February/March 2017 81 And while on the subject of superior cuisine, Mendocino County offers a cornucopia of fabulous restaurants that support every diet type: vegan, the gluten-free, vegetarian, organic. As one example, Stanford Inn’s vegetarian Ravens’ Restaurant will satisfy even the staunchest of meat lovers. Creative dishes include sea palm root vegetable strudel, vegan ravioli, polenta with cashew cream sauce and trumpet mushroom tacos. An equally engaging menu can be found at the historic Little River Inn. Traditional American dishes are derived from homegrown ingredients, and customers rave about the clam chowder, crab cakes and stunning ocean views. The main dining room is a bit noisy, so reserve a window table in one of the intimate nooks. Don’t leave until you’ve surrendered to the olallieberry cobbler. HIKE, PADDLE, FORAGE Inland Mendo is also home to several lakes and rivers. Newbie paddlers can safely ply Big River on a handmade wooden canoe from Catch-A-Canoe at Stanford Inn. For another aquatic excursion, kayak on the Noyo River in Fort Bragg with the knowledgeable outdoors experts of Liquid Fusion Kayaking. Book a tandem kayak and stay on the lookout for river otters, coastal mushrooms and sea lions. And on land, you can rev up the romance on horseback. At Ricochet Ridge Ranch, Fort Bragg, you can opt for a onehour beach ride along Ten Mile Beach at MacKerricher State Park. For those who want a lingering memory, the company offers private rides ranging from a three-hour tour to a daylong equine adventure. The outfit also offers six-day Redwood Coast Riding Vacations that traverse beaches, a cattle ranch and forests. If you prefer to get around on two legs, a mushroom foraging walk with Adrienne Long will take you up unknown back roads to spy fungi the size of dinner plates. A day hike with this mycology expert can be arranged through the Stanford Inn. This area is a hiker’s dream. More than 10 state parks, beaches, and recreation areas saturate the county with mind-blowing ocean vistas and gargantuan forests. Feel dwarfed by the area’s worldfamous old-growth Sequoias or stand tall like a giant in the Jug FROM TOP: COURTESY OF RICOCHET RIDGE RANCH HORSEBACK RIDING; COURTESY OF LIQUID FUSION KAYAKING; OPPOSITE: DAVE MATTHEWS WHEN YOU GO Whether you’re vegging out, winding down, sleeping in or hiking up fern-covered paths, we’ve supplied a handy list of Mendocino resources. DOZE AND DINE Albion River Inn, Albion, 800/479.7944, albionriverinn. com. Rates: $195 and up Apple Farm, Philo, 707/895.2333, philoapplefarm. com Bewildered Pig, Philo, 707/895.2088, bewilderedpig. com Brewery Gulch Inn, Mendocino, 707/937.4752, brewerygulchinn. com. Rates: $325 and up. Inn at Newport Ranch, Fort Bragg, 707/962.4818, theinnatnewportranch. com. Rates: $250 and up. Little River Inn Restaurant, Little River, 707/937.5942, littleriverinn. com MacCallum House Hotel & Restaurant, Mendocino, 707/937.0289, maccallumhouse. com. Rates: $179 and up. Point Noyo Restaurant & Bar, Fort Bragg, 707/962.3035, pointnoyo.com Ravens Restaurant at the Stanford Inn, Mendocino, 800/331.8884, stanfordinn. com HIKE, PADDLE, FORAGE Liquid Fusion Kayaking, Fort Bragg, 707/962.1623, liquidfusionkayak. com Mendocino Botanical Gardens, Fort Bragg, 707/963.4352, gardenbythesea. org Point Cabrillo Light Station, Point Cabrillo Dr. between Mendocino Village and Fort Bragg, 707/937.6122, pointcabrillo. org Skunk Train, Fort Bragg, 707/964.6371, skunktrain.com Rent A Canoe & Bicycle Too (at Stanford Inn), Mendocino, 800/331-8884, stanfordinn. com Richochet Ridge Ranch Horseback Riding, Fort Bragg, 888/873.5777, horsevacation. com State Parks and Beaches, parks.ca.gov SIP AND SPA Little River Inn Salon & Spa, Little River, 707/937.5942, littleriverinn. com Lula Cellars, Philo, 707/995.3737, lulacellars.com Penny Royal Farm, Boonville, 707/895.2410, pennyroyalfarm. com The Madrones, Philo, 707/895.2955, themadrones. com Pacific Star Winery, Fort Bragg, 707/964.1155, pacificstarwinery. com Stanford Inn Day Spa, Mendocino, 800/331-8884, stanfordinn. com Sweetwater Inn & Spa, Mendocino, 800/300.4140, sweetwaterspa. com SHOPPING MENDO Gallery Bookshop & Bookwinkles Children’s Books, Mendocino, 707/937.2665, gallerybookshop. com Glass Fire Art Glass Gallery, Fort Bragg, 707/962.9420, glassfiregallery.com John Hanes Fine Art Gallery, Boonville, 707/489.0981, johnhanesgalleryboonville.com Highlight Gallery, Mendocino, 707/937.3132, thehighlightgallery. com GENERAL INFORMATION Visit Mendocino County Visitor Center, Fort Bragg, 707/964.9010, visitmendocino. com Take a Noyo River Tour with Liquid Fusion Kayaking. Ricochet Ridge Ranch offers horseback riding on Ten Mile Beach.
South Bay Accent - Feb/Mar 2017
To see the actual publication please follow the link above