The view from my picture window was surreal. The fog had cleared from Navarro beach, and I could clearly see the foamy surf and ocean crags below. A fog bank had worked its way into the Navarro river canyon and laid out like a solid, sentient thing winding into the sequoia covered hills: amazing.

This morning, I (Alyson Blair) would head into those hills for a tour of Mendocino County. After a small breakfast, checking my itinerary, and loading the Jeep, I headed east from Albion on hwy 128 into the redwoods. I’ve driven many places, and I have driven hwy 128 countless times, but I have yet to experience a more a picturesque drive and it surprises me with its beauty no matter how recently I’ve driven it. I have never been witness to a greener-green and when the light filters through the trees onto the fallen redwood bark and redwood shamrocks the whole forest glows.

My first stop of the day was the Navarro General Store which is about ½ hour 45 minutes inland. I often stop here for gas, food and, at times, to party. They make generously portioned and delicious sandwiches as well as fabulous tamales, lasagna, and all kinds of great eats. In addition to gas and a well stocked deli, the Navarro Market has an outdoor amphitheater that often hosts bands and musical acts of all sorts during the summer months. As if that isn’t enough, they serve barbeque during these events, and I LOVE their barbeque. http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3711368992/navarro-general-store-navarro. This unassuming, little stop is not to be missed for its food and fun…and gas.

After fueling my Jeep and pocketing a concert calendar, I continued down hwy 128 toward wine country. The first break in trees gives way to verdant, fleshy hills most of which are covered in grapevines. I turned left into one of the first vineyards you’ll find heading east: Roederer Estates. I have a thing for California sparkling wine, and Roederer Estates crafts some of the most delicious bubbly. After all, they are responsible for Cristal. http://www.roedererestate.com/index.php. The grounds are enormous, and the tasting room looks like the lovechild of a tutor manor and a weathered barn. It’s an impressive building and fits perfectly amongst the backdrop of grapes and the rural Mendocino County hills. Whether you enjoy a sweeter sparkling wine, or prefer something dry and powerful, the historically relevant yet completely current Roderer Estates has something for you.

Inspired, and in a decidedly great mood, I continued east along hwy 128 toward Hendy Woods and The Apple Farm. Both of these points of interest are on Philo-Greenwood Rd. which is a quick right turn off of hwy 128 east, if you get to Philo, you’ve gone too far. The Apple Farm is on the left about a ¼ mile down the road heading west and it is a must see. It is rustic, charming, and creates the most delicious juices, fruit, and other apple products. The Apple Farm operates on an honor system, meaning that when you arrive to purchase products the lovely foods and juices will be displayed before you, but you might find that no one else is around. Simply choose what you’d like, find the listed price, and place the correct amount of money into the cash bucket. This is a cash only business as are many of the businesses in Mendocino County, so if you plan to visit, be prepared. Happily, I came prepared and purchased a bottle of cider. I also took a walk around. The gardens, cooking room (they offer delectable classes) http://www.philoapplefarm.com/. , guest cottages (you can stay here!), and greenhouses were simple, but so clean, and quaint; decadent in their simplicity really. If you’re looking for rural tranquility with a food centered theme, you can’t go wrong with this place. I’m hoping to return for a couple of days to take a cooking class series where I’ll create numerous apple dishes and lull comfortably in my little apple cabin.

Daydreaming of apple pastries, I headed about another ½ mile west on Philo-Greenwood Rd. to Hendy Woods State Park. I had been to Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve which is just outside of Comptche (located in the center of Mendocino county) and is truly a spiritual experience, but I had never been to Hendy Woods State Park and was looking forward to taking a walk amongst the sequoias. To my surprise, I found a lot more than big trees. This park offers camping, a comprehensive visitor’s center, many well maintained trails, and an open glade which has been dubbed "the picnic area." I drove all the way down the paved road to the picnic area, and parked the Jeep. I was grateful to find that there were bathroom facilities, and intrigued by the trailhead sign regarding "Walk with Gentle Giants." I decided that I would like to walk take a walk with the gentle giants, and headed down the trail. I was pleased to find that this grove (being inland) wasn’t nearly as wet as the coastal woods. I could smell the pine, sage, and earth as I walked the trail watching everything around me and noticing that the trees were growing taller and bigger in circumference than those at the trailhead. Within a 5 minute walk, I was standing under a grove of trees that were so tall it gave me vertigo to try to see the tops of them. They were truly giants and scraped the sky. I was mesmerized. http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/438/files/hendywoods.pdf.

… to find out more about my day abroad in Mendocino County and other fantastic experiences, please check for frequent updates.