Mendocino, California

10-15 miles from Fort Bragg lies Mendocino, home to what might be the most perfect, cute little town on earth. Ocean views, gorgeous weather, cool architecture, and old windmills sprinkled throughout. On top of that, beautiful people, dogs, and lots of Fourth of July patriotic cheer. Seriously, how could Mendocinos have any worries or problems, given all of that? Woah, almost forgot to mention that this town was the stand-in for the fictional Cabot Cove of Murder She Wrote fame. See what I mean?

After a quick stroll, we stopped to check out the town’s farmer’s market. Small but pretty set-up, with gorgeous strawberries, flowers, a sea salt vendor, “beautiful hippies,” and a mobile knife and scissor sharpener. Dug into nectarines on our walk to the coffee shop, where we fueled up, ready for the next great vista, just off of the town’s main drag. Incredibly gorgeous spot, even on a five-day bender of gorgeous spots. In fact, though I’ve said this a lot, the natural rock arch, the deep blue bay (with tons of kelp), the bright green moss, and the pristine view of the waves and the horizon here may in fact be “the view of the trip.”

Wonder who gets to live in Mendocino. Must be nice.