| About Fort Bragg and the Mendocino coast |
My wife Sylvia and I moved up to Fort
Bragg eleven years ago from Palo Alto,
in the San Francisco bay area, where we
had lived for 31 years. The honeymoon
with the area is not over yet. We love it
here.
Fort Bragg used to be a lumbering and
fishing town, with a harbor formed by the
mouth of the Noyo river. It's now mostly
dependent on tourism for its economic
base. But it's still a real, small American
town, with friendly people ready and
willing to help their neighbors, and not in
too much of a hurry to stop and talk.
Here are some photos, all taken within a
mile or two of my shop.
Bragg eleven years ago from Palo Alto,
in the San Francisco bay area, where we
had lived for 31 years. The honeymoon
with the area is not over yet. We love it
here.
Fort Bragg used to be a lumbering and
fishing town, with a harbor formed by the
mouth of the Noyo river. It's now mostly
dependent on tourism for its economic
base. But it's still a real, small American
town, with friendly people ready and
willing to help their neighbors, and not in
too much of a hurry to stop and talk.
Here are some photos, all taken within a
mile or two of my shop.
This is typical northern California coastline.
We are at the southern edge of the Pacific
Northwest, with about 45 inches of rain a year.
It's what's called a "cool Mediterranean"
climate, with rain in the fall and winter, some
in the spring, and virtually none in the summer.
There's plenty of water to grow redwoods and
pines. In November, when the rain starts, the
grass stays green without watering.
We are at the southern edge of the Pacific
Northwest, with about 45 inches of rain a year.
It's what's called a "cool Mediterranean"
climate, with rain in the fall and winter, some
in the spring, and virtually none in the summer.
There's plenty of water to grow redwoods and
pines. In November, when the rain starts, the
grass stays green without watering.
The view from the log where we sit at the halfway point of our afternoon walk ~ that's right,
no people...well, maybe a dozen at the height of the summer season.
no people...well, maybe a dozen at the height of the summer season.
The Botanic Gardens are 47 acres of marvelous plantings, and natural vegetation of the area
that go right down to the ocean from highway 1. They are a bit over a mile from my shop,
and are a very pleasant place for a walk.
that go right down to the ocean from highway 1. They are a bit over a mile from my shop,
and are a very pleasant place for a walk.
The view from the observation house, at the end of the Botanic Gardens.
Downtown Fort Bragg retains a lot of the atmosphere of the 1920's,
when most of the buildings were built. There are lots of specialty shops
and art and craft galleries. The town of Mendocino, 9 miles south, has
the really upscale shopping places.
when most of the buildings were built. There are lots of specialty shops
and art and craft galleries. The town of Mendocino, 9 miles south, has
the really upscale shopping places.
gomendo.com Mendocino County’s official visitors’ website -
travel, lodging, events
mendocinocoast.com Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce
- arts, business, community services, events, recreation, real
estate, travel, photo gallery, film office
mendowine.com Mendocino Wine Growers’ Alliance - tours,
history, events, wineries
artsmendocino.org Arts Council of Mendocino County -
organizations, calendar, artists, resources
mendocinofurniture.com Mendocino Coast Furnituremakers -
events, gallery, artists
mendocinomusic.com Mendocino Music Festival
redwoods.edu/mendocino College of the Redwoods, Mendocino
campus - programs in fine woodworking, marine science