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Homegrown Goodness: Mendocino packs a tasty punch, with many of its restaurants showcasing locally grown ingredients. For a sit-down lunch, head for the heated outdoor patio at the Mendocino Cafe; their burly Thai burritos go especially well with the village and ocean views. For a picnic alternative, grab a brick oven baguette in town at the Brickery (a take-out located in the back garden of the gourmet favorite, Café Beaujolais), then pick up some wine and cheese at Mendocino Market and travel 5 miles up the road to Jug Handle Beach; this lesser-known crescent cove (pictured) is a tranquil place to spread a blanket and watch the waves. For dinner, the Moosse Café serves savory North Coast cuisine in an upscale-casual atmosphere. When the weather is warm, opt for a seat on the outdoor patio with views of the mouth of the Big River. End the night with drinks in the Lobby Bar at the Mendocino Hotel—the oldest hotel in town; sit in an old parlor booth and sip under the stained-glass dome.

Dreamcatchers: Mendocino has more quality B&Bs per capita than any other town on the California coast—and they're not all potpourri and doilies. Check out Alegria's A-frame cottages, which even have a private path leading to the beach. Stay in Cove Cottage if you can (and avoid noisy McElroy's Cottage). Alegria's onsite hot tub, set beneath a giant eucalyptus, warms fog-chilled bones. Home-cooked breakfasts start with organic apple juice, fruit, and fresh-baked ginger peach scones. Eric and Elaine are stellar hosts, with the local lowdown on where to go and what to do. Other good options include the comfortable Cape Cod-style John Dougherty House, and the Stanford Inn, the sprawling four-diamond flagship, where every room has an ocean view. For an economy stay, Fort Bragg is just 15 minutes north and has plenty of less expensive overnight options. The best campgrounds are at Russian Gulch State Park and Van Damme State Park; the 10 hike-in camp spots at Van Damme are among the best on the entire coast.