A Slower Kind of Holiday
Holidays on the
Mendocino Coast
Winter on this coast means quiet trails, dramatic surf, long lunches and local wine. Settle in at Hill House at Trailborn Mendocino, minutes from Mendocino Village, with the Pacific out back and Pizza Standard Time downstairs.
Grab a bottle from the Hill House Wine & Grocer. Build a picnic. Light the firepit. Stay awhile.
Come Join us on The Coast
Hill House was built for lingering a little longer, with a bottle of wine, a roaring fire, a long dinner, and a chair facing the ocean.Â
Slow Down in The Landing
Trade a day outdoors for something restorative — Saturday Morning Yoga, sound meditation, or a private massage in our movement studio.
Best Seat on the Coast
The Discovery Deck comes with rocking chairs and a complimentary spotting scope. Winter brings gray whales, big swells and iconic sunsets over the Pacific.
Firepits & S'mores
Bring a layer, pick up a s'mores kit, and gather around the firepit as the coastal air cools and the stars come out.
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Festival of Lights
November 27 – December 20, 2026 | Fridays–Sundays
After dark, the Gardens turn into something else entirely. Wander illuminated paths past handmade displays, bundled up against the coastal air, with hot cocoa served along the way.
Festive without losing the wild, slightly mysterious feeling that makes this stretch of coast so memorable. Tickets sell out — book ahead.
Local Holiday Happenings
The coast does the holidays its own way — lighted trucks down Franklin Street, candlelit shop windows in the village, a train through the redwoods. Here's what's worth planning around.
Winter Wonderland & Lighted Truck Parade
December 5, 2026
Downtown Fort Bragg goes all in: a Festival of Trees silent auction, photos with Santa, the tree lighting at 6, then logging trucks and hot rods strung with lights rolling down Franklin Street.
December 5, 2026
Downtown Fort Bragg goes all in: a Festival of Trees silent auction, photos with Santa, the tree lighting at 6, then logging trucks and hot rods strung with lights rolling down Franklin Street.
Candlelit Shopping Night in Mendocino Village
December 12, 2026
The village shops and galleries stay open late, lit by candlelight. Walk the wooden storefronts, find something handmade, and finish the evening at dinner in town.
December 12, 2026
The village shops and galleries stay open late, lit by candlelight. Walk the wooden storefronts, find something handmade, and finish the evening at dinner in town.
Ride the Magical Christmas Train
Late November – December 31, 2026
The Skunk Train runs a holiday route through the redwoods to the world's largest living Christmas tree, with treats, carols and Santa aboard. Worth the drive inland.
Late November – December 31, 2026
The Skunk Train runs a holiday route through the redwoods to the world's largest living Christmas tree, with treats, carols and Santa aboard. Worth the drive inland.
Cold Moon Night at Point Arena Lighthouse
December 23, 2026
Climb the tower after dark for panoramic coastal views under the almost-full Cold Moon, with sparkling wine and snacks at the top. Reservations required, weather dependent.
December 23, 2026
Climb the tower after dark for panoramic coastal views under the almost-full Cold Moon, with sparkling wine and snacks at the top. Reservations required, weather dependent.
Hometown Holidays in Point Arena
December 12, 2026
Carolers, a tree lighting, live music and merchant specials in one of the smallest, most charming towns on Highway 1.
December 12, 2026
Carolers, a tree lighting, live music and merchant specials in one of the smallest, most charming towns on Highway 1.
Winter Swell Season
Throughout the Season
Winter brings the biggest surf of the year to this coast. Watch it break against the bluffs from the Discovery Deck, or walk out to the headlands and get closer.
Throughout the Season
Winter brings the biggest surf of the year to this coast. Watch it break against the bluffs from the Discovery Deck, or walk out to the headlands and get closer.
Whale Watch from the Discovery Deck
December – April
Gray whale migration picks up through winter. Grab the complimentary spotting scope, or head to Point Cabrillo Lighthouse for a closer look.
December – April
Gray whale migration picks up through winter. Grab the complimentary spotting scope, or head to Point Cabrillo Lighthouse for a closer look.
Winter Happenings
The holidays wind down but the coast doesn't. Keep the getaway going with redwood hikes, wine country drives, and long afternoons by the fire at Hill House.
The holidays wind down but the coast doesn't. Keep the getaway going with redwood hikes, wine country drives, and long afternoons by the fire at Hill House.
A Holiday Weekend, Mendocino-Style
Make a Weekend of It
Morning
Coffee, something warm, and a walk along the headlands while the village is still quiet.
Afternoon
Drive north through the redwoods, head inland for wine, or stay put with a picnic from the Wine & Grocer on the lawn.
Golden Hour
Head back to Hill House for our favorite part of the day. Try wines by the ounce with our Hill House Wine and Grocer wine tap, grab a rocking chair, and watch the sun go down over the Pacific.
Evening
Indulge in a little pizza and dessert at Pizza Standard Time, grab a drink in Cabot Cove, and spend the rest of the evening beside a fire pit.
Trailborn Gift Cards
Give Them the Coast
Some gifts belong under the tree. Others belong somewhere with an ocean view.
A Trailborn gift card can become a stay at Hill House, dinner at Pizza Standard Time, or a winter weekend spent exploring the Mendocino Coast.
Offers & Packages
Make the season easy. Bring home two bottles of Anderson Valley wine with Wine Country Whimsy, or plan a family holiday with in-room camping and a s'mores kit.
