According to their website, the Emerald Dolphin Inn was nothing but the dream of a father and his daughter in 1988, but they made their dream come true when they opened the Inn in 2001. The Inn is now the home of and managed by the daughter and her husband. The Emerald Dolphin Inn is located just to the south of the Noyo River at the southern end of town and offers a number of interesting packages. You can take the Skunk Train through local redwood forests and along the coast, or go whale watching or fishing in a charter boat; in addition, they offer a birthday special. Phone ahead of time before bringing your pets.
The Surf Motel and Gardens, at the south end of town, is at the intersection of Highway 20 and the Pacific Coast Highway. The motel is surrounded by gardens that include a gazebo. Packages include a kayaking package up the Noyo River with all equipment supplied; a Botanical Gardens package through Fort Bragg's fern-covered headlands overlooking the Pacific; and a trail ride package in which you ride horseback through the redwood forests and along the beach. The motel is next door to the Boatyard Shopping Center. This is a pet-friendly motel, and it's near the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse and the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.
The Ocean View Lodge is to the north of Pudding Creek at the northern end of Fort Bragg. Local attractions include the North Coast Brewing Company, which was recently named "One of the 10 Best Breweries in the World," by the Beverage Testing Institute in Chicago. Or pay a visit to the Pacific Star Winery, one of Mendocino's many wineries, just a few miles to the north of the Inn. From your bedroom window you can see whales spouting at the right time of year, and below the hotel are concealed private beaches and scenery. The motel is located alongside the scenic Ten-Mile Coastal Trail.
