A Postcard From Fort Bragg, California
Sitting at the kitchen table of our new second home in Fort Bragg I realize what a magical place this is.  We ate Salmon for dinner and afterwards took a walk down to the beach to enjoy the sunset.

About Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg is located on the scenic Mendocino Coast, north of San Francisco, flanked by the towns of Mendocino and Garberville. Fort Bragg is a maritime town surrounded by redwood forests and full of fine homes and gorgeous gardens brimming with colorful flowers. Noyo Harbor, just south of town, is an old-fashioned fishing village with celebrated seafood restaurants and charter fishing boats. One remarkable feature of Fort Bragg is the Skunk Train.  Running for 40 miles between Fort Bragg and the town of Willits along U.S. Highway 101, The Skunk Train goes through the Redwoods. The train crosses 30 bridges and rides along the scenic route, as well as going inside one deep mountain tunnel. Another place to visit is the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.  These gardens are famous for being the only public gardens to be located right on the beach.  From thunderous waves to year-round displays of rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, daisies and ferns, the Gardens make a beautiful place to talk a walk.

Within the city of Fort Bragg the typical 3 bedroom 2-bath home on a city lot are priced from about $300,000 to $500,000.  Outside the city the prices range from $400,000 to $800,000 and are usually on 1 acre or more.   Views of the ocean are available starting about $700,000.  The options are many and careful second homebuyers can often find properties their looking for at reasonable rates.

Pacific Coast, north of the San Francisco Bay Area, experiences a mild climate year round. There is very little variation in temperature from winter, spring, summer and fall. Summers are dry, but typically cool and foggy right along the coast. Further inland, near the Anderson Valley, temperatures will be warmer with more sunny days. Be advised that it can be in the 60s in the Mendocino coast area, and just 30 miles inland the temperature can be in the 90s. Cool ocean breezes and a thick marine layer help moderate coastal temperatures. If visiting during wintertime, there is a good chance it will rain during your stay. November through March are the wettest months. Fall is generally the sunniest time along the northern Pacific Coast.

Things to Do
Ride horses on the beach
Go whale watching
Take a fishing trip
Walk on the beach
Visit Noyo Harbor
Take a charter boat
Explore Fort Bragg Museums

Cultural Events
The World's Largest Salmon Barbecue

Near-By Areas
Caspar, Mendocino

Closest Cities
Santa Rosa, CA (102.0 miles)
San Francisco, CA (149.4 miles)

Getting to Fort Bragg
The closest airport in the area is the Little River airport (O48) located about 12 miles south of Fort Bragg in Little River, California.  The closest commercial airports are San Francisco and Oakland airports.

Weather
The climate is moderate.  Summers are warm and winters are mild and wet.  Average annual rainfall in the area is approximately 40 inches with the majority falling from November through April.  Average daily high and low temperatures range 55/40°F during winter and 65/50°F during summer.  The air is clear and pure with any trace of pollution.

State Parks
MacKerricher State Park 
Russian Gulch State Park 
Mendocino Headlands State Park

Population
Population: 7,026

Economics
Median household income: $28,539

Higher Education
Mendocino College
College Of The Redwoods