Packard House was truly sumptuous, and the bed was so luxurious, we didn't want to get up at all! Breakfast, too, was wonderful. Baked bananas with vanilla sauce to start, followed by a roasted portobello mushroom topped with goat cheese, sliced heirloom tomato, and topped with scrambled eggs with herbs. Even the tea was especially delicious. As we ate we chatted with a honeymooning couple from Berkeley, who come to Mendocino regularly. They made some suggestions for activities, and told us the botanical garden we had planned to visit was well worth the trip. We said goodbye to our new friends and headed out into Mendocino Village.
We had heard that there were blackberries free for the picking along the main street near the coast but we were shocked to see the sheer expanse of the bramble. From town's edge to the shore, there were blackberries as far as the eye could see. We spent about 25 minutes picking berries, filling an empty container which previously held 4 muffins. As we picked, we did regular "quality control" checks by taste. Our hands were juice-stained, and we were glad to have the Wet-Naps in the car.
We headed north to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, which is about 10 acres of plants, some native, and others imported. We thought we had seen the mother lode of dahlias in Golden Gate Park the day before, but we were clearly mistaken. They had a tremendous variety of these lovely flowers. Although many of the other species were not in bloom, we really enjoyed the many trails. At one point we went through a gate, which is part of a system to keep the wild deer from the more delicate (a.k.a delicious) plants in the upper gardens. Once we passed through the deer gate, the land was much more wild, with large trees, and streams running throughout. There was an attached cafe offering homemade ice cream. We accepted their offer and bought a scoop of strawberry, which was delicious.
The drive back to Forestville, in the Russian River area, was lovely. At one point we stopped the car to allow two deer to cross the road in front of us. The B&B we are staying in, the Case Ranch Inn, is just lovely, and the innkeepers are friendly and helpful. We also love the fact that Case Ranch seems to be operated by people who share our love of the earth, as they are a certified green business. They directed us to town for a casual dinner at a Mexican restaurant, and we headed back to bed down for the night.
Packard House was truly sumptuous, and the bed was so luxurious, we didn't want to get up at all! Breakfast, too, was wonderful. Baked bananas with vanilla sauce to start, followed by a roasted portobello mushroom topped with goat cheese, sliced heirloom tomato, and topped with scrambled eggs with herbs. Even the tea was especially delicious. As we ate we chatted with a honeymooning couple from Berkeley, who come to Mendocino regularly. They made some suggestions for activities, and told us the botanical garden we had planned to visit was well worth the trip. We said goodbye to our new friends and headed out into Mendocino Village.
We had heard that there were blackberries free for the picking along the main street near the coast but we were shocked to see the sheer expanse of the bramble. From town's edge to the shore, there were blackberries as far as the eye could see. We spent about 25 minutes picking berries, filling an empty container which previously held 4 muffins. As we picked, we did regular "quality control" checks by taste. Our hands were juice-stained, and we were glad to have the Wet-Naps in the car.
We headed north to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, which is about 10 acres of plants, some native, and others imported. We thought we had seen the mother lode of dahlias in Golden Gate Park the day before, but we were clearly mistaken. They had a tremendous variety of these lovely flowers. Although many of the other species were not in bloom, we really enjoyed the many trails. At one point we went through a gate, which is part of a system to keep the wild deer from the more delicate (a.k.a delicious) plants in the upper gardens. Once we passed through the deer gate, the land was much more wild, with large trees, and streams running throughout. There was an attached cafe offering homemade ice cream. We accepted their offer and bought a scoop of strawberry, which was delicious.
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