Mar Vista Farm + Cottage is one of my favorite places to stay along the coast of California. As you drive through the gate, up the gravel road, past the happy chickens pecking, sunning, and socializing in their expansive hamlet of adorable chicken “condos,” you feel yourself settling into the Mar Vista vibe. This is truly the only way of describing it – it’s a vibe, a mood, a feeling. You feel the world slowing down. Leave your cares at the gate and let the ocean breezes carry away any woes and worries.

As soon as we step out of our car, we receive a warm welcome from Christopher and Deanna Boettcher, owners, residents, and self-described “stewards” of Mar Vista. They give us the run-down of local events happening nearby during our stay, dining suggestions, a checklist of all the things we can enjoy from the farm, like visiting with the animals at the chicken coop and the bunny hutch, picking fresh herbs and fruits and veggies from the garden, and a reminder for us to hang the little basket outside our door if we want fresh eggs for breakfast in the morning.

Having gathered this useful information, we make our way to our cottage. Each cottage at Mar Vista is a smallish wooden structure painted a cheerful butter yellow, each uniquely furnished with charming vintage flair. I swoon at the vintage vibes of the darling kitchen equipped with a stove, refrigerator, and microwave – modern conveniences but with old-timey style.Our cozy cottage sits across from the edible garden and a big picture window allows us to overlook a sliver of ocean shimmering just beyond. A small antique table and chairs, two comfy armchairs, an ottoman and a black iron fireplace fill the room comfortably. To the back of the cottage is a cozy bedroom with a queen-size bed furnished with goose-down pillows and a duvet. The small bathroom is equipped with a small sink and shower and a timed heater to warm the bathroom for delightfully toasty showers. Not a comfort has been spared in these cozy cottages.

First things first, I do a quick inventory of the welcome basket of goodies left for us on the kitchen table. The basket includes local treats including bread from Pelican Bread, coffee from Little Green Bean in Point Arena, jam from Petit Teton in Yorkville, and bacon from Roundmans in Fort Bragg, plus fresh berries from Mar Vista’s garden. One of the highlights of a stay at Mar Vista is preparing a meal in the compact kitchen, and we are already excited about cooking up tomorrow’s breakfast with these local ingredients.

As soon as I can, I walk to the garden to pick strawberries, herbs, lettuce and radishes. The veggies are delicious sans accouterments, but I enjoyed the radishes with a little butter and salt – crisp, peppery, delicious – the perfect hors d’oeuvres! On our way to Mar Vista, we’d stopped by a local grocery store and picked up barbecue ribs and potato salad for a simple meal. There are many places to eat in the area, but we wasted no time settling into our snug little cottage. After dinner, we took our pups for a walk to the private beach across the road. Mar Vista holds a treasured key to a stretch of beach that can only be accessed beyond a locked gate. The beach is public, of course, but access is private. Beyond the gate is a narrow dirt path leading to a descent down some very steep stairs to a quiet stretch of uninhabited beach. We stayed a while savoring the silence except for the sound of the waves hitting the shore. At last, we mustered up the energy to climb back up the stairs and head back to the cottage where I hang our egg basket outside the door, anticipating fresh eggs for breakfast. I settle in a chair with a good book and admire the serene landscape of Mar Vista at dusk. In a few hours, the stars will create a dazzling display in the night sky.

The following day we get an early start. After an amazing breakfast of fried eggs, smoked bacon, and rustic bread slathered with butter and apple pie jam, we are ready to go! We have plans to explore the area and we’ve got tickets to ride the famous Skunk Train which departs from the station at Fort Bragg. Mar Vista is in Gualala, so while it is in the general area of Fort Bragg/Mendocino, it’s not really that close to either town, but the drive is pretty and time flies by quickly. We have tickets to ride the Pudding Creek Express, a little over an hour-long ride through the redwoods. The best seats are on the open air cars that are actually standing room only, but passengers get to ride under the canopy of redwood trees, outdoors in the fresh air. The train makes a half-hour stop at Glen Blair Junction, where passengers can unboard the train and have a picnic lunch or go for a hike along any of the trails. The train departs 30 minutes after arrival, but passengers can return to the Fort Bragg station anytime they want as long as the train is running. Note: At night, Glen Blair turns into a bar where adults can sip cocktails under the stars beneath the glorious redwoods. I imagine this would be an awesome experience. Next time. Another note: We traveled with our dogs on this trip, and they were welcome on the train, however, you must purchase a special ticket for dogs if you want them to come along for the ride.

After our ride on the Skunk Train, I wanted to visit the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. I love seeing the natural flora that grows in the different areas I visit and, much to my husband’s chagrin, I almost always include a visit to the local botanical garden. In Mendocino, there are delicate displays of Dahlia and bold Rhododendron, fragrant heathers, a rose garden, a redwood forest, and, best of all, among the trees and flowers, are pathways offering ocean views; there are even spots where you can whale watch. This is another dog-friendly spot where dogs are welcome. Even the husband enjoyed this outing.

After strolling through the garden for a couple of hours, it was time to grab a bite to eat. We spent some time strolling around Fort Bragg which seems to be the biggest “town” in the area. There’s a cute downtown area with lots of restaurants and coffee shops, but we had plans to eat at HarborView Bistro & Bar. It was a beautiful day and we got a nice table outside with a view of the harbor and the woods. The husband ordered the special: a Cuban sandwich, which he gave an enthusiastic thumbs up – tangy mustard, salty-smoky ham, and melted Swiss cheese enveloped in a crispy toasted roll. I ordered the seafood platter – lightly breaded and fried scallops, prawns and cod; with a little lemon and malted vinegar, it was a tasty meal in a blissful setting.

After lunch, we made a stop at Glass Beach. I was disappointed to find there wasn’t as much glass there as I remembered. Still, it’s a beautiful beach and there were lots of families exploring the tide pools there.

The day was still young, and we were looking forward to returning to our cottage at Mar Vista. We had a bottle of red wine waiting to be enjoyed in front of our little fireplace. I was looking forward to snuggling into a chair in front of the window to watch day turn to night again and to finish another chapter of my book.