Welcome to Fort Bragg, California
This beautiful coastal town is full of rich history, picturesque landscapes, art, outdoor adventures and so much more. There is always something going on in the small community from crab feeds to the annual Whale Festival to Film Festivals. It is the perfect place for anyone who loves the outdoors thanks to the stunning redwood forests, coastal cliffs, and rivers full of wildlife.
Things to do in Fort Bragg
Downtown Fort Bragg
Downtown Fort Bragg is full of friendly, stylish boutiques – from crazy sock stores to fine art galleries. The streets are full of tourists and locals enjoying a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, and shops. Only a block away is the Skunk Train that takes riders on a scenic journey through the redwoods.
C.V. Starr Community Center
The City of Fort Bragg and the Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District partnered together in 2012 to re-open the Starr Community Center. This facility offers fitness rooms, fully equipped with treadmills, weight machines, recumbent bikes and more, and fitness classes including spin classes and Zumba. The highlight of the facility is the Sigrid and Harry Spath Aquatic Center. The Aquatic Center has two indoor pools, lazy river, and a water slide!
Fort Bragg Farmers’ Market
The Fort Bragg Farmer’s Market is located in the heart of Downtown Fort Bragg, every Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. You can find all of the seasonal fruits, berries, vegetables, melons, greens and squash at the market. As well as, organic and free-range beef and pork, free range eggs, and wild-caught local fish and seafood. You will find artisan goat cheese, cheesecake, freshly baked bread, pies, and goodies. There are organic nuts, fresh-cut flowers, and ornamental plants and nursery starts.
The Coast
Fort Bragg is known for its stunning coastline. The various beaches give visitors and residents to plenty of attractions from whale watching to sea kayaking. One of the most famous of Fort Bragg’s beaches, Glass Beach is no longer the dazzling sight it once was due to being picked over, but you can glimpse of its former glory at the International Sea Glass Museum on the south end of town. Pudding Creek Beach is below an old wooden train trestle. Main Beach at MacKerricher State Park is just north of Fort Bragg with stunning dark sand, campgrounds, and walking and hiking trails. Noyo Harbor Beach has drift logs laid out making it a perfect place to sit and enjoy the view. The Noyo River is the perfect spot to launch a canoe, kayak, or SUP. Expect to see some dogs running around because this is one of the few off-leash beaches.
Parks & Recreation
Mendocino County is full of beautiful parks and preserves. Mendocino County alone has 17 State Park properties, many of them on the beautiful Mendocino Coast.
Russian Gulch State Park is two miles north of Mendocino and spans nearly 1.5 miles of ocean frontage. The park’s most famous feature, Devil’s Punchbowl, formed when waves forged an inland tunnel. The Frederick W. Panhorst Bridge is a stunning sight to see, spanning 100 feet from the bottom of the gulch.
Jug Handle State Natural Reserve is halfway between Mendocino and Fort Bragg. The 2.5-mile Ecological Staircase Trail travels through various geologic zones on its way to the beach.
Van Damme State Park is three miles south of Mendocino and offers a scenic beach, lush forest, and year-round camping. This state park has activities for everyone from fishing to kayaking and biking to hiking. Explore the pygmy forest and boat the Sea Caves.
