Gualala - Mendocino County

Gualala (wa-LA-la) is a little town in Mendocino county. It's up on the coast of California, north of San Francisco. It has all the charm of an oceanside town without the crowds and the large resorts we have come to expect and in some cases dread.

Gualala also has a well kept secret - St Orres! Well, its not really a secret, they have been there for almost 35 years now. We spent a few nights there earlier this year, they have beautiful cabins nestled between towering redwoods. As an added bonus many of their cabins are pet friendly. For a small fee, you get to take Fido with you!

The architecture is very charming, and reminiscent of Russian style architecture. All the wood (most of it recycled/ reused) gives the place a really warm and inviting feel.

We stayed in the Rose cottage. It is a really cozy cottage, complete with a skylights, a comfortable bed, Franklin Fireplace and a large bathroom. It also has a huge deck with a direct ocean view.


The best part? They bring you fresh breakfast every morning (around 9 AM). Eggs, granola, fresh squeezed orange juice and fruit. Hand delivered at your doorstep!


The restaurant at St Orres is also pretty good. The warmth and coziness continues into their dining rooms. There are 2 dining areas, the main dining room or the solarium dining room which is much more intimate.

One of the nicest things about being in Mendocino county is that most beaches in that area are dog friendly. Almost all require that your dog be on leash, but every one of them guarantees that your canine companion will have a great time.

• Big River Beach, N. Big River Road, Mendocino
• Van Damme State Beach, Highway 1, Mendocino
• Caspar Beach, 14441 Point Cabrillo Dr., Caspar
• MacKerricher State Park, Highway 1, Fort Bragg (south of Ward Ave only)

One other recommendation for that area is Blue Canoe Coffee & Tea in Anchor Bay. They have really good homemade chai, and organic coffee that they buy from a local supplier every week. They also have a small but sweet back patio for seating. The staff is really friendly, and we had a great time chatting with them on our visit.

Overall we highly recommend St Orres, Gualala, and Mendocino county for a trip with your puppy. We had a great time, and we are sure you will too!