The Ultimate Eco-Resort Experience in Mendocino, California: Stanford Inn By The Sea

Mendocino, California is a gorgeous coastal town that is about 3 hours from the San Fransisco International Airport. It has beautiful coastal hikes, a great small town atmosphere, and many state parks a few minutes away making this the ultimate destination for nature lovers.

Stanford Inn By The Sea is on a hillside, atop a meadow overlooking Mendocino Bay which allows it to offer stunning ocean views. This eco-resort has an immense amount of amenities including a sauna, hot tub, pool, gardening classes, yoga, and the famous Ravens Restaurant which boasts fantastic vegan cuisine. The resort is also pet and family friendly, but also a wonderful place for a romantic stay as well!

Read below for why Stanford Inn by the Sea was one of my favorite resorts I have stayed at in all of California.

LOCATION: 10/10

The location of the Stanford Inn was absolutely perfect! We didn’t have to go far at all to be fully immersed in nature and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the town of Mendocino.

The resort is less than 5 minutes to the main town where there are a variety of restaurants and shops. It’s also only 10 minutes away from Russian Gulch State Park which is the most gorgeous picnic destination.

You also can’t forget about the amazing things to do right at your fingertips when staying at this eco-resort! Guests have the opportunity to get massages in the forest, participate in yoga classes, canoe and kayak on Big River, ride bikes, and much more!

ROOMS: 10/10

The Stanford Inn has gorgeous rooms that are paneled in pine and redwood. We really enjoyed the small details like the wood-burning fireplace and the homey feeling the rooms had. The fresh baked cookies from the kitchen waiting for us when we walked into the room was also a bonus! The cookies were so delicious that we asked for more the next day!

The view from our room was also incredible. Sweeping views of the ocean beyond and the rugged coastline was the icing on the cake. We found the room to be very homey feeling and comfortable. The perfect room for a weekend away in the heart of nature!

DINING: 10/10

Stanford Inn By The Sea has a whole plant-based restaurant called Ravens Restaurant. This restaurant is nationally acclaimed for it’s delicious gourmet vegan cuisine. We loved waking up and being able to enjoy the chef’s organic breakfast, with most ingredients from the on-site organic gardens. Even though we are not plant based, I found the breakfast very hearty and loved all of the fresh flavors.

We also got to enjoy dinner at Ravens restaurant which was amazing! See below for photos of our beautifully prepared and great tasting food. We tried the Sea Palm Pad Thai dish and the Kalua Mushrooms & Coconut Rice dish, and there was nothing left at the end of the meal! Such a wonderful experience dining here, and would definitely recommend it to anyone staying at the resort!

Here are the top things to do in the Mendocino area near the stanford inn:

• Catch a Canoe & Bicycles Too! at the Stanford Inn: Steps away from our room, we were able to rent out a stable redwood outrigger canoe. This allowed us to see the beautiful Big River Estuary and also get to see some adorable wildlife as well! We saw lots of seals and even otters during our canoe excursion.

• Fathers and Daughters Cellars Wine Tasting (Anderson Valley): This family owned winery called Ferrington Vineyards was a highlight for us when we drove through the Anderson Valley. One of the owners Guy was extremely kind and treated us like family. It was much more than a tasting, it felt like an intimate experience that made us feel special as we drank their amazing wine.

• Russian Gulch State Park (10 minutes from hotel): This state park is the perfect place for a picnic overlooking the bridge and ocean. It also has 15 miles of trails, both shady forest hikes and pen coastal hikes as well!

• Lula Cellars Wine Tasting (Anderson Valley): Lula Cellars is a boutique winery that we really enjoyed stopping at for a wine tasting. Their Pinot Noir is their most famous wine, and the scenery of the winery was stunning! We got to climb up the hill a little ways and saw amazing views of the Anderson Valley’s green rolling hills.

• Brunch at the Little River Inn: this is the absolute best place to get brunch with a gorgeous coastal view in the area! The food was delicious and we loved the scenery of the area it was in. Perfect for a nice brunch spot before visiting the beach!

• Gowan’s Heirloom Ciders (Anderson Valley): This Anderson Valley staple is on the side of the road on the way from San Fransisco to Mendocino, and it was the best cider we have ever had! They have been open for 140 years and once you taste the cider, you can understand how. Highly recommend trying the frozen rose cider if it is a hot day in the valley.

OVERALL REVIEW: 10/10

Stanford Inn By The Sea is the ultimate wellness stay in Northern California! If you’re looking for a romantic getaway, or even a nature destination for the whole family, I cannot recommend Stanford Inn By The Sea enough. The location, amenities, and nature it is surrounded by truly makes it a special place to visit.

We went at the end of March and it was perfect weather! This resort can be visited all year long though and I would highly recommend lining your visit up with any of the various activities and festivals that the town of Mendocino has all year long.

Overall, this eco-resort has everything you need for a PERFECT destination at all times of the year! Make sure to book your visit soon so you can fully enjoy being immersed in such an amazing wellness destination!