where a doen skirt counts as formalwear
i spent my birthday in woods eating apple pie and stargazing in a hot tub.
As I’m sure you’ve all heard, effective Nov. 1, millions of Americans are losing their SNAP benefits due to the government shut-down. These benefits are a lifeline for many children, families and seniors. To support my local community, I’ll be donating 20% of new subscription upgrades this week to the Berkeley Food Pantry, which served 125 households in the first hour it was open last Wednesday.
There’s Northern California, and then there’s NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
This is what I was thought as we passed through the apple orchards on our drive to up north to Mendocino last week. I cracked the passenger window open, just enough to let some fresh air in while keeping the rain drizzle out. The air was sharp, crisp, and pine-scented. In about 8 miles, we’d arrive at our lunch stop for burgers and apple hand pies. I rubbed my cashmere handwarmers together in gleeful anticipation.
There’s no shortage of scenic weekend trip options in Northern California, from the coast to wine country to the mountains. That said, I’m not a super outdoorsy camper or hiker…I’m more of a “let’s stroll along the bluffs in sunglasses and a headscarf and pretend we’re in Big Little Lies!!!!” So, for my birthday, my partner planned a long weekend trip for us in Mendocino—a charming Pacific coastal town I associate with blustery beaches and farm to table food (might not be the most well-seasoned, but it’s simple and fresh). We brought our dog, stayed at a rustic woodsy inn, and had the loveliest time.
Here’s a 3-day itinerary of where we stayed, what we ate, what we did etc. This will be especially useful if you are trying to plan a dog-friendly trip! Our priorities were (1) relaxing and (2) eating tasty food.
Saturday
12 noon—Load the car to hit the road. I used this Sezane tote (gifted) as a weekender bag because it’s very roomy and fit all my clothes + toiletries + journal + book. My approach to packing was mostly comfort-driven because I knew it’d be raining and we would be walking around outside a lot. Also, the vibe out there is really casual—Doen is basically formalwear. I did briefly browse Dronme’s Instagram feed for inspo, because she’s Mendocino’s fashion it girl. (I did not dress nearly as cool as her).
Car ride outfit colors. I love sleeve styling.
Pulled over at a turnout to wander among the redwood trees and take some photos. There are so few cars out here…it’s dead silent. I wore one pair of shoes the entire time—Merrell Jungle Mocs. Sturdy for rainy nature walks, and I think they look gorp-chic with jeans and skirts alike.
2pm—Two hours pass, and we’re stopping for lunch along the way at Jumbo’s Win Win. It’s in a town called Philo, which made me chuckle (because Phoebe Philo). The restaurant is like a roadside diner with retro decor inside. We shared a smashburger, a Japanese fried chicken sandwich, fries and a piping hot apple hand pie dusted with cinnamon sugar.
Was it the best burger I’ve ever had?
No, but something about the booth seating and flannel-clad patrons made the dining experience cinematic. The pie was exceptionally good though—like a fancy version of the $1 McDonalds pies back in the day. There’s a covered patio outside for dogs too.
Back in the car! One more hour to go.
3pm—Arrive at Little River Inn.