When touring to Fort Bragg it’s possible you’ll begin to discover that city has a personality all its personal.
After the glitz and excessive costs of Mendocino, it turns into clear that Fort Bragg has its personal taste, with some of the well-known seashores in California and free state parks, wild shoreline, and a working harbor.
Having visited twice, I discover new issues to like about it every time. These are the very best issues to do in Fort Bragg, California:
The place to Keep
Mendocino county is all about small B&Bs and inns. There are a number of business chains in Fort Bragg, however do your self a favor and keep someplace quaint with an exquisite view.
My buddies and I stayed on the Noyo Harbor Inn, which provides you attractive views of the bridge, a HUGE bathtub, a chance to listen to seals and sea lions within the water, and easy accessibility to the very best meal we had of the entire journey at their restaurant – I’m not exaggerating.
You’ll be able to e book the Noyo Harbor Inn right here, and make sure to make a reservation on the restaurant while you do!
Glass Seashore
Simply Fort Bragg’s most well-known function, the glass seashore truly was once a dump.
Over time, the waves eroded the glass that had been dumped on the seashore, leading to a complete seashore with little items of sea glass as its sand.
I used to be disillusioned once I visited in 2019, discovering that there was little to no sea glass left. Individuals had collected it to take it dwelling, which had brought about it to lose a lot of its attract.
However having simply visited in 2021, for no matter motive, extra glass should have washed up and at golden hour or sundown, specifically, it actually glows.
However even should you don’t get fortunate like we did and see the glass, you may have a very good likelihood of seeing seals, and you’ll have an exquisite sundown overlooking the rocks as effectively. So principally, you may’t lose!
You’ll be able to see extra of what it appeared like (and every little thing else on this put up) within the video beneath:
Parking is free, so take pleasure in!
Skunk Practice and Rail Bikes
What on this planet is a skunk practice? And what on this planet is a rail bike?
The skunk practice was once the connector for the varied cities alongside the Mendocino Coast. It bought its identify for the horrible scent that the combination of fuels used to emit again within the day.
These days you may e book a ticket to trip the skunk practice into the Redwoods — don’t fear, it doesn’t scent like a skunk anymore — or you may go for the rail bikes, which is what we did.
The bikes additionally go alongside an outdated railroad monitor, with two seats for every bike. You’ll have a hand brake and entry to an electrical bicycle to assist energy the bike. The trip is simply about 20 minutes of peddling, and then you definitely’ll come to a Redwood forest you can hike by means of. It’s a very simple hike at solely a mile, however provides you a glimpse of the tallest dwelling organisms on earth.
Each experiences take about 2 to 2 1/2 hours and are each below $50! You’ll be able to e book the bike right here and the practice right here.
Jug Deal with State Park
What I simply cherished about many of the state parks in Fort Bragg is that they had been free, which isn’t a lot the case for those nearer to Mendocino.
We went there on the lookout for tide swimming pools, however we bought was an exquisite stroll alongside bluffs over the ocean, and naturally, the pygmy forest!
What’s a pygmy forest? Have a look:
It’s a bizarre, superb stroll by means of gnarled cypress and pine bushes which can be twisted in unusual and wonderful methods. It’s a small space that’s so enjoyable to climb in and discover. From the parking zone, the path will naturally take you that path to the precise in your approach all the way down to the seashore.
As for the tide swimming pools, they had been simply all proper, however the entire totally different vegetation rising on the rocks down there have been actually cool to take a look at, together with the peaceable ambiance.
10-Mile Seashore Dunes
10 mile seashore, which is definitely not a complete 10 miles lengthy, has a southern, center, and prime entry level the place you may go and discover the sand dunes.
Although you may not be impressed if in case you have checked out the Kelso dunes in Mojave, the Mesquite Flat dunes in Loss of life Valley, or dunes overseas, it nonetheless is cool to see one thing totally different in Fort Bragg.
These are straightforward to entry, was only a quick stroll from any of the parking locations you may choose. Entry can be free!
MacKerricher State Park
You could be noticing a state park theme right here, as there are many all of them alongside the coast in Fort Bragg, however each has one thing distinctive to find and every is price exploring!
That brings me to MacKerricher State Park, Which has free day entry and paid in a single day tenting choices.
I cherished strolling alongside the seashore there, wanting on the clam and abalone shells, and saying (an appropriately distanced) hi there to the seals who had been out on the rocks.
That is additionally an excellent place to take a bicycle, with many paved paths you can take both on foot or bike all alongside the shoreline.
Noyo Headlands State Park
A former Native American reservation that operated extra like a slave colony, the Noyo Headlands have a darkish historical past, however the views are undeniably lovely.
That is one other great place to take a bicycle, as there are paved, vast bike paths.
Or you may merely stroll and benefit from the good positioning for sundown, or in my case, an early morning stroll. The views simply carry on serving time and again! There are additionally a number of interpretive indicators that assist inform the historical past.
Noyo Harbor
In search of some contemporary and inexpensive fish and chips in an in any other case very costly space for eating places?
The Noyo harbor has a number of spots the place you will get some clam chowder or different low-cost seafood. This additionally appears like a really native space, the place you’re hanging out with the individuals who reside there and get an opportunity to get a take a look at the fishing ships as they arrive in and exit as effectively. You’re positive to see some seals within the water, too!
Another honorable mentions are the Sea glass museum, which I admit I’ve by no means checked out, nor do I significantly plan to. However in case you are tremendous into the ocean glass, you may take pleasure in figuring out that it exists!
There’s additionally a lot to see within the surrounding areas, together with the city of Mendocino and the state parks close to there. You’ll be able to examine my favourite issues to do in Mendocino right here.
Excited about wine and extra Redwoods? You can even drive down Freeway 128 to see extra. If you happen to’re coming from the Bay Space, you’ll in all probability take this highway in to the coast.
Whether or not you like a extra outdoorsy expertise or simply need to sit on the seashore and benefit from the sunsets, I believe you’ll discover Fort Bragg a fuss-free, salt-of-the-earth kind of place price exploring.
*Some hyperlinks on this put up are affiliate hyperlinks, which assist this website at no additional price to you! The stick with Noyo Harbor Inn was additionally hosted, nevertheless all ideas on their scrumptious meals and superior bathtub are my very own!
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