ELK 39
Stunning Views & More in Elk
NANCY BARTH
Safe Storm Watching
During the winter and spring months,
the “Pacific” Ocean is not always peaceful. Storms taking place hundreds of miles
away may result in heavy swells and waves
as high as 20 feet, coming in to Mendocino
Coast beaches. In November, a distant storm
brought 15-20 foot high waves to Noyo
Beach, which usually has no surf at all.
Thanks to the efforts of the Mendocino
County Water Safety Coalition, residents
and visitors seem to be more conscious of
water safety. For those who want to watch
and photograph the stormy ocean, the
Mendocino Coast offers many opportunities for safe storm watching. Blufftops at
Point Arena and Elk and the public access at
Navarro Point provide good viewing areas.
Mendocino Headlands State Park and Point
Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park attract many storm watchers.
South of Fort Bragg, Pomo Bluffs Park
features a blufftop trail with views of boats
coming and going and whales in season.
North of Fort Bragg, the Pudding Creek
trestle. MacKerricher State Park, Westport
Headlands Park, and Westport-Union Landing State Park provide safe access for viewing
the ocean.
Even on calm days, small children
playing on the beach should be closely
watched and should have an escape route
in case of a big wave or a rising tide. The
Mendocino County Water Safety Coalition
has published a safety brochure, “OCEAN’S
TWELVE”, which is available at several
beaches and at State Parks. Please make sure
your trip to the coast has a happy ending!
Nancy Barth
ROY DUFRAIN JR.
Elk is one of the truly magical spots
on the Mendocino Coast. The stunning
views of majestic rock formations from
ocean bluffs sprinkled with coastal
wildflowers are just the beginning of
the magic.
Lodging opportunities in Elk include
the luxurious and romantic as well
as the private and reflective; historic
B&B’s, European-style spas, quaint country inns, hidden vacation houses and idyllic retreats all
can be found in the area.
Several of the lodging establishments offer fine dining, and there are other interesting local
eateries as well.
Enjoy lunch at a friendly cafe or deli, and then stop by the local store for a bottle of
Mendocino wine. Stroll through seaside gardens while the sun sets into the ocean, or comb the
sandy beach alongside the gulls while the seals and whales play offshore. Or cruise the shops
and galleries after an oceanside dinner, then duck into the local pub for a pint of hearty brew.
If you’re looking for a little challenge, embark on an adventure such as hiking or horseback
riding local trails, or a tour of the ocean by kayak. Later, you can recover with a therapeutic
massage or a soak in a hot tub overlooking the ocean.
They say good things come in small packages. The little town of Elk is proof enough of that!
While You’re In Elk
LODGING
Elk Cove Inn. 6300 S. Hwy. 1, Elk.
1-800-275-2967.
Elk Guest House. Elk, 877-3308.
Greenwood Pier Inn. 5928 S. Hwy. 1,
Elk. 877-9997.
Griffin House. 5910 S. Hwy. 1, Elk,
877-3422.
Harbor House Inn. 5600 S. Hwy. 1,
800-720-7474.
Irish Beach Vacation Rentals.
Irish Beach, 800-882-8007.
Manchester Beach KOA. 44300 Kinney
Rd. Manchester. 882-2375.
RESTAURANTS & DELIS
Bridget Dolan’s. 5910 S. Hwy. 1, Elk,
877-1820.
Elk Store & Deli. Elk, 877-3411.
Greenwood Pier Cafe. 5928 S. Hwy. 1,
Elk, 877-9997.
Queenie’s Roadhouse Cafe. 6061 S. Hwy.
1, 877-3285.
GALLERIES
Artists’ Collective in Elk. 6031 S. Hwy. 1.
877-1128.
SPECIAL SERVICES
Ross Ranch Horseback Riding.
877-1834. www.rossranch.biz
See Page 39
PRIVATE HORSEBACK RIDING
ON MANCHESTER BEACH & IN THE ELK MOUNTAINS
Private, guided horseback rides through a beautiful
mountain redwood forest just east of Elk,
or go for a ride on spectacular Manchester Beach.
$50 for 2 hours in The Mountains
$60 for 2 hours on The Beach
707-877-1834 • www.rossranch.biz
