Brewery Gulch Inn proved to be the perfect base for some explorations of the surrounding areas including the delightful community of Mendocino,  originally a lumber company town but now with the traditional look and decor of a New England Victorian town.
One of our first stops was to visit the home of Jerome and Martha Ford built in 1863.  Now the Ford House is a museum as well as the Visitor Center for the Mendocino headlands State Park.  But from the time Jerome brought his twenty three year old bride to Mendocino it served as their home until 1872.  When she first arrived Martha was one of only three settler women in Mendocino.
 After our visit to the Ford Home we continued to an overlook of the ocean from Mendocino Headlands State Park,  We had been told that at the time of the year of our visit whales would be moving south and could often be seen from there.  And sure enough soon we could see the splashes of white water that could only be whales breaking to the surface and once we actually saw the black streak  of a surfacing whale.
It was also the time for some photo opts as the morning clouds were yielding to the sun and the air clear for perfect viewing.
We had one more thing to do in the town of Mendocino.  The TV series "Murder She Wrote" opens with scenes of what appears to be a New England town and a residence but was actually shot in Mendocino.  My traveling partner wanted to write about this so we set about finding the residence named Blair House.  Finally we got directions from the Visitors Bureau and did take photos of Blair House which today is a private residence.
On leaving Mendocino we drove a few short miles to Ft. Bragg.  After the marvelous feast which is called breakfast at Brewery Gulch Inn we had little appetite for anything more that as few snacks for lunch which we found as expected at the McDonald's in Ft. Bragg. 
Some of the afternoon we wanted to spend leisurely in the luxury of the Inn, both in its great room and our own room with its fireplace and views of the waves pounding the rocks and beach of Smugglers Cove and then somewhat impatiently for the beginning of the nightly wine hour and appetizers preceding the buffet dinner.  It does not take long to get completely spoiled at Brewery Gulch Inn.
 During our stay at Brewery Gulch Inn  we enjoyed Fathers & Daughters Cellars wines and learned that our Host Guy Pacurar was one of the owners.  How all this came about proved to be a most interesting story which will be related in a separate Vittles story.
The intimate atmosphere and luxury of Brewery Gulch Inn has not gone unnoticed.  It has won awards as California Inn of the Year and was chosen as one of the 10 most romantic Inns of the Year, also as a coveted four diamond award from the AAA.
Brewery Gulch Inn is located at 9403 North Highway one at Mendocino, Calilfornia.  It first opened in 2001 and a large number of its guests return again and again.  It is open year round and its rates do change between low season and high season.  For more information call 707 937-4752 or 800 578-4454, web www.brewerygulchinn.com.