Holiday Shopping Trip
Upcycle In Style
Vintage finds have exploded in Fort Bragg. This chill coastal town is packed with second-hand stores where you can score everything from retro denim to mid-century home decor. It’s like a treasure hunt with ocean views! Find vintage and thrift shops all throughout town, along Highway 1, downtown shop fronts and weekly flea markets. Bonus points awarded for the most uniquely random finds! Plus, shopping vintage here feels super eco-friendly, so you’re basically saving the planet in style.
Find Hidden Arts
Fort Bragg’s not just about the ocean breeze and cute cafes. There is an awesome scene of original art – think hidden galleries squeezed between shops, murals popping up on random buildings, and artists selling their work right from their studios. Forget the Insta-famous stuff; this is real, authentic art, way more interesting than any museum. Ditch the itinerary and get lost – that’s where the good stuff is.
Get Cultured
Time for some old-school vibes with bookstores & music shops, where you can spend hours thumbing through dog-eared paperbacks and vintage vinyl — think weathered wood shelves stacked with used books and that unmistakable musty-sweet record store smell. Find a first pressing of The Pixies’ “Surfer Rosa” tucked between some random folk albums. Find an entire shelf of British murder mysteries across from a collection of North Coast authored poetry anthologies. It’s worth the drive up the coast just for the treasure hunting alone.
Gear Up
Not just another sleepy California coastal town—it’s a lowkey fashion frontier where utility meets style in the most unexpected ways. One shop, brimming with handcrafted jewelry and bohemian-chic dresses, another featuring vintage finds with that perfectly worn-in, effortless style you’ll adore. Forget the predictable souvenir shopping, leave with a renewed wardrobe and a sense of discovery that will blow away the typical beach town experience.
Live The Good Life
Finding yourself thinking of the comforts of home? A quick tour through the local shops will provide you with some homey finds to tuck away in your suitcase or car. Score some handwoven throw pillows from an import marketplace, snag a locally made reclaimed wood side table, and pick up some ceramic mugs crafted by a local artisan. More utilitarian creature comforts can also be found, such as cookware and serve ware, games and even tools. In Fort Bragg, there’s something for everyone and every home.
24 hours in Fort Bragg - October
Follow the ocean breeze.
Nothing cures the inland blues like the fresh ocean air and a killer seafood fix. So, we ditched the valley and hit the road to Fort Bragg for the ultimate overnight trip. First stop: Princess Seafood, because what’s a coastal adventure without fresh-off-the-boat chow? Picture this—sunshine bouncing off the water, crab rolls loaded with buttery perfection, and tacos made from fish so fresh you'll never eat anything that's been frozen again. It’s the kind of spot that makes you forget about the emails you ignored before leaving.
Walk it off.
Fort Bragg is serving major cozy coastal vibes, and after a killer seafood lunch in the harbor, time for a sweet little trek to Noyo Headlands Park. The ocean air hits different here—salty, crisp breezes bring just the right flush to cheeks. Walking off the meal, snapping pics of the rugged cliffs and wild waves crashing below, we'd wondered what took us so long to get here. Honestly, this stretch of the Mendocino coast is the ultimate vibe for a chill yet epic day out.
Meet funky small-town energy tinged with coastal charm.
Fort Bragg is the vibe you didn’t know you needed. Picture this: you walk through downtown, where coastal charm meets funky small-town energy. Then ducking into artsy boutiques and snagging locally made soaps that smell like ocean dreams, then popping into a retro bookstore that feels like a portal to another timeline. Street murals make every corner Instagram-worthy, and the faint scent of sea salt lingers in the air. Then pause for coffee at a café that roasts beans so fresh it feels like the barista just invented caffeine. Fort Bragg? 10/10 date spot.
Check-in and chill.
After hitting up the beach, devouring fish tacos by the harbor, and snapping a million pics of the rugged coastline—it’s finally time to chill. Pull up to the Noyo Harbor Inn, which is perfectly coastal cozy. Nestled right above the harbor, this place has that perfect mix of boutique charm and luxury. Check in, drop your bags, and step onto the balcony with a view is straight out of a movie: fishing boats bobbing in the twilight, seals barking in the distance, and the salty breeze doing its thing. Time to unwind, Fort Bragg style.
Wrap up the day.
A full day of strolling through Fort Bragg’s shops and scoring everything from coastal candles to vintage flannels, it’s time to wind down the adventure with dinner at Overtime Brewery. The vibes are chill, with twinkly lights and locals swapping stories at the bar. You grab a table near the fire pit, order a flight of their craft brews (the hazy IPA slaps), and dive into french fries so good it feels like a hug after a long day. It’s the perfect spot to soak in that small-town charm before calling it a day on the beautiful NorCal coast.
Re-fuel for the drive home.
The next morning, before we hit the road back home from our epic Fort Bragg adventure, we stopped at this absolute gem called Cafe One. Order the Huevos Diversadero, it will save your life after days of road trip fun. This spot was the perfect send-off meal before our drive home, giving us those much-needed road trip fuel and enough caffeine to keep going. Cafe One understood the assignment, and we 100% recommend this spot to literally everyone.
