They’re here to soak up American history, taste craft beers, explore the notable restaurant scene and take a boat out on the water. Though Portsmouth is home to a massive naval shipyard and former Air Force base, tourists hardly notice. Small fishing boats sail the wide Piscataqua River, historic streets are paved with bricks or cobblestones, and 18th-century homes are as common as lobster rolls in this quaint seaside town, which English merchants settled in 1630. It’s one of the largest cities in New Hampshire, but Portsmouth still feels like a colonial village.
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It’s perfect for a romantic getaway-rooms all face the ocean, and some have fireplaces and Jacuzzi tubs. Also nearby is the 65-room Little River Inn (7901 North Hwy 1, Little River, 70, ), a rambling and comfy hideaway with a friendly staff and charming rooms. A big draw here is the serene full-service spa. Another highlight is the gay-owned boutique resort Stevenswood (8211 North Hwy 1, 80, ), which is nestled among tall trees and open meadows and has 10 rooms decorated in a light and airy contemporary style. Most of the rooms here have fireplaces and private decks overlooking the ocean. A stylish “eco-resort” with one of the country’s most acclaimed vegan restaurants (Ravens’), the Stanford Inn by the Sea (Coast Hwy and Comptche Ukiah Rd, 70, ) has a breathtaking location overlooking Mendocino Bay.Ī short drive south of town near verdant Van Damme State Park, the gay-owned Glendeven Inn (8205 North Hwy 1, 70, ) looks like a Maine farmhouse and is surrounded by lush gardens and dewy meadows. Innkeepers Andrew Hindman and Damien Wood also run two sister inns, the Packard House (45170 Little Lake St, 70, ) and Blue Door Inn (10481 Howard St, 70, ). House (571 Ukiah St, 70, ) is a lovely eight-room B&B surrounded by fragrant gardens, and with an invitingly simple and fresh country-chic aesthetic.
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Mendocino and nearby villages have a bounty of gay-friendly inns and B&Bs, with an emphasis on unpretentious, rustic luxury. Also outstanding, the unassuming Moosse Café (390 Kasten St, 70, ), which is warmed by a fireplace, offers exceptional mod-American fare, and the MacCallum House (45020 Albion St, 70, )-also a nice place to stay-serves some of the most accomplished regional American food on the California coast.
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Occupying a dark, wood-paneled room with big windows overlooking colorful gardens, 955 Ukiah (955 Ukiah St, 70, ) serves sophisticated California-style cuisine. The region has no shortage of stellar restaurants. Mendocino County Wine ( ) has information on tastings at dozens of vineyards open to the public. You can also go wine-touring in the adjacent Anderson Valley, whose cool climate is particularly suitable for turning out Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It’s also home to such attractions as the 47-acre Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (18220 North Hwy 1, Fort Bragg, 70, ) and the historic 21-mile Skunk Train scenic excursion railroad (Laurel St, Fort Bragg, CA 95437, 70, ), which passes through soaring redwood groves. Just north of Mendocino, the once-prosaic lumber town of Fort Bragg has lately gentrified with hip coffeehouses and fun restaurants. A great place for this is Mendocino Headlands State Park, an easy walk from downtown.
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And you can hike along oceanfront bluffs that loom high over the frothy Pacific surf and watch whales during the spring and fall migrations.
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You can rent mountain bikes, kayaks or canoes and explore the region’s rivers or country lanes. The most intriguing activities in coastal Mendocino County usually involve one kind of touring or another. And while it’s not really a gay mecca, it does have a strong following among same-sex couples who appreciate the low-key vibe and alluring setting. This cliff-top community is in the heart of a region where loggers, tourists, winegrowers, writers, farmers, hippies, yuppies and fishermen more or less coexist harmoniously. The town is just 150 miles up the coast from San Francisco, and 80 miles via the lovely Anderson Valley from the heart of the Sonoma Wine Country. Among the many jewels of the rugged California coastline, the beautiful little town of Mendocino ( ) stands out for its rugged sea cliffs, charming New England–inspired cottages and serene seclusion.