Information Sheet

The Joshua Grindle Inn, built in 1879 by the town banker, is set on a two-acre estate with views of the Pacific Ocean, Mendocino Bay and the quaint town of Mendocino. Six of the ten spacious guest rooms have fireplaces and two others offer ocean views. All have private baths and comfortable sitting areas. Tastefully appointed with Early American antiques and pine furnishings, there are five rooms in the main house, three in the water tower and two newly-renovated rooms in the cottage behind the house. The parlor with its cozy fireplace and antique pump organ is a delightful gathering place for making new friends over good conversation and sherry.

Guests will find a split of local wine from a local winery lovingly displayed in their room upon arrival. Other extra touches include rubber ducks in every bathroom, an array of magazines, shelves of hardback books and gorgeous purple orchids to brighten every room. Conveniently located just adjacent to the parlor, the Master room in the main farmhouse is a favorite for guests with its view of apple trees and garden, four-poster queen bed, antique wardrobe and desk, and elegant private bath with whirlpool and tub. In the Saltbox Cottage, the North and South Cypress rooms have recently been beautifully renovated to include whirlpool tubs and slate surround gas fireplaces.

For those seeking something truly unique, a short climb up the stairs of the Historic Watertower reveals the cozy room known as Watertower II. Once tucked away in this room with its Vermont casting fireplace on a raised brick hearth and a view of the ocean and cypress trees, guests find themselves kicking off their shoes and their cares and wanting to stay a long while. The beautiful and lovingly maintained gardens, visible from the rooms, beckon guests to take a pleasant stroll. The gabled porch and Adirondack chairs on the lawns invite them to catch up on some reading or simply relax and take in the small-town surroundings and the ocean beyond. A game of croquet is the perfect way to unwind and while away the seemingly endless hours. The baseball field just beyond the white picket fence and across the street, provides local flavor and a nostalgic reminder of how the game was played in the good ol' days.

Breakfast is a time to enjoy conversation with new acquaintances around the circa 1830 pine harvest table while savoring daily menus containing either fresh baked muffins, scones, sweet and satisfying french toasts or waffles, and on alternating days, savory frittatas or quiches, a selection of fruits, cereals, yogurt, coffees and teas. Every morning is a new treat as the menu constantly changes with seasonal availability of the freshest ingredients. After breakfast, perhaps a stroll along the headlands to take in the rugged, mystical sometimes fog-cloaked beauty of the coast would be in order. The entire village can be enjoyed on foot, for it is but a short walk to the restaurants, galleries and shops.

It is not surprising that the Mendocino setting exerts such a romantic pull on the imagination. Many people come here to honeymoon or to retreat from city pressures. The pace is easy without many of the distractions of modern life, so that one finds time to enjoy solitude or the salty tang of the sea air. It is a place to curl up with a good book by a glowing fire or simply walk down a quiet path. The grandeur of the scenery revitalizes the spirit, giving one the chance to relax and enjoy life in the New England setting that time forgot.

A visit to the secluded Mendocino coast is a study in nature, adventure and culture; an escape from harried lifestyles to a realm of self- discovery and renewal. As one traverses Highway 1 and dips down into Little River, just south of Mendocino, a display of quaint inns and restaurants dot the cliffs overlooking the Pacific and then just around a bend, Mendocino's storefronts and white New England- style church steeples unfold. Situated on the bluffs of the Mendocino Headlands, the character of this quaint town borrows from the East Coast heritage of its first settlers who started the mill town in 1852.

The redwoods still play an integral part in the appeal of Mendocino. To the East of town, is a dense redwood forest. To the West is only headlands and ocean as far as the eye can see. This impressive location lends to the numerous adventures awaiting visitors. Among the possibilites are canoeing, bicycling, horseback riding, horse-drawn carriage rides through Mendocino, golf, tennis, scuba diving and chartered fishing excursions.

For those who prefer to just relax and take in the magnificent ocean views, there are several stretches of beach and headlands to wander about, have a picnic or view the whales (seasonal) and harbor seals. Four state parks are within a half hour drive of town. These parks offer walking trails through redwood laced fern canyons, across creeks, along pristine beaches and even to a waterfall. Visitors are also drawn to Mendocino for its emphasis on culture. Present day Mendocino has a strong commitment to the arts with the center piece being the Art Center and its showcase gallery on Main Street where the works of its talented students and graduates are displayed. Offering a wide variety of classes, workshops, festivals, fairs and entertainment to the public, the Center is the cultural hub of the North Coast. Mendocino hosts many private galleries as well, which offer a wide selection of local artists and media, including paintings, wood carvings and furniture, wire sculpture, ceramics and weaving, to mention but a few.

The performing arts also play an important role in the life of the Mendocino community year-round. The Mendocino Theater Company, the Gloriana Opera Company, the Warehouse Repertory Theater, Mendocino Music Festival and the Symphony of the Redwoods are a few of the groups providing a wealth of entertainment and cultural activity. There are many fine restaurants in Mendocino which offer creative and gourmet meals. Food for every taste is offered in a variety of unique and intimate settings, from French to California cuisine. One could spend a full week in Mendocino and eat at a different recommended restaurant every night.

The innkeepers at the Joshua Grindle Inn are more than happy to reserve theater tickets, recommend restaurants or excursions. Locals are also very friendly and more than happy to provide suggestions on great places to shop or even where to watch the whales. Abundant nature and culture combined with small-town ambience give Mendocino its reputation for being a "jewel" or as the San Diego Union-Tribune called it in 1992, "a magical....gentle place." Many famous authors, musicians and artists have found their inspiration on the Mendocino Coast. Every day, guests of the Joshua Grindle Inn go home equally inspired.

The drive from the San Francisco Bay Area to Mendocino is a rewarding excursion in itself, whether one chooses the more direct three-and-a-half hour route up Highway 101 to Cloverdale and across on Highway 128 through the beautiful Anderson Valley, or the five hour drive up spectacular Coast Highway One.

The shortest route, through Anderson Valley, is an easy drive after turning off the freeway at Cloverdale onto Highway 128. Soon the road drops down from the hill into the valley with sheep ranches, vineyards and apple orchards. Here the road is wide and straight as the valley broadens. Anderson Valley has been called the "undiscovered California Wine Country". There are thirteen estate wineries along the way. Award-winning premium wines and sparkling wines may be sampled at the seven tasting rooms where guests are often greeted personally by the vintners. Pausing for a picnic at one of the tasting rooms offers a pleasant break on the way to Mendocino. Roadside fruit stands boasting tasty tree-ripened fruit further enrich the drive during the summer months.

After the wineries, the highway slides into the eternal light and shadow of majestic redwoods. For several miles the road swings easily through the dense redwood forests before breaking out to run beside the Navarro River to Highway 1. Proceeding northward along the Mendocino Coast, the last 10 miles pass the snug fishing harbor of Albion, the community of Little River and Van Damme State Park. Finally, as the road approaches Big River, one sees the town of Mendocino with its Cape Cod profile still much as it was in the last century when its New England heritage rooted it strongly against the Western winds.

The trip to Mendocino via Highway 1 along the California coast is breathtakingly beautiful with seascape after seacape unfolding around each bend. Fort Ross State Historical Park provides a glimpse at history. This carefully restored outpost reveals life as it was lived by the Russian fur traders who founded the settlement in 1912. There are examples of Russian architecture as well as exhibits of arms, tools and other artifacts used by the Russian settlers. Continuing up Highway 1, one arrives at Point Arena. Here the powerful beam from the towering lighthouse is seen up to 24 miles at sea. There is a lighthouse museum for those who would like to know more about this quickly-disappearing part of our nautical heritage.

Mendocino may also be reached by those traveling from the North down Highway 101 by turning west on Highway 1 at Leggett or on Highway 20 from Willits to Fort Bragg. Either route winds through unspoiled forests and valleys. Highway 20, from Interstate 5 at Williams and on past Clear Lake, is the most direct route to the Mendocino coast from the Sacramento area. When visitors arrive at the Joshua Grindle Inn, they are all in agreement that the creature comforts and spectacular setting are well-deserved rewards worth the trip.

After arriving at the Joshua Grindle Inn, guests find that Mendocino is surrounded by beautiful, historic and exciting destinations, each encompassing an array of activities.

The beauty of the North Coast is easily admired in the four State Parks which are within a half hour drive of the Inn. These parks offer walking trails through redwood laced fern canyons, across creeks, along pristine beaches and even to a waterfall. To the East are beautiful redwood groves, engulfed with those magnificent giants. Another haven for natural beauty is the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens just seven miles north, where trails wind through perennial gardens, into the natural gardens created under the cover of a pine forest, and ultimately to the ocean.

The North Coast is also rich in history. In addition to the village of Mendocino, there are several historic sites in Fort Bragg just fifteen minutes to the North. Fort Bragg was the site of a U.S. Army Fort which was established circa 1852-54. It is no longer an army fort, but the original fort building still stands on Franklin Street between Laurel and Pine Streets. The town also hosts the Skunk Train Railroad which has run an historic steam engine since 1885 through the redwoods offering passenger rides daily.

There is truly a myriad of things to do in the Mendocino area. To name but a few of the exciting activities and excursions, there is: canoeing, bicycling and horseback riding; horse-drawn carriage rides through Mendocino, golf, tennis, scuba diving and chartered whale watching boats. This should satisfy the sports person in all of us. For those who prefer to just relax and take in the ocean views, there are several stretches of beach and headlands to wander about, have a picnic, or view the whales (seasonal) and harbor seals.

One will not be left without a list of splendid destinations and activities during their visit. As a favorite destination for many, Joshua Grindle Inn and the Mendocino Coast offers the perfect getaway.

Mendocino began as a small mill town in 1852. It supplied lumber from the abundant surrounding redwood forests for the upstart city of San Francisco to the South. By 1890, Mendocino had grown to 3,000 settlers from all over the world, predominantly Northern New England. The settlers brought with them the personal imprint of their heritage, which has made a lasting impression upon Mendocino.

On a knoll overlooking Mendocino and the blue Pacific, the Inn reflects the New England heritage of its original owner, Joshua Grindle, who came from Maine to make his fortune in the booming redwood lumber business. While a raftsman for the Mendocino Lumber Company, Joshua met and married Alice Hills. As a wedding present from Alice's father, he was given land to build their home next door to the Hills' residence. Construction on the two-story farmhouse began in 1879. Sadly, Alice died in childbirth and did not see the house completed. Joshua remarried and eventually became the town banker and primary owner of the Bank of Commerce on Main Street in Mendocino. The bank was later sold to A.P. Giannini and became the Bank of America building, which still stands today at the corner of Kasten and Main Streets (currently housing the astronomy and science fun store: Out of This World).

Joshua lived here until his death in 1928. Not until 1967 did the house leave the hands of the Grindle descendants. In 1978 the home became the first small bed and breakfast inn in the village of Mendocino.

Charles and Cindy Reinhart purchased the Joshua Grindle Inn in August 2001. Their passion for the hospitality business and their love of the Northern California Coast drew them to this Inn - the first bed and breakfast in the area.

According to the Reinharts, the Joshua Grindle Inn has always transfixed them. "One naturally imagines the serenity that must exist behind its exquisite Victorian façade," says Charles. "Owning such an inn must confer rich satisfaction to inspire such a legacy of long care and devotion by its previous sets of owners. Cindy and I will be carrying on this tradition."

The Reinharts had lived and worked in Mendocino for five years. During this time, Cindy managed the Mendocino Hotel and Charles had managed and operated the Lodge at Noyo River. Prior to arriving in Mendocino, they operated hotels and restaurants in Santa Fe, San Antonio, New Orleans and various locales in the Midwest.

After meeting while they both worked in management at the Four Star, Four Diamond, Plaza Nacional Hotel in San Antonio, the couple wed and then honeymooned at the nearby Ogé House. They were taken by the serenity of the place and immediately conjured up their dream of escaping the world of big hotels and opening a small inn of their own someday. Nine years later, their dream became a reality.

The magic of a dream-come-true can still be felt throughout the Joshua Grindle Inn and the Grindle Guest House. New package ideas, creature comforts, and warm aromas wafting from the kitchen all illustrate the love and care this couple and their staff exude.

The Reinharts and their twelve-year-old daughter live at the Inn, ensuring that no detail goes unnoticed. "Our family and our staff invite guests to come and be nourished at the legendary Joshua Grindle Inn," offers Charles.

The whales are back! From November to April, our coast is graced with the presence of gray whales, as they complete their l0,000 mile migration from Alaska to Baja California, where they over-winter in the warm lagoons, and have their calves before heading back to Alaska for the summer feasts. Their summer months in the arctic provide them with enough blubber to fuel most of their long trip. Amphipods (shrimp) and other planktonic organisms are filtered through baleen lining their jaws. They also are bottom-feeders, eating mussels, and whatever else happens along, including small fish and squid. Gigi, a gray whale in Sea World polishes off a ton of squid a day. That’s a lot of calamari!

Mendocino is situated in a prime location for whale watching. The town, situated up on the bluff, gives a great view of the bay and ocean. Walking down Main Street, you can see the whales spout as they go by offshore. On many windless crystal clear winter days, I have sat on the front porch of the Inn and seen the spouts appear for a few seconds and then disperse like fountains of mist. For a closer view, the Headlands State Park which surrounds Mendocino is the place to take your binoculars. The level trails edging the rocky bluffs lead you to one of the best viewing spots on the coast. I have seen a whale come in as close as the farthest rocks, which was about 25 yards from where I was standing. Usually they are passing by about 1/4 to 1/2 mile offshore, so binoculars help you to see their backs and tail flukes as they come up to breathe. For an even closer view, a boat is your best option. Whale watching boat trips are available from the Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg, a 10 minute drive from the Inn.

Mendocino celebrates the return of the whales annually at its Whale Festival. The many art galleries have special marine exhibits. And if art is not your cup of tea, you can buy a commemorative wine glass and wander around to the various galleries to sample our fine local wines. The local restaurants provide you with a chance to judge their seafood chowders at the Chowder Cook-off in Crown Hall. The Ford House on Main Street is the headquarters of the Headlands State Park where you can view whale films, as well as participate in ranger-led walks to view the whales in person.

Ft. Bragg also has a Whale Festival. Beer tasting is the order of the day-- wonderful beer produced by our local micro-breweries. The Whale Run is a popular event for the serious runner as well as the serious stroller. The race is held along the coast in MacKerricher State Park and the view alone is enough to inspire the most dedicated couch potato.

If just thinking about a 10 K run makes you tired; just think of the gray whales undertaking a l0,000 mile trek--the longest migration of any mammal. Catching a glimpse of these graceful creatures as they go by on their journey is truly one of the joys of being in Mendocino.

Day One

After a hearty breakfast of mushroom crust quiche, orange poppyseed muffins, and fruit compote, along with the delicious house blend of Big River Coffee, Barbara and I put on our walking shoes and took in the magnificent Mendocino Headlands State Park (otherwise known as the "Headlands") right in the town of Mendocino -- just a 10 minute walk from the inn. We started at the southeast part of town, took a detour along the Big River Beach and then hiked the entire Headlands (about 3 1/2 miles round trip!), stopping here and there to meander down to tide pools and look-out points. Touring the Headlands alone is worth the trip to Mendocino.

Finding our morning calorie intake used up, we ventured over to the Moosse Cafe for lunch. We lucked out and got a table on the deck over looking the garden. The Ahi tuna salad was a real winner as was the pasta of the day.

The many shops on Main street awaited us upon finishing our meal. Out of This World has telescopes, binoculars and interesting science toys. There is also Alphonse's Mercantile, probably the oldest shop on Main Street, which is filled with curiosities as well as a handpicked selection of classical CDs. The Gallery Bookstore is a wonderful emporium of books of all kinds, with an extensive children's book section. Just up from Main Street on Lansing, is Sallie Mac which specializes in gifts from France and Italy. We also enjoyed the Highlight Gallery for its great custom furniture collection and the Mendocino Artists Co-op, which represents a local and international list of artists.

Upon returning to the Inn, we made our way to the parlor to partake in the afternoon tea served each day with fabulous homebaked treats (today's being Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies.) Mineral water and cream sherry are also available.

We finished off the evening with dinner at Cafe Beaujolais where we enjoyed their fabulous sturgeon entree, with wild mushrooms, pasta and truffle emulsion sauce

Day Two

This morning's breakfast was the much requested Berry Stuffed French Toast with a fresh fruit platter. We were pleased to know that this recipe derives from the famous Joshua Grindle Inn's cookbook, Mendocino Mornings.

After breakfast, we took a drive up to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, just north of Mendocino off of Highway One. The gardens have a wonderful selection of plants representative of local flora and there are paths that even go out to the headlands and great picnic spots out on the bluffs. Fort Bragg was just a few minutes away and realized we could have booked a half day train trip on the Skunk Train. Instead we opted to survey Fort Bragg's shopping district. There are some great antique shops as well as vintage clothing. We also found some wonderful home furnishing deals at Family Hands.

Having exhausted Fort Bragg, we drove back to Mendocino to rent a couple of bikes at Catch-a-Canoe and ride around the paths at Russian Gulch State Park, just a few minutes north of Mendocino. There is a lovely trail that goes out to a waterfall.

That evening we had early dinner reservations at The Moosse Cafe restaurant, giving us enough time to catch the play at the Mendocino Theater Company just a few blocks down the street from the Inn!

Day Three

After another fabulous breakfast at the Inn of Charles Famous Omelets, Blueberry Corn Muffins, and Spicy Baked Pears, we decided to rent a canoe and paddle up Big River. It was a little foggy in the morning but soon we were up the river and into the sunshine. We could see tiny fish swimming next to our canoe paddles and spotted a great blue heron majestically flying overhead. It's great to pack a picnic and stop along the shore mid-way.

Coming back with the tide (always a smart thing to do, paddle-wise) we made appointments with Glenna for a massage in Chez Bambu. After that, it was all we could do to deliver ourselves to our room and a well deserved nap.

Fortunately, earlier on we had the innkeeper make dinner reservations at the Ledford House in Albion, which has a great ocean view enhanced by the setting sun. This was the perfect closure to our wonderful weekend in Mendocino. On our day of departure we enjoyed one last fantastic JGI breakfast and headed home on Hwy 128, stopping at vineyards along the way using the wine map provided by the Innkeepers on departure. We can't wait to come back to Mendocino and do it all again soon!