Mendocino in the winter offers the best of both worlds. Atmospheric storms and misty mornings are balanced by the relatively mild temperatures that make this part of the world so magically lush. Plentiful mushrooms spring up at the bases of ancient trees and sweet Dungeness crab is pulled from icy waters and brought right to the table, to name two of the culinary delights that can be expected in this gorgeous, gloriously uncrowded corner of Northern California’s storied coast. It’s impossible not to feel centered beneath giant redwoods and while taking in sweeping views over the ocean, but that feeling can get to the next level with wellness treatments that are tailored to pamper and renew for a fresh start. Adventure is always on offer in this hiker’s paradise and for a twist, the world-famous Skunk Train has introduced a challenging new route for their pedal-powered Railbikes. Whether being intrepid or hunkering down, everyone will find something to love on a Mendocino winter escape.
To take advantage of those atmospheric storms, the breathtaking Inn at Newport Ranch offers a Winter Storm Watch package. Colder weather creates some of the most memorable skies and vistas on the Mendocino Coast, so it’s easy to be torn between exploring the craggy shoreline or staying warm in luxurious comfort at the Inn, maybe by taking a seat in the walk-in fireplace with a glass of Mendocino wine or curled up with a book in one of the resort’s many cozy nooks. The Winter Storm Watch package includes a 60-minute hot rock massage for two, custom-created hot chocolate with delectable homemade marshmallows, dinner including foraged and winter garden bounty, and Happy Hour with “Dark and Stormy” cocktails and Mendocino wines and bites. The Inn at Newport Ranch is situated on 2,100 pristine private acres and boasts 50-mile panoramic views across the Pacific. Guests have exclusive access to the vast property that encompasses virgin redwood forests, grasslands, and beaches. Many guests opt to tour the acreage on horseback or book a private UTV tour–there is so much to see. Every amenity is on offer, from Ranch cuisine cooked from locally sourced or onsite garden-grown ingredients to sumptuously appointed guest rooms to the onsite Fireside Spa and a hot tub perched atop an old water tower. The Inn’s interior spaces are designed to enhance the natural beauty of the location, and each room is a bespoke masterpiece filled with handcrafted objects and fascinating items from the owner’s world travels. The Winter Storm Watch package is available on select dates through the end of March 2022.
The New Year brings new opportunities, and many will find it easier to embrace them after taking advantage of the picturesque Little River Inn‘s Wellness package. Available starting this month, the package for two is the perfect way to practice self-care and kick-off 2022 in a soul-nourishing manner. It includes a two-night stay in an Ocean View Room, a 90-minute Seaweed Body Scrub and Massage for two with Sue at the Inn, two hours of healing relaxation with Donna Call, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, and admission for two to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens to commune with nature. Family-owned for five generations, the historic inn has something for everyone, and is just steps from easy-to-hike Van Damme State Park and sheltered Van Damme State Beach. There is an Audubon-certified golf course where guests might encounter an elusive deer, regulation tennis courts, and an award-winning chef-driven restaurant with options for all that features carefully crafted and hearty California cuisine. The same menu can be enjoyed in-room, or at the local’s favorite–Ole’s Whale Watch Bar–famous for its views, where the tumultuous Pacific might show off the telltale spout of a migrating whale. The Inn has 65 rooms–from the modestly priced to the downright luxurious–all with views of the winter’s tempest-tossed ocean. The Wellness Package is available January 1, 2022 – January 31, 2022. The package, which includes lodging, begins at $1,246 for two (exclusive of tax and gratuity).
