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Visitors love scenery, upscale lodging at Mendocino - By: Aaron GivensIt's supposed to be a New England fishing village in the television show Murder She Wrote, but Mendocino actually is one of the California's most popular coastal vacation spots.

The series ran 12 years altogether, filming its last episode in 1996. During that time, 264 episodes were broadcast to millions of viewers each week, each segment serving up a good helping of scenery in and around Mendocino. Interestingly there were just nine episodes actually filmed in the town - the other 255 shows used stock exterior footage the producers grabbed while in town for those nine shoots.

When you visit this town for the first time, the seascape just reaches out and touches your spirit. It's not just Mendocino - the entire stretch of coastline heading north into Mendocino yields view after view, each a little more spectacular than the last one. Driving this part of Highway 101, you really do have to make an extra effort to focus on your driving, lest you be lulled into some sort of meditative trance.

Mendocino is perched high on a bluff overlooking the vast Pacific. It's a small town and really just what you would think a New England fishing village would look like. A mixture of Cape Cod architecture and historic storefronts gives the town an almost theme-town kind of appearance. Windswept trees, rolling grassy hills and steep cliffs are footsteps from the Village by way of several miles of coastal trails that are perfect for hiking and photography. Down below are remote beaches and the cragged, rocky shoreline.

In the Village you'll find a variety of eclectic shops - unusual records, one-of-a-kind musical instruments, vintage toys, you name it -- mingled with historic homes, inns and fine restaurants. With more than 60 movies filmed here, it seems like everybody has a movie connection of some sort. Blair House bed and breakfast was the fictional home of Jessica Fletcher, the character Angela Lansbury played in Murder She Wrote. Over at Heritage House, their claim to fame is that the inn was used as the setting for the movie Same Time Next Year. And so it goes.

Our accommodations for the night did not have a connection with the movies, although the popular MacCallum House bed and breakfast inn has a strong connection with Mendocino history. This house dates back to 1882 and was built by Alexander MacCallum, whose father-in-law was one of the first settlers in Mendocino. Eventually the house was turned into a bed-and-breakfast inn and went through a series of owners until it was purchased just two years ago by local residents Jed Ayres and Noah Sheppard.

The 30-something Ayres took a rather unconventional route from Mendocino high school student to proprietor of MacCallum House. He started in the hospitality business while he was still a college student, working summers at Heritage House as a waiter, bell hop and assistant manager. But after earning his MBA, he took a summer internship with computer reseller AmeriData that eventually led to a position as General Manager of the company's Bay Area office supervising 100 employees and sales of $60 million. From there, Ayres went on to an even more prominent position with a start-up DSL provider that, unfortunately, went out of business the next year. It was time for a decision.

"I wanted to move home and do something different and raise a family," Ayres explains. And so it was then that he and longtime friend and local contractor Sheppard put the deal together to buy the MacCallum House, where Ayres had once worked. Ironically, they bought the restaurant from Alan Kantor, who had hired Ayres way back when as a dishwasher. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Kantor has remained with the restaurant and is today recognized as one of the best chefs in the area. Ayres has gone from dishwasher to semi-mogul, Mendocino's version of Donald Trump.

In the short time that Ayres and Sheppard have owned the inn, occupancy has skyrocketed, due in part to the technical savvy that Ayres brings to internet marketing. The partners have gone on to buy more buildings including the well-known Reed Manor, which is the newest and perhaps most luxurious hotel in Mendocino. It's now known as MacCallum Suites.

Our stay at MacCallum House was quiet and restful, and gave us a great chance to just walk down the block to visit the local merchants or to hike on over to the headlands where the trails offer breathtaking views of the coastline and the town itself. We stayed in the "Upper Barn Suite," a second-floor unit in a building across the lawn from the main house. This is the largest room on the MacCallum property and enjoys views of the ocean. The unit features a private deck as well as a stone fireplace, wet bar, refrigerator and a large living room in addition to the bed, bath and kitchen areas. Furnishings are generally antique - or approaching antique.

Of course, dining at MacCallum House is a big part of the treat and, fortunately, we elected to have dinner there in addition to the breakfast that normally comes with your room. Both meals were well up to expectations. Breakfast for example, might include a Butternut Squash Omelet or Red Potatoes with Cremini Mushrooms or, the entree we tried, Lupe's Breakfast Burrito, a delicious combination of apple-turkey sausage, scrambled eggs, white cheddar, onions, peppers and salsa on a fresh tortilla. Most of the dinner menu items highlight entrees that are regional and fresh.

After great food should come some exercise, and there is no shortage of places to hike in the Mendocino area. In addition to the previously mentioned trails, there are lots of areas where you can walk by rivers and streams and even enjoy Redwood forests. Near Mendocino, you'll find a total of five state parks as well as five state beaches awaiting your exploration. The hikes range from casual to moderately challenging.

A slightly different kind of walk is available when the many local fine art galleries open their doors for special artist openings and group shows between the hours of 5 and 7 p.m. This is offered the second Saturday of each month. In fact, the beauty of Mendocino has always beckoned artists and the Mendocino Art Center will even teach you how to become an artist.

Finally, if you think you have to go to Napa to experience fine California wines, the Anderson Valley is an easy drive from Mendocino. Altogether there are 40 wineries and 16,000 acres of vineyards in Mendocino County. Anderson Valley, with its different climates at each end, offers excellent conditions for growing a variety of grapes.

Yes, the only mystery that Jessica Fletcher really can't solve is how so much natural beauty ended up all in one place: Mendocino, California. AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Mendocino is about 150 miles north of San Francisco and is reached by taking Highway 101 north, then Highway 128 northwest to the coast. Scenery abounds once you get on 128.

WHAT: Mendocino is one of several Northern California Coast destinations that each offer spectacular views and a special coastal charm. Mendocino is perhaps one of the most scenic, which is why it has been used as a backdrop in more than 60 movies. When you think of a California vacation, the coast often comes to mind and this is one of the most scenic stretches of coast in the entire state.

WHEN: Any time of year. Summer is warmer of course, but any time of year is subject to fog along the coast. If rough weather hits, Mendocino is more protected from flooding than most communities in the area - but it's still near the water and can get storms off the Pacific. A lot of people consider the weather part of the charm. Be sure and check out travel deals and vacation packages during certain times of the year that are considered to be the "off-season."

WHY: Great scenery and atmosphere plus some of the nicest accommodations on the coast.

HOW: For more information on MacCallum House, go to http://www.maccallumhouse.com or phone 800-609-0492.

About the Author

Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, publisher of websites focusing on Northwest travel and California vacations.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Aaron-Givens/26434

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Seasickness Remedies That Really Do Work Posted By : Anne Campbell

Seasickness Remedies That Really Do Work - By: Anne CampbellSeasickness does exist and is probably the primary reason people avoid cruises. And, cruises from New York may seem particularly daunting since ships must sail in the Atlantic Ocean where storms aren't uncommon.

The best definition of what mal de mer is comes from the U.S. Coast Guard: "Motion sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting signals from the areas of the body that detect Motion. This conflict typically results in motion sickness."

Here are some steps you can take to decrease - or eliminate - seasickness.

1)The position of your cabin. One of the big ironies of shipbuilding is that the higher the cabin, the higher the price will be. However, the higher you are on a ship the more acutely you'll feel the rocking and rolling of the ship. Cabins with the least motion will be found mid-ship on the lowest passenger deck. On his honeymoon cruise in Europe, my brother asked for access to crew quarters so he and his wife could wait out a major storm. They sat on the floor mid-ship and weren't seasick in the least.

2) Prescription Medication. The Transderm Scopolamine Patch is the primary prescription medication. The patch is placed behind your ear before boarding the ship. The common side effects are blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness and dry mouth. Be sure to consult your physician before trying this drug.

3) Over the Counter Medication. Most people have excellent results with Bonine, which is found in pharmacies. The medication only works if you take it prior to rocky seas and some people start taking the medication the day before the cruise departs.

4) Ginger. I used to think this was an old wives remedy but it isn't: even the U.S. Coast Guard recommends ginger as a motion sickness remedy. You can buy it in the supermarket or in tablet form. Many cruisers take a bag of candied ginger.

3) Sea-Band is a non-medicated wristbands which relieve motion sickness by acting on acupressure points. Tested by the Australian Yacht Club, many cruisers swear by these bands. They are available in pharmacies and aboard most ships.

4) The ship's doctor. If all else fails, you can head for the ship's doctor who will administer a very expensive but highly effective antihistamine injection. You'll probably sleep for a day or so but it sure beats seasickness.

5) Aboard ship. An officer gave me invaluable advice when I felt queasy aboard ship. Eat crackers and apples (to absorb the acid in your stomach), avoid fluids and do not lie down. Go outside on deck and stare at the horizon (not the waves!) and avoid enclosed areas such as elevators.

Even if you know you suffer motion sickness, with all the options available cruising from New York shouldn't be a problem

About the Author

Sign up for a free newsletter with timely advice for cruisers at Cruising From New York (http://www.cruisingfromnewyork.com).

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Anne-Campbell/32399

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