Fort Bragg, CA Road Trips

See also: Fort Bragg at Wikipedia Nestled between the chaotic peaks and valleys formed during ~200 million years of one tectonic plate demanding another give way, and sandwiched between the planet's largest ocean and largest temperate rainforest lies Fort Bragg. 15,000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age, the first indigenous inhabitants, the Hokan, found it and called it home, amazed at the scale of nearly everything they saw. The trees averaged nearly 200 feet in height and 15 feet in diameter, the result of being among the oldest living things anywhere and an extremely mild climate with average annual rainfall over 100 in (2,500 mm). Among them lived elk almost as big as a moose, Olympic black bears, cougars and timber wolves in practically boundless number, fed by the lush, verdant terrain and the fish found teeming in the rivers as much as in the mighty Pacific. Millennia passed like this, so long that the Hokan as well became so abundant that they gave rise to three great Native American nations, the Yuki, Pomo, and Wintun. It was they who saw the first Europeans weigh anchor just off the coast in 1542, representatives of the Spanish Empire. After the Spaniards came the English, then the Russians, and eventually the Americans, but the landscape remained a testament to a grandeur almost always reserved for legends. Valiant efforts were made to exploit each natural resource many times, but the difficulty of transporting goods and people over endless rugged hills and rivers always won out.

1 Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, 18220 N Highway 1 (west side of CA Route 1, ¾ mi south of the CA Route 20 junction), ☏ +1 707-964-4352, fax: +1-707-964-3114, [email protected]. Daily 9AM–5PM (Jun-Aug: F Sa until 7PM). One of only a handful of public gardens with ocean frontage in addition to more 47 acres of manicured gardens, fern-ringed ponds, intimate pocket gardens, coastal pine forests, and wildflower-strewn bluffs at the ocean’s edge. The mild maritime climate of the Mendocino Coast offers ideal growing conditions for rhododendrons, heaths and heathers, dahlias, heritage roses, succulents, conifers, and many other plants. The gardens host an annual Festival of Lights in November. $15. (updated Jul 2019) 2 Glass Beach, West Elm St and Glass Beach Dr (follow signs to the Novo Headlands Park parking lot), ☏ +1 707-964-8898, [email protected]. Everyday sunrise to sunset. A well-known site in Fort Bragg, the former town dump; the beach is covered in old pieces of colored glass that have been worn smooth by the waves. Arriving at or near low tide is recommended for maximum visibility of the sea glass. Free. (updated Jul 2019) 3 Ten Mile Dunes Natural Preserve, Ward Ave, Cleone, [email protected]. (updated Aug 2019) 4 Guest House Museum, 343 North Main St, ☏ +1 707-964-4251. Th-Su 11AM-2PM. Artifacts and pictures telling the history of the forest products industry on the Mendocino Coast. (updated Jul 2019) 5 Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, 45300 Lighthouse Rd., Mendocino (head south on Highway 1 and halfway to Mendocino turn right on Point Cabrillo Dr.

1 California Western Railroad (Skunk Train), 100 West Laurel St, ☏ +1 707-964-6371, toll-free: +1-866-457-5865, fax: +1-707-964-6428. Everyday 9AM-3PM. The California Western Railroad ran between Fort Bragg and Willits before the collapse of Tunnel No. 1 halted end-to-end rail traffic; 2 hour half-trips from the Willits depot to the Northspur junction and back and 1 hour excursions from the Fort Bragg depot to the Glen Blair junction and back still run during the summer. Nicknamed the "Skunk Train" because it ran on gasoline engines (rather than diesel), with the corresponding odor of long-chain hydrocarbons washing over most of the town center when it would open the throttle to build momentum for departure. While the railroad attempts to finance the tunnel's reconstruction, rentals of "railbikes" are offered allowing patrons to pedal (with electric assist) 3.5 miles along the track from the Fort Bragg depot and back in guided groups safely. Adult $50, child (< 12 y/o) $30, infant or dog $12, railbike $79 (1–2 riders). (updated Jul 2019) 2 Jug Handle State Natural Reserve (Ecological Staircase Trail), 15499 Caspar Rd, Caspar (3 miles south of town on west side of Highway 1; park has its own parking lot along highway, just prior to the signed Caspar off-ramp), ☏ +1 707-937-5804, [email protected]. Daily: dawn to dusk. A one-of-a-kind natural feature, the park offers a 5-mile loop trail that travels through three distinct steps of a natural terrace created by tectonic plate activity.

1 Cucina Verona Ristorante and Mercato, 124 East Laurel St (take Main Street to the California Western Railroad (Skunk Train) depot where it intersects with Laurel Street; turn east on Laurel and the restaurant is half a block away on the south side of the street, just past Headlands Coffeehouse and across Pippi Longstockings), ☏ +1 707-964-6844, [email protected]. Daily 11AM-3PM, 5-9PM. Extremely cozy and friendly little trattoria, smack-dab in the literal epicenter of the Downtown Business District. Space is at a premium both inside and out on the heated patio, though, so those looking to decompress with a leisurely meal after an afternoon hike will likely need to look elsewhere. Those that don't mind some tight quarters plus hustle & bustle to experience the tastiest Mediterranean cuisine in town need look no further: all the pizzas are fresh and vibrant, scallops and swordfish headline the magnificent seafood options, and all of the classic pasta fare is just like Momma used to make. Stick to beer and wine, though... the cocktails are underwhelming, as is the bar they're served from. ~$35/dinner entrée. (updated May 2022) 2 KW Saltwater Grill, 542 North Main St (follow Main Street through town until you get to the crossing for the train tracks (Skunk Train), the restaurant is only 25 feet south of them, on the east side of the street), ☏ +1 707-900-1667, [email protected]. Tu–F 5–9PM, Sa Su 5–9:30PM (closed M).

1 Headlands Coffeehouse, 120 East Laurel St, ☏ +1 707-964-1987, [email protected]. M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 7AM-5PM. Coffee, simple meals and live music. $5. (updated Jul 2019) 2 North Coast Brewing Company Taproom, 444 North Main St, ☏ +1 707-964-3400. Daily 11:30AM-9:30PM, kitchen closed 3-4PM. A pillar of the local economy and social scene serving various ales, stouts and IPAs with full lunch and dinner menus featuring pizza and local ingredients in a stone-hearth cuisine. $7. (updated Jul 2019) 3 Overtime Brewing Company, 120 South Main St, ☏ +1 707-962-3040, [email protected]. M-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 2-10PM. Small pub serving microbrews with simple American fare. $7. (updated Jul 2019) 4 The Wharf, 32260 North Harbor Dr, ☏ +1 707-964-4283, fax: +1-707-964-0254, [email protected]. Su-Th 11AM-9:30PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM. Great seafood restaurant featuring the views of the harbor at the mouth of Noyo River and the breakwater leading to the open sea. Recommended. $9. (updated Jul 2019)

1 Best Western Vista Manor Lodge, 1100 North Main St, ☏ +1 707-964-4776, toll-free: +1-800-780-7234, fax: +1 707-964-4779. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. No pets allowed and too far from town to walk anywhere but very safe and extremely professional staff. (updated Jul 2019) 2 Holiday Inn Express, 250 West Highway 20, ☏ +1 707-964-1100, toll-free: +1-888-HOLIDAY (4654329), [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Newest hotel in town and fantastic amenities but sadly no view to speak of and less than 300 yards from the intersection of the only two highways serving the area, in fact less than 30 feet from the shoulder of one of them. (Read: You will hear every police car, fire truck and ambulance with sirens blaring, up close and personal, on their way to every emergency call in a 20-mi radius, to say nothing of the omnipresent bikers that flock to the area to cruise its endless winding roads.) If you're a sufficiently deep sleeper/lifelong city dweller such that the noise won't drive you mad, and you care more about a clean room with fast WiFi and breakfast in the lobby than an ocean view then look no further, you want to be here. (updated Jul 2019) 3 Jackson Demonstration State Forest Camp One (Egg Take), W Highway 20 & Road 350 (6 miles east of town on Highway 20 (Postmile 5.85, specifically) turn north onto Road 350 which quickly turns to dirt and switchbacks down the side of Observatory Hill.

Two state highways, California Routes 1 and 20, are the sole safe conduits for vehicle travel to the area. Route 1 serves as Fort Bragg's Main Street and widens to two lanes in each direction with a center turn lane while it's within the city limits. Route 20 carries the vast majority of locals and visitors in and out of the area and is almost always referred to as the "Willits Road" by locals rather than its official number. Many long-time residents are quick to remind anyone who will listen that in "their day" it was still a winding dirt road unfit for use by anything but pickup trucks. The addition of the paved road surface was done in stages as CalTrans funds became available starting in 1958 and was completed in 1964, shortly thereafter being added to the state highway system as the final leg of the "Ukiah-Tahoe Highway" as Route 20 was then known. Factoring in the other state highways that merge into or intersect one of them, there are a total of five potential routes by which to visit if you're travelling by automobile or motorcycle. All are entirely two-lane state highways devoid of artificial illumination with posted speeds of 55 mph (89 km/h), average quality pavement the entire way, and lead to an eventual junction with U.S. Highway 101. If you're not coming from somewhere with obvious access to U.S. 101 any route planning should begin with determining how you'll first reach that thoroughfare.

Bus #5: The BraggAbout: Bus service within the city limits by Mendocino Transit Authority, ☏ +1 707-462-1422. Runs hourly costing $1.50 per ride, making a loop through the busiest parts of town. Bus #60: The Coaster: Coastal bus service also by MTA, ☏ +1-707-462-1422. Runs three times daily up and down the coast from Fort Bragg to Albion through Mendocino and Little River, costing $3-4 per ride. Dial-A-Ride: Curb to curb/taxi service by MTA, ☏ +1 707-964-1800 direct dispatch. M-F 8AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, no Sunday service. $6/ride within Fort Bragg, price goes up quick if you need to get any meaningful distance out of town. 1 Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 200 E Chestnut St (inside Sport Chrysler Jeep Dodge), ☏ +1 707-964-4300, toll-free: +1-855-266-9289. M-F 8AM-5PM. The only game in town for rental cars. (updated May 2019) 2 Fort Bragg Cyclery, 301 North Main St (inside Union Lumber Company Store), ☏ +1 707-964-3509. M-F 9:30AM-5:30PM, Sa 9:30AM-5PM. Offering rental bikes for those who want to pedal through town or go mountain biking, as well as a full repair shop should your bike need servicing while here. (updated Jul 2019)

Fort Bragg is a relatively safe city. Take normal precautions as you would in any urban area. Dial 9-1-1 to contact a dispatcher for an emergency. 3 Fort Bragg Advocate-News, 690 S Main St, ☏ +1 707-964-5642. M-F 9AM-5PM. (updated Jul 2019) 4 Fort Bragg Police Department, 250 Cypress St, ☏ +1 707-964-0200 (non-emergency dispatch), fax: +1 707-961-2806, [email protected]. M-F 9AM-5PM. (updated Jul 2019) 5 Fort Bragg Towing & Auto Repair, 734 North Main St, ☏ +1 707-964-2009. Daily 9AM-5PM. Only automobile repair open on Sunday. (updated Aug 2019) 6 Fort Bragg Volunteer Fire Department, 141 North Main St, ☏ +1 707-961-2831, [email protected]. (updated Aug 2019)