Archive for the ‘ecotourism’ Category

Mendocino Ocean and Seafood Fair
Thursday, October 4th, 2018 by nancy

This Saturday is the first annual Mendocino Ocean and Seafood Fair in Fort Bragg’s South Noyo Headlands Park. If you enjoyed the World Championship Abalone Cook-off sponsored by Mendocino Area Parks Association (MAPA), you won’t want to miss this!

MAPA has invited the participation of other local organizations who are working to preserve and protect our ocean and natural resources. We hope you will join us to learn more about our coastal economy and ways these organizations are preserving the health of our planet for future generations. Tickets will be available at the event, or in advance at Brown Paper Tickets. For more information call 707-937-4700.

When: Saturday, October 6th, 11am to 4pm
Where: South Noyo Headlands Park, Fort Bragg, CA

Article contributed by MAPA.

Mendocino Outdoors is the premier guide to outdoor activities on the Mendocino CoastMendocino Outdoors, the premier guidebook for outdoor fun and adventure on the Mendocino Coast, has been updated in 2017 as an ebook for the 5th Edition. You can buy a copy at Smashwords.com, the Apple iBooks Bookstore, Amazon’s Kindle Books, and Barnes & Noble's online store.

Lens Tour at Point Cabrillo Light Station
Thursday, September 20th, 2018 by nancy

Saturday is your last opportunity this season to tour the restored 3rd order Fresnel lens. Once you ascend the stairs and emerge onto the platform, it’s hard to remember that you’re on the lens tour. The view from this vantage point is like none other. Once you catch your breath, turn around and fix your gaze on the magnificent lantern that, even today, acts as a guiding light for ships cruising the California coast. Learn more about the history of the station and the people who lived here on the Point Cabrillo website.

This is a family-friendly activity, but children must be at least 42 inches tall to go on the tour. There is a ½ mile walk to the lighthouse from the parking area.

Date: Saturday, September 22

Time: 10 am – 4 pm

Fee:  $5 pp

Mendocino Outdoors is the premier guide to outdoor activities on the Mendocino CoastMendocino Outdoors, the premier guidebook for outdoor fun and adventure on the Mendocino Coast, has been updated in 2017 as an ebook for the 5th Edition. You can buy a copy at Smashwords.com, the Apple iBooks Bookstore, Amazon’s Kindle Books, and Barnes & Noble's online store.

Whale Festivals in March 2012
Monday, February 20th, 2012 by dff

30th Annual Mendocino Coast Whale FestivalsThe Mendocino Coast Whale Festivals are coming up in March for the 30th straight year. The Mendocino festival is March 3-4, the Little River festival is March 10-11, and the Fort Bragg festival is March 17-18. Here are some highlights from the festivals:

Mendocino • March 3-4

  • Wine-Tasting throughout Mendocino Village.
  • KOZT Presents “An Evening of Wood and Steel”: former members of The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, Van Morrison Band, Jesse Colin Young Band, Sons Of Champlin, Moby Grape and more…Steven Bates, Roger Fritz, David Hayes, Gene Parson and James Preston. Guitars, upright bass, mandolin, pedal steel guitar and more plus Mendocino County wine bar benefiting Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce programs.
  • Chowder Tasting at Crown Hall
  • Marine Life Exhibit at Mendocino Art Center
  • Whalewatching Boat Tours
  • Whalewatching walks at Point Cabrillo Lighthouse and Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

Little River • March 10-11

  • Taste of Little River: local chefs paired with Mendocino County wines
  • Whalewatching Boat Tours
  • Whalewatching walks at Point Cabrillo Lighthouse and Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

Fort Bragg • March 17-18

  • Whale Run and Walk
  • Fort Bragg Kiddie Parade
  • Chowder Tasting
  • Wine Tasting and Microbrew Beer Tasting
  • Whalewatching Boat Tours
  • Whalewatching walks at Point Cabrillo Lighthouse and Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

Mendocino Outdoors is the premier guide to outdoor activities on the Mendocino CoastMendocino Outdoors, the premier guidebook for outdoor fun and adventure on the Mendocino Coast, has been updated in 2017 as an ebook for the 5th Edition. You can buy a copy at Smashwords.com, the Apple iBooks Bookstore, Amazon’s Kindle Books, and Barnes & Noble's online store.

Whales and First Day Hikes Start January 1
Saturday, December 24th, 2011 by dff

Migrating California Gray whales, numbering between 18,000–23,000 individuals, pass by the Mendocino coast twice each year. Here are several ways you can check out the whales and other wildlife along the Mendocino Coast, thanks to State Parks.

Whale Tail Seen From Shore!FIRST DAY WALKS: California State Parks announces guided interpretive hikes at 4 state parks along the Mendocino Coast on January 1, 2012. These hikes are part of a nationwide effort of special hikes on New Years Day in state parks in all 50 states. This will promote state parks and participation in healthy activities. All of these hikes will take place on California’s North Coast in wintertime. Be prepared for cool temperatures.

WALK #1: Westport-Union Landing State Beach. Meet the docent at 1:00 p.m. at the park headquarters building at park main entrance, just west of Hwy 1. The park is located about 19 miles north of Fort Bragg, California on Hwy 1. This will be a 1 mile long moderate hike. This hike is suggested for children 8 years and older, and adults. Learn fun facts about the once bustling town of Westport from local resident Steve Brigham.

WALK #2: MacKerricher State Park. Meet the docent at 10:00 a.m. at the Laguna Point parking lot, from Mill Creek Road, three miles north of Fort Bragg, California, west of Hwy 1. This will be an easy three-quarter-mile walk along a boardwalk. This short walk will be filled with fun facts about MacKerricher State Park as you walk to an overlook above the ocean. Park Naturalist Teresa Hurray will lead this walk. The walk is suggested for children 12 years and older, and adults.
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Mendocino Outdoors is the premier guide to outdoor activities on the Mendocino CoastMendocino Outdoors, the premier guidebook for outdoor fun and adventure on the Mendocino Coast, has been updated in 2017 as an ebook for the 5th Edition. You can buy a copy at Smashwords.com, the Apple iBooks Bookstore, Amazon’s Kindle Books, and Barnes & Noble's online store.

Farmer’s Markets open for 2011
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 by dff

Mendocino Farmer's Market is running again!

Mendocino Farmer's Market is running again!

Once again, the farmer’s markets are open at towns all along the Mendocino Coast (and inland, too). I’ve been dropping by the markets in Mendocino and Fort Bragg for years, and there’s really a wide variety of produce available. You can also find cut flowers for sale, and local honey and berries, and who knows what else? The market in Mendocino takes place on Howard Street, in the block just north of Main Street, from noon until 2:00 every Friday through October 28. The Fort Bragg market is on Wednesday afternoons from 3-6 pm in the 400 block of Franklin St, in front of City Hall. The Gualala market is on Saturdays from 9:30-12:30pm at the Gualala Community Center. The Mendocino County Farmer’s Market Association has a Web site with pointers to all of the locations in the county, and more. They’re still working on their site, evidently, but the basic info is there.

Mendocino Outdoors is the premier guide to outdoor activities on the Mendocino CoastMendocino Outdoors, the premier guidebook for outdoor fun and adventure on the Mendocino Coast, has been updated in 2017 as an ebook for the 5th Edition. You can buy a copy at Smashwords.com, the Apple iBooks Bookstore, Amazon’s Kindle Books, and Barnes & Noble's online store.

Sunset Magazine Features Glendeven Inn
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 by nancy

Mama Llama kisses her babyMama Llama cuddles with her babyWe were delighted to open our February 2010 Sunset Magazine and discover one of our favorite coastal retreats – Glendeven Inn – was featured.  Named as one of the top 20 destinations of the west, Glendeven Inn offers a mix of elegance and comfort that keep their guests returning year after year.  Their meadow is dotted with llamas that they allow you to visit – very friendly indeed! Breakfast is made with eggs from their chickens and guests are encouraged to participate in feeding time. Both locals and visitors have discovered their cozy Wine Bar(n) or feasted on one of their elegant dinners served in their beautifully restored, historic farmhouse.

Mendocino Outdoors is the premier guide to outdoor activities on the Mendocino CoastMendocino Outdoors, the premier guidebook for outdoor fun and adventure on the Mendocino Coast, has been updated in 2017 as an ebook for the 5th Edition. You can buy a copy at Smashwords.com, the Apple iBooks Bookstore, Amazon’s Kindle Books, and Barnes & Noble's online store.

State Parks Offers Summer Programs
Friday, June 19th, 2009 by nancy

Docent Led Hikes at Jug Handle State Reserve
Join California State Parks for guided Ecological Staircase hikes every other Thursday this summer.  Hikes are scheduled for June 18, July 2, July 16, July 30, August 13 and August 27.  All hikes start at 10:00 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m.  Meet at the Jug Handle State Natural Reserve parking lot on the west side of Highway 1, about 3 miles south of Fort Bragg.

Summer Programs at MacKerricher State Park
California State Parks announces free, guided interpretive programs at MacKerricher State Park.  These programs will be presented every week through September 6, 2009. All programs are led by park staff or volunteers.

Mendocino Outdoors is the premier guide to outdoor activities on the Mendocino CoastMendocino Outdoors, the premier guidebook for outdoor fun and adventure on the Mendocino Coast, has been updated in 2017 as an ebook for the 5th Edition. You can buy a copy at Smashwords.com, the Apple iBooks Bookstore, Amazon’s Kindle Books, and Barnes & Noble's online store.

Whale Migration in Full Swing for 2009
Monday, January 12th, 2009 by dff

Whale Spouting off Mendocino HeadlandsPelican comes in for a landing.
We went out yesterday to the Headlands to check out the whales, and we ended up seeing a bunch — we saw at least 6 pods in 30 minutes. Since the weather has been so beautiful lately — not to mention that there are over 20,000 whales migrating — they are easy to see as they steam past on the way to Baja. You can see them anywhere from shore right now, and the whalewatching boats out of Noyo can get you quite close. The Mendocino Headlands make a great location, as well as Point Cabrillo Light Station. The southern leg of the migration will continue for a few more weeks, and then we’ll start seeing the returning whales by March (they come back by for the Whale Festival, conveniently enough).

I’ve also been seeing a lot of brown pelicans lately. The picture is of a juvenile, according to a bird expert friend, since the bill is still orange, and his colors aren’t developed yet. I love watching them fly in a column just above the water!

Mendocino Outdoors is the premier guide to outdoor activities on the Mendocino CoastMendocino Outdoors, the premier guidebook for outdoor fun and adventure on the Mendocino Coast, has been updated in 2017 as an ebook for the 5th Edition. You can buy a copy at Smashwords.com, the Apple iBooks Bookstore, Amazon’s Kindle Books, and Barnes & Noble's online store.

Dedication of Laguna Point Interpretive Panels
Thursday, December 18th, 2008 by nancy

The public is invited to attend a dedication ceremony on December 20 at 10 am as California State Parks proudly announces the installation of 11 new interpretive panels along the boardwalk at Laguna Point, part of MacKerricher State Park.The panels are designed to inspire and inform visitors about the natural and cultural history of Laguna Point and surrounding areas.  These dynamic panels describe and depict a variety of topics including Native American traditions, logging history, harbor seals, gray whales and more.  Also included along the boardwalk is an important display on how to stay safe on the shore. These are the newest and arguably the best interpretive panels that State Parks has anywhere on the Mendocino Coast, and we are very excited to share them with locals and visitors alike!  Entrance to the park is free, so plan on bringing your families to enjoy a stroll and stop by Laguna Point at 10:00 am for the ceremony. MacKerricher State Park, 3 miles north of Fort Bragg, California, on Highway 1. To reach the dedication ceremony location, enter at the park’s main entrance, where you see the large wooden sign, and turn left at the second stop sign. Follow the park road past Lake Cleone and under the bridge to the Laguna Point Parking lot near the ocean. For more information on these exciting new panels or the dedication ceremony, please contact Park Interpreter Fred Andrews at (707) 961-0471.

Mendocino Outdoors is the premier guide to outdoor activities on the Mendocino CoastMendocino Outdoors, the premier guidebook for outdoor fun and adventure on the Mendocino Coast, has been updated in 2017 as an ebook for the 5th Edition. You can buy a copy at Smashwords.com, the Apple iBooks Bookstore, Amazon’s Kindle Books, and Barnes & Noble's online store.

Point Cabrillo Gets (Keeps) Old Name
Friday, May 16th, 2008 by dff

The California State Park and Recreation Commission today voted to approve “Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park” as the park’s new official name. The vote was unanimous after the commission visited the light station and heard impassioned pleas from a wide range of supporters to keep “Light Station” in the name despite a park staff recommendation to leave it out. Mendocino County Supervisor Kendall Smith appeared in support as did representatives for Congressman Mike Thompson and State Senator Wes Chesbro. Point Cabrillo Light Station draws nearly 100,000 visitors a year, many of whom stay and eat in Fort Bragg.

Mendocino Outdoors is the premier guide to outdoor activities on the Mendocino CoastMendocino Outdoors, the premier guidebook for outdoor fun and adventure on the Mendocino Coast, has been updated in 2017 as an ebook for the 5th Edition. You can buy a copy at Smashwords.com, the Apple iBooks Bookstore, Amazon’s Kindle Books, and Barnes & Noble's online store.

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