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    Urban Bliss Life » Travel » California » Northern California Coastal Bliss: Fort Bragg, Ca

    Published: August 2, 2018 / Updated: May 9, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Northern California Coastal Bliss: Fort Bragg, Ca

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    If you're traveling to Northern California, be sure to make a stop at Fort Bragg, Ca. This is a charming small coastal town along the Mendocino Coast with picturesque bluffs and outdoor adventures. 

    Pomo Bluffs Fort Bragg, Ca

    My husband and I had an AMAZING time visiting the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, California. We had a wonderful time visiting with several Anderson Valley wineries, discovering incredible restaurants, touring a vineyard/creamery/farmstead, and staying at a sweet, romantic hotel in the valley.

    Now it was time to leave the dry, hot valley and head to a cooler coastal climate for a day and explore the Mendocino Coast.

    Jump to:
    • Road trip: Anderson Valley to the Mendocino Coast
    • Fort Bragg, California
    • Pomo Bluffs
    • Where to eat
    • Things to do

    Road trip: Anderson Valley to the Mendocino Coast

    GMC Yukon trunk space

    We loaded up our drive for this trip - a GMC Yukon Denali- which had more than enough space for our luggage and then also the case of wine we brought back home. I was a little worried driving such a big beast of a vehicle being a super petite person, but it was actually quite comfortable and drove so smoothly along the windy hills of Mendocino County that it was no problem at all.

    Pomo Bluffs Fort Bragg, California

    And the drive from Anderson Valley up the coastline to Fort Bragg, California was, indeed, an extra windy one.

    I don't get car sick, but it's quite possible I ate something that also made me extra queasy, so by the time we got to the hotel, all I wanted to do was lie down and stop the room from spinning for a bit. The Yukon, meanwhile, handled those curves along the coast beautifully. Many thanks to GMC for helping us ride in style during our California road trip!

    GMC Yukon Heddy Woods

    We arrived in Fort Bragg and checked into our hotel, the Noyo Harbor Inn. It's amazing. You should stay here. I'll tell you why in my next post!

    Fort Bragg, California

    Founded in 1855 by the Mendocino Indian Reservation, it became a military outpost in 1857. The reservation and military garrison were abandoned in the 1860s, after which lumber mills started popping up and commercial fishing soon became a large industry in this area.

    Today, this coastal town is a beautiful, quiet gateway along the Pacific. Noyo Harbor continues to serve as a commercial fishing port, and is a scenic respite from the hustle and bustle of busy San Francisco about 3 and a half hours south.

    Pomo Bluffs

    Another picturesque spot to visit along the Mendocino coastline is Pomo Bluffs Park. This 25-acre park has hiking and biking trails that allow you to take in the gorgeous Pacific Ocean. During gray whale migration time, it's also a great place for whale watching.

    It's extremely windy in this part, so be sure to bring a jacket. If you do venture out onto the bluffs, be sure to stay low to the ground, wear sturdy athletic shoes, and don't venture too close to the edge -- the wind is powerful and there aren't guardrails along most of the main viewpoints on the bluffs. For this reason, it's best to keep the kids near the parking area and enjoy the view from there, or leave them at home for this scenic stop.

    But out on the bluffs, it's absolutely breathtaking.

    Pomo Bluffs Fort Bragg, California
    Pomo Bluffs Fort Bragg, California
    Pomo Bluffs Fort Bragg, California
    Pomo Bluffs Fort Bragg, California

    Where to eat

    Our time was limited to one dinner and one breakfast in this charming coastal town.

    pasta at Noyo Harbor Inn Fort Bragg, California.

    We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Noyo Harbor Inn with a table outside facing the picturesque harbor. I loved everything we ate and drank at this restaurant, and the view was simply stunning. I'll be sharing more about our meal in a future post about Noyo Harbor Inn.

    Noyo Harbor Inn & Restaurant
    500 Casa Del Noyo
    Fort Bragg, CA 
    Visit the Noyo Harbor Inn & Restaurant website for more details.

    In the morning, we decided to explore the town for breakfast options and settled on Cafe One - and we're so glad we did! This cafe has all the proper markings of a classic dinner - booths on one side with stool-seating at the counter on the other. However, you might not realize until you start eating that the menu has an emphasis on organic, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free food.

    Their motto is "where good food comes naturally," and they mean it! My benedict was so fresh and flavorful, and the pancakes were light, fluffy, and filling. The service is fantastic here, and we would definitely go back in a heartbeat.

    Cafe One
    753 N Main St, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
    (707) 964-3309

    Things to do

    Pomo Bluffs Fort Bragg, California

    Since our time here was short, we weren't able to do everything on our list. Here's a short list of some sights to see that we drove by and I think you'd enjoy!

    Visit Glass Beach

    Ride aboard the Skunk Train. This is a steam locomotive that weaves through the redwood forests of the Noyo River Canyon.

    Visit the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.

    Have you ever been to Fort Bragg? If so, what was your favorite part? If not, what do you think you would like to check out in this charming town?

    This visit was made possible by Visit Mendocino; transportation provided by General Motors. As always, all opinions and photos are my own.

    « Pennyroyal Farm: A Beautiful, Impressive Creamery, Vineyard, and Farmstead in Northern California
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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Hillary Harper says

        August 05, 2018 at 8:50 pm

        Such a great trip! I'd love to visit someday!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          August 13, 2018 at 6:52 pm

          I hope you get to! :)

      2. Jenni LeBaron says

        August 04, 2018 at 12:54 pm

        What a fun trip! The coastal scenery is gorgeous and that eggs benedict ahs my mouth watering!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          August 13, 2018 at 6:52 pm

          Loved the eggs benedict! It really is a gorgeous place! :)

      3. Denay DeGuzman says

        August 04, 2018 at 1:38 am

        Wow! Your images of Fort Bragg are stunning! I live in Northern California, and it's way too long since my husband and I have taken a road trip to this beautiful location. I love their darling little parades on the 4th of July!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          August 13, 2018 at 6:51 pm

          Thanks so much, Denay! :)

      4. Rhonda Albom says

        August 03, 2018 at 7:25 pm

        We drove from Astoria Oregon to San Francisco, and we missed so much. You have convinced me that we made a poor choice when we skipped Fort Bragg. Maybe next time - it is one of my all-time favourite road trips.

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          August 13, 2018 at 6:51 pm

          Next time for sure! And no worries, there is so much to do in between there. It's hard to squeeze it all in!

      5. Jessica Saldana says

        August 03, 2018 at 2:36 pm

        Oh boy, oh boy. I have been "California dreaming" for quite some time. I do believe that my husband and I will relocate sometime soon but in the meantime, I love looking into othes experiences and living vicariously through them. Thanks for sharing! I just love looking at pics from the West Coast.

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          August 13, 2018 at 6:49 pm

          I'm glad that you enjoyed the post! Thanks, Jessica!

      6. Evi Aki says

        August 03, 2018 at 11:17 am

        Wow, Fort Bragg is so beautiful!I definitely want to visit.

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          August 13, 2018 at 6:48 pm

          You should if you ever get the chance!

      7. Stine Mari says

        August 03, 2018 at 9:00 am

        I love that California is so versatile. Such a gorgeous place (and just a little bit jealous of that case of wine you brought home).

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          August 13, 2018 at 6:47 pm

          It is! There's always so much to do there! I'll share ;) lol

      8. Luci says

        August 02, 2018 at 11:56 pm

        That is such a beautiful place.. I've got to go there one day.

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          August 13, 2018 at 6:46 pm

          You do! It's amazing! :)

      9. Jay says

        August 02, 2018 at 8:06 pm

        Thanks for sharing. I only knew of Fort Bragg because of the military base. Never gave much thought of what the surrounding area looked like. Needless to say, this is not what I ever imagined.

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          August 13, 2018 at 6:46 pm

          I don't think many people do, but it's definitely worth a visit!

      10. Erin @ Platings and Pairngs says

        August 02, 2018 at 6:52 pm

        Fort Bragg looks like such a beautiful location for a weekend getaway! It looks so quaint and peaceful.

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          August 13, 2018 at 6:44 pm

          It really is! I loved every second of it! :)

      11. Waz says

        August 02, 2018 at 6:47 pm

        Your photos are making me miss California so much! Even when I lived in the Bay Area, I never visited Fort Bragg. Hope I'll get to go sometime soon!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          August 13, 2018 at 6:44 pm

          I hope you get to as well!

      12. a says

        August 02, 2018 at 4:35 pm

        What a beautiful place to visit! Some breathtaking views!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          August 13, 2018 at 6:43 pm

          Agreed! It's so beautiful!

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      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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