Day 1: Arrival and Exploring Main Street
Morning:
8:00 AM: Arrive in Mendocino and check into your accommodation.
9:00 AM: Head to Main Street to start your exploration.
Morning Activities:
10:00 AM: Stroll through Main Street, taking in the shops, boutiques, and cafes.
11:00 AM: Capture photos of the historic Bank of America building, now a toy and puzzle shop, and the Mendocino Inn.
Lunch:
12:30 PM: Lunch at a café on Main Street, possibly at Dick's or Flow.
Afternoon Activities:
2:00 PM: Visit the Mendocino Headlands State Park. Enjoy a walk along the headlands from Big River Beach to the north.
4:00 PM: Photograph the dramatic cliffs, sea stacks, and rare rocks along the headlands.
Evening:
5:30 PM: Dinner at a local restaurant in town.
7:00 PM: Capture sunset photos at the Mendocino Headlands State Park.
Night Activities:
8:30 PM: Return to your accommodation and relax after a day of exploration.
Day 2: Exploring Nature and Historical Sites
Morning:
8:00 AM: Breakfast at your hotel or a local café.
9:00 AM: Visit the Russian Gulch State Park.
Morning Activities:
10:00 AM: Hike the Russian Gulch State Park trail to the 36-foot tall Russian Gulch Falls. Take photos of the waterfall and the surrounding redwoods.
11:30 AM: Photograph the old bridge in the park.
Lunch:
12:30 PM: Picnic lunch in Russian Gulch State Park.
Afternoon Activities:
2:00 PM: Drive to Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, just a few miles up the road.
2:30 PM: Explore and photograph the lighthouse from various angles. Try to time your shots to capture the lighthouse light blinking.
Evening:
5:00 PM: Visit the Mendocino Botanical Garden. Take macro shots of the flowers, especially if it's a foggy day.
7:00 PM: Dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Night Activities:
8:30 PM: Return to your accommodation and rest.
Day 3: Exploring Fort Bragg and Glass Beach
Morning:
8:00 AM: Breakfast at your hotel or a local café.
9:00 AM: Drive to Fort Bragg, about 10 miles north of Mendocino.
Morning Activities:
10:00 AM: Visit the Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. Capture photos of the sea glass on the shore.
11:30 AM: Explore the town of Fort Bragg, visiting local shops and galleries.
Lunch:
12:30 PM: Lunch in Fort Bragg.
Afternoon Activities:
2:00 PM: Visit a local photo gallery in Fort Bragg and talk to a master photographer about photographing the area.
3:30 PM: Take a walk along the coast, capturing photos of the rugged scenery.
Evening:
5:00 PM: Return to Mendocino.
6:00 PM: Visit the "Murder, She Wrote" house, also known as the Blair House. Capture photos of this iconic Victorian home.
Night Activities:
7:00 PM: Dinner in Mendocino.
8:30 PM: Return to your accommodation and relax.