Mendocino, CA
visitmendocino.com

About a two-hour drive north of San Francisco, Mendocino County is home to one of the most breathtaking coastlines we’ve ever seen. You’ll drive through wine country and majestic mountains on the way. Stop in Point Arena for an exciting tour of the historic lighthouse and check out B. Bryan Preserve (bbryanpreserve.com), a B&B that doubles as an African wildlife sanctuary with zebras, antelope, and more! Further north in Fort Bragg, spend a flower-filled afternoon wandering around the gorgeous Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (gardenbythesea.org).

The deal: At the Stanford Inn by the Sea (stanfordinn.com), a stunning, serene, and friendly eco-lodge, $375 per night for 2 nights gets you a Cottage Suite, Alder Suite, or second floor room with two queen beds with free daily breakfast at the Ravens’ Restaurant and a certificate for canoeing or kayaking on Big River Estuary. That’s a savings of about $100 per day.

Book it: Call 800-331-8884 and mention “Scholastic.” Valid June 1 to Sept. 2, 2010