Why go now: New storefronts and fresh faces are giving this one-horse town a buzzier vibe. Pop: 1,400 That was then: Logging, apple orchards, and sheep.

Sonoma and Napa Valleys are wine country's most famous names, but we strongly recommend driving further north from Sonoma into the largely undiscovered Mendocino County, America's greenest wine region. It's only another hour or so, and is well worth exploring over a couple of nights or more.

British colonists imported hundreds of their favorite apple varieties in the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, 2,500 of the world's 7,000 varieties are grown in the U.S., so there's no reason to limit yourself to the low-hanging heirloom fruit. Orchard visitors can taste a range of products, including cider donuts, apple candy, and spirits such as applejack brandy.

It’s time again to feast the senses at one of the most heavenly days you’ll ever experience.

The Mendocino Film Festival – Take 6 The picturesque Northern California town of Mendocino recently held its 6th annual film festival from June 3-5, 2011. This three day event filled the small art community with cinema enthusiasts eager to take in independent films that gave new voice to genres ranging from politics to art to spirituality.

Northern California’s legendary food and drink is there for the asking at six prime inns and resorts in Mendocino County. And spring season brings last-minute getaway specials of up to half off peak room rates.

The sun-splashed California coast is one long string of picture postcards: the moody northern headlands and shellfish encrusted rocky shores; San Francisco's rust-hued Golden Gate Bridge; the central coast's cliffs and kelp forests, home to playful sea otters; Big Sur's heart-stopping views of the Pacific; roadside groves of towering coastal redwoods, oaks and rare Torrey pines; LA's sandy, pal

After the beautiful hippie girl with the golden brooches from Mendocino in the hair are consumed in 1968 pop singer Michael Holm and with him a whole nation. The small village on the Pacific at that time was longing of many flower children. MERIAN.de-author Bettina Hensel she sought in the present and found plenty of strange before.

Knowing I always love cooking with new ingredients, our food editor Khalil had a really special treat for me last week—a batch of candy cap mushrooms that were sent to him from Eric Schramm “the Mushroom Man” of Mendocino, CA.  The mushroom, which is somewhat exclusive to the West Coast, is rare, and can cost up to $200 a pound for the dry form—but that’s not