THINGS TO DO IN CALIFORNIA

Fort Bragg California Visitors Guide

Situated on the stunning Northern California Coast, Fort Bragg is a small town (population 7.000) with a great mix of history, natural beauty, and lively events. Depending where you live, it can be a fun daytrip, or a very reasonable weekend trip from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Fort Bragg was established in 1857 within the Mendocino Indian Reservation. The purpose of the fort was to safeguard the local Native American population. The post was abandoned in 1864 and the reservation was discontinued. The town then transitioned to a lumber and saw mill town through the late 1800’s and early 1900s. Commercial fishing was also an important part of the community’s past. Today, it is a popular destination for tourists.

As with much of this part of the coast, the natural beauty of the ocean and nearby redwoods dominates the landscape. For a great beach experience, be sure to include a visit to MacKerricher State Park. The park offers a variety of habitats including beach, bluff, headlands, dune, forest and wetlands. These diverse habitats attract a variety of wildlife. The park is popular with bicyclists, hikers, equestrians, and whale watchers.

A popular spot at MacKerricher State Park is Glass Beach, which has an abundance of sea glass that was created from years of dumping garbage into an area of coastline north of town. It makes for fun beach combing and exploring, however, please remember that it is illegal to take the sea glass or any other resources out the State Park.

Mendocino Coast Fort Bragg

The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, located in Fort Bragg, is the ultimate garden by the sea. The garden has different areas, including a rhododendron area that comes alive in March and April. The perennial garden has bulbs, flowers and blooming grasses that delight from spring through fall. There is a collection of heaths and heathers as well as camellias.

The garden also boasts six different rare and endangered plant species. The garden is open year round and there is an admission fee. The main trails are wheelchair accessible and you can bring in a picnic. Also, well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome at the gardens. Be sure to check out the garden’s webpage to see what plants are blooming as your plan your trip.

If the weather is too cold outside, consider heading indoors to the C.V. Starr Aquatic Center, which is a great indoor water park. Drop ins are welcome and it’s a fun way for visitors of all ages to swim, play in the water and have fun.

With an estimated 20,000 gray whales migrating annually along the Pacific Coast, whale sightings are quite common in the winter months in the Fort Bragg area. Every March is the Whale Festival in Mendocino County. Many of the coastal communities have special events, and Fort Bragg is one of them. Typical activities include wine and beer tasting, chowder tasting, art exhibits, live music and more.

Fort Bragg also boasts a Tattoo Museum. It is one of the few public museums in the world that displays artifacts related to tattooing. The museum is located in a building with an original Victorian store front. The museum is open daily and tours are available. The Guest House Museum, which is located across the street from the Tattoo Museum, is an architectural treasure in the town. Constructed in 1892 from coastal redwood, it was the private home of one of the early lumber company owners.

Fort Bragg is also a great base for exploring some area attractions. The town serves as the western terminus of the Skunk Train, which runs 40 miles between Fort Bragg and Willits. The rail line was an old logging line and it crosses thirty bridges, goes through two mountain tunnels and provides beautiful views of the towering redwoods.

The train is popular with train enthusiasts, both young and old. Please note that the train only runs part of the year, so be sure to check schedules so you are not disappointed.