There’s quaint and then there’s the Village of Mendocino. Listed on the National Register of Historic places, the architecture, water towers, and stunning location evoke the landscape of 19th century Cape Cod.

Every building embodies the village’s unique history, with its houses weathered by salt, air, fog, and wind. Gardens filled with lush foliage and bright blooms spill over the weathered fences of superbly maintained houses. Many vintage buildings have found new life as B&Bs, shops, and restaurants; the historic red church (with its stained-glass windows still intact) is now an organic co-op grocery. And nature is just a step away at the nearby Mendocino Headlands State Park where the only sounds are the crashing waves and the flapping wings and calls of seabirds.