The picturesque town of Mendocino has long been considered a top-spot for an idyllic coastal getaway, but when was the last time you took a left on Highway 1 at the Navarro River Bridge and visited Elk?
If you have to stop and think about it, it’s time to get a trip on the calendar.
Too often overlooked by travelers making a beeline to the village of Mendocino, Elk was recently featured on Travel + Leisure’s website as a destination “making a name for itself in the food and wine world.”
Journalist Evie Carrick wrote about the community’s driftwood-strewn Greenwood State Beach, the noteworthy restaurants and charming places to stay in her Sept. 5 travel article.
Visitors come from around the world to play in our beautiful Northern California backyard — stories like this are a good reminder that lucky residents should be taking advantage and doing the same.
Elk is tiny. A road sign along Highway 1 puts its population at 250, but locals have doubted the accuracy of the seemingly high number, jokingly questioning where all those folks live. If you blink while driving through the coastal enclave, you might miss its timeless charm. But if you park the car and go for a stroll, the town has a way of winning you over.
The story highlights new businesses making a name for themselves alongside community fixtures in Elk, like The Harbor House Inn. And car rental site Sixt recently ranked the inn as the No. 1 foodie getaway on its list of top Michelin-star restaurants worth the drive.
Built in 1916, the coastal property reopened in 2018 after an eight-year restoration. The 11-room Harbor House Inn is home to the first and only two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Mendocino County. Chef Matthew Kammerer’s tasting menus are seafood focused and hyperlocal. A majority of the produce on the menu is grown at the inn’s offsite farm. Ranch hands also raise cattle, goats and chickens.
Minutes down the road, Sacred Rock Inn is the newcomer in town. Formerly The Griffin House and The Greenwood Pier Inn, there are 19 accommodations ranging from a stand-alone Victorian home with four bedrooms, to suites with private decks overlooking the ocean, to pet-friendly garden cottages.
Executive chef Ryan Seal oversees the pair of restaurants at Sacred Rock Inn. Open for dinner only, Greenwood Restaurant offers an upscale dining experience Friday through Tuesday. Selections might include Mexican Street Corn Pasta and Mendocino Black Cod. Elk House offers a more casual experience for breakfast and lunch. We recommend the Reuben Grilled Sausage Roll and spicy michelada.
It’s easy to happily lose a day on secluded Greenwood State Beach. Janky driftwood shacks compete with the rolling surf for your eyes’ attention. Dogs on leash are welcome to put their paws in the sand here. There’s also a charger for electric vehicles at the beach entrance.
Grab supplies for a picnic from The Elk Store; the deli offers hot and cold sandwiches, as well as craft beer and wine. From there it’s just a few steps to Matson Mercantile and the Artists’ Collective in Elk. If you visit on a weekend, pop into the Greenwood State Visitor Center Museum. The former post office now houses local artifacts and information on the history of Elk.
Wine enthusiasts looking to find a new favorite can make the 30- to 40-minute drive to Anderson Valley for a plethora of tasting options at wineries, including Pennyroyal Farm, Foursight Wines and Navarro Vineyards.
Northern California is on a roll as a travel destination. Two Sonoma County locales — Sonoma and Healdsburg — recently snagged spots, No. 1 and No. 10 respectively, on coupon code website Wethrift’s recently released top 10 U.S. cities that offer luxury experiences at an affordable price.
Travel + Leisure magazine also included Sonoma County on its coveted international list of “The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2024.” And last November, The New York Times shined the spotlight on Geyserville.
Click through the above gallery to see some of the Elk businesses featured in the most recent Travel + Leisure article.