Medocino County Campervan Adventure
If you’re looking for a road trip out of the Bay Area, Mendocino County and its stunning coastline are a must-see destination, and the best way to experience it all is in a cozy camper van. The cool misty mornings are magical, but waking up to damp and cold gear can put a damper on the trip. Fortunately, our family was warm and dry each night, making our Northern California adventure even better.
Just outside Van Damme State Park, we discovered a fantastic kayak rental that takes you through the Mendocino Sea Caves. The most incredible part? We were able to camp there for free, right off the coast of HWY 1 on Scenic Highway One. Driving our campervan through wine country in Sonoma, Petaluma, and Bodega Bay along the California coast was an absolute dream, and the scenery was breathtaking. It left us accomplished yet small at the same time.
We woke up around 8:00 am and pulled out our Wandervans “kitchen kit” to make a warm breakfast. The ocean was starting to stir, and we heard seals barking just feet away, as if agreeing with us that breakfast smelled delicious. (Don't forget to check out our Instagram page for some great food packing tips! @wandervans )
After breakfast, I walked up to the iconic bus that all the kayak rentals come in on each morning. The bus has a commanding presence, as if it was born in this beach town. It is ghostly with the decay that comes with being in such a brackish environment. The faded paint and the slight rust, and the mildew giving it the appearance of a bygone era. "Kayak Mendocino" is artfully splayed out along the body. It looks as if it doesn’t get driven, but sure enough it always arrives on time!
After kayaking, we walked into town, which at 10 am felt like it was still asleep. Mendocino is so quaint, with architecture that is diverse and influenced by Native American, Russian, European, and "beach bum" vibes. There's nothing quite like it. Good Life Cafe Mendocino blessed us with delicious food, strong coffee, and dope decor. The coffee was brilliant, and their pastries were next level. Though the Avocado toast wasn't quite my style (they put an "everything" seasoning on it), everything else was an absolute treat! Biscuits and gravy, an omelette, and more. It was crowded, but they still managed to move so fast and accommodate everyone with outdoor dining. This place was such a highlight and a relief because we typically regret spending money and eating out!
After lunch, we decided to ride bikes through town, which was fun and relaxing. By the time we were done, our two-year-old daughter started to doze off, so we went back to the van to freshen up while she slept. With the back doors open, we had a view of the ocean while a family in wet suits cooked scallops they had just gone diving for. We sat in the van covered in blankets while we read our books. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough time before our baby girl woke up, demanding the same old same old: attention, entertainment, and food. But we had a plan. We put her in the backpack carrier full of snacks and walked her into Van Damme State Park, less than 100 yards away from our Wandervan. We were greeted with a sensational landscape of green trees, red and purple flowers, and the coolest "Jurassic Park" looking ferns. We stuck to the beaten path, as the area has poison oak.
After a wonderful hike, we cooked ourselves some fish tacos from rock cod I had caught nearby (at the outlet of the Albion River) on a previous trip. It just seemed fitting to bust out the fish reserves for this trip. Afterwards we got the kiddo tuckered out by playing in the sand and water. We were able to put her in bed in time to watch the sun set over the Pacific. Only to do it all over again the next day, grateful to have campervan rentals in the Bay Area of California.