to Lula Cellars, a little tasting room with a big lake outside. It’s a fun winery with a casual atmosphere, and we appreciate the friendliness of it.

Coastal Beaches and Redwood Forests

The drive back to the Northern California coast is another highlight. A redwood forest separates the Anderson Valley from the ocean, and our Mendocino road trip wouldn’t be complete without a stint under the giants.

We’ve rented a convertible for the trip, and I stare up into the trees while my boyfriend takes the wheel. The scenery is beautiful, and it makes me appreciate the place I grew up even more.

Back on the coast, we spend the rest of our Mendocino road trip stopping off at as many beaches and vista points as we can.

From the southernmost part of Mendocino to the border with Humboldt County, an endless string of postcard-worthy views draws us north.

From secluded coves to rock arches, lighthouses to harbor seals, the scenery awes me every bit as much as it did on my first visit. And as we cross the northern county line, I look back in the distance as much as I look forward to my next trip.

Road Trip in Mendocino County

I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to a Menocino road trip in California. It’s an amazing place to visit, and worth the effort for the towns, wineries, beaches, and landscapes.

If you get a chance to go, I’m sure you’ll love this part of my state as much as I do.

Have you been on a Mendocino road trip? What were the highlights?

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