Redwood Coast Riding Vacations begin on a Monday, where you will meet at Ricochet Ridge Ranch at 2:00 PM for your orientation and first experience horseback riding on the beach. During orientation, you will learn a bit about Ricochet Ridge Ranch, the other riders, and the horse you will ride during the week. After your orientation and riding demonstration, you will head down the beach for a lovely first day of riding, giving you an opportunity to "audition" your horse and tack before heading out to the forest for an all day ride on Tuesday. After your ride, a three course dinner with wine awaits you at the Cliff House Restaurant, a lovely river side establishment with views over the Noyo Harbor, bay and ocean.

Tuesday morning after breakfast, head back to Ricochet Ridge Ranch to meet up with your horses and build your lunch. On this day, you will explore Jackson State Forest to ride all day in 45,000 acres of redwoods and Douglas fir, in the largest State Forest in California. You will traverse old stagecoach roads, riding along the headwaters of the Noyo River, revisiting the trails used in the Mendocino 50 and 100 mile endurance races. After the ride on our way back to the Hill House, we'll stop at the Chapter and Moon Restaurant for dinner. Tucked away in a corner of Noyo Harbor, guests enjoy views out past the estuary to the ocean sunset. At Chapter and Moon, you will watch sea lions in the harbor, as fishing boats cruise in and out of the bay. Your three course dinner with wine may include the freshest catch of the day.

Wednesday morning, it's back to RRR for a shorter, leisurely ride along the bluffs overlooking the ocean on a different section of ocean view trail. Make sure to bring your cameras, as this is a fabulous day for photos. After your ride, return to Mendocino for an afternoon lunch at the Bayview Cafe, overlooking the Mendocino Headlands and the Pacific Ocean. Following lunch, your afternoon is free to explore this historic village, relaxing on local beaches, hiking along the headlands, or delighting in the local galleries and shops. Dinner this evening is at the Mendocino Hotel....meet before hand for "no-host" cocktails in their friendly lounge under the Tiffany stained glass skylight. After your three course dinner with wine, you will enjoy the entertainment of one of the acclaimed local musicians in a private concert. Thursday morning after a Continental breakfast at the Hill House Inn, you will meet back at RRR. After building your lunch, everyone will receive a stethoscope and learn how to take your horse's resting heart rate. Then we're off to Ten Mile Beach, where you can canter on for miles and miles. At the estuary, you strike north, passing virgin redwood trees thousands of years old, and heading to the top of Simcha Ranch, with fabulous 360 degree views overlooking the river valley and the Pacific Ocean. There's a surprise at lunch! Afterwards, the trail offers more opportunities for long trots and canters while enjoying spectacular views. Tonight is Talent Night, and you get to strut your stuff....sing a song, read a poem, tell a joke! Or just sit back and relax, letting your new friends entertain you.

Friday morning, after another wonderful breakfast, meet your horses at RRR. Today's ride can include a "mock endurance ride", where you will be taught about sport horse conditioning and veterinary skills. You'll learn to check your horse's cardiac and respiratory recovery rates, capillary refill, skin response, muscle tone and gut sounds, just as is done at a "vet check" on a competitive trail ride, 3 day event, or endurance ride. You ride along ridge tops with mountain views, and down into the river valley beyond. Lunch is along the beautiful Ten Mile River, or among a grove of giant redwoods. This afternoon, folks who would like to learn a bit more about the pace of endurance riding may do so on the optional Manchester Ranch loop. As always, this day includes many opportunities for trotting and cantering. You return to the Orca Pasture via Abalobadia Gulch, an ethereal fern canyon complete with a babbling brook, giant trees and incredible light. A wonderful meal at V'Canto in Fort Bragg awaits you.

Saturday morning after breakfast, you ride through the vast Orca cattle ranch. Today you will canter up a long gradual trail to the very peak of the mountain, where you are literally "on top of the world"....the views are absolutely spectacular. Forging on, you head back towards the beach following a different section of forest trails before stopping for lunch in the sand dunes along the estuary, a great afternoon respite for bird watching along the river banks. After lunch, dreams come true as you will canter for miles along Ten Mile Beach, arriving back at Ricochet Ridge Ranch in a spirit of camaraderie. After your ride, it's back to the Hill House before a farewell dinner celebration and entertainment for renowned local musicians at the last night boogie! On Sunday after breakfast, it is adios to the Mendocino Coast. A late afternoon flight out of San Francisco or Oakland Airport affords you the ability to stop for some wine tasting along the way in the renowned Anderson Valley wine region. If you'd like to stay on an extra day or two at the end of your trip or arrive early to enjoy a fully guided, limousine driven wine tour, or just to savor more of what the Mendocino Coast has to offer. Additional arrangements can be made for you after horse riding in California.

Activities

The Hill House of Mendocino was frequently used as the location for "Murder, She Wrote". You may envision Angela Langsbury sitting by the fire. Make sure to have your photo taken in front of the double sided sign outside... one version of which reads: "Hill House of Cabot Cove."

The Hotel and Cabot Cove Bar & Grill wine bar offer selections from Northern California as well as unique, hard to find and highly rated Mendocino, Sonoma and Napa wines. Spa services and massage is available daily with the in-house Metapa Massage and Bodywork.

Accommodations

Redwood Coast Beach and Forest Riding Vacations are fully catered with truly wonderful meals. They include lodging at the lovely Hill House Inn of Mendocino, with riding every day, fine dining with a glass of choice California wine accompanying dinner each evening, live entertainment on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, a party on Thursday night, snacks, beverages and lots of camaraderie. They begin on a Monday at 2:00PM and end after breakfast on Sunday morning. The complete itinerary, with dates, description of accommodations, and other information can be found at here.

The Redwood Coast Riding Vacation brings you to the lovely Hill House Inn of Mendocino, a boutique hotel and restaurant which has the warmth and charm of a small Bed and Breakfast, with stunning views from their hill top setting overlooking the historic Mendocino Village and Northern California's beautiful Pacific coastline. The Inn is situated in lush Victorian gardens, among open fields with native vegetation, towering rustic redwood water towers and magnificent cypress trees. Just twelve miles south of Ricochet, the convenient hill top setting overlooks historic Mendocino Village, within walking distance to the many restaurants, galleries and shops that the village has to offer. Mendocino Headlands State Park and Big River Beach surrounds the tiny town located on a peninsula jutting out into the ocean. Garden Rooms as the Hill House Inn offer polished brass beds with cozy comforters and elegant furnishing with modern bathrooms. Upgrades to ocean view rooms are available.

Food

A continental breakfast is provided four mornings at the Hill House Inn, with a full breakfast at the Mendocino Hotel on two mornings. Following breakfast, you will select your own picnic lunch, choosing from a wide variety of meats, cheeses, condiments, fruits and vegetables, candy, trail mix, and juices. Wednesday's lunch is in the town of Mendocino at the Bay View Cafe, with an eclectic choice of menu. During Redwood Coast Riding Vacations, evening meals include soup or salad, fresh breads, delicious entrees, desert, and selected California wines at various restaurants. Entertainment some nights enliven our Vacations. We gather for a party on Friday evening... you will be the entertainment, so practice your act! We enjoy live musicians and singers on Wednesday and Saturday nights, culminating in quite a boogie your last night together!

Area Attractions

Ananse Village: Dedicated to supporting small scale production by talented craftspeople. A portion of our profits helps provide medical care and educational opportunities to the communities we work with.

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

California Western Railroad: Home of the Skunk Train

Liquid Fusion Kayaking: From Mild to Wild, Fort Bragg & Mendocino Kayak Adventures

Kayak Mendocino: professionally guided sea cave tours and more