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Mendocino, California

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Nik Sharma

Hey Friends, I’m a multi-award-winning and best-selling cookbook author and photographer.


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table

We drove up to Mendocino in Northern California this Labor Day weekend. It’s about a 4 hour drive from where we live in South Bay and we took Snoopy along with us which I did regret one night (more about that later on). The drive up to the beach gets very beautiful once you get into the thick of the redwood forests in Navarro River Redwood State Park. Majestic pine trees stand tall pointing towards the sky allowing little snippets of the sun’s rays to sneak through the branches. If you’re lucky you’ll see plenty of deer walking around in the forest!

Mendocino is a cute little town. It’s tiny. It’s where Murder She Wrote was shot (no Jess Fletcher in sight) but you can imagine her biking around the neighborhood. It somehow fits even if it was supposed to be New England. There are plenty of little cafes and restaurants in the small downtown area. Since we had Snoopy with us we couldn’t visit all the restaurants we wanted to try but we eat lots of breakfast pastries at the Good Life Cafe and Bakery. Go there, you will love it! Take a trip to check out the glass at Glass beach, it’s a short drive from Mendocino and the beach allows dogs which can be fun, if your dog loves to get into the water. There are tons of other little beaches all over the stretch, though I’m not sure which ones are open to dogs and if any of them are private but again they’re all beautiful with breathtaking landscapes to enjoy. You might also get to see condors (they’ve made an amazing recovery and you will see the flying or sunning on trees).

Coming back to why I almost regretted taking Snoopy with us. Raccoons in the middle of the night going through a trash can and a dog that can sense what’s going on outside is a recipe for poor sleep and one excited pup!


Navarro River Redwoods State Park, California | A Brown Table


Navarro River Redwoods State Park, California | A Brown Table


Navarro River Redwoods State Park, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California|A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Good Life Bakery Cafe, Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Concords (birds), Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Glass Beach, California | A Brown Table


Glass Beach, California | A Brown Table


Rosemary bushes, Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table


Mendocino, California | A Brown Table

10 Responses

  1. wow, these photos are beautiful, nik! i’ve only been to muir woods national forest, but mendochino is now on the list – those majestic tree trunks! looks like you all had such a lovely time, including sweet snoopy!

  2. It looks like you had a wonderful time. I can see the similarities with New England, which makes the combination with the beautiful coast line of the west so beautiful. I will write it down on my ‘to-travel-to-list’. Your pup looks so cute, but I know that it’s not always easy traveling with a young dog, thought it’s a good thing because this way Snoopy gets used it.

    As always, love the photos.

    x

  3. these photos are beautiful. i grew up in lake tahoe, but i spent a lot of time hiking down in mendocino and it’s nice to have a glimpse of home 🙂 thanks for sharing your trip – made my day!

  4. What a sweet getaway! I didn’t know that Murder She Wrote was filmed there. I used to live in Crescent City ages ago and should have made that little trip.
    Thanks for sharing your experience!

  5. I always forget about Mendocino when thinking of weekend get aways, and I shouldn’t as it is so easy from the Bay Area. Not to mention beautiful. Thank you for rekindling an old memory and hopefully provoking a getaway soon.

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