ESCAPE HOLIDAY STRESS WITH A MAGICAL MENDOCINO GETAWAY
Undiscovered Northern California Destination Offers Perfect Blend
Of Wine, Whales, Wilderness & Friendly Lodging

MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – (September 2007) – The holiday season brings out the true essence of Mendocino County. While many visitors come to Mendocino for the breathtaking views, award-winning wines and whale-watching, the holidays add a layer of twinkling lights over the county’s Victorian cottages, the smell of fresh baked goods from every doorway, and a friendly, small-town feeling, filled with holiday cheer.

Mendocino County begins just 90 miles north of San Francisco and offers visitors a variety of lodging options for romantic getaways, gourmet food and wine tours, and exploration of organic wineries and farms – as well as whale-watching, bird-watching, hiking and other active alternatives at this time of year.

Highlights of Mendocino County’s holiday season include:

Christmas Day Open House at the Ford House Museum
A classic Mendocino tradition, the Christmas Day open house at the Ford House Museum offers visitors home-made cinnamon buns, hot coffee and spiced cider in front of a crackling fire. The museum serves as the welcome center for the glorious Mendocino Headlands State Park.

Ford House Visitor Center and Museum, 735 Main Street, Mendocino Village,
(707) 937-5397

Let the Whale Watching Begin!
The annual whale migration usually hugs the Mendocino coast each December, adding another exciting reason to visit Mendocino County at this time of year. Mendocino’s coast is uniquely formed to invite the whales to swim close, making it an ideal locale for whale watching – right from the balcony of your hotel in many cases.

For whale watching information, call (866) STAY-MENDO (866-782-9636) or visit www.gomendo.com.

Celebrate the County’s Famous World-Class Cuisine
From rare local mushrooms to succulent crabs and delicious California huckleberries, here are some examples of fabulous local cuisine available in Mendocino County at the holidays:

Award-winning vegetarian restaurant Ravens, located at the Stanford Inn by the Sea, features a very special vegan Christmas menu, including mulled Mendocino wine, their special Christmas tamales and stuffed acorn squash. Mendocino mushrooms play a big part in many of their holiday recipes. Ravens Restaurant, Coast Highway and Comptche Ukiah Road, Mendocino Village (707) 937-5615, www.stanfordinn.com.

Dennen's Victorian Farmhouse, decked in its magnificent holiday decorations, will offer its special lemon-huckleberry bread this season, as well as serving an array of dishes featuring fantastic local crab. Dennen's Victorian Farmhouse, on Highway 1 just south of Mendocino Village, (800) 264-4723, www.victorianfarmhouse.com.

For as long as there’s been a Little River Inn, guests have enjoyed the inn’s holiday specialties, including their famous Ollalieberry Cobbler -- a top secret recipe handed down for generations. You can’t have the secret recipe for the turkey stuffing they serve at Christmas dinner either, but you can score the recipe for Chef Marc Dym’s Crab Pot Pie -- if you ask nicely! Little River Inn, 7901 Highway One, Little River, (888) INN-LOVE or (707) 937-5942, www.littleriverinn.com.


Calendar of More Holiday Events
Here is a sampling of some more of the events make Mendocino so festive at this time of year. For even more, visit www.gomendo.com.

Holiday Lights Parade, Saturday, December 1, 2007
Lighted parade, Christmas tree lighting, carolers, and Santa!
Where: Downtown Fort Bragg
Cost: Free
6 p.m.: Lighting of the tree and visit from Santa
7 p.m.: Parade
For further information: (707) 961-6300

18th Annual Mendocino Coast Candlelight Inn Tour, December 6-8, 2007
The inns of Mendocino County’s ocean-side towns celebrate the holiday season
with gorgeous and extravagant old-fashioned decorations and open-house
hospitality. Tour the various bed and breakfasts and lodges of Mendocino County while
lending support to Mendocino Coast Children through Big Brothers/Big Sisters
of Mendocino and Mendocino Unified School Enrichment (MUSE).

* Wednesday, Dec. 6, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Inns of Little River and Albion
* Thursday, Dec. 7, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Inns of Mendocino
* Friday, Dec. 8, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Inns & Lodges of Fort Bragg

Cost: $20 - includes all the days and light refreshments at the inns.
To purchase tickets call (707) 964-1228 or e-mail bbbs@mcn.org.

Santa’s Arrival at Kelley House Friday, December 7, 2007
Caroling, cookies, and village tree lighting at the Kelley House in Mendocino Village. Santa arrives by fire truck.
Where: 45007 Albion Street, Mendocino Village
Cost: Free
Time: 6:30 p.m.
For further information: (707) 937-5791.

20th Annual Willits Holiday Crafts Fair, December 7-8, 2007
Features art and handmade craft items with many new artists participating this year. Homemade food will be provided by the Willits Charter School; local musicians will perform. Kids’ fair on Saturday only.
* Friday, December 7, 12 noon to 8 p.m.
* Saturday, December 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Willits Community Center, 111 E. Commercial St., Willits
Cost: Free
For more information, call (707) 459-3411

13th Annual Christmas Eve Celebration "The Festival of Nine Lessons"
December 24, 2007
Mendocino County’s version of a tradition that has been offered each year since 1919 at King's College Chapel, Cambridge, England, will feature the Anchor Bay Children's Choir and other musicians.
Where: Gualala Arts Center - 46501 Gualala Road, Gualala
Cost: Free, but donations are appreciated
Time: 4 p.m. Candlelight Processional
For further information call (707) 884-1138


For more information on the wonders of Green Mendocino County, call
866-782-9636 (866 STAY-MENDO), or visit: http://www.gomendo.com