Activities for Children
The Mendocino Coast offers a great selection of child-friendly activities.
- Ride the Skunk Train: this is a popular attraction for the whle family. Who doesn’t like to ride a train? This train runs along the Noyo River, through the redwoods. It even features an open-air car that allows you to directly experience the outdoors.
- Visit a lighthouse: getting out to the Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park is an easy walk, and you’re right next to the ocean. When whales are migrating, you have a great view of them.
- Whalewatching: in December, the first of 20,000 California Gray Whales swims by on their way from Alaska to Baja California. Later in the spring, they return (with babies) to Alaska. At the height of the migrations, you won’t believe how many spouts you can see at the same time. You can even go out on a whalewatching boat to get really close to the whales.
- Go horseback riding on the beach: Ricochet Ridge Ranch is located next to MacKerricher State Park, and they will take you for a ride along the beach.
- Miniature Golf: the Emerald Dolphin Mini-Golf Course is located just a block north of Highway 20 on Highway One. You can even see the ocean from the course!
- Tidepools and Wildlife: MacKerricher SP is one of many parks along the ocean where you can go tidepooling, including Pudding Creek Beach and Glass Beach. The beaches at Jug Handle State Reserve and Caspar Headlands State Reserve are protected and appropriate for family activities.
- Check out the glass at Glass Beach: this beach in Fort Bragg is now part of MacKerricher SP. Instead of sand, it consists entirely of finely-tumbled bits of glass, rounded off by the wave action. This beach was the local dump until the early 1970s, although glass is no longer added to the beach.
- Go bowling at Noyo Bowl on the north side of Fort Bragg.
- Ride mountain bikes up Big River: you can ride for over 10 miles along the river, partially under the redwoods. This gravel road climbs gradually as you go inland, but it is largely flat, and quite lovely.
- Have an ice cream cone at the Mendocino Creamery on Main Street, located at the Mendocino Hotel.
- On April 11, 2009, join the Easter Egg Hunt at the Mendocino Hotel. Join the family fun hunting for eggs and prizes in the Gardens at the Mendocino Hotel.