Discover the Adventure
Fort Bragg California

Home to the Ft. Bragg Whale Festival

It's not surprising that Fort Bragg hosts a popular whale festival every year! Gray whales migrate from the cold waters of Alaska to Baja California in Mexico each Fall, and then back North again in the Spring, so there are plenty of opportunities for whale watching.

And Noyo Harbor in Ft Bragg is the major departure harbor for whale watching trips along the Mendocino coastline!

Did you know that Fort Bragg is the official gateway to the California Coast National Monument?

Neither did I until I started researching this homey little town.

Ft Bragg is also listed as a California Historical Landmark because it was founded prior to the American Civil War as an Indian reservation and a military garrison. And, if all that isn't enough to entice you into a visit, read on...

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Fort Bragg: Mendocino Village's Blue-collar Cousin

Although nearly destroyed by fire itself, its logging and mill industries brought the community back from the brink of disaster by furnishing the lumber needed for the rebuilding of San Francisco!

Today this affable burg offers a variety of experiences for its residents and visitors alike. You'll find museums, a working-man's fishing harbor, shopping, redwood forests, excellent restaurants, ocean views and access, scenic train rides, and festivals to celebrate the wonderful bounties offered by land and sea.

Looking for a great place to stay? Check out Shoreline Cottages!

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Things to do In and Around Fort Bragg

• Shop for antiques, local artists works in a variety of media, African crafts, hand-crafted folk art, rare and out-of-print books, Eco-smart clothing, garden art objects, home decor...
• Stroll, kayak, board a whale-watching or sports-fishing boat, dine on scrumptious fish and chips and other fresh seafood delicacies, browse the unique offerings of Sacred Woods - all at Noyo Harbor...
• Ride the Skunk Train as it crisscrosses the Noyo River through coastal mountains and scenic redwood forests...
• Explore the only botanical gardens in the continental United States that has ocean-front footage - Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens - 47 acres of beautiful paths and trails, pooches welcome!

• Discover Glass Beach - a fascinating example of how Mother Nature can correct man's mistakes!
• At one time people were using this spot to dump all kinds of trash into the ocean - sort of an unofficial city dump - the practice was finally stopped and over the years the pounding waves have polished the pieces of broken glass into smooth-sided gem-like rocks; you'll find lively tide pools to explore there as well...
• Mendocino Village is the one with the reputation as an artsy place, but Ft Bragg has at least as many galleries and resident artists as Mendocino does.
• Visit during First Friday when the galleries and shops highlight local artists' works - and speaking of art, you won't want to miss a visit to Triangle Tattoo, combination Tattoo Parlor and Tattoo Museum!
• Take the self-guided Oddities Walking Tour and discover a stagecoach step, horse-and-buggy hitching rings, the Otis R. Johnson Wilderness Park, and many other strange little things you wouldn't expect to see in the 21st Century

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If you have time - and be sure to make time if you possibly can! - visit some of these other areas of Mendocino County as well - you won't be sorry you did!

• Mendocino County
  From the Pacific Ocean to the interior valleys, Mendo County covers a lot of territory and a lot of scenic variety.
  
• Mendocino Village
  Mendocino Village is breathtakingly picturesque with tons to see and do!
• Little River
  You'll find a hidden gem of a place in Little River! Just south of Mendocino, it's pristine and peaceful, but you'll never be bored!

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