 Spectacular ocean views, charming Victorian Villages and
numerous state parks line the scenic Mendocino Coastline of
Northern California. Auberge Mendocino is located in the
charming hamlet of Little River just 1.7 miles south of the
historic village of Mendocino. Combining a beautiful
coastline and Fern Canyons with fabulous restaurants and
recreational activities galore, you've found the perfect
getaway from the hectic pace! For fun, you can snorkel off
Van Damme State Beach, stroll along sandy beaches or enjoy a
round of golf with an ocean view. The historic Mendocino
Village famous for its art galleries, watertowers and
renowned restaurants is three minutes away. Additional
galleries and restaurants begin across the street from
Auberge. Just 10 miles up scenic highway one is Noyo Harbor
and Fort Bragg. This fishing port, art and handicraft
center, and former logging town, offer a multitude of
activities including the famous Skunk Train. Plan a day to
take the train through the redwoods, explore Glass Beach,
take a whale watch or fishing trip, visit the Botanical
Gardens and explore the historic downtown
WHALE WATCHING
Another cause we support is protection of the gray whale
population. Along the Mendocino coast's high bluffs there
are many vantage points from which to observe the gray
whale's migration. None is better than the state park
adjacent to Auberge Mendocino Seaside Inn & Cottages. Access
to Van Damme State Park is directly from Auberge. The trail
heads north and then west through meadows of tall grasses
and wildflowers, bordered by a variety of pines and
eucalyptus. Purple Douglas Iris bloom in the spring. Herds
of Deer roam freely. Joe - put in a meadow picture.
At the cliffs, various ice plants with orange, pink, purple
and magenta flowers bloom much of the year. Picture of
flowered grass on cliff and your ice plant picture. Flat
rocky shelves lie directly offshore, a favorite haul-out for
harbor seals. Beyond the rocks, the ocean rapidly drops off
to a deep channel where the whales come in very close to the
shore.
The best viewing is when
the sea is calm and flat. Whale watching trips on boats are
also available from Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg.
Southern migration
generally takes place from November to February and
migration north occurs March through April. Bring your
binoculars (although without them you can still see the
whales). Binoculars are also available to borrow from
Auberge.
Miraculously, the gray
whale population is now fully recovered after having been
brought to the brink of extinction solely by human activity.
They now number about 25,000. This recovery is one of the
great success stories of the environmental movement.
The gray whale undertakes
the longest yearly migration of any animal on earth: a round
trip of eight to twelve thousand miles per year from the
Bering Sea and Arctic waters down to the waters off Baja,
California and back. They need the colder, richer Arctic
waters for summer food and the warmer, though less rich Baja
waters for birthing. Mating occurs in the shallow, warm,
protected lagoons off Baja. The gestation period is 13
months.
What to watch for:
The Spout - the visible exhalation of water and air expelled
up to about 10 feet high from the blowhole (nostrils) at the
top of the whale's head. You may see a series of spouts just
before the whale sounds (dives deep). Then the whale may be
underwater for several minutes.
Pods - groups of 3 to 8 whales. Look for spouts occurring
together.
Flukes - tail fins that may be raised as whales sound (dive
deep).
Spy-hopping - head is raised above water while the whale
looks around.
Our thanks to the Mendocino Area Parks Association for this
whale information.
For more area
information please visit -
mendocinocoast.com -
Mendocino.org -
goMendo.com |
