Mendocino Fun » pet-friendly

Paul Bunyan Days

nancy — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 03:12:59 +0000

Two-man Saw Contest

Four Fun-Filled Days on Labor Day Weekend! The tale of Paul Bunyan and his blue ox has always been a favorite with the kids, but here in Fort Bragg, we celebrate the real thing! Paul Bunyan hosts the festival, which celebrates the long history of logging on the Mendocino Coast. This year’s theme, “All Aboard! Fort Bragg to Willits with Paul & Babe,” commemorates 100 years of the Skunk Train line running from Fort Bragg to Willits. Join us for the fun with logging contests, parades, and the highlight – the crowning of the Belle of the Redwoods, a long-standing tradition.

State Parks Offers Summer Programs

nancy — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:38:48 +0000

Docent Led Hikes at Jug Handle State Reserve
Join California State Parks for guided Ecological Staircase hikes every other Thursday this summer. Hikes are scheduled for June 18, July 2, July 16, July 30, August 13 and August 27. All hikes start at 10:00 a.m. and end at 2:00 p.m. Meet at the Jug Handle State Natural Reserve parking lot on the west side of Highway 1, about 3 miles south of Fort Bragg.

Summer Programs at MacKerricher State Park
California State Parks announces free, guided interpretive programs at MacKerricher State Park. These programs will be presented every week through September 6, 2009. All programs are led by park staff or volunteers.

Fort Bragg’s Oddities Tour: Dynamite Shed and Horse Rings

bruce — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 19:52:47 +0000

This lumber/fishing town turned art colony/tourist destination can now boast about quirky sites-to-see, thanks to Ron Bloomquist, 67, a retired local with a knack for noticing what others ignore. Seems Ron has a talent for spotting the interesting, odd and beautiful on streets, alleys and beaches. Nearly everyday at the end of his early morning walks, he posts insightful comments along with pictures and pithy captions for his blog, WalkingFortBragg.com. In fact, he has discovered so many unusual points of interest that the City of Fort Bragg Promotion Committee has printed “Fort Bragg Oddities,” a brochure detailing 20 quirky sites on a self-guided tour (available at tourist attractions, galleries and shops in Fort Bragg). For a commemorative tee or sweatshirt, visit Toto Zaida, a boutique on Laurel near Main in Fort Bragg.

Dedication of Laguna Point Interpretive Panels

nancy — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:15:12 +0000

The public is invited to attend a dedication ceremony on December 20 at 10 am as California State Parks proudly announces the installation of 11 new interpretive panels along the boardwalk at Laguna Point, part of MacKerricher State Park.The panels are designed to inspire and inform visitors about the natural and cultural history of Laguna Point and surrounding areas. These dynamic panels describe and depict a variety of topics including Native American traditions, logging history, harbor seals, gray whales and more. Also included along the boardwalk is an important display on how to stay safe on the shore. These are the newest and arguably the best interpretive panels that State Parks has anywhere on the Mendocino Coast, and we are very excited to share them with locals and visitors alike! Entrance to the park is free, so plan on bringing your families to enjoy a stroll and stop by Laguna Point at 10:00 am for the ceremony. MacKerricher State Park, 3 miles north of Fort Bragg, California, on Highway 1. To reach the dedication ceremony location, enter at the park’s main entrance, where you see the large wooden sign, and turn left at the second stop sign. Follow the park road past Lake Cleone and under the bridge to the Laguna Point Parking lot near the ocean. For more information on these exciting new panels or the dedication ceremony, please contact Park Interpreter Fred Andrews at (707) 961-0471.

Dog Art Contest at Huckleberries and Hounds Festival

bruce — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:56:50 +0000

For Bragg is celebrating the 2nd Annual Huckleberries and Hounds Festival today and tomorrow, Sept. 27 and 28. Two events not to miss: the dog art making contest at Racine’s at 11 Saturday and the Dine-With-Your-Dog barbecue at noon. You’ll have huckleberries and hounds everywhere. And don’t forget to check Fort Bragg restaurants offering huckleberry infused meals from Mendo Bistro’s pork medallions with huckleberry sauce to Cowlick’s Ice Cream huckleberry Sundaes.
Featured ‘hounds’ events:

Saturday
· Go-Dog-Go – Racine’s is hosting a FREE dog ‘art-making’ event. Starting at 11:00, you’re invited to come have your dog’s paws painted for a dash down their center isle on a canvas. The result should be two canvases, one to keep and one to be auctioned to benefit a local animal organization. It will be messy, but fun!! And don’t worry if your dog has had no formal art training – none’s required – except maybe some paper training as a pup.

· Dine with Your Dog Barbecue – The Surf Motel & Gardens will sell hot dogs and hamburgers (as well as veggie dogs), chips and drinks for $5 as a fundraiser for MCDOG, the Mendocino Coast Dog Owners Group; noon to 4 pm. While you enjoy your food, your dog stays by your side or romps with new friends in the Surf’s new fenced, off-leash doggie play area. 1220 S Main, Fort Bragg. The Surf will give free goodie baskets with pet gifts to the first 25 dog owners who show up for the BBQ.

Also at the Surf Motel BBQ – The Mendocino Coast Humane Society will have its Mobile Pet Adoption truck with cats and dogs in need of a good home. And there will be AKC Canine Good Citizenship Testing. This includes a series of 10 activities to determine that a dog is in control, can be handled by others and the owner; will sit, down, and come when called; can meet another dog and behave appropriately, can walk in a crowd, can deal with distractions and not get overly frightened. Cost is $20.

Animal Communicator – Bring your dog to PAWS for a private session with well-known Animal Communicator Carol Becker, from 10 – 5. See Friday’s schedule for more information.

· Cooking Class - Chef Nicholas Petti of Mendo Bistro will hold a huckleberry cooking class at 1 pm Saturday, Sept. 27, as part of the City of Fort Bragg’s three-day 2nd Annual Huckleberries and Hounds Festival (FortBragg.com/hounds).

At the beginning of the class, huckleberry expert Eric Schramm will talk about the storied past of huckleberries on the Mendocino Coast and their popularity in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. Cost: $25 per person. For reservations, call 964-4974 or send an email to Chef Petti at eat@MendoBistro.com.

Sunday
Canine Search and Rescue (SAR) Demo – The use of dogs in search and rescue is a valuable component in responding to law enforcement requests for finding missing people. Handlers will show how hard working, well-trained dogs detect missing humans by scent. While you’re there, meet the Friends of the Mendocino Coast Animal Shelter, a dedicated group of volunteers working on behalf of the coast’s animal shelter. Fort Bragg Dog Park, S. Lincoln and Willow, 12 – 2.

Animal Communicator – Bring your dog to PAWS for a private session with well-known Animal Communicator Carol Becker, from 10 – 1. See Friday’s schedule for more information.

Featured ‘huckleberry’ food:
Breakfast
* Café One – huckleberry scones and pancakes
* Mendocino Cookie Company – huckleberry bran muffins

Dinner
* Mendo Bistro – grilled venison leg with huckleberry sauce and frozen vanilla soufflé with warm huckleberry soup.
* v’Canto – its pastry chef is planning a gourmet dessert.
* The Restaurant – pork medallions with a huckleberry scallion sauce.
* The Rendezvous – wild boar with huckleberry chutney and Muscovy Duck with huckleberry-lavender sauce.
* TW’s Bar & Grill at the Trade Winds/Quality Inn – to be announced.

Dessert
* Cowlick’s Ice Cream – huckleberry sundaes.
* Carol Hall’s Hot Pepper Jelly Co. – wild huckleberry jam.

Book Signing for Mendocino Outdoors on Sat, Aug 9

dff — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:44:39 +0000

Cover of Mendocino OutdoorsOn Saturday, August 9, there will be a book signing for my new book at the Mendocino Hotel from 4-6 pm. The wine will be poured by Goldeneye Winery — their wonderful pinot noir.

This event is for the release of the Third Edition of Mendocino Outdoors, the best guidebook about the Mendocino Coast. The new edition is a huge improvement over the past editions in all ways: it’s been completely revised (rewritten, really), and expanded to cover the entire Mendocino Coast. The new edition also has a lot more photography in it, to show you why you might want to go see something. I also ended up revising all of the maps, in addition to new ones.

You can see more about the book, including sample pages, here on the site.

At Last Farms Doggy Day Camp: Where Your Pup Takes The Day Off

bruce — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:17:11 +0000

A few weeks ago, Nancy Freeze and I visited At Last Farms, a doggy day camp. There, we met owner Ann Kanitz of Mendocino. She is a gregarious woman who loves dogs, loves organic farming and loves her land. Combine the three and you have a unique dog day camp on a working organic farm with heirloom plantings. At Last Farms is located on a sprawling piece of property with redwoods at the end of Gurley Lane, but only a mile from Mendocino Village. When you come to visit, you can drop off Fifi or Fido at day camp and stroll the shops, historic buildings and check out the restaurants with your two-legged companion.