Shelter Cove: An escape from the hustle

We have a map of California on our office wall we reference often. From a distance, big cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento look like ant hills and without much effort your eyes can shift into a blur, causing those ant hills to come alive with fuzzy movement.

As such, the desire to get away from this perceived frenzy draws our focus to anywhere on the map but there, leaving us with the question: just how far will you drive to escape the frenzy?

The answer for us is how we found ourselves recently on a winding, steep road descending down into the town of Shelter Cove, an isolated community on the coast of southern Humboldt

County.

True, not the most remote and isolated town to exist in our state, but certainly the one with the best views and the best vibes. To make this trek is to be rewarded greatly for your efforts to escape those figurative ant hills.

Shelter Cove is the perfectly-sized weekend vacation getaway, and we recommend experiencing everything it has to offer, which is easy to do once you’ve arrived. Here’s our recommendation for a perfect weekend:

• Kick off your morning with coffee and pastries with a view at Surf Point Coffee House. By default, it is already a good morning when you’re taking in the Pacific Ocean, but pairing it with house made fresh eats that are also pretty amazing is definitely getting your day off right. This coffee house is quite literally on its own bluff overlooking the waves.

• With your energy fuel for the day, begin with a full stroll around the main neighborhood. It’s a loop that includes a regional airport, small golf course, a freshly installed labyrinth that has a few hidden trailheads attached, an adorable community library and an equally adorable community garden.

All of this, of course, in addition to that coveted coastal view at all points along the loop. If you’re lucky, you’ll be joined by some friendly pets, chickens or even some friendly deer who also are often on walks of their own.

• The crowned jewel of Shelter Cove is the south end of the infamous Lost Coast Trail, a rugged, 25 mile challenging hike for thrill seekers. While the fanfare is simple (a small, tasteful art installation located in the parking lot acknowledging the trailhead) it’s nevertheless exciting to walk a small stretch of this beach trail and occasionally greet a hiker on their final hundred yards of what is surely a lifelong goal they just accomplished — or are setting out on.

Black Sands Beach, the hub of this Lost Coast Trail activity, has ample parking, accessibility and bathrooms. This is an absolute must-visit when in town, and a short drive or walking workout from the main loop.

• After your beach stroll, circle back around to the local deli (aptly named Shelter Cove Deli) and grab yourself a loaded sandwich or the classic fish and chips. It will definitely be fresh!

At this point we decided to check out the marina, which is also unlike any we have seen before. What’s unique about the marina here is that the entire operation is also up on a towering bluff. To get your boat in and out of the water, a large, full-size tractor is deployed to trek down a steep cliff and into the waves. This could be a slight exaggeration on my part, but just eyeballing the path down it felt like it was a 90 degree angle. Witnessing this feat of transportation engineering was one for the books.

• Nearby here is also the Cape Mendocino Lighthouse, a fun and easy photo op. Although no longer in operation, the preservation and enjoyment of this lighthouse is maintained by a group of volunteers that offer tours and lessons often. If this is your jam, check their event calendar while planning your trip.

• Speaking of fun and easy photo ops, a favorite we encountered were the murals. One mural located on the outside of the Inn of the Lost Coast, where we stayed, is a large, bright display of a school of jellyfish all painted in enthralling shades of blue.

The other murals were found along the parking lot of the Gyppo Ale Mill, also our next recommendation for an early dinner. The murals here are classic old time depictions of the Shelter Cove history and industry, and stretch across the entire lot showcasing several images.

But, why do we say early dinner? Because you will want to plan an entire evening here enjoying not just the delicious menu of food and brews, but also the live entertainment. And by live entertainment you could assume we mean the live performers (which does happen often) but also the unobstructed views of California sunsets, and impromptu air shows happening with the airport runway just steps away.

For us, it was watching a CAL FIRE helicopter land and first responders grabbing some snacks from the campground store before loading up and taking off again.

• The last stop we suggest on this tour is an evening cocktail (or mocktail) from Mario’s Marina Bar.

Unsuspecting from the outside, the inside is all fresh ingredients and lively decor reminiscent of a summer movie classic — one where you feel like you’ve always were meant to be here and now living this moment.

Once you get your drink, head out to the outdoor seating along the bluffs and count the lights on the horizon line of passing ships, and don’t forget to look up and also count your lucky stars as well.

Finding yourself in Shelter Cove is a built-in reward on its own; the isolation, paired with distinct and well-thought-out businesses and community is a bonus, a well deserved escape from the frenzy. Consider yourself lucky.

To learn more about exploring Shelter Cove, check out www.VisitShelterCove.com

California native Dannah Nielsen explores the lesser known areas of our state and shares her travels in hopes to inspire you to find new and adventurous ways to also enjoy California. For more inspiration, follow @Ca.love.fornia on Instagram or contact her via email at dannah.nielsen@hotmail.com.