RENDEVOUS ON THE COAST

Every September the energy of the year lures me to the beach. My favorite place on the Northwest Coast of California is the county of Mendocino, known for its dramatic coastline, art culture, and endless sunsets, a beautiful, peaceful place to reload your battery and reconnect with the natural world. This time I chose a funky, dog-friendly B&B with a kitschy charm that a young couple from Los Angeles purchased during the beginning of the pandemic called the Rendezvous Inn. Diane and Damien live on a property with their two dogs and are continually restoring the inn that sits in a little town called Anchor Bay. Adorned on the walls of the 6 cottages were paint overs of eclectic subjects. Hanging over the cozy fireplace was a bucolic picture of a redwood forest. Inserted into the painting was a UFO and alien walking toward you. Each unit had its deck and swing facing the ocean for optimal sunset watching and star gazing. The absolute best part of staying here for my foodie soul was the fresh-baked breakfast by Diane and the ultimate calzone from Damien for dinner. After a fun day of beach combing and watching the dog bark at the waves, you text them your order by a certain time, and, voila, it shows up on your doorstep with an inviting aroma and décor on the plate from indigenous herbs, fruits, and flowers. The pecan and ginger scones were to die for. A tiny dish of freshly foraged huckleberries from Diane and Damien’s outing the day before accompanied my farewell morning spread. Still dreaming of the warm, homemade scones, I headed back south filled with calm and gratitude.