One of NorCals best kept secrets is the quaint town of Point Arena, home of Arena Cove! The…read moreabsolute most picturesque, gentle, calm and natural water views you'll ever see! Arena Cove is home to a pizza parlor and coffee shop as well as a fishing pier and if you come at low tide, the most amazing tide pools with fish, sea urchin, sea star fish, crab and countless water plants. Beautiful hiking on the shoreline and the best sunsets! I love visiting when I need a time out from the hustle and bustle of life; a quick trip is always humbling and helps me to refocus on the finer things in life... like nature!!!

I hate it when people Yelp landmarks instead of businesses. Just a personal pet peeve of mine…read more There's an exception to every rule, and I happen to be exceptional, so based on three exceptions to the rule I believe a review of Point Arena Cove is worthy of Yelp. First, this is an obscure little town and it needs Yelp reviews to encourage people to stop and experience all it has to offer. Second, this cove is not visible from Hwy 1 so you might drive right past it. Third, there are hours associated with the pier (open for boat launches from 7am to 4pm), so it's like a business. I'm not an expert on coves, but I've seen quite a few in my day. I think I'm a pretty good judge of cove character. La Jolla Cove, in San Diego was my favorite. Until I visited Point Arena Cove. There is so much going on here. I visited on a Saturday morning and ended up having great conversations with the very warm locals. A few showed me the abalone they had just hauled in (the Fish Police were right there to make sure every one was legal) and another showed me pictures of an albatross that visits the cove (very rare!) surfing with surfers. There are dogs galore (please leash them on the pier) and nice owners to go with them. This is a working cove, but people also go to talk and drink coffee. The cove is the best place to capture the local flavor of Point Arena. You absolutely must visit it.

Incredible, magnificent part of the California Coast. Do not miss this amazing place! Very easily…read morewalkable.

In 2005 title to the Stornetta Ranch, which meets the Pacific Ocean, was transferred to the Bureau…read moreof Land Management to ensure its long-term protection & provide accessibility to the public. This translates into expanding the California Coastal National Monument to 1665 acres, with 12 coastal miles of undeveloped federal- & state-managed public land. A vast open space to hike & enjoy the rugged cliffs, & view the sea rocks, islands, blowholes, dunes, tide pools, & waves during daylight hours. Public privileges like nowhere I know of. Locals said it's never crowded. Tourists wouldn't necessarily know about it unless they studied up on the purpose & meaning of "Point Arena ~ Stornetta Unit of the California Coastal National Monument." If you google it, there is a dozen interesting articles tracing the history & significance.

The point arena lighthouse is very impressive and it's history is very interesting. This is…read moreactually the 3rd lighthouse on the premises. It is well worth the $5 extra fee to climb to the top. The views from the top of the lighthouse are inspiring and very beautiful. Very polite staff and a nice gift shop as well.

I went out to the light house but parked outside the gate. Beautiful scenery and view of…read morelighthouse. Grounds look nice and clean. Ample parking inside and outside the main gate. Views of the oceans and lighthouse. I had my dogs with me and they needed to run. I'm confident the light house and grounds are just as spectacular inside the complex as they looked from outside the gates.

Clean and beautiful little winery off the beaten path. Wine here is good. I had their wine tasting…read moreand they have a good pinot noir and a good chard. they are a sister company w/ Justin wine and that is why i chose this place. Recommended if you like a lil' historic bldg to enjoy a nice wine tasting with a nice patio or grass area to picnic in.

THIS is the location to go to if you want a true Russian River experience, limited crowds, locals…read moresharing their passion for not only the wine you're drinking but also the wine down the road. Never a disappointing glass or view, with a prettier drive than you could ask for regardless of the time of year

Beautiful theater, comfy seats. Shows a mixture of New Releases, and classics…read more We liked the old & huge movie camera in the lobby. Bring cash it's easier! Cards are accepted. Great selection of movies, and 1 day only specials.

Glad to be back to the movies!…read more Firstly, the arena theaters Covid safety protocols are on point! Every other row of seating is taped off to ensure social distancing.** An usher will escort you to your seat upon entering. You can grab concessions after you've been seated. I indulged in a large tub of popcorn (half the fun of movie theaters right??!) and was happily surprised to find they have individual nutritional yeast containers- along with the usual salt & butter- available to top off your popcorn! Overall, the experience made me very happy to return to viewing movies in theater! Looking forward to returning soon. **TIP: Get there early if you are particular about your seat selection, as the limited capacity means larger parties may be split up once the theater fills!

Landmark wines came highly recommended by a friend, so I decided to check it out this weekend with…read moremy in laws when they were in town. We enjoyed a fabulous afternoon tasting at the winery- Emily guided us through our tasting and made us feel so welcome. They even welcomed our dog, which was really kind. The Pinot noirs there are really wonderful- if you do the tasting, you will get to try a few different ones to compare.. I won't say my favorite but you should try them all and see what you think! Oh and also, the grounds are beautifully well kept- look at the gorgeous flowers at the front as you walk in!

One of the first wineries I visited about 5 years when we moved to Northern California and its…read moreconsistency is what keeps us coming back (and renewing our membership) all these years later. Thoughtful tastings, quality wine at an affordable price, with beautiful grounds to wander in between sips.

Good walk to get out there from the parking lot all the way out to the light station…read more instructions- you're supposed to leave your car in the first parking lot, don't drive it all the way to the lighthouse because that road has a pedestrians only sign. lighthouse itself is very clean and well maintained, compared to others ive seen along the california coast. very much cared for. interesting free museum inside that building. you cant go up but you can look around the first floor

During weekends, the Cabrillo Light Station does full-on tours of the lighthouse all funded by…read morevolunteers. It entails walking about a flatish half mile (one way) on a paved road to the lighthouse, ending in panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, a couple of picnic tables, and even some cabins to rent, if staying a couple of days to unwind is part of the plan! On a Sunday morning after a canoe paddle down the Big River, we did the half-mile trek to the lighthouse. It was fairly busy, with 3 or 4 groups ahead of us. On the tour, volunteer guides on each of the four levels explain the need for the lighthouse, its inner workings, and how innovation and technology changed it over the years. There are four levels to climb: after the first flight with two handrails, there is only one handrail up the steps, making it a great core workout in addition to a historic and informational experience! After (or before) the tour, wander around the museum/gift shop, where there is a souvenir for every lighthouse aficionado to buy sprinkled with more historic information and pictures not only of the lighthouse, but also of the surrounding environment and wildlife. If lighthouses are your jam, the weekend is a great time to go with the tour, museum/gift shop, and even a place to stay if you want! Convenient to downtown Mendocino, after the tour, the charming downtown is a great place to grab a bite and do some shopping! Young and old alike, this is a great experience!

Serene quiet park…read more great photo spots! There's the iconic bridge but in order to get on that beach you have to walk on a narrow wobbling log in the water. Pretty scary for me. I finally did it, with the help of a very kind stranger who held my hand and it felt all better. Interesting how a lot of the fear is in your head. Why is there not a better safer path to get there? Watched many groups try and about half the people said nope and left

One of the most iconic bridges on the Mendocino coast. This state park is below the route 1. There…read moreis a large parking lot with direct access to the rivers mouth, sandy beachs and open nature. Also, a maintained restroom. We stopped for a while to take in the incredible views, walk on the waters edge and get a better look at the gulch bridge overhead. This special place is unique in its direct access to the river and area, and most just drive over the bridge without ever realizing the park is just below. This is a hidden gem on the Mendocino coastline and worth seeking it out and exploring a bit. 4.5 Stars rounded up for the direct water access 01190

Came to Mendocino for the weekend and we caught the 730 skunk train into the Blair Bar in the…read morewoods. Such a fun and awesome experience. We chose to stand on the outside deck of the train. It was a bit windy, I recommend bringing a jacket. The train ride to the Blair Bar was 20 minutes. Once we arrived the views were spectacular! It wasn't time for sunset just yet but once the sun started going down the lights became more vibrant. We immediately walked over to the bar to grab a drink. We ordered 2 old fashioneds and they were nicely poured with a good amount of whiskey. There was live music, and tons of seating around warmers and large fire pits. They offered s'mores kits and light snacks. The pits do get a bit crowded. We couldn't get a seat until the 9pm train left. Which opened up some spots around the fire pits. The whole experience was great. It made me feel like I was in a scene of Virgin River! Definitely recommend if you're ever visiting the Mendocino or Fort Bragg area of Northern California.

For over 20 years I wanted to ride the rails. My son and I finally did this yesterday and we loved…read moreit. The newly designed and patented rail bikes just started being used 2 weeks ago. They are smooth, quiet and comfortable with full back support. Previous bikes had a tractor type seat with no back support. The new seats are firm so you might want to bring some padding. I talked with them about this and they were very receptive to me. Since they are electric with pedal assist, we decided to use the electric motor the entire distance. That way we focused on the experience 100% and it was delightful. A perfect, personalized lunch was provided, which added to the experience. Safety is top priority with them so with several road crossings, some with crossing arms/signals and some without, excellent care was taken to make the crossings safely. Our guide was Atlas and he was training 2 new employees. Everything went perfectly! All three of them were so kind and constantly wanted to attend to everyone's needs. I recommend you take the rail bike tour, sit back and enjoy the ride. Just imagine the amount of work that went into making the rail line over 100+ years ago. With the bikes, you sit just above the rails and can marvel at what it took to build this and any rail line. You will have a new appreciation for all railroads. You wind your way through the hills and I believe I read there is a section of the line that winds over 8 miles to actually travel a straight line of 1 mile. It is an engineering marvel. Enjoy!!!!! Please be sure to tip your guides

Gorgeous day trip during good weather! If you're lucky you can see the ocean during a clear day…read morebut most times, there's a fog blanket. Beautiful lighthouse and view from the top. You can go down a ton of steps to see and learn about the lighthouse. Make sure to stop by Marin French Cheese Company on the way and bring a picnic of cheese, sandwiches to snack on. It's pretty windy down there too so bring layers and a jacket. You can explore the adjacent trails and do some hiking too. Definitely will get some Insta worthy photos!

The Point Reyes Lighthouse contains the ORIGINAL first order Fresnel lens and clockworks that were…read moreon display at the 1867 World Fair in Paris. Not just a replica, but the actual model that was actually on display in Paris. The best time to see the inside of the lighthouse (where the lens and clockworks reside) is typically on weekends between 10am-noon and 1:30-3:30pm, but only in winds under 40mph, and (ideally), when it's not foggy. (Check the park website or call for current hours, which may fluctuate.) During these hours, rangers and volunteers are often around to answer questions, give educational talks, and sell merchandise. For safety reasons, the lighthouse and stairs are always closed to the public when the winds exceed 40mph-- which happens often. This is the windiest spot on the west coast. When you check the wind online, the results come from a weather station miles away from the lighthouse. Wind speeds may be much higher at the actual lighthouse than what you see online. To avoid wasting gas and time, you can always call the park visitor center (after 10am) to ask about the winds for that day. The Point Reyes lighthouse parking lot sits about a quarter mile away from the viewing platform above the lighthouse. This portion of the trail is accessible. There is also a closer accessible lot for those with handicapped placards. From the viewing platform, it's 313 stairs plus two steep slopes (of about 100 feet each) down to the actual lighthouse. The reason the lighthouse sits so low below the viewing platform is because the heavy fog that plagues the area is often just above this level. So, it's essentially below fog level-- except for when it's not. For those circumstances, there are foghorns. The modern foghorns are controlled by the coast guard, and are not on display. However, a large equipment-building-turned-museum, which sits at the same level as the lighthouse, houses several of the historic horns and air compressors, along with a few interpretive signs. In my personal opinion, the lighthouse could use a lot more pictures and interpretive signs. I personally think that it would be cool if these were plastered all over the inside of the lighthouse, like they are in Heceta. Is it worth the 313 stairs to see the lighthouse? I am the wrong person to answer this question, since, for me, the stairs have always been my main motivation for visiting. I would climb these stairs just for fun, and I've done so many times. And yes, I bought one of the "I survived the climb!" stickers from the visitor center at the top of the stairs, which is typically open the same hours as the lighthouse. The lens itself is pretty chipped up, but still beautiful to look at. I'm not sure if the chips are due to the weather, historic vandalism, or routine maintenance. What I do know is that the glass is technically irreplaceable. The original glass was made by French artisans in the 1800s. The modern replacement glass is manufactured in England, from different sand, which is apparently a different color and clarity than the original. Typically speaking, even when on display, the lighthouse is not rotated, and the curtains are kept mostly closed. Some people (me) might argue that it's deceptive to call it "fully functional" or claim that it's "in working order." That being said, the clockworks (a cabinet full of gears, pulleys, and cables) is pretty cool too see. It looks like a giant nineteenth century wind-up toy. The park keeps it painted, polished, and well-maintained. National Lighthouse Day is coming up on August 7th. Historically, including last year, the park has operated the lighthouse for this event. I haven't seen anything online about it yet, but maybe they'll celebrate this year, too. The nearest gas and food to the lighthouse are about thirty minutes away, so make sure you plan for that ahead of time. Chimney Rock is a short drive away. Drake's Beach (including the Ken Patrick visitor center), North Beach, South Beach, and the Cypress tree tunnel are all passed on the road between the lighthouse and Inverness, so if you plan right, you could definitely knock all of those sights out in one day. If you're a real overachiever, you could also add Tomales Point/Pierce Point Ranch to the same day, as the road to these destinations is between the lighthouse and Point Reyes Station.