Old trip: A romantic, windswept weekend in "Spendocino"
New trick: Same scenery, fewer tourists

You’ve probably driven through Little River on your way to Mendocino (it’s just two miles south) and not even noticed. In addition to being home to 412 people and a handful of inns, this Tom Thumb of a town consists of a grocery store (currently closed after a fire but scheduled to reopen this summer), two gas pumps, a post office, and a restaurant. But Little River’s claim to fame—dramatic bluffs and a picture-perfect beach, coupled with stops at the inns to explore their charms—makes for an ideal weekend lesson in slow living.

STAY: Forget the B&B patchwork-quilt aesthetic and check out the comparably priced but up-to-date cabins at the new Cottages at Little River Cove. You can even request a stocked fridge. Skylights invite sunshine in, and gas fireplaces keep things cozy. The cottages, painted burnt sienna, mustard, and evergreen, are elevated on stilts to maximize their ocean views.

PLAY: After breakfast at Ravens’ Restaurant in the Stanford Inn by the Sea (you won’t believe its delicate, creamy strawberry scones are vegan), walk down to Catch a Canoe & Bicycles, Too! (also part of the inn) and take a handcrafted redwood outrigger for a spin on the Big River estuary. As long as it’s warm out, nightlife around here means an evening canoe expedition to see the bio­luminescent algae that wash up the river with the tides. Check out some local artwork and try an Anderson Valley wine flight and cheese pairing at the Glendeven Inn’s new Wine Bar[n], also a gallery. For a bit of authentic local flavor, grab a bite at the Little River Inn; it’s been in the same family for five generations, and the main house is home to Ole’s Whale Watch Bar (which boasts a knockout view of California gray whales cruising by) and a gardenside restaurant. Try the osso buco or cioppino with local Dungeness crab. Finally, indulge in a tandem aromatherapy massage in an authentic yurt at the Inn at Schoolhouse Creek, and cap off the day with a soak in the hot tub overlooking the ocean.