Hiking in the Redwoods
Hendy Woods State Park protects two groves of towering redwoods where some of the trees are more than 300 feet tall and 1,000 years old! There are five miles of trails in the park itself, which are fairly level. To reach the park, drive 8 miles NW of Boonville on Highway 128, then turn left on Philo-Greenwood Road, and, in 0.5 miles, turn left at the Hendy Woods State Park sign. The ranger station is just another 0.2mi down the road.
Relaxing at the Beach
The beautiful northern Californian coast is a surprisingly quick 45min drive from Boonville, and the quaint town of Mendocino is another 10min north of where Highway 128 and the Navarro River end. For a more traditional beach experience, we recommend checking out either the Navarro Beach, Big River Beach, or Russian Gulch Beach. For a unique (and apparently very Instagram friendly) beach trip, head up to the Glass Beach in Fort Bragg.
If you’re planning on making the trip up to Mendocino, we would recommend grabbing a bite at the Good Life Cafe and Bakery, then taking a stroll through the Botanical Gardens, before indulging in some of the nation’s best ice cream at Cowlicks’s.
Learning the Names of Trees and Goats
The Pennyroyal Farm's cheese and wine tasting room is open daily from 10am-5pm; they also do farm tours at 11am. Every goat, sheep, and cheese has a name!
The Philo Apple Farm is a family-owned and run orchard and farm stand (and also offers beautiful guest cottages) that sells jam and jelly, chutney, and fresh apples and pears. Open daily 9am-6pm.
Ukiah (Sunday, 9am-12pm), Mendocino (Friday, 12pm-2pm), and Fort Bragg (Wednesday, 3pm-5pm) all have nice farmer’s markets where you can learn more about the local produce and the folks growing it.
Eating and Drinking
Table 128 at the Boonville Hotel is offers approachable and delicious family style prix fixe dinners from Thursday to Saturday. They offer a renowned paella during the late afternoon on Sundays which several friends of ours have been raving about for years now! The Bewildered Pig is another great option for dinner. If you are looking for something a little more affordable, Stone and Embers offers great brick oven pizza (and sourdough). For a quick sandwich or breakfast, we’d recommend the Mosswood Cafe. We’ve also heard that the Poleeko Roadhouse and Redwood Drive-In are solid places, but haven’t been to either.
Anderson Valley wineries are leading the way in organic and biodynamic wine production. Make sure to try what the area is known for: Pinot Noir and Alsace varietals. Foursight, Husch, Toulouse, Navarro, Handley, and Goldeneye are just a few recommendations. Here's an article on Mendocino County's top 10. Explore and tell us your favorites!
The Anderson Valley Brewing Company is well known for its beer and FREE 18-hole disc golf course (8am-6pm). Their tap room is open Sat-Thurs 11am-6pm and Fri 11am-7pm; Daily tour through 2:30pm.