It's a big county — almost 3,500 square miles in area — but the population hovers at approximately 89,000, ranking Mendocino County 37th out of 58 California counties. If you take a road trip you can travel 100 miles from south to north and 100 miles from east to west and still be in Mendocino County. You will see ocean and rivers; mountains and valleys; redwoods and fishing fleets; and animals, both wild and tame. The scenery in any direction is superb.
If you are looking for recreational opportunities, they abound here: mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, fishing (ocean and stream). You can tide pool and swim; dive and fly and ultra-light. Several small general aviation airports dot the landscape. There are two beautiful lighthouses for your viewing and climbing pleasure. Intellectual and cultural pursuits are also many. The Symphony of the Redwoods, on the coast, and The Ukiah Symphony, inland, offer varied seasons for your listening pleasure. Big Band Swing and cool jazz are also alive and well and in concert here. Two junior colleges, College of the Redwoods and Mendocino College, offer varied curricula for students young and old. The Mendocino Art Center, in the village of Mendocino, offers classes in many media and attracts students from all over the country.
The only way to understand Mendocino County is to come here and sample a bit from each of the areas. Warning: if you come to Mendocino County, be prepared to stay! |
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Some of the best wine grapes in the world are grown in our inland valleys. The tallest tree in North America makes its home here. The County is blanketed with forests and fringed by the sea. Several rivers and streams carry spawning salmon and steelhead home upstream, and then rush their progeny west to the ocean.
If you like to dance, beat feet this way: Active Tango, Swing, Tap, Jazz and even Flamenco classes are available county-wide. If your tastes run in other directions, there is live blues, country, and bluegrass music at the annual Wild Iris Folk Festival and in small venues throughout the area. Two fairs, the Redwood Empire Fair and the Mendocino County Fair, will give you a good taste of California Country.