The Mendocino, California Coast area

Dear Friend,

Mendocino, California is a tiny town for relaxing. It is just a few hours north of San Francisco, depending on what highways you take, the time of the year(July of course has much more traffic than say, April) and the day of the week. We were on a road trip up Highway 1 from San Francisco when we passed a fascinating looking brown, Craftsman style wooden building identified as The Harbor Inn that seemed very close to the shore. I couldn't see the ocean from where I was. I asked my husband to back up – he had already hit the brakes – so that I could get a better look. Then we decided to park and go in. It was mid morning – not the time of day when we are usually looking for a place to stay – but we wanted to see it for future reference.

What we found, just north of Elk, California and about a dozen miles or so south of Mendocino, was one of the prettiest views of the ocean from high up on a cliff I’ve ever seen. While I have not stayed at this one, I am looking forward to that event. The pictures in this letter are ones I took when we were there exploring. They were very nice to let us look. I will post their website at the bottom of this page so that you can see their advertising. I will tell you that in addition to the view being spectacular, the garden in the backyard was lovely, there is a steep and narrow path down the side of the cliff to a small beach, and the dining room is in a glassed-in room on the ocean side of the main house with a view of the ocean. According to their ad, their wine cellar is a celebrated one and the room rates include a four course dinner and a full breakfast for two people. Hope you enjoy these pictures.

There are many other B & B's or Inn's in the area and they are probably lovely too. Some look like they have larger rooms or even suites, but the view at this one is just gorgeous and the ambiance is charming. This one is small, has no tv's or phones in the rooms, no cell phone service according to their website. It's just a quiet place to read or talk or walk, Maybe a quiet place to write. There are hiking trails nearby and fishing and kayaking very close too. Mendocino for lunch would make a lovely diversion from this quiet place. I think they have space between the house and the four cottages for about 10 people maximum. I have read that the rooms got a redo in about 2004.

Take care,

MaggieGladYouCame

The following website is the Inn's website. Don't for get to click on activities to see what is going on in the area.

http://www.theharborhouseinn.com/index2.html