Mother's Day Trip to Mendocino

On Mother's Day we went up to Mendocino, one of our favorite places along the North Coast. It's just a two hours drive from our home through the mountains on windy roads - the drive alone is very scenic.

Mendocino is a quirky artsy little town right on the headlands - when you come from the south along Highway 1 you see this row of houses - Main Street -  lined up on the cliffs. We were extremely lucky with the weather - it was sunny though windy and not really warm, but pleasant. It was almost perfect for some exploring.

First we had a delicious breakfast in this beautiful building, the MacCallum House Inn. The big whale made out of driftwood lives in their front garden.

I like its big fat grin.

Mendocino has many windmills, water towers and beautiful gardens...

...and driftwood benches.

 

Wouldn't it be nice to just sit here and watch the world go by?

Did I mention the gardens?

Wandering the streets of Mendocino you can find beautiful little stores and galleries.

This store sells unique clothes and handmade accessories and jewelry.

 The Ark has been in this gallery forever - I absolutely adore the little extra boat with the skunks! The artist even thought of the ladybugs.

My favorite independent bookstore.

More gardens...

Those white fences are typical for Mendocino.

Beautiful views wherever you look.

Then you go out to the headlands, but perhaps avoiding the (few) beaches, at least at high tide.

The headlands...

the beaches with all the driftwood...

the view...

This is the view of Mendocino sitting on the cliffs. It's spectacular.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to live like this!

And then we made our way back home on scenic Highway 1 along the coast. I simply love the Northern California coast in all its wildness and roughness.

But the most wonderful thing that day I got from Kaefer - this:

She had painted it for me especially for this day.

I love her so much.