Planning a Trip

Getting There

The fastest route from San Francisco is via U.S. 101 north to Cloverdale. Then take Highway 128 west to Highway 1, and then go north along the coast. It's about a 4-hour drive. (You could also take U.S. 101 all the way to Ukiah or Willits and cut over to the west from there.) The most scenic route, if you have the time and your stomach doesn't mind the twists and turns, is to take Highway 1 north along the coast the entire way; it's at least a 5- to 6-hour drive.

Visitor Information

You can stock up on lots of free brochures and maps at the Fort Bragg/Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce, 332 N. Main St. (P.O. Box 1141), Fort Bragg, CA 95437 (tel. 800/726-2780 or 707/961-6300; www.mendocinocoast.com). Pick up a copy of the center's monthly magazine, Arts and Entertainment, which lists upcoming events throughout Mendocino. It's available at numerous stores and cafes, including the Mendocino Bakery, Gallery Bookshop, and Mendocino Art Center. You can also do some pretrip research on Mendocino at MendocinoFun.com, a nifty online events and activities website/blog to the region that's hosted by local outdoor enthusiasts, artists, and writers.