Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In the meantime, Fort Bragg's downtown continues to develop as a wonderfully unpre-
tentious alternative to Mendocino, even if the southern end of town is hideous. Unlike the
entire
franchise-free 180-mile stretch of Coastal Hwy 1 between here and the Golden
Gate, in Fort Bragg you can get a Big Mac, grande latte or any of a number of chain store
products whose buildings blight the landscape. Don't fret. In downtown you'll find better
hamburgers and coffee, old-school architecture and residents eager to show off their little
town.
Twisting Hwy 20 provides the main access to Fort Bragg from the east, and most facilit-
ies are near Main St, a 2-mile stretch of Hwy 1. Franklin St runs parallel, one block east.
Sights & Activities
Fort Bragg has the same banner North Coast activities as Mendocino - beach combing,
surfing, hiking - but basing yourself here is much cheaper and arguably less quaint and
pretentious. The wharf lies at Noyo Harbor - the mouth of the Noyo River - south of
downtown where you can find
whale-watching cruises
and
deep-sea fishing trips
.
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
GARDENS
( 707-964-4352;
www.gardenbythesea.org
; 18220 N Hwy 1; adult/child/senior $14/5/10;
9am-5pm Mar-Oct, to 4pm Nov-Feb)
This gem of Northern California displays native flora, rhododendrons and heritage roses.
The succulent display alone is amazing and the organic garden is harvested by volunteers
to feed area residents in need. The serpentine paths wander along 47 seafront acres south
of town. Primary trails are wheelchair-accessible.
Glass Beach
BEACH
Named for (what's left of) the sea-polished glass in the sand, remnants of its days as a city
dump, this beach is now part of
MacKerricher State Park
where visitors comb the sand for
multicolored glass. Take the headlands trail from Elm St, off Main St, but leave the glass;
as a part of the park system, visitors are not supposed to pocket souvenirs.
Northcoast Artists Gallery
GALLERY
(
www.northcoastartists.org
; 362 N Main St;
10am-6pm)
