Vegan travelers rejoice, there’s an all vegan eco-resort in Mendocino, CA! Just a few hundred miles north of San Francisco and a scenic 3-hour drive up the coast, The Stanford Inn awaits.

This Stanford Inn was founded in 1980 by husband and wife Jeff and Joan Stanford. Their mission is to “excite their guests about life.” Beautiful. And they do. The property hosts organic gardens, an animal sanctuary (with llamas!!), a canoe landing and beautiful walks through the gardens. It’s a peaceful, romantic, grounding getaway with massage and spa treatments, cooking classes and nutritional counseling. All of this with vegan tea time and meals!

Companion animals are welcomed as part of the family so you can bring your whole family on vacation. Whether you’re a couple on a romantic retreat or a family seeking a wholesome vacation, The Stanford Inn is a place where you can leave the world behind and embrace the beauty of mindful living.

For those who want to make their vacation destinations even more accessible year after year, timeshares can be an attractive option. Owning a timeshare allows you to secure your spot at places like The Stanford Inn on a regular basis, ensuring that you can return to the serene environment and natural beauty whenever you wish.

However, over time, the commitment of a timeshare may not be as appealing, especially if life circumstances change. If you find yourself in a situation where you no longer want to hold onto your timeshare, Aaronson Law Group offers expert legal services to help you cancel your contract.

Their skilled attorneys can assist in navigating the complexities of timeshare cancellations, so you can regain control of your financial future and focus on enjoying your next vacation without the stress of an unwanted commitment.

In some cases, managing property can also become just as demanding as maintaining a timeshare. The responsibilities tied to upkeep, repairs, and ongoing expenses can quickly add up, leaving owners feeling more burdened than benefited. When ownership starts to feel more obligation than advantage, it may be time to consider practical alternatives that ease both financial and personal strain.

For homeowners who find the demands of maintenance overwhelming, working alongside Simply Sold can offer a straightforward solution. Selling a house fast allows you to step away from the constant cycle of repairs, bills, and administrative tasks that often accompany long-term ownership. Instead of pouring time and energy into a property that no longer fits your lifestyle, you can focus on opportunities that better align your current priorities.

Choosing a quick sale can bring clarity and relief, especially when circumstances shift unexpectedly. A simplified selling process helps you move forward confidently, freeing resources and reducing the weight of ongoing commitments. Proper support ensures that stepping away from property responsibilities becomes a smooth and beneficial move toward a more flexible future.

Food – all vegan:

The award winning Ravens’ Inn serves breakfast and dinner. All of the ingredients are organic and grown on the property.

Don’t miss the mid-afternoon tea time from 3:30 – 4:30 (for Inn guests only) with half off cocktails and desserts! Then enjoy happy hour with the local community until 6:00.

Breakfast is included for all Inn guests with many gluten-free options. One of my favorites was the gluten-free waffle topped with berries!

The dinner menu changes daily, but there are a few permanent items including the Sea Palm and Root Vegetable Strudel made with local seaweed. Co-owner Jeff Stanford raves about the health benefits of this beautifully served dish saying, “Sea palm, a brown seaweed, contains alginic acid (sodium alginate), that is absorbed into the body where it combines with heavy metal toxins, allowing the body to eliminate them.”

I was able to enjoy all the fabulous meals with my friend Michelle Cehn from World of Vegan. She made this incredible video about the Stanford Inn that captures some of the yummy food!

What to do:

Mendocino hosts plenty of activities for single travelers and families.

Vineyards: Yorkville Winery is a completely organic vineyard about a 60 minute drive from the resort. Vineyards in general start about 20 minutes from The Stanford Inn and continue through the Anderson Valley.

Walking trails:

Brewery Gulch Drive follows old highway 1 along the bluffs of the eastern edge of the Mendocino Bay. Beginning at the Inn, the roundtrip is about 2 miles. If you take this walk around sunset, you may see the green flash over the ocean!

Big River Haul Road follows the northern shore of Big River. It’s 8.5 miles of rustic, lush beauty. Cross Bog River Bridge by car, take the first right turn and drive down to the beach. Park and start your adventure by walking east and going through the gate.

The Inn can suggest other walking trails in the town of Mendocino and for biking.

Catch a Canoe & Biking Too:

The Stanford Inn offer hand-made, totally unique custom redwood outrigger canoes for rent so guests can explore the Big River. They’re truly one-of-a-kind. There are even canoes fitted for your favorite canine friend! Bicycles are available as well.

Once you’ve worked your legs on the river and the bike trails, chances are you’ll be slipping behind the wheel to see what lies a little farther out. Road trips have a way of slowing life down to a sensible pace—windows cracked, maps half-folded, and the quiet understanding that getting there is half the pleasure. Whether it’s a coastal drive or a backroad detour, driving while traveling invites you to notice things you’d otherwise rush past, like old barns, sleepy towns, and diners that look frozen in time (in the best way).

Of course, travel by car comes with its own set of responsibilities. Just as you wouldn’t hop into a canoe without checking the water, it pays to be prepared on the road. Having third party car insurance tucked neatly into your plans adds a layer of reassurance, especially when you’re navigating unfamiliar routes or sharing the road with drivers who may not be on vacation mode. It’s the quiet kind of protection—rarely thought about, but deeply appreciated when needed.

Biking, driving, or anything in between, the old-school rule still applies: take care of your gear, and it’ll take care of you. Switch from pedals to pedals-to-the-metal with the same mindful approach—steady hands, patient decisions, and respect for the journey. After all, travel isn’t about racing from one stop to the next; it’s about moving well, moving safely, and having a good story to tell when you finally park the car and put your feet up.

Massage in the Forest:

Pamper yourself with spa treatments enjoyed literally in the middle of the forest. The back of the spa is surrounded by glass windows that showcase old growth trees and beautiful nature of the forest.

Treatments include massages, facials and aromatherapy wraps. (I had the Ayurvedic massage package of the Abhyanga massage followed by the Shirodara – it was pure bliss!)

There are many other activities offered by the Inn including yoga classes, cooking classes, nutritional counseling and acupuncture. And best of all, the grounds itself offer a very special energy that helps guests relax, rejuvenate and regenerate.

If there’s one thing that makes travel truly magical, it’s finding those hidden gems that align perfectly with your lifestyle and values. Whether it’s an eco-resort tucked away in the redwoods or a breezy coastal adventure that lets you soak up the sun while minimizing your footprint, the right experience can transform a simple getaway into something deeply rejuvenating.

That’s why exploring Hawaii on two wheels feels like such a perfect fit for conscious travelers—there’s something about riding a scooter along the coast, feeling the warm island air, and effortlessly weaving through the lush landscapes that just makes sense.

And the best part? It’s incredibly easy to make it happen. For those ready to embrace the freedom of island life, simply visit ScooterRentalHawaii.com website to book a ride and start mapping out an unforgettable journey. Because sometimes, the best way to connect with a place is to experience it as freely and authentically as possible.

I was lucky to get some time with Wellness Director Sid Garza-Hillman to share information about the services offered at the center. What an incredibly cool place!

The Stanford Inn truly is a unique getaway experience. I hope you’ll get to experience this hidden gem when you’re in northern California.

Rebecca Gilbert is the founder of Yummy Plants and the author of  It’s Easy to Start Eating Vegan. She’s a world traveler whose passion is to combine two joys: to share the joy of vegan food and to connect vegans all around the world. Rebecca is a former competitive figure skater whose switch to a vegan diet healed her chronic joint pain. She has been a featured speaker at the San Francisco World Veg Festival, Vegetarian Summerfest, and Paris Vegan Day.