Archive for the ‘For Families’ Category

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Laguna Point at MacKerricher State Park

Posted on: May 11, 2013 at 3:44 am by bruce No Comments

Laguna Point Viewing Platform

You often hear the phrase “on a clear day you can see forever.”  Perhaps that is meant to be metaphorical. But in Fort Bragg it is real. At Laguna Point in MacKerricher State Park, on a clear day (and there are many) you can see the top of King Peak in the King Range along the Lost Coast. The ocean and sky colors are eye-popping.

This is a place for indivdiuals, couples and families with kids. The wooden walkways take you close to the surf and out to viewing platforms where you can watch waves, birds, seal lions and whales.

At the same time, colorful interpretive signs take you back in time: first when American Indians lived here and then into the most recent past (the mid-1800s to early 1900s) when mills and lumber schooners dotted the Coast.

Bring a lunch, binoculars and a camera. Dress in layers and include a hat, gloves and sunglasses.

Birding Walks at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

Posted on: April 25, 2013 at 3:15 am by bruce

The Mendocino Coast Audubon Society (MCAS) has documented 276 species of Coastal Mendocino County Birds.

Of course, you’ll find them everywhere from our fields and forests to cliffs and rock islands along Fort Bragg’s coastline.

But one of the best birding spots is Fort Bragg’s 47-acre Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, where 150 species live or visit annually.

Monthly Bird Walks at the Gardens, led by an MCAS member, are scheduled year round (light rain or sunshine) on the first Saturday and the third Wednesday of the month. The Saturday beginning bird walks begin at 9 a.m. The Wednesday walks vary: 8 a.m. May through October and 8:30 a.m. November through April.

The walk held on the first Saturday of the month starts at 9:00 a.m. Walk leader David Jensen will help participants learn to identify local birds by sight as well as by sound. Although this walk is designed for beginning birders, locals and visitors with all levels of experience are invited. Binoculars will be available for those who need them. Admission is free for Botanical Garden members. For information call and leave a message at 964-6835

Grasses, flowers and trees made for great birding

The walks start in the MCBG parking lot. This is an intermediate-level birdwalk that normally takes around three hours. Anyone is welcome to join, regardless of experience, and loaner binoculars are available. For information contact: Tim Bray 937-4422.

Birding Checklist
A checklist containing 276 species of Coastal Mendocino County birds is available for $1.00 at:
  • Ford House, Mendocino Village
  • MacKerricher State Park Visitor Center
  • Van Damme State Park Visitor Center.

Another is ‘Checklist of the Birds of Mendocino County, California’, Third Edition – Revised: 2005 by Robert J. Keiffer, et al.

This checklist costs $3 and is available by writing to the PO Box 2297, Fort Bragg, 95437.

Celebrate Memorial Day 2013 in Fort Bragg, California

Posted on: April 14, 2013 at 3:01 am by bruce

Memorial Day is the day we honor those who died in the service of our country. As part of that celebration, many people also have made it the official start of summer with the weather warming up and schools getting out.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

At Fort Bragg’s Rose Cemetery on Memorial Day, our VFW group will hold a ceremony in honor of those men and women who have served from the original Fort Bragg Soldiers in the mid 1850s to the present day.

Celebrating the Start of Summer

Memorial Day Waves n Caves Weekends- 3 days of play in whitewater kayaks in the sea caves, surf, and rock gardens of the Mendocino Coast.  Includes camping, food, and fun!!!  Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends 2013.

My Garden – A New Event at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens – Saturday, May 25 DETAILS

This fundraising event is expected to become one of the top three annual fundraisers within Mendocino County. My Garden will take in the beautiful MCBG Perennial Garden. Enjoy award winning premium local wine, beer and cocktails while strolling through the beautiful scenery of the gardens and previewing the brilliantly hand crafted one-of-a-kind items built exclusively for My Garden 2013 by local Mendocino County craftsmen.

Fifth Annual Fort Bragg Sea Glass Festival – Saturday and Sunday, May 25-26.  DETAILS

 Sea Glass Museum, 1701 N. Hwy 1, Fort Bragg. Local and out-of-town Sea Glass artists display their sea glass art. Fort Bragg has the highest concentration of sea glass in the world. Come see what wonderful things artists create with it. Information: 707-357-1585.

Of course, you’ll need a place to stay while you’re here. Choose one of our friendly lodging establishments.

Mother’s Day in Fort Bragg: Plan Now for a Big Weekend

Posted on: April 3, 2013 at 3:52 am by bruce

If you want to give mom a real holiday, then you’re just in time to book at room at one of Fort Bragg’s inns, motels or bed and breakfasts so she can enjoy some unusual and fun activities on her special day.

National Public Gardens Day – Saturday, May 11  DETAILS

National Public Garden Day, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, 9 am–5 pm — free.
This day of national recognition honors public gardens and their contributions in education, conservation, and ecology. In honor of all of our nation’s gardens and the people who support them, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is providing free admission for all visitors. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens,18220 N. Hwy 1, Fort Bragg. 707-964-4352.

Skunk Train Mother’s Day Brunch – Sunday, May 12  DETAILS

Skunk Train Mother’s Day Brunch, 10 am (4-hour round trip). Treat Mom to a relaxing morning riding the train and sipping Mimosas (juice for the kids), then enjoy a special brunch in the redwoods. Adults $70; children $40. Board at the Skunk Depot, Foot of Laurel St. 707-964-6371. www.skunktrain.com

 36th Annual John Druecker Memorial Rhododendron Show & Plant Sale – Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12  DETAILS

 In 2013 the 36th Annual John Druecker Memorial Rhododendron Show & Plant Sale will be held at The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens in Fort Bragg on May 11th & 12th.  This year’s theme is ”May Magic”, featuring plants growing in the Botanical Gardens and many favorites found locally. Local growers and members will be on hand at the Plant Sale from 9 to 5 Saturday and 9 to 5 Sunday to assist in answering questions and purchasing plants. There will be ongoing raffles, a silent auction, refreshments, educational displays and more throughout the show! 

Celebrate Earth Day 44 in One of America’s Most Environmentally Friendly Towns

Posted on: March 31, 2013 at 3:24 am by bruce

A quick search on Wikipedia will give you a nice summary of Earth Day:

“It is an annual day on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Earth Day is observed on April 22 each year. The April 22 date was designated as International Mother Earth Day by a consensus resolution adopted by the United Nations in 2009.[1] Earth Day is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network,[2] and is celebrated in more than 192 countries every year.[3]“

The Fort Bragg Difference

The residents of Fort Bragg think of environmental protection — from a GMO ban to organic food — as a year-around effort.

One look at the clean blue/green water crashing against cliffs outlined by crystal-clear blue skies will convince you that Fort Bragg is the place to be to celebrate Earth Day. This year, our local group, the Noyo Food Forest will actually celebrate Earth Day a few days late.

Seventh Annual Earth Day Festival – Saturday, April 27  DETAILS

Noyo Food Forest’s Seventh Annual Earth Day Festival is on Saturday, April 27 from noon to 5pm at the Fort Bragg High School Learning Garden, 300 Dana Street. This free fun family event supports our Farm to School program at Fort Bragg Unified School District.

Talented Local Photographers Show Off Fort Bragg’s Beauty Spots

Posted on: March 21, 2013 at 3:14 am by bruce

Red Buoy by Nancy Philips

Spread throughout Downtown Fort Bragg are 10 new photo banners featuring local “beauty spots” — from a sunset at glass beach to our historic Guest House Museum.

They are the work of the Fort Bragg Promotion Committee AND the photographers who generously, at no cost to the City of Fort Bragg, allowed their photos to be featured on the banners.

Our thanks go out to Alan Ferguson, Susan Larsen, David Foucheaux, Ron LeValley , Dolores Clark, Larry Wagner, Nancy Philips and Sharon DiMauro, publisher of the Fort Bragg Advocate-News and Mendocino Beacon, who gave us permission to use the staff-generated “Kids at Sunset” photo. To honor these talented, generous folks, we have set up a page of their photos and backgrounds. Check it out.

One More Whale Festival Day … Sunday, March 17 Activities

Posted on: March 16, 2013 at 5:03 pm by bruce

Today, Saturday, March 16 was a big day at the Fort Bragg Whale Festival, but if you missed the wine, beer, and chowder tastings or the whale run, don’t fret. Tomorrow is another day, as they say.

Grab a windbreaker ( a good idea to layer up around the ocean) and binoculars and head to three of our favorite whale watching spots: MacKerricher State Park (Laguna Point), Point Cabrillo Light Station and the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.

All three will have docents. At Point Cabrillo, they usually have binoculars they will share if you don’t have them.

MacKerricher State Park: (located three miles north of Fort Bragg on Highway 1) offers free, day-use. For additional information call (707)961-0471.

An ideal location for watching migrating whales, MacKerricher provides a wheelchair accessible boardwalk, allowing an easy traverse across the headlands to a deck situated on Laguna Point near the whale route. Docents will present public whale talks on the dates below, and will provide binoculars and a spotting scope to help visitors study whales and other fascinating marine and bird wildlife near MacKerricher’s shores.  A rare, reconstructed Gray Whale Skeleton is on permanent display near the visitor center and entry kiosk. The skeleton is a composite of two whales that beached on the Mendocino Coast, two years apart. Humpback Whale bones are also on display giving a visual size perspective between the grays and humpbacks.

Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17: 11 a.m.

Whale Walks –Docents present an informative overview of  gray whales. The talk/walk starts at the MacKerricher Visitor Center and then proceeds to the whale skeleton before driving to Laguna Point for whale watching.       

Sunday, March 17, 1:00 p.m. to 3p.m.

Help us paint the whale skeletons at MacKerricher State Park.

The supports for the whale skeletons need to be painted to help protect them.   Paint and some brushes will be provided.  Bring paint brushes and wear old clothes.  Rain or fog will cancel painting the whale skeleton.

Point Cabrillo Light Station

Just a few times each year, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers tours of Point Cabrillo Lighthouse lantern room. You’ll get a history lesson, a close-up view of the 1909 Fresnel Lens and be treated to wonderful views of the coast from nearly 90 feet above sea level. This is the best place on the coast to view whales. It is a fundraiser for the Auxiliary so there is a small donation of $5.  For more information about Light Station activities, including things for kids to do, click here.

It’s Still Not Too Late to Book at Room for the Fort Bragg Whale Festival

Posted on: March 12, 2013 at 3:50 am by bruce

You’ve been procrastinating for weeks now and have finally decided — after reading our blog about all the great Whale Festival activities — that you desparately want to come.

Of course, you can drive up for the day, but what fun is that when you can soak up all the ambiance a seaside town has to offer, plus everything from docent-led whale watching in our state parks to microbrew, wine and chowder tasting in or near Downtown Fort Bragg?

Here’s are some helpful links to get you get here and plan for your visit:

What are you waiting for?

Yes, There’s Whale Watching at the Fort Bragg Whale Festival

Posted on: March 10, 2013 at 3:40 am by bruce

If you’ve been following our blog the past few weeks, you know that at the 31st Annual Fort Bragg Whale Festival will feature a Whale Run/Walk, wine tasting, microbrew tasting and chowder tasting.  So,  you may be wondering if folks actually come to see whales. Of course, they do!

In fact, one of the most frequently asked question we get from visitors is: “When do the whale go by?” :)

Well, actually, gray whales are visible in a continuous stream — some 20,0000 — from December – April. They leave their feeding grounds in the Artic Ocean north of Alaska, swim several thousand miles at 100 miles per day to the warm lagoons of Mexico to birth their calves, then head home.

Kids with Whale Puzzle at Point Cabrillo LighthouseWhen you come for the Fort Bragg Whale Festival, you’ll be able to see whales from just about any place along our coast. but the best viewing spots are MacKerricher State Park, the Mendocino Botanical Gardens, and Point Cabrillo Light Station (the best viewing spot). The moms bring their babies close to shore to protect them from mauding orcas (killer whales).

Not Too Late to Book a Room for the 31st Whale Festival

Posted on: March 6, 2013 at 3:37 am by bruce

The 31st Annual Fort Bragg Whale Festival (March 16-17) is just around the corner — a mere 10 days away, but it is not too late to book a room.   Otherwise, you’ll miss the whale walks, wine and microbrew tasting, chowder tasting, whale run, and the whales, of course.

You’ll find all of Fort Bragg’s Whale Festival lodging is convenient to downtown and the many activities planned for the weekend.

To learn more about what’s happening that weekend, click here.

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