On Saturday, the guy and I headed west for a spontaneous (and quick!) mini-cation to the rugged Mendocino Coast.
I’m a firm believer in the renewing power of mini trips like this, as they just seem to restore the soul. This was our second time visiting Gualala and, in keeping tradition, we immediately went out to pizza and played a highly competitive two hour game of Checkers. I won’t say who won cause it hurts too bad. Let’s just say it was a close match.
Other activities including reading for three hours by the fire, exploring the rocky coast and watching surfers brave the cold fog and waves in Point Arena. We stayed the night here and absolutely loved it! I would definitely come back and it was one of the most hospitable bed and breakfasts I’ve stayed at.
Enjoy our photos!
{ 54 comments… read them below or add one }
Get any good beer?
Also, I have a great aunt who lives in Mendocino (I think…). I need to get in touch and visit apparently!
Beautiful pictures! Looks and sounds like a great time
Looks like you guys had a great time! I’m so jealous of your Fall clothing. I am soooo over this heat in the South. Oh, South Carolina…
This looks like so much fun Jenna! LOVE the photo of the beer battered prawns too. Yumm! I’m glad you guys had a great time.
I was hoping for a pizza shot
but I love that green scarf.
That sounds soooo nice. I have a thing for B&B’s and well pizza and well … pretty much everything you just listed. Yippee for mini-cationing.
Looks beautiful – reminds me of the East Coast of Canada. I agree, I am a firm believe in mini-vacations as they do just as well as a long one, if not better because you don’t need a week to get back into the swing of things. We just had a mini-staycation in our own home, opting to stay in, not clean a thing & absorb ourselves in food, television & snuggling.
OveLoves
Mini-trips are seriously good for the soul. Looks amazing.
It looks wonderful! I think I’m going to have do google the Mendocino Coast. Spontaneous adventures=the best.
2 hours of checkers!?!?! AH–sounds like misery to me!
What great photos! Looks like a wonderful mini-cation!
I want to take a mini-cation
I wouldn’t even know where to go!
Share some spontaneity?
I love the pictures of you against the distressed wooden wall. It makes for a really cool photo background. And the description of the surfers in the foggy waters… amazing, I can just picture them. I bet that was awesome!
Gorgeous mini-cation! I love b&b’s, they’re usually so cozy and welcoming. I’m also a big believer in the power of a quick trip to get away. I always come back refreshed and ready to go.
Ooo, I love mini-cations! I also love the WORD “mini-cation.”
I have issues.
I love mini trips like that too. My husband never wants to go on vacation though! I don’t know what’s wrong with him! haha
How fun! I am craving a trip-can’t go until after the baby comes though:)
great pictures! There’s something magical to me about fog lifting. Even in Santa Rosa it’s crazy how dense the fog is in the morning and then just watching it burn and lift away — so cool!
Gorgeous pictures, Jenna! So breath taking!
LOVE mini-cations…
Glad you had fun! Love kicking my husbands butt in games…I’m just a tad bit competitive… 
xoxo from Trinidad
Sigh. I *love* Mendocino. J and I stayed at Glendeven Inn when we were there and absolutely loved it. We also found one of our favorite wineries–Navarro.
Man! Now I have the itchy feet to go up to Mendocino. I’m going to be looking at pictures from our trip all day
(Not a bad thing…)
I LOVE the Mendeciono area – did you go to Garberville?! We stayed there a few times and I remember being 8 years old and sitting eating pizza next to an Alaskan Malamute (who was HUMUNGOUS) as one of the happiest experiences of my life!! xxx
Beautiful pictures! I feel more relaxed just looking at them.
Great pix! I LOVE Mendocino…fun to take a mini-online-trip. Thx.
“Call of the Wild” EXCELLENT choice. Love Jack London who also lived here in Carmel before he bought his Sonoma Ranch: http://www.jacklondons.net/farmer.html
Kind of amazing to realize that he and Monet were contemporaries…both loved nature.
Love the hat – LOVE those boots! Enjoy your quick/spontaneous trips! If some day you have kids – those trips get more difficult to take!
Wow, what a nice lil trip. Looked super fun and cozy.
I love when you post pictures of your trips! Thanks =)
I love Mendo! I took an escape there this summer with my mom! The brews up in Fort Bragg at North Coast Brewing are amazing. And if you get the chance to stay the night in Valley Forge (Sonoma County) do it! The little hotel there is AMAZING.
Girrrlll…you know of all of my favorite places…first Lake Tahoe and now Mendocino?!? Loved all of your pics! Hope you guys had a good time.
I absolutely LOVE the Mendocino Coast! My fav place was the Little River Inn…best breakfast in this cute dining room surrounded by their garden…LOVE!
I love impromptu trips. Those are the best. No planning. No plan. …only relaxation
Looks like an ab fab trip! Love those weekends away!
Love mini trips! My husband and I have one planned for October 7-8 and I can’t wait
Beautiful photos btw.
I LOVE Mendocino! Your pics are FAB! Brought back great memories for me. I spent a month in Fort Bragg/Mendocino while attending Living Light Culinary Institute. Beautiful piece of the world! A highlight was dining at Raven’s Restaurant (part of Stanford Inn). Great post. Enjoy your blog!
You truly captured the heart and soul of the beautiful Mendo coast, one of my favorite places as well.
BTW those flowers are a type of Amarillis known locally as “Naked Ladies”, their scent is amazing.
Thanks!
I was worried my family and I were the only ones who called them Naked Ladies…glad to know we’re not total weirdos!
Lots of delicious wine coming out of Mendocino.
Cheers!
Nannette Eaton
beautiful, jenna!
i notice you have started calling adam “the guy” instead of “the boy”… he’s growing up! ha!
That part of the Mendocino coast is one of my faves! And you’re right: mini-vacations rock! So glad you had a great time!
Love a spontaneous getaway! Are your boots made by Frye? Love ‘em!
yeah–love the boots. are they the same ones from your post a few days ago??
Thanks! They are Frye and they are the same ones from the other day.
oh my gosh. oh my gosh. I need to visit mendocino. NEED. It’s the place that makes me want to move out to Norcal.
♥ mendocino, ca ♥
ahem, sorry. what a lovely time you must have had! i’ll be bookmarking that b&b for sure.
The trip looks lovely! I love Marin County, Napa, Sonoma, Tahoe. Love it all. So pretty and peaceful and beautiful. Glad you guys had a nice and relaxing trip and good to hear the B & B was a winner and you’d go back.
Great pics and thanks for sharing!
Oh I love Mendocino! We used to vacation up there all the time when I was a child. Brings back memories!
I LOVE Mendocino! We live a few hours away, and went there for our 1 year anniversary. Sea Ranch is also amazing!
Love the boots! Where’d you score those?
Thanks!
They’re from Frye! I love them!
great pictures…looks like you had a nice time!
love B&Bs and the CA coast!
Looks like a charming place!
And a great mini-getaway. Those are so important and healthy! I’m thinking about planning one for Friday!
Beautiful pics Jenna!! You really captured the beauty of the vacation!!
I love the mini getaways. Looks like a good time – beautiful photos, as always!
looks like a lovely weekend, i love the idea of reading by the campfire!