Back in late March, we drove about 3.5 hours north of San Francisco to spend a long weekend in the seaside town of Mendocino. Perched on some very dramatic cliffs, the Mendocino area is a Hollywood favorite; several movies and TV shows have been filmed here, from Dying Young and Overboard to Murder She Wrote (we even saw Angela Lansbury’s ‘house’).
The town couldn’t be a more perfect spot. The Victorian architecture, walkable streets, delicious restaurants and cute inns combine with the often-gray, moody, rainy weather to create a British-like village atmosphere. It’s also super green and lush, and wineries and redwoods are only a short drive away.
We stayed at the fabulous MacCallum House Inn (thank you Travelzoo for the deal), whose cozy, slightly old-fashioned rooms are comfy and inviting. The best part, though, is the inn’s amazing breakfast, which is included with a room.
On the way back to SF, we took the long way, down Highway 1 along the Pacific Coast. As we moved further south, the clouds broke away a bit to offer a glimpse of precious sunshine. 
Photos, starting from top: MacCallum House Inn; view of the currently gloomy bay from our attic suite; interior of our attic suite; tiny stove for heat!; cute, Victorian-style details on the nightstand; gorgeous, lush landscaping on the inn’s grounds; Victorian homes (Angela Lansbury’s character’s ‘house’ is on the right); the prettiest post office I’ve ever seen; the town’s dramatic headlands, where the waves come crashing in; a little bit of blue sky, right before it’s time to leave; the drive south along Highway 1; two cows inexplicably hanging out right on the side of the very busy highway; hot chocolate break at Cafe Aquatica in Jenner; the sun finally comes out along the coast
