Top Reasons to Stay at the Cottages at Little River Cove

• Nine private cottages sit on a grassy bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. You’ll have serene views of the water from many units as well as from the flagstone patio and gardens.
• Each cottage is individually decorated with comfortable, contemporary furnishings. The Albion cottage feels a bit like a log cabin with its wooden walls and gas fireplace in the living room. A vaulted doorway leads to the bedroom, where you’ll find a designer queen bed. There’s a large sun deck outside.
• A daily breakfast credit for two is valid at Circa 62 Restaurant, located inside The Inn at Schoolhouse Creek about a half-mile away.
• The cottages are equipped with gourmet kitchens that have full-size stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, and all the utensils you’ll need. They’re also stocked with complimentary locally roasted coffee and organic teas.
• Many Mendocino coast attractions are nearby, including kayaking in the Van Damme sea caves and wine-tasting tours. Just ask the innkeepers for recommendations—they know the area well and are happy to help guests make reservations.

Mendocino Coast, California: Small Towns Along Scenic Oceanfront and Redwood Forests

Located about 3 hours north of San Francisco, Northern California’s Mendocino Coast is a region filled with tiny towns, art colonies, and varied terrain. Within a few minutes of one another are sunlit valleys, fertile vineyards, rocky headlands blanketed by fog, and serene forests of old-growth redwoods. The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens showcase the area’s geographical diversity through native rhododendrons, prickly succulents, and colorful blooms stretching to the ocean.

Partially because of its scenic land- and seascapes, the coast is popular with painters, who gather in artists' collectives such as the Mendocino Art Center. To see the land that inspires local artwork, head to Russian Gulch, Mendocino Headlands, or any of the region’s coastal state parks. At Mendocino Headlands State Park, waves crash into carving arches, grottos, and stony bluffs, while MacKerricher State Park north of Fort Bragg contains dramatic sand dunes.

Although normally quiet, the region comes alive during a series of whale festivals every March and April, when California gray whales pass by the coast as they migrate from Mexico to Alaska. You'll find one of the best vantage points for whale watching at Point Cabrillo Light Station, a lonely lighthouse first lit in 1909.

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