It all started in 1998 when my mother-in-law gave me (Geneviève) a book of recipes by Margaret Fox in which she describes opening Café Beaujolais in Mendocino. I like to cook, and I loved both the recipes and the story. My husband, Jonathan (who passed away in 2021), surprised me with a trip to Mendocino and a fine meal at Café Beaujolais to celebrate my birthday… it was fate. For almost two decades, we’d come back to Mendocino every year—sometimes twice a year, to spend time together and enjoy the magic of the Pacific Ocean. After living and raising our two daughters in Petaluma we decided to move to the Mendocino area--Albion!

I'm a retired nurse; Jonathan was a writer. I've lived in California for nearly 28 years. I'm originally from France. I love hosting guests because I know the profound positive impact that this special place has on everyone who spends time here.

For more information on our hosting history and reviews please visit our other listing Shangri-La on VRBO.

This property offers access to the immense beauty of the Mendocino Coast and all of its activities, natural wonders, and easy access to the quaint and charming surrounding towns with shopping, restaurants, festivals, and other seasonal events. The Mendocino Coast has alot to offer, here are some of the highlights of our area.

Entertainment:
• Albion River campground: You can rent a kayak or canoe and go up river.
• Pt. Cabrillo Lighthouse (nice walk, about 15 minutes drive to north; occasionally offers tours)
• Noyo Harbor: You can rent kayaks here for the ocean…; get on a whale boat or fishing boat.
• At Fort Bragg, there are also walks on the bluffs to the South and North of town, with parking.
• Fort Bragg: Skunk Train offers train rides and special bicycle adventures.
• At Catcha Canoe near Big River beach you can rent a kayak, canoe and go up river, they also rent bicycles.
• The village is a lasting legacy of Victorian/Craftsman style architecture thanks to the local community's preservation efforts. Take a scenic walk on the bluffs and explore the book store, art galleries, shops, cafes, and so on.
• Pt. Arena lighthouse (about 45 minutes Southwest); nice town, more restaurants, Bryant Reserve wild animal Zoo, and a beautiful old cinema.
• Hiking: There are trails all over the place: Russian Gulch, Hendy Woods, Big River, etc. Van Damme has a beautiful flat trail and a pygmy forest; parts of Jurassic Park were filmed in this area.

Beaches:
• There are beaches all up and down the coast. South of Albion is Navarro Beach. Go south to the hwy 128 junction, turn right across the bridge, and take first right to reach the beach. There used to be a whole town there!
• Going north is Little River beach and a few minutes more, Big River Beach; from the latter, you can also go up steps to Mendocino Village, landing behind an old church.
• A secluded beach can be found north of Caspar, too. Fort Bragg also has several nice beaches.

This property is secluded but not isolated, featuring unforgettable ocean views. The house itself is spacious, clean, comfortable, and offers modern amenities, while also providing a casual atmosphere for your enjoyment.

The 2 main bedrooms both feature king size beds and a twin sleeper option; the 3rd bedroom has a full size bed, and the 4th has a queen size bed. The Master bath has a clawfoot bathtub, and the other bathroom has a stand-up shower/traditional modern bathtub. There is also a private outdoor shower with hot water near the hot tub. See photo of the hot tub to appreciate the beauty of the setting.

For more information on our hosting history and reviews please visit our other listing Shangri-La on VRBO.