Sea Pal Restaurant

I want to give you a woof woof about a new dining opportunity that has opened recently in Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg for uprights and us gourmet canines. Sea Pal Restaurant is your quintessential harbor-side eatery, serving made-to-order traditional fare.

Sea Pal’s menu includes Fish & Chips, Shrimp & Chips, Clam Strips & Chips, Hamburgers or Cheeseburgers and Clam Chowder, oh and for dessert, you can even order a deep fried Twinkie! Now I know all that fried food would have me looking like one of the sea lions that sunbathe on the boat ramps in the harbor if I sampled them, so I left that to the uprights. They ordered the Clam Chowder (a forty-year-old family recipe) which they loved and the Shrimp and Chips. On our next visit, they tried the Cheeseburger with its special sauce. Sea Pal will make us canine patrons a delicious plain hamburger patty for just $1.00, what a deal. Sea Pal serves a nice selection of soft drinks, local wines, domestic and imported beers and Margaritas. Place your order at Sea Pal’s counter and then when it’s ready your food is brought out to you by one of the friendly staff.

Sea Pal Restaurant has two indoor tables for dining and several outside tables, which in good weather are wonderful to eat at and enjoy the harbor view. It is great fun watching as the fishing boats leave and return or you can watch the Coast Guard head out on maneuvers; you may even get a wave from the crews. It is also a perfect place to observe the wildlife of the Noyo River.

Sea Pal Restaurant
32390 N. Harbor Drive
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
Tel – (707) 964-1300
Hours – Wednesday & Thursday: Noon to 5pm and Friday & Saturday: Noon to 7pm
Outdoor and limited indoor seating
Cash Only
Beverages – Soft drinks, beer, wine and Margaritas
Pets Welcome

John, Patty and crew put on a fabulous event. Yesterday’s hike involved about 20 of us canines along with their uprights. We all gathered at the tasting room and enjoyed a meet and greet as we checked in and registered. Lots of cool fresh bowls of water were on hand as well as yummy treats to build up our energy. The Humane Society had brought several of my clan who were looking for a forever home. Some of them came on the hike with us and it was great fun to make their acquaintance. Joining in the hike, we had all types, breeds, sizes and personalities and that was just the uprights. As for my kind we were all well behaved and everyone got along really well.

Before we started, John welcomed everyone and talked to us about the winery, the vineyards, where we would be going and what we would be seeing on the hike. He also introduced a spokesperson from the Humane Society who told us a little about some of the dogs that they had bought with them. Then we were off, Cassandra, the tasting room manager extraordinaire, led the way. However, it was not too long before I commanded the head of the pack. Insiders tip: I have done the hike before and knew exactly where I was going. At the first stop a large big blue bowl of water was waiting and being the first on the scene I assumed the paddling pool was for me so I jumped right on in, this caused much laughter from the uprights. However, at all the other water stops my dad had me drink form the small bowls until we came to the Lions Head water fountain then it was a free for all and all the dogs took a plunge.

I can’t go to Saracina without purchasing wine for my dads.

The hike traverses the Saracina property and showcases its spectacular views, meadows, streams and lakes. At the halfway point we gathered at the Tuscan Cottage and John poured the uprights a very special 2001 Sauvignon Blanc that was the first vintage he planted after reentering the wine growing and producing arena after a hiatus of several years. He was pleasantly surprised that the wine had held up so well and so were the uprights. The hike takes about two hours and on our arrival back at the tasting room Patty and the team served an amazing picnic lunch and the uprights got to share in more wine tasting. There was more cool fresh water and treats for us. I did, however, partake of some turkey from one of my dad’s delicious wraps. For the Dog Hike a special wine pricing incentive was offered with a generous percentage of the money from wine purchased that day going to the Inland Humane Society; there was even a chance to win a stay at the Tuscan Cottage. John then took some of the uprights on a tour of the caves while my fellow hiking canines and I rested and dozed under the shade of century-old olive trees.

Another great thing about the day is that I get to interact with the participants and tell everyone about how pet friendly the wineries and Mendocino County are. My pet friendly travel brochure was available and picked up by many and lots of people told me about the pet friendly places where they live and vice-a-versa. Overall, it was a great day of being with wonderful friends, making many new ones, sharing in the beauty of Saracina Vineyards and all for a great cause. The hike is very popular so make reservations early, as participation is limited. Maybe, you and I will be hiking together in the spring of 2013?

I staffed the Visit Mendocino County booth along with my great friends Johanna Jensen of McDOG off-leash dog parks and Ann Bennett, owner of the amazing Sheep Dung Properties (www.sheepdung.com). We raised awareness of Mendocino County and spoke to many past and future visitors, raised money though a raffle for McDOG and promoted all the extraordinary pet friendly virtues that make Mendocino County a truly inclusive fun family-friendly travel destination. Thank you to all the sponsors who helped to underwrite my attendance and special thanks to The Little River Inn and Visit Mendocino County, Inc. for their participation in underwriting my attendance.

Often overlooked is that fact that it is not just pet friendly businesses that sponsor and support my efforts. Many individuals and businesses realize the positive benefits of having a visible representative for the county, like yours truly, has on their bottom line. I want to acknowledge these often unsung heroes of Mendocino County and especially my faithful readers; thank you for realizing that all businesses and residents of the county reap the benefits from ALL visitors to Mendocino County. Even if your business is not targeted to the pet traveler, along the way you are positively affected financially by having people who travel with pets spending their dollars in our community – which is something worth Woofing about for everyone in the community.

Ordering dinner at the Hilton

Not only is Bark In The Park a great event for promoting Mendocino County, it also gives me the opportunity to experience other pet friendly hospitality entities. This helps me tremendously in helping businesses develop better pet friendly policies and experiences. I was able to stay in the Downtown Hilton in San Jose and as many of you may know, I have stayed there before. Everyone at the hotel is always so nice to me and I get my fair share of attention. I would like it even more if they had a welcome treat for me when I check in. My dads got complementary bottled water, could there not be a Hilton brand treat for me upon check-in? I too have had a long road trip to get there. San Jose has lots of places to share with your uprights, a particular favorite place of mine is Santana Row, where several of the restaurants and stores allow me to dine and shop right along with the uprights. The first time I went to the JB Steakhouse, they brought out house-made cookies for me when the breadbasket was brought for the uprights. Now that is what I call class. Oh, and the steaks, well just let me say ‘buttah’ isn’t the only thing that melts in the mouth.

After a full day greeting nearly ten thousand uprights and their canine companions I was so tired that my uprights asked if it would be all right for me to accompany them and eat on the patio at the Downtown Hilton’s restaurant Affinity. This was not a problem and it was so nice to just mellow out and relax after all the socializing I had done that day. The three of us spent a terrific couple of quality hours processing the day. As I lounged on my chair, watching the flames from the hotel fire pit I listened to the soothing sounds of a cascading fountain wall of water while trying to keep my eyes open and listen expectantly for the waiter’s return. I day dreamed of all the pats, kind words and excited smiling faces that greeted us all that day and fell asleep contentedly knowing that I had done my job successfully.

Rested after my busy day at Bark In The Park, we stopped at several of the wineries along Hwy 128 on our return home to say “hi” and drop off more of my Pet Friendly Brochures. A lot of wineries can’t keep them in stock they are so popular. This is something I always love to do as I get to greet and interact with the visitors and say “hello” to my dear winery friends. Remember over 90% of the winery tasting rooms in Mendocino County are pet friendly; now that is really something to raise a glass and paw to.

Well, just roll me over and tickle my belly, I was invited last week by Pets Best Insurance to write a guest blog. Today the results have been published, so please check it out at http://www.petsbest.com/blog/most-dog-friendly-destination.  This was a great opportunity for me to spread the news of how Mendocino County is truly one of the most pet-friendly places in the Country to tens of thousands potential visitors. Keep checking my blog as I share more of our great county with the world. Remember uprights, Pet Insurance is an affordable and effective tool in helping take the very best care of us when medical issues arise.

Solar Living in Hopland

Then it was off to my next appearance at the Solar Living Institute where I had been extended a special invitation. Here I got to see lots of upright friends and enjoyed delicious morsels of locally hand-crafted culinary fare, like artesian goat cheese, free range pork and beef and my personal favorite rabbit pâté; everyone who participated received lots of contented lip licking chops from moi. The uprights made the usual noises that indicated they loved the parings of the great local inland Mendocino County wines that had been especially chosen to accompany the yummy food. I got formally introduced over the loud speaker and went on stage and had the best time mixing with the happy crowd, enjoying the music and splashing in the streams. Presentations were made throughout the day on sustainable living practices and solar power systems. Every day is Earth Day at the Solar Living Institute so don’t wait until next year to check out this incredible place.

After all this fun and excitement we slowed things down with a visit to Rivino Winery where with his winemaking uprights Jason and Suzanne, I hung out in the shade with my buddy, Benny the Beagle , while the uprights sampled delicious wines. Rivino is located between Hopland and the City of Ukiah and it is the perfect place to enjoy amazing wines and wonderful views that encompass this delightful winery. When you visit tell them Hairy sent you; a more detailed review to follow.

As the afternoon turned into evening we headed over to Boonville to grab a bite at The Buckhorn. After first checking that the patio seating was open, we found a quite shady table and Tom, the owner, personally waited on us. I will be publishing a review on The Buckhorn soon, but let’s just say I left with a very full tummy and after such a busy and fun day I had no trouble sleeping on the journey back home.

Point Cabrillo Lighthouse

A tragedy is about to befall California and especially Mendocino County where a significant number of our State Parks are about to be permanently closed. These parks belong to the citizens of California and we need to protect and maintain them for our families and the millions of visitors who enjoy them every year. These parks are vital for so many reasons; especially for the preservation of the natural habitat for wildlife, plant life, the enjoyment and the recreational opportunities for all. Their closure will have a lasting and devastating economic impact on Mendocino County. Please take a few minutes to view the links below and see how you can help Mendocino County residents continue to explore ways to Save Our Parks.

Dillon the Docent Dog at Point Cabrillo Lighthouse kindly sent me these links to share:

Video: “The Cost of Closing California’s Coastal Parks” – http://bit.ly/v7ZeaO
Mendocino Area Parks Association website - http://www.mendoparks.org/
California State Parks Association website  – http://www.calparks.org/

I want to bark to you about a terrific eatery that I have discovered where I can sit outside and enjoy the fresh air and a delicious nibble any time of day.

As many of you know part of my job as Director of Barketing for Mendocino County is to attend lots of promotional events outside the County, usually in and around the Bay Area. This requires quite a bit of car travel and I have discovered a place that caters to me deliciously located in a place that happens to be just right in timing for chow times. I find that we usually hit Windsor, California around meal times on our way to an event or on our return home.

Patio at KC's Downtown Grill - Windsor, CA

Located on the picturesque Windsor Town Green in the heart of historic downtown Windsor, KC’s Downtown Grill offers indoor and outdoor patio dining. The park across the street is also a great opportunity to stretch one’s legs. KC’s is a true American diner, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The staff is always so welcoming and accommodating:  they will fix me a grilled chicken breast or a fantastic hamburger patty. In fact, I probably could have whatever I wanted if only my dads would let me order for myself. Umm, ice cream and bacon please! The servers will gladly bring me a water bowl and if it is a little chilly outside, they will turn on the patio heaters to keep us toasty.

KC’s is a relaxed, fun eatery with a diverse menu and great prices. Efficient, friendly and sincere service, great ingredients, good helpings and fun decor make this a “must stop” for this hungry and thirsty traveling canine.

If you stop by, tell them Hairy sent you. http://kcsdowntowngrill.com/index.html

Mendocino Coast Photographers Gallery

In Fort Bragg, California, every first Friday of the month something wonderful happens. The shops and galleries stay open later and lots of people gather downtown to see new art exhibitions, socialize and support the local businesses. The restaurants and watering holes are busy.   You run into lots of uprights who want to pat you.  I especially like visiting with Chriss at Toto Zaida and the Fort Bragg Photographers Gallery as there are always delicious treats given to me. This past Friday at the Photography Gallery the upright of an adorable  8 month old chocolate Lab named Bailey, just had to bring her out to the main gallery to meet me as she thought I was a great example of a well-behaved canine.  Bailey’s upright wants to have Bailey be a therapy dog.  What a noble and wonderful vocation as we canines are always such good therapy for humans.  So plan on joining us every First Friday when as the weather warms up so do the activities like live music and acts performing on Laurel Street.

Yummmmm!

It was a sunny day and we decided to share our orders on the deck. We ordered one of the Pub Samplers and a Reuben sandwich with sweet potato fries. I really liked the sweet potato fries, chicken from the sampler plate and a morsel of corned beef from the Reuben. My dads did ration the sweet potato fries because I could have eaten a lot more. From the looks on my dad’s faces and the sounds, I can tell you that we will be back there again very soon.

Service was good considering how crowded the restaurant was and all of the staff paid a lot of attention to me.

Camp Mendocino with friends

With trains departing from Willits and Fort Bragg, California and meeting up at Camp Mendocino in the majestic redwood forest, it is a full day of eating gastronomic mushroom creations created by local chefs and sipping Gold Medal award-winning Mendocino wines, with raffles prizes, silent auction and live action. There was dancing to live music, mushroom identification walks and talks. Mushroom cooking demonstrations and celebrity judges that came from all over the country. Oh, we did have some rain but that did not dampen the spirits of the revelers one bit. I spent the day in great company surrounded by lots of my upright friends and I had the opportunity to meet new ones.

It was a fun-filled fungi festival frenzy.  I hope they invite me back next year.