Glamping in Mendocino

Back in April, Clay and I managed to book the last campsite available at Mendocino Grove, a campground offering a modern camping experience. I had been wanting to plan a trip to the Mendocino and Fort Bragg area for a while now, so I was really excited that we could try out glamping for the first time while we were at it!

When we arrived Saturday afternoon, the self check-in was very straight forward. It was basically just a bulletin board with general campground information (e.g., wifi usage, breakfast hours) and a map with our name on it indicating where our designated parking spot and campsite was. Our safari tent (Navarro 2) was in its own little corner a fair distance away from the other two neighboring tents. Right outside our tent, we had our own picnic table, a set of chairs on the deck, and a fire pit. (Firewood was available self-serve at the campground for about $10 or so.) Inside the tent, there was a comfortable bed, a couple of dressers that served as night stands, a large lantern, a couple of extra blankets, and an awesome s'mores kit! We enjoyed the s'mores kit very much on our last night :)

Even though we still prefer camping and pitching up our own tents, we had a really nice experience during our stay at the Mendocino Grove...and we would happily do it again! Packing was SUPER easy and convenient. Next time, I'd probably bring more layers, a warmer jacket, a beanie, and my own water bladder. The campground was very thoughtful and actually had a couple wooden crates of water bladders for campers to use, but unfortunately it wasn't enough for everyone...so we didn't get to use one. There were also no outlets inside the safari tents, so I'd suggest bringing a portable charger. Though I believe the campground also has chargers available for checkout.

Overall, everything about the campground was pretty wonderful! The bathrooms were very new, clean, and well-maintained. There were outlets in there, so I was thankfully, able to use my hair dryer (didn't want to risk catching a cold!). They provided plenty of organic bath products and fresh towels for showering and for face-washing. The shower experience was for sure the best that I've had at a campground. In addition, just around the bathhouse, there was an area where they served drinks (coffee, hot water, & tea), as well as breakfast (fresh fruits, yogurt, & bars). Another amenity that Clay and I enjoyed were their giant hammocks spread out in the middle of the grove and campground. Now, just a couple more notes: 1) I would personally recommend booking for the summertime for warmer, more camping-friendly weather, especially since the campground is located near the coast. 2) Mendocino Grove is very family and dog-friendly; they have different safari tents that accommodate both groups! They also have Airstream options available for rent.

Finally, one of the best parts of our glamping experience was having the small coastal town of Mendocino be just a 5-minute drive away. Fort Bragg, a larger city along the coast, is also not too far away - just a quick and scenic 20-minute drive up north. If you're wondering what other activities there are to do or places to go eat, feel free to ask me. I have a whole list that I compiled!