Things to do in Mendocino
Explore top experiences
Top 10 attractions in Mendocino
CA-1
CA-1 is a highly iconic coastal self-drive route on the West Coast of the United States, stretching over 1,000 km along the Pacific coastline and connecting coastal towns from the San Francisco Bay Area, Monterey, Big Sur, San Simeon, and Morro Bay all the way to Los Angeles. Its highlight is concentrated in the Big Sur section between Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and San Simeon: the road winds along steep cliffs, with the surging Pacific Ocean on one side and mountains and redwood forests on the other. There are many scenic parking areas along the way where you can pull over at any time to enjoy the sea breeze and watch the waves crash against the cliffs. There are several highly recognizable scenes along this section: the Bixby Bridge, which spans the canyon, is an elegantly designed concrete arch bridge, and there are almost always vehicles parked at the bridgehead for photos; McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park drops directly from the cliff top onto the beach in the cove, making it a rare beach waterfall in California; the sand at Pfeiffer Beach has a faint purple hue due to the weathering of manganese garnet in the cliffs; further south in the San Simeon area, groups of northern elephant seals can be seen sunbathing on the beach year-round, and you can also visit Hearst Castle on the mountain nearby. The Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey at the northern end and the town of Carmel-By-The-Sea also have their own unique charm.Monterey County · 61.3 km from downtown
Glass Beach
Glass Beach is a magical beach covered in vibrant, beautiful sea glass. There are also many uniquely shaped rocks here that you can climb to quietly enjoy the sunset.Fort Bragg · 16.2 km from Mendocino
Mendocino Headlands State Park
Mendocino · 600m from downtown
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
The Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, located in California, USA, is rich in plant species, such as azaleas, dahlias, ferns, fuchsias, succulents, etc. In addition to viewing the perennial plants, visitors can also appreciate the rich variety of birds.Mendocino County · 11.3 km from Mendocino
Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park
Mendocino County · 5 km from Mendocino
The Skunk Train
Skunk Train is a vintage steam train located in northern California, USA, famous for its unique running experience and historical background. The nickname of Skunk Train comes from the huge noise and unpleasant smell of burning fuel when the internal combustion engine was used on this railway line in 1925, which gave the train the slightly humorous name "Skunk". This railway was originally part of the California Western Railroad. It connects the logging camps deep in the mountains with the Fort Bragg port on the coastline along the Noyo River Valley, becoming the main artery for the flow of local goods and personnel. The train tries its best to maintain its nostalgic style. Whether it is the whistle and noise of the diesel train or the heating boiler and furnishings inside, it makes passengers feel like they have returned to the golden age of American railways several centuries ago. The train runs very slowly, at about 15 miles per hour, which allows tourists to stay comfortably in the open-air carriages, blowing the mountain breeze and looking at the scenery on both sides. Riding the Skunk Train is not only a simple transportation experience, but also a wonderful journey through history and nature. Please enjoy the scenery and unique atmosphere along the way.Fort Bragg · 15.3 km from Mendocino
Russian Gulch State Park
Mendocino County · 2.8 km from Mendocino
Van Damme State Park
Mendocino County · 4.7 km from Mendocino
Big River Beach at Mendocino Headlands State Park
Mendocino · 884m from downtown
Point Cabrillo
Mendocino County · 5.1 km from Mendocino
Free things to do in Mendocino
What travelers say about Mendocino
YoYo_1I8Q7O5OMay 1, 2026
5.0
Driving along California's Highway 1, my hands were aching from gripping the wheel for so long. The coastal section was winding and twisting, with waves crashing white against the cliffs below. I stopped by the roadside to watch the seals; those lazy guys just rolled on their backs, not moving an inch. The Big Sur Bridge was quite photogenic, but I was too busy watching the road to cross it. We kept stopping and starting, turning into every viewpoint we saw to enjoy the breeze. Just as the gas tank was almost empty, we arrived in town; a burger and a Coke were the perfect comfort food.
CA-1
TodemmyJanuary 15, 2020
5.0
On the way back to Mendocino from riding the skunk train we stopped to see the gardens light show. It was well done and gave the grandkids a little time to run around.
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
