Top 10 Things to do with Girlfriends in (and around) Fort Bragg
FORT BRAGG
Top 10 Things to do with Girlfriends in (and around) Fort Bragg
Planning a girls’ getaway? Fort Bragg delivers coastal views, outdoor adventure, great food, and plenty of opportunities to relax and reconnect. Whether your crew wants nonstop activity or long, lazy ocean-view lounging, this North Coast gem has you covered.
Here are ten ways to make your weekend unforgettable—and probably an annual tradition.
1. Ride the Skunk Train
Step into a different era aboard the iconic Skunk Train. For the ultimate experience, book the Presidential Car, where vintage rail travel meets elevated snacks and drinks included with your ticket. The stop at the Glen Blair Bar in the redwoods adds another layer of fun and frolic – think a lotta laughter under towering trees.
2. Walk (or Run) the Coastal Trail
The Fort Bragg Coastal trail stretches about 10 miles along dramatic shoreline starting at Noyo Headlands Park at the south end of town. It’s a flat , scenic, and perfect for a morning walk or jog with with sweeping coastal views, dunes, wildlife and beach access along the way.
3. Shop Downtown
Shopping in Fort Bragg is anything but ordinary. The downtown district is packed with galleries, vintage shops, and creative upcycled goods. Hunt for the perfect souvenir, a mid-century serving piece, local artwork—or treat each other to something special at one of the chic women’s boutiques.
4. Do Lunch in the Harbor
For lunch with a view, head to Noyo Harbor. Watch fishing boats glide in and out while seabirds, seals, and otters provide the entertainment. Every restaurant serves ultra-fresh seafood, found in fish tacos, fish and chips, chowders and seafood salads.
5. Stay Somewhere with an Ocean View
Make your getaway extra memorable by booking a home or hotel with sweeping ocean views. Bluff-top rentals, cozy redwood cabins, and coastal hotels offer plenty of options—whether your group wants a luxe retreat or something casual and cozy.
6. Catch the Sunset
Sunset along the coast is a daily ritual here. Any stretch of the coastal trail makes a perfect viewing spot, but if the weather turns moody, grab a table at Noyo River Grill or The Wharf and watch the sky light up from indoors.
7. Time Your Trip with a Local Event
Fort Bragg’s calendar stays lively year-round. Annual favorites include Fort Bragg Whale Festival each March, Magic Market in October, and Paul Bunyan Days over Labor Day weekend. Every first Friday of every month, downtown comes alive with music, late-night shopping, and food trucks.
8. Dinner Downtown
Downtown Fort Bragg delivers when it’s time for dinner. Fresh seafood is always on the menu, and the Mexican restaurants are local favorites. For a lively night out, the bar at Los Gallitos is buzzing most evenings—and the birria tacos are legendary.
9. Rent Bikes
Pick up bikes at Fort Bragg Cyclery and cruise the coast. Riding the coastal trail north leads to MacKerricher State Park, known for its dramatic black sand beaches, tide pools, and wildlife.
10. End the Night with a Cocktail (or Mocktail)
Cap off the evening with drinks and good conversation. A few favorites: harbor views at HarborView Bistro & Bar, local flavor at Milano Hotel & Bar, craft beer at Tall Guy Brewing, or historic charm at Golden West Saloon with its beautifully carved original bar.
North Coast Clothing Co.
North Coast Clothing Co.
Anchor and Grind
Anchor & Grind
Fort Bragg Bakery
Fort Bragg Bakery
Best known for sourdough and French baguettes, the Bakery also churns out everything from rye loaves to breadcrumbs.
At 3:30 a.m., while most of Fort Bragg still dreams, the lights at Fort Bragg Bakery, located on Franklin Street in the literal center of town, flicker on. Owned by Tricia and Chris Kump since 1999 with head baker Misa since 2009, Fort Bragg Bakery sells only commercially and so is not open to the public, unfortunately for the public! However, you can find the bread at local markets and restaurants and get your fix that way.
Bragg’s Daily Bread
The building holds a large and beautiful brick oven dating back to the 1920’s, fashioned from bricks that were used as ballast on the boats returning to Fort Bragg from San Francisco after dropping their loads of redwood logs.
Best known for sourdough and French baguettes, the Bakery also churns out everything from rye loaves to breadcrumbs. The rich and mouthwatering aroma of baking bread permeates the air in the mornings on Franklin Street and you will so want to enter the business for some freshly baked bread, but you will find the door only cracked for ventilation, and a chain lock in place. But the windows always have a fun display, and if you peek in you will see there is a bustle of activity inside with Misa at the helm.
Local Tip:
Head to nearby Harvest Market where you will find an array of Fort Bragg Bakery products on display.
Mountain Mike’s Pizza
Mountain Mike’s Pizza
Weekday All-You-Can-Eat Lunch Buffet offers endless options for everyone at one low price.
Good & Coffee
Thanksgiving Coffee
Thanksgiving Coffee Company has been roasting beans in Fort Bragg with purpose and heart since 1972. The company grew from a vision shaped by current CEO Jonah Katzeff’s mother and father, a vision that coffee could be a force for good.
Inspired by the back-to-the-land movement of the late 60’s, the founders wanted every cup to weave together the flavors of distant lands with the well-being of the farmers who brought each harvest to life. Thanksgiving Coffee pioneered direct relationships with coffee growers long before “fair trade” became a household phrase. Their motto is“Not Just a Cup, But a Just Cup”, and it isn’t just a slogan, but a daily promise to uplift communities from Central America to Africa.
Artisan roasted, ethically sourced
Through innovation and activism, the company has been at the forefront of environmental stewardship: championing organic coffees, investing in sustainable packaging, and supporting social and environmental causes close to home and across the globe.
Thanksgiving Coffee is deeply committed to the North Coast community, where its been located for over 47 years. Local employees roast, package, deliver and ship products directly from the roastery that overlooks the scenic Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg, California. It is a Fort Bragg business through and through and the smell of roasting beans is a welcome smell in the harbor area on roasting days.
Local Tip:
Coffee can be purchased directly at their shop on the south side of the harbor.
“We didn’t start out to change the world.
We were just looking for a good cup of coffee.”
A Winter Wanderland Awaits
A FORT BRAGG GIVEAWAY
Register for the Fort Bragg monthly newsletter and you’ll be automatically entered to win one of several free two-night stays at top local hotels + a package of passes for fun things to do in Fort Bragg. Oh, and you’ll also get a monthly update of all the incredible things you can do, see, explore and enjoy from Fort Bragg.
Enter to win a Winter Visit Prize Package
All packages include two nights at participating Fort Bragg hotel (**restrictions apply) Additional Prizes may include:
Presidential Car Skunk Train tickets Passes to Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens Whale Watching trip on the Viking with Noyo Fishing Charters Brewery tours + beer flights at Tall Guy Brewing and North Coast Brewing Company Gift certificates to local Fort Bragg Restaurants
To Enter:
Sign up for the Fort Bragg monthly newsletter. If you are already signed up, not a problem, simply add your name and email address below and you will be entered.
Instagram: watch for Instagram posts that invite you to tag a friend and you will both be entered.Promotion lasts through February, and hotel reservations must be made for stays before March 31.
Lost Coast Found
Lost Coast Found
The Soroptimist Holiday Craft Fair
The Soroptimist Holiday Craft Fair
at Town Hall
DEC: 13-14 – Open: Sat 10am-6pm / Sun 10am-3pm
It’s time to celebrate and go shopping! Bring your family to the Soroptimist Holiday Craft Fair at Town Hall in downtown Fort Bragg. Town Hall is in the heart of the downtown business district of Fort Bragg, CA. one block east of the Skunk Train.
Be sure to enjoy the Holiday festivities, whale watching and coast trail, and all the window decorations on Main Street. Meanwhile, treat yourself to a really unique shopping experience at the December Holiday Craft Fair!
The Dec. Craft Fair will include a wide variety of amazing hand-crafted items, from quilts and toys, to iron works, pottery, knits and crochet, jewelry, bird houses, tools, and other unique crafts.
Town Hall is at the corner of Main and Laurel Streets in Fort Bragg.