Mendocino, CA – Coastal Hideaway 90 mi north of SF

🌊🚗 📍WHERE County: Mendocino (straight north of Sonoma) Town: Mendocino – cliff-top Victorian hamlet on Pacific Hwy 1 Access: FAST = US-101 → CA-128 (3.5 h, vineyard tunnels) SCENIC = full Pacific Hwy 1 (5 h, Golden Gate → shipwreck views) 🌅WHAT TO SEE (free + ample parking) 1️⃣ Mendocino Headlands State Park – 0-fee cliff trails, arches, locals fishing, sunset gold on blue water. 2️⃣ Point Arena Lighthouse – 1903 iron tower, climb 115 steps for winter/spring gray-whale sightings. 3️⃣ Glass Beach (Fort Bragg) – wave-tumbled sea-glass pebbles, 30 min north. 🍇DRINK 275,200 acres of vines = CA’s 3rd largest AVA; 56 tasting rooms. Anderson Valley – cool-climate Pinot & Albariño, tasting fee $10-15, waived with bottle purchase. Apple Farm – fresh-pressed cider + cinnamon donuts, fall only. 🍴EAT = half Bay-Area price Mendocino Market – lobster roll $18 (SF = $32). Flow Restaurant – cliff-side brunch, maple bacon pancakes. Fog Eater – plant-based “fried chicken” sandwich that fools carnivores. 🛏️SLEEP (ocean-view for half SF rate) Little River Inn – balcony whale-watching, fireplace rooms ~$180. Glendeven Inn – pasture + alpaca wake-up call, includes wine tasting. Camping: Van Damme State Park – redwood + ocean sites, $35/night. 📸ONE-DAY LOOP (copy-drive) 08:00 SF coffee 11:30 CA-128 apple stand photo + cider 13:00 Mendocino Headlands cliff lunch 15:00 Lighthouse climb + whale coffee 17:00 Glass Beach sunset 19:00 Lobster roll + local Pinot 21:00 Home by midnight (Hwy 1 night drive = star parade) 💰COST SNAPSHOT Gas 3.5 h: $45 Lunch + dinner: $45 Wine tasting: $15 Lighthouse: $5 Total ≈ $110 – cheaper than one SF brunch. 🎒PACK Windbreaker – Pacific gusts are real. Quarter for lighthouse telescope. Empty stomach – apple cider + lobster roll demand space. Lock the route, let the Pacific breeze delete your deadlines. Mendocino = where wine country meets ocean cliffs—and nobody told the crowds. #US #CA