Such a beautiful garden alongside the California highway. Our dog loved exploring the garden and it…read morewas only $7 after M4A. My favorite was the cliffside walk to the beach and seeing the waves. The houses are blessed alongside the coast. Loved seeing the different variety of plants and people. The gift shop is nice as well.

I expected a small little basic garden since the population of the Mendocino area isn't that big…read morebut I was wrong, it's very impressive here. The garden is 47 acres, but it feels a lot larger. There are various trails to the ocean as well as a creek with lots of shade and greenery. Containing a maze of paths and vibrant colors, this place brought me a lot of balance and Zen as I walked around and explored. The dahlia garden was spectacular; it was filled with many different colors, shapes and sizes of dahlias. I think the technical name for some of the styles were cactus, ball, and pom pom. There aren't a lot dahlia gardens around so for people that are really into flowers it's worth trekking up here. I liked the Heather garden as well, I don't think I've ever seen one. Rose gardens are usually my favorite but the one here was more minimal and catered to being more rustic rather than manicured. I think the Dahlia garden was the most impressive part.

Grr. Oh Yelp, why dost thou load my photographs backwards? I wanted to tell a story …read more.. Just back from a beautiful weekend on the Humboldt/Mendocino Coast. Back to what appears a rainy day in the Bay Area. In late June. Wtf. This walk was as splendid as the last. Different, as I had a hiking buddy this time, different as I left the water filter on my bed at home and had to beg other hikers for the use of theirs. Different in those respects but similar in many others. Tips: 1. Bring the bear can for the food. I still don't think you need it if you think about what you're doing before you do it but the rangers don't agree and as we saw two this trip and they are serious about the bears you may as well bring it along. I hate bear cans. 2. Time your walk so you can stay at the best campsites. I like Big Flat the best of all. It's about 17 miles in from the northern trailhead, so either: a) start early and walk all the way there in one day, or b) start late, spend the first night at the lighthouse (3 ish miles), and make a more leisurely day of it to the sweet driftwood shelters that will serve for your Big Flat dwelling on day 2. 3. Time the tides. I don't fret too much over them but it pays to have a general sense of when they'll be high. Some spots are tough to traverse at high water. And some of the tough spots at high water are comprised of stones the size of bowling balls that when wet and when you're in a hurry because of sneaker waves can be a real pain to get across. Literally. 4. Watch for the rattlers in the grass; don't tree your food. 5. Pack a little tequila for the gloaming. About 280 miles from Temescal to the mouth of the Mattole (north trailhead). Less to Shelter Cove. You can take two cars and shuttle around (if you have company) or park at Shelter Cove and arrange for a shuttle to take you north (you'll be hiking back to your car at SC). A couple of years ago I paid 50 clams for a solo trip from SC to the put-in. Takes about an hour and a half to get around. The Lost Coast is about as far in miles and time as Yosemite Valley. In all other respects, it's a world apart. We're blessed to live in such a wonderful place. Take it all in.

I went backpacking this Memorial weekend. It was an unforgettable experience…read more Lost Coast. First time I heard the name, I imagined a very desolated and abandoned coast. I got a picture in my mind the ocean sitting with sadness. I went there and found my image was not so wrong. There were a lot of driftwood on the beach as if it was abandoned by somebody. Scattered woods looked in grief. However, right next to the beach with dead trees, steep hills with lush green reside. What a contrast. The other side is Pacific Ocean. Ocean is powerful and strong. Reflecting the sun, the ocean was very shiny. So beautiful. I was able to see whales, sealions, and sea otters. Beauty and sadness exist on the same page. Actually the naming is from depopulation in 1930. Now many backpackers are attracted by the pretty scenery. In terms of difficulty of backpacking, I would say it is very different from doing in the Eastern Sierra. Hiking on the sandy and rocky beach requires another muscles. Overall, this Memorial Weekend was memorable.

Remember going on vacations to the Redwoods and staying at the cabins at "Overpacks Grove" in the…read moremid 60's....Spending a day on the Ell river.....Taking a ride through the forest on the " Skunk Train ".... Consider it the most tranquil and beautiful area of the state of California.....

I was impressed by this park because it was so beautiful, family friendly and it had immaculate…read morebathrooms! There's a little loop path that has little signs about Redwood trees, the birds nearby and the fun facts. I appreciate how there's a grassy pasture in case you bring pups (they shouldn't go on the trails). There were picnic tables around too to enjoy a meal. The bathrooms were clean and unique, I'd never seen a skylight in a bathroom.

We stopped here briefly to use the bathroom and found a cool whale skeleton. This day they had…read morefree day use. They also have camping grounds. I didn't check out much else but definitely seems worth exploring more if im in the area again

Free access day today…read more Beautiful, well maintained, clean restrooms, accessible to all levels of mobility, leashed dogs welcome, gift shop. Plenty of trash receptacles. Wood sidewalk/path plus smooth trails. Cool whale skeleton and information. Something for a everyone whether you want to camp or day use. Clean beaches, flowers, plants, birds, greenery, deer. Friendly staff members

Black Sands Beach is a beautiful beach that is secluded. We went on a busy weekend, although I hear…read morethat on non- busy weekends or weekdays you might have this place to yourself. You park and walk down to the beach. When we went the bathrooms were out of order. It's a beautiful beach to walk along and soak in the views. Tip: Don't go near the water. There are signs all over to stay 100 ft away or more from where the waves break due to the under toe.

This is a beautiful beach with some seclusion. It can feel like your own private beach since it's…read morenot crowded. It has a small parking lot, a lackluster bathroom (bring hand sanitizer ) and a hike down to the beach. The journey to the beach isn't too long and you can catch some pretty spectacular views from above. The beach itself is unique, clean, quiet, calming. Perfect for photography, lounging around, picnics but not swimming so much. Tides seem rough and there's lots of rocks here. The hike back uphill was a hard one if you're out of shape like me. The locals did it no problem though !

Avenue of the giants is a great way to drive along the freeway with a more scenic route. It was…read morebeautiful and gorgeous drive and they have stops that you can go to for view points. I suggest you go early to avoid crowds if you want to get to every site and not have toooo much traffic. Also Make sure to get the map at the first stop so you can read about each stop and decide which ones ha wanna go to.

Bow-legged and bald standing 68 inches tall with a 32 inch 4-pack belly and 73 years young - I am…read morein awe walking among giants over 300 feet tall, 10-20 feet in diameter and living about 2,000 years. Wow! What a comparison! Me and a redwood tree! It so humbling and awe-inspiring! Looking up and gazing away in quiet wonder! Blows me away every time! These redwoods are the oldest and largest living organisms on earth. Hit all the cool loops like Druary-Channey, Women's Club (no redwoods ever logged), Rockefeller loop and Founders Grove - all short hikes and an abundance of large redwood trees up and down the 40 mile Avenue.

I visit Mendocino every five years or so, and each time, I make a point to stop by Jug Handle…read moreNatural Reserve. On this trip, I made it down to the beach and was rewarded with a few sea glass finds, moody coastal views and a new perspective of the park. After looping along the coastal bluff trail, there's an obvious path down to the beach that's not too steep. If you're up for a longer hike, there's the Ecological Staircase trail. I've not done that hike, yet, but seems like it could be an interesting adventure. Since my last visit, I've noticed improvements on the trail and better signage. It's free to park and a great stop to stretch your legs along the Mendocino coast. Spring brings lots of wildflowers, so it's a great walk, even on rainy moody days. Always a must stop when I'm in the area.

This is a great place to access a beautiful , clean beach. It's a short hike along a trail then…read moredown some stairs. It's a perfect and not crowded beach. Since I was here last, they've created some raised decomposed granite trails. These raised, packed trails look like they would be conducive for use by strollers, walkers and wheelchairs. It's a beautiful addition to these grounds. There is a decent sized parking lot, portable toilets, clear signage. The grounds and trails are clean, the beach was prestige. Kudos for the new trails.

Shelter Cove is very remote. One way in, one way out. At least 30-40 mins to get anywhere. But…read morethey've got a lot to offer right there in the community. Let's be clear: the number of stars here isn't indicative of a four-star hotel. But overall it didn't disappoint. GREAT view and the sound of the waves crashing outside were high on my amenity list. The unit itself is pretty bare bones. Cheap but comfortable furniture. Kitchen has pretty much everything you'd need to cook. Bed is okay, maybe a little hard. Really hot showers, which was nice. Managers are super nice and 100% responsive to any needs. We got one night free bc of their spring special, which bumped it up a star for us. Would I recommend it? Yes. Would I HEARTILY recommend it? Probably not. But I have no complaints.

This place is incredible. All of the rooms have an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean. You are…read moreliterally on the edge of the continental shelf when you stay in this place. The rooms are comfortable and have everything you need. Complete with coffee maker refrigerator and super comfy bed. There is a television but I never turned it on because the view was intoxicating and I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I was here right around solstice and so the day was very long and by the time it was too dark to enjoy the view it was bedtime. The hotel managers were friendly and kind and helpful. This place is walking distance from Gyppo the local favorite brewery. And also right on the lower Pacific Road which runs along the ocean. Close to Mal Combs Park. I absolutely recommend this place to anyone wanting the experience of sleeping right next to the ocean. You could hear the surf and waves all night long. It lulled me to sleep.

I visited Humboldt State Park on the first weekend of Spring, and spent most of my visit on the…read moreNorth Bull Creek Trail (8 miles round trip). My destination was the Tall Tree, and I passed miles of banana slugs, moss, lichen, spring wildflowers, and the refreshing surge of Bull Creek with its turquoise hues. The park was far from crowded, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Park Staff tending the maintenance needs (weed abatement). I felt safe & incredibly relaxed on the trail. There are over 100 miles of trail in this park and plenty of river access, providing something for everyone. If you only drive through the Avenue of the Giants, it will be time well spent in this gorgeous paradise.

There is an automobile guide to the 32-mile long Avenue of the Giants, which parallels Hwy 101…read more Many of the stops are worth visiting. But the Rockefeller Loop Trail (only .5 mile) is the one you must visit! It's phenomenal! And we were the only ones there today, so we experienced it almost prehistoric. Must see! Learn more here. https://www.redwoodhikes.com/Humboldt/Rockefeller.html

What a fun place to go. It appears there are bathroom, but there is a keypad on them so we weren't…read moresure if they were open. There is a small parking lot with lots of spaces open on Wednesday, May 5, 2026, at around 6:30pm. There is still plenty of daylight left so this was a perfect time to visit. There aren't signs to glass beach, just a sign at the parking lot for glass beach. If you take the unpaved path and walk straight out you'll find it. To the left is a would sculpture of whales and to the right there is a sandy path to walk down to the beach. Don't climb the rocks, walk on the sandy trail. Soon as you get to the bottom you will be walking in nice size stone mixed in with broken shells. I'm not sure what kind, but there is a ton of broken pieces. Next you will get to the gravel part closest to the water. The gravel has mixed softened edges of glass pieces. The glass looks like tiny pebbles. You're not supposed to take anything home so please resist to there will be something to see for the next person that goes. The glass is all very tiny pieces. Mostly clear or green pieces. I didn't see any purple or red pieces. I believe we saw a lot of purple jelly fish. I didn't touch them so I wasn't to sure what they were. They were all washed up on the beach. This isn't the type of beach that you'll bring your beach chair and wear your bikini too. This is more of an exploring beach with trails around the area. There were no signs that said no dogs so there were a few dogs. Just make sure you're like the people we saw picking up after your dog. We had a fun time on the beach and took lots of fun pictures.

This is a top destination location for Fort Bragg, but it was definitely underwhelming. It could…read morehave been the time of day we went, but my husband and I were not impressed. It was actually disheartening to see so many people out there digging at the sand and collecting the glass. I imagine it used to be alot more abundant and beautiful, but to me, it was just a sad sight. It was packed with people and even looked a bit dirty. I'd say, head here if you're in the area, but don't expect the romantic version of it you've seen on social media. Just my two cents!