Love a scenic hike through the woods followed by an excellent glass of wine? In California’s beautiful Mendocino County you can do just that. New trails now invite exploration, including the recently opened Shady Dell Trail along the quiet Lost Coast. Lined with towering old-growth Douglas firs and home to Roosevelt elk, this peaceful landscape is framed by rugged coastline and made more accessible by newly installed boardwalks and bridges. Consider visiting May 20–22 to coincide with the 19th Annual Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival, featuring winemaker dinners and tastings that showcase top wines from the valley’s roughly 2,500 acres of vineyards, including offerings from Baxter Winery, Domaine Anderson Estate, Goldeneye and Navarro Vineyards.
For a distinctive tasting experience, stop by the Pennyroyal Farm Tasting Room and Milking Parlor, where visitors can sample goat cheeses served on tap — varieties include Velvet Sister, Bollie’s Mollies and fresh Laychee chèvre. The venue offers guided tours paired with wine and cheese tastings. From May 27–29 and June 2–5, Cinema in the Vineyards will be part of the 11th Annual Mendocino Film Festival, presenting more than 50 film screenings and events such as the Seabiscuit Legacy Film Series, Films for Our Future and Films on the Arts.
When it comes to lodging, Mendocino offers an array of charming options. Harbor House provides cozy luxury with private decks ideal for watching seaside sunsets, a refreshed restaurant and a 3,400-bottle wine cellar. Brewery Gulch Inn presents themed experiences for travelers seeking indulgence; one notable package, Romance on the North Coast, centers on a private five-acre Mendocino Cottage at Serenity Point. Guests booking this experience enjoy luxury transportation from the San Francisco Bay Area, a curated wine tour, a couples’ wilderness horseback ride, gourmet meals, spa treatments and an heirloom-quality jewelry set featuring a two-carat, hand-cut brilliant diamond earring and pendant. Packages of this nature are premium-priced, with rates beginning around $20,000.
Whether you prefer coastal hikes, intimate tastings, film festivals or indulgent accommodations, Mendocino County blends natural beauty and culinary pleasures into a memorable getaway.