MARCH 3 & 4

MENDOCINO, Calif. — Wine tasting and whale watching will be the featured attractions of the 30th Annual Mendocino Whale Festival March 3rd and 4th in Mendocino.

Many wineries will set up tasting stations in inns, galleries and shops throughout Mendocino Village and Little River, while the area’s top chefs produce their favorite seafood chowders in a tasting event. A marine mammal art exhibit, plein-air (live outdoor painting demonstrations) and docent-led walks are all part of the two-day festival.

With some 20,000 gray whales migrating north from birthing grounds in Mexico to their winter home in Alaska, there will be plenty of whales to view from the Mendocino Headlands State Park, which surrounds Mendocino Village.

Major events include:

• Wine Tasting in Mendocino’s shops-Saturday only  - Taste some of Mendocino County's finest varietals
   
• Chowder Tasting  - Saturday only - Sample chowder from some of the best chefs on the coast!
   
• Plein-air Artists in the Village Weather permitting! See local artists painting on the Mendocino Headlands, Saturday
   
• Marine Wildlife Exhibit at the Mendocino Art Center, 10-4pm, Little Lake St., Mendocino. Call 937-5818
  
   

MARCH 10 & 11

LITTLE RIVER, Calif. — A sampler of hospitality and adventure in Little River is served up for your convenience all in one weekend.

• Food & Wine Tasting
  Taste Mendocino County Wines paired with tasty hors d'oeuvres!
   

• John Birchard
  Digital Photography Workshop
   

• Van Damme Visitor Center
  Experience the pigmy forest and fern trails
   

• Open Art Studios
  Check out the art studios nestled in the redwoods.
   

• Docent-led Whale Watch Walk
   

• Kayak Mendocino Sea Cave Tours
   

• Little River Inn Concert Series:
  John Reischman and the Jaybirds
  Description: John Reischman and the Jaybirds fashion a stylish, elegant take on bluegrass that is at once innovative and unadorned, sophisticated and stripped-down, happily old-fashioned, yet unselfconsciously new. A genial blend of story-telling and side-show humor provides the backdrop to their studied performance of original songs. With a unique traditional sound, the mandolin master and his band are known for powerful original songs and instrumentals, soaring vocals and refreshing interpretations of songs from the old-time repertoire presented with their own bluegrass twist. $20 Proceeds benefit the Albion Little River Volunteer Fire Department

MARCH 17 & 18

FORT BRAGG, Calif. –— Microbrew tasting and whale watching will be the featured attractions of the 30th Annual Fort Bragg Whale Festival March 17 and 18.


With some 20,000 gray whales migrating north from birthing grounds in Mexico to their winter home in Alaska, there will be plenty of whales to view from the Pomo Bluffs Park in Fort Bragg and miles of beaches in MacKerricher State Park just north of the city.


Major events include:
 

• Whale Run and Walk Saturday, Race starts at 8am, Skunk Train parking lot
   

• Chowder Tasting  - at Town Hall (corner of Main and Laurel St.), Saturday from 11am until the chowder runs out.
   

• Microbrew Beer Tasting
  at Eagles Hall, 210 N Cory St, Saturday only from 12-5 pm. Local brewers are sampling some of their finest beers, and a few not yet on the market.
   

• Whale Cruises from Noyo Harbor: Whale watching from a charter boat offers a once in a lifetime viewing opportunity. Because whales are close to shore, sightings usually occur within a short 5-15 minute ride. Call Chamber of Commerce for details, 707- 961-6300
   

• Whale Watching by Horseback: Miles of visually stunning beach, with migrating whales on the horizon — awesome! Call Ricochet Ridge Ranch for details, 707-964-7669 or 888-873-5777 (toll free). •Whale Watching at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens: Cozy up and view Gray Whales from the Garden’s rustic Cliff House, nestled into the bluff along the ocean’s edge — or stroll along the large expanse of ocean-side bluffs for unobstructed views. Hours: 9am-5pm.
   

• Point Cabrillo Light House: Docents on hand with whale watching binoculars10am - 4pm on Saturday March 17 and Sunday March 18. Other activities: see a tide pool aquarium, light station history presentations, a life-size gray whale jigsaw puzzle for the kids, Audubon Society-led morning bird identification walks. Hot drinks, cookies, lunch available for purchase in the lighthouse lobby