MENDOCINO CO., 12/3/25 – The Mendocino Coast has been named one of the 10 best free attractions in the country, according to a new study by CashNetUSA, a loan company.
The company evaluated TripAdvisor ratings for all U.S. attractions that offer free entry and have five-star average ratings on the travel website.
According to the report, the Mendocino Coast was ranked eighth in the country and therefore number one in California. The coast had a TripAdvisor ranking averaging 4.87 as of July, when the evaluation was completed. Today, it has a 4.9 average rating.
The report cited scenic drives along California State Highway 1, coupled with beaches, lighthouses and “old-time” fishing villages, as factors in the high rating.
“California’s epic Pacific coastline offers magical views of rock formations and enchanted sunsets,” the report said. “Walk the cliffs or laze on the beaches — but don’t forget your camera!”
The report named the Duncan McClellan Gallery in St. Petersburg, Fla., as the top free attraction in the country. The art gallery is known for its world-class glass collection and sculpture garden — which has nothing on our sunsets.
Plus the fresh ocean air. Mendocino County is one of the cleanest counties in the state for short-term particle pollution and ozone air pollution. And the air is free too!
So it’s great if you are visiting or are just a tourist. As far as moving here, not so much. High wildfire risk makes homeowner’s insurance too expensive, if you can even get the coverage. Voters keep raising the sales tax but the roads never get fixed. Property taxes keep going up each time a property sells, so now you can pay over $4,000 a year on a house built in 1952. I could go on…
And see my post about Fort Bragg on the Mendocino Coast dated Oct.25,2025. Enjoy.
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