Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Van Damme State Park
Three miles south of Mendocino, this gorgeous 1831-acre
park
( 707-937-5804;
www.parks.ca.gov
; per car $8)
draws divers, beachcombers and kayakers to its easy-access
beach. It's also known for its
pygmy forest
, where the acidic soil and an impenetrable lay-
er of hardpan just below the surface create a bonsai forest with decades-old trees growing
only several feet high. A wheelchair-accessible boardwalk provides access to the forest. To
get here, turn east off Hwy 1 onto Little River Airport Rd, a half-mile south of Van
Damme State Park, and drive for 3 miles. Alternatively, hike or bike up from the camp-
ground on the 3.5-mile
Fern Canyon Scenic Trail
, which crosses back and forth over
Little River.
The
visitor center
( 707-937-4016; 10am-3pm Fri-Sun)
has nature exhibits, videos and
programs; a half-hour
Marsh Loop Trail
starts nearby.
)
are excellent for family car camping. They both have hot showers: one is just off Hwy
1, the other is in a highland meadow, which has lots of space for kids to run around. Nine
environmental campsites
(tent sites $25) lie just a 1ΒΌ-mile hike up Fern Canyon; there's
untreated creek water.
For sea-cave kayaking tours ($60), contact
Kayak Mendocino
(
707-937-0700;
Mendocino
Leading out to a gorgeous headland, Mendocino is the North Coast's salt-washed perfect
village, with B&Bs surrounded by rose gardens, white-picket fences and New Eng-
land-style redwood water towers. Bay Area weekenders walk along the headland among
berry bramble and wildflowers, where cypress trees stand over dizzying cliffs. Nature's
power is evident everywhere, from driftwood-littered fields and cave tunnels to the raging
surf. The town itself is full of cute shops - no chains - and has earned the nickname
'Spendocino,' for its upscale goods. In summer, fragrant bursts of lavender and jasmine
permeate the foggy wind, tempered by salt air from the churning surf, which is never out
of earshot.
