Travel

a mendocino escape

rusty anchor

Image 11 of 32

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!

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  • Molly @ RDexposed
    September 7, 2011 at 4:43 am

    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!

  • Lauren @ What Lauren Likes
    September 7, 2011 at 5:07 am

    Beautiful pictures! Looks and sounds like a great time 🙂

  • Caroline @ chocolate and carrots
    September 7, 2011 at 5:17 am

    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…

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
    September 7, 2011 at 5:19 am

    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. 🙂

  • Jenn
    September 7, 2011 at 5:20 am

    I was hoping for a pizza shot 🙂 but I love that green scarf.

  • amy walters, aDESIGNdock
    September 7, 2011 at 5:26 am

    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.

  • Natasha (OveLoves)
    September 7, 2011 at 5:26 am

    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

  • Jil @ Big City, Lil' Kitchen
    September 7, 2011 at 5:28 am

    Mini-trips are seriously good for the soul. Looks amazing.

  • Mel
    September 7, 2011 at 5:29 am

    It looks wonderful! I think I’m going to have do google the Mendocino Coast. Spontaneous adventures=the best.

  • maria @ Chasing the Now
    September 7, 2011 at 5:54 am

    2 hours of checkers!?!?! AH–sounds like misery to me! 🙂

  • Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove
    September 7, 2011 at 5:57 am

    What great photos! Looks like a wonderful mini-cation!

  • Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance
    September 7, 2011 at 6:01 am

    I want to take a mini-cation 🙁 I wouldn’t even know where to go!
    Share some spontaneity?

  • katie @KatieDid
    September 7, 2011 at 6:04 am

    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!

  • Carissa @ ChoiceSustenance
    September 7, 2011 at 6:04 am

    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.

  • Bev Weidner
    September 7, 2011 at 6:09 am

    Ooo, I love mini-cations! I also love the WORD “mini-cation.”

    I have issues.

  • Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
    September 7, 2011 at 6:28 am

    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

  • Maria
    September 7, 2011 at 7:00 am

    How fun! I am craving a trip-can’t go until after the baby comes though:)

  • Kelli H (Made in Sonoma)
    September 7, 2011 at 7:03 am

    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!

  • Liz @ Southern Charm
    September 7, 2011 at 7:22 am

    Gorgeous pictures, Jenna! So breath taking!

  • Corey @ Learning Patience
    September 7, 2011 at 7:31 am

    LOVE mini-cations… 🙂 Glad you had fun! Love kicking my husbands butt in games…I’m just a tad bit competitive… 🙂

    xoxo from Trinidad

  • meagan
    September 7, 2011 at 7:48 am

    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…)

  • Emmy (wineandbutter)
    September 7, 2011 at 7:48 am

    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

  • Meghan
    September 7, 2011 at 7:50 am

    Beautiful pictures! I feel more relaxed just looking at them.

  • French Heart
    September 7, 2011 at 7:58 am

    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.

  • Leslie Means Her View From Home
    September 7, 2011 at 8:06 am

    Love the hat – LOVE those boots! Enjoy your quick/spontaneous trips! If some day you have kids – those trips get more difficult to take!

  • Moni'sMeals
    September 7, 2011 at 8:40 am

    Wow, what a nice lil trip. Looked super fun and cozy. 🙂

  • Sarah Jane MacMillan
    September 7, 2011 at 8:53 am

    I love when you post pictures of your trips! Thanks =)

  • Katie
    September 7, 2011 at 9:11 am

    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.

  • Jessica
    September 7, 2011 at 9:13 am

    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.

  • Gina (Yogattude)
    September 7, 2011 at 9:15 am

    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!

  • mary @ what's cookin with mary
    September 7, 2011 at 9:42 am

    I love impromptu trips. Those are the best. No planning. No plan. …only relaxation 🙂

  • Lara @ TresLaLa
    September 7, 2011 at 9:43 am

    Looks like an ab fab trip! Love those weekends away!

  • Kristina
    September 7, 2011 at 9:47 am

    Love mini trips! My husband and I have one planned for October 7-8 and I can’t wait 🙂 Beautiful photos btw.

  • JodyLynn @ Healthy Heyday
    September 7, 2011 at 9:52 am

    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! 🙂

  • Judith
    September 7, 2011 at 10:05 am

    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!

    • Cheri
      September 7, 2011 at 1:00 pm

      I was worried my family and I were the only ones who called them Naked Ladies…glad to know we’re not total weirdos!

  • Wine Harlots
    September 7, 2011 at 10:42 am

    Lots of delicious wine coming out of Mendocino.

    Cheers!

    Nannette Eaton

  • kathleen @ the daily crumb
    September 7, 2011 at 11:08 am

    beautiful, jenna!

    i notice you have started calling adam “the guy” instead of “the boy”… he’s growing up! ha!

  • Andrea @ The Skinny Chronicles
    September 7, 2011 at 11:09 am

    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!

  • Charlotte Marie
    September 7, 2011 at 11:14 am

    Love a spontaneous getaway! Are your boots made by Frye? Love ’em!

    • karen
      September 7, 2011 at 11:49 am

      yeah–love the boots. are they the same ones from your post a few days ago??

      • jenna
        September 7, 2011 at 11:52 am

        Thanks! They are Frye and they are the same ones from the other day.

  • Dee
    September 7, 2011 at 11:29 am

    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.

  • Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
    September 7, 2011 at 11:43 am

    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!

  • Krista
    September 7, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    Oh I love Mendocino! We used to vacation up there all the time when I was a child. Brings back memories!

  • Sarah Kay Hoffman
    September 7, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    I LOVE Mendocino! We live a few hours away, and went there for our 1 year anniversary. Sea Ranch is also amazing!

  • Emily
    September 7, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    Love the boots! Where’d you score those?

    Thanks!

    • jenna
      September 7, 2011 at 2:39 pm

      They’re from Frye! I love them!

  • Melissa @ Journey to Marvelous
    September 7, 2011 at 6:40 pm

    great pictures…looks like you had a nice time!

  • Kelsey @ aslolife
    September 7, 2011 at 8:05 pm

    love B&Bs and the CA coast!

  • Em
    September 7, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    Looks like a charming place!
    And a great mini-getaway. Those are so important and healthy! I’m thinking about planning one for Friday!

  • kaila @ healthy helper!
    September 8, 2011 at 4:05 am

    Beautiful pics Jenna!! You really captured the beauty of the vacation!!

  • Charise
    September 8, 2011 at 7:16 am

    I love the mini getaways. Looks like a good time – beautiful photos, as always!

  • KatieG@ Just Roll With It
    September 8, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    looks like a lovely weekend, i love the idea of reading by the campfire!