Private Romantic Escape To The Mendocino Coast
One of the many perks of living in (or visiting) California is proximity to a plethora of beautiful remote romantic get-away spots. Just jump on Highway 1, head in either direction (north or south) and you will be sure to find some hidden nook or cranny that is home to a sleepy little town full of spectacular views, cozy B&B's and fresh local seafood.
I'm sure most of you can relate to this...
Recently my husband and I were falling victim to the inevitable stress of day to day life and were in need of an emergency escape. We knew if we didn't get away soon, something was gonna' give. After a little Google searching I found a B&B that looked as if it would be the right place to reconnect with each other and recharge: The Wharf Master's Inn in the tiny town of Point Arena on the Mendocino Coast. Immediately I was drawn to the images of rooms with ocean views on the web site. I made the reservations on Wednesday for the following Saturday through Monday over the phone with no problem.
The Mendocino Coast, including the town of Mendocino, is comprised of numerous serene coastal towns with populations well under 1000 people each. To those who have visited, it quickly becomes a favorite spot. There is no shortage of places to eat, wineries to visit, galleries featuring works by local artists, beautiful beaches, parks, and places to kayak and fish. Friends of ours gave us wonderful advice on places to visit and sights to see. We didn't make it to all their suggestions this time, but had a magical time all the same and thankfully we were able to re-connect as a couple and R-E-L-A-X.
Living in Santa Rosa/Wine Country, I admit that we've become a bit snobby about scenery, entertainment, beauty and accommodations...not to mention good food and wine. So, the bar is set high for any place we visit. The first thing that signaled to us that this was going to be a special trip was the drive up Highway 1. HWY 1 runs the length of California hugging the coast and all its hairpin turns, rocky cliffs, mountains and rolling pastures. For those who experience motion sickness, I suggest keeping your Dramamine or homeopathic option, Cocculus Indicus, handy. I am one of those people, but we made frequent stops and frequent stops means frequent pictures, so in spite of my discomfort the drive was well worth it. If you absolutely can not take driving on HWY 1 you can also travel an inland route via the 101. It's not as pretty, but will get you there in less time with less discomfort.
Pictures of the drive:
Upon arriving at the Inn we were taken aback by the serenity and beauty of the spot. It emerged before us after turning down a small (Iverson Road) road off of HWY 1 at the entrance of the town of Point Arena. We passed a few homes, abandoned out buildings and the old 
historic Coast Guard House, ending at Arena Cove Beach and Pier. Just above the Pier, up a steep driveway, we found the Inn. The grounds were well landscaped and littered with giant driftwood sculptures and boating paraphernalia. We stayed in an "Ocean Splendor" room on the top floor. The room was very clean and cozy, though it was in need of some cosmetic repair and updating. The view off of the balcony was amazing. To the right you were looking at the ocean and to the left you were looking through giant cypress trees down the little road that brought us to our destination. We enjoyed a fire in the fireplace every night with logs provided by the Inn free of charge as well as the 2 person jacuzzi. We were also pleased to be able to borrow a deck of cards from the front desk. I was a bit disappointed that the room did not have a mini-fridge; like so many places do these days for dinner left-overs and bottled water. Also, the shower knob really needed to be replaced. It was loose and hard to adjust meaning that the water was always either too hot or too cold. I can not stress enough however, that the Inn was very clean and the bed was comfy.
Pictures of the Inn and the grounds:
The Cove had a few eateries and shops all looking out onto the Pier and/or beach. We ate at the Arena Cove Bar & Grill the first night and I am happy to report it was the best seafood platter I have ever had. The prawns, scallops and fish were fresh and locally caught. The bar was also very interesting having been made in Bavaria. The service was friendly and the prices were fair.
Pictures from Arena Cove Bar & Grill:
The beach is not a sandy-smooth-lay-out-in-the-sun kind of beach. It is rocky with lots of driftwood, chunks of iridescent abalone shells, sea urchins and hermit crabs. There are plenty of places to sit and soak in the relaxing sounds of the waves if it's not your cup of tea to comb the beach for bits of pretty shells and rocks with fossilized remains.
Pictures of the Arena Cove Beach:
The pier isn't that long, but has plenty of space to fish or just sit and watch for whales and passing boats. Whale watching is a big attraction this time of year on the Mendocino Coast, so be sure to bing your binoculars!
Pictures of the Arena Cove Pier:
After dinner we drove out to the main part of Point Arena to pick up a few forgotten supplies. The locals we encountered were very friendly and jovial. The town in general is quiet and close knit.
Pictures of downtown Point Arena:
We hit the hay around 10 PM the first night and woke up bright and early Sunday morning ready for adventure. The Wharf Master's Inn provides a continental breakfast including a selection of muffins, danish and bagels. However, we weren't that into it and wanted something hot. We first stopped in Carlini's in downtown Point Arena, but it was packed and the wait was longer than we wanted, so we drove south on HWY 1 to the town of Anchor Bay, population under 200. There we ate at the Redwood Grill where they specialize in good service and grits.
Pictures of Anchor Bay:
After breakfast, which was good...not spectacular...but good, we headed back north on HWY 1 about 8 miles to Schooner Gulch. Schooner Gulch is right next to Bowling Ball State Beach, which I also wanted to see, but that will have to wait for our next visit. After a short and easy hike we emerged on Schooner Gulch Beach. The sun was blazing in the bright blue March sky illuminating the trees and water. It was an amazing sight for sure. We pitched our little beach tent, put out our blanket and setled in for a few good hours of beach time with a good book. With only a little bit of human debris (bottle caps and such) on the beach, it was a relatively pristine place. Back up the trail a bit was even a port-o-jonh. I'm not a big fan of any kind of public restroom, especially not of port-o-johns...but this one wasn't too bad. There was nothing gross smeared on the seat. It was very spacious and well stocked with seat covers and toilet paper. On the beach there was plenty of room for kite flying and castle building. The Pacific Ocean is very very very cold here, and I'd never get in, but some people do (usually in wet suits). That day was no exception, as one of the other families visiting got in to jump the waves.
Pictures from Schooner Gulch Beach:
Around 3PM we decided it was time for a late lunch and drove about 10 miles south down HWY 1 to the town of Gualala where we ate at Oceansong. I had home-made New England-style clam chowder (excellent!), a green salad and some very fresh coconut prawns. My meal was tasty. My hubby had the fish and chips and while it was decent it could not compare to the seafood platter at Arena Cove. The view however was stunning and our service was very friendly.
Pictures from Oceansong:
After lunch we headed back to the Inn to shower and have some private time. Later in the evening we decided to grab a pizza from Cosmic Pizza at Arena Cove. We ordered the "Greek Pizza" and brought it back to our room to be eaten in front of the fire over a game of cards. Yummy pizza and friendly service...yet again...made for another pleasant evening.
The next morning we woke around 7AM for an early trek home to Santa Rosa. Again, we stopped in Gualala to eat, this time breakfast, at Meza Grill, aka the Sandpiper. The dining room looked out over the ocean and each table along the windows had binoculars to watch for whales. I saw at least 5 spouts out on the horizon. Both my hubby and I had the pancakes, mine with corn beef hash and his with bacon, a nice sweet and salty meal before heading home.
The trip met our expectations and then some leaving us looking forward to when we next will return.
