In Fort Bragg .Within 2 miles (3 km) of this Fort Bragg vacation home, you'll find Jughandle State Natural Reserve and Sea Glass Museum. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Jughandle State Natural Reserve - 8 min walk - 0.4 miles
Sea Glass Museum - 2 min drive - 1.3 miles
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens - 3 min drive - 2.2 miles
Skunk Train - 7 min drive - 5.3 miles
Glass Beach - 12 min drive - 5.9 miles
Getting around
Santa Rosa, CA (STS-Sonoma County) - 139 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 6 min drive
Taco Bell - 6 min drive
Starbucks - 7 min drive
Sea Pal Cove - 8 min drive
Los Gallitos - 7 min drive
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Grey Whale so close to so many beaches, hikes and more!!
Grey Whale
Make like the whales and go on a journey to the Mendocino Coast!
Rediscover the joy of the American road trip and have a “whale of a time” at the Grey Whale, an architecturally stunning 4-bed, 2-bath vacation home that sleeps 8 on the Mendocino Coast. Named in honor of the annual cetacean migration, this secluded home nestled in a forest clearing gets plenty of sun, courtesy of ample windows on its two storeys.
This hidden refuge feels a world away from everything, but at just 3 minutes’ drive from Jug Handle, it’s centrally located, less than 10 minutes’ drive north to Fort Bragg or south to Mendocino.
Of course, with all the charm and amenities of the Grey Whale, you can also very comfortably stay in. The warm touches and accents – from the wood beam ceilings to the brick fireplace to the blue and aqua kitchen flourishes – will make this luxurious vacation rental feel like home. In the downstairs den, you can warm yourself by the fireplace, while upstairs, the large sectional couch provides room for the whole family or friend group to get cozy for game night or a movie marathon (there’s also a garage game room, the stuff of dreams for would-be ping pong champs).
Forest bathe, figuratively or literally: take a walk and breathe in the nature surrounding you, or enjoy a glass of bubbly and a view of the towering trees from the jacuzzi. When night falls, roast s’mores over the fire pit and take in the skies above you – depending on the time of year, you might even spot a shooting star. Upstairs, a well-appointed balcony has scenic views and is a great place to relax with a good book or crack open a bottle of your favorite beverage with friends.
Celebrate any occasion with home-cooked meals in the dining room with its splashy ocean decor, or eat al fresco at the table on the deck. You’ll have an oven, 4-burner ceramic stovetop, farmhouse sink, refrigerator with freezer, dishwasher, coffeemaker, and toaster oven. If you prefer to sample Mendocino’s fine dining or Fort Bragg’s culinary favorites, either town is a 10- minute drive away.
When you retire for the night, you’ll find two bedrooms upstairs and two downstairs. One upstairs bedroom has a queen bed, while the other has a trundle bed; downstairs, one bedroom has a queen and the other has bunk beds. Both bathrooms have showers, and one has a tub as well. A washer and dryer ensure you’ll always have clean clothes.
You’re also ideally situated for outdoor adventures, whether hiking, kayaking, or settling in for a day at the beach. At Jug Handle State Natural Reserve, discover hiking trails, a pygmy forest, and an ecological staircase. Trails along the bluffs offer breathtaking views, or follow the path down to a sandy and secluded beach.
To the south, you’ll find Russian Gulch State Park, Caspar Beach, and the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse before you arrive in Mendocino, with its quaint buildings, artists’ galleries, shops, delicious food, Big River Beach, and panoramic ocean views. If you head north, you’ll find the world-class Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (with 47 acres of trails), as well as all that Fort Bragg has to offer. Fort Bragg boasts shopping opportunities, restaurants, pubs, art galleries, the historic Noyo Harbor, the Skunk Train, Noyo Center for Marine Science, and a number of paved and accessible hiking trails along the headlands.
Continue north, and you’ll find the Haul Road trail and MacKerricher State Park, with its boardwalk to Laguna Point. The platform at Laguna Point, with its 360° views, is a great vantage point for spotting seals and sea lions, a variety of birds, and the occasional whale spout. Many of the animals frolic on the rocks offshore.
If you’re looking for the eponymous whales, you’ll have the most luck November through May, with Whale Festival events along the Mendocino Coast throughout the month of March.
Heed the siren-whale song of the coast and book your stay at the Grey Whale, a lavish vacation home perfect for your dream vacation!
THIS RENTAL IS LOCATED IMMEDIATELY SOUTH OF FORT BRAGG
This rental is located immediately south of Fort Bragg and is right in the middle and so close to some of our best beaches, parks, trails, great food, shopping and more.
Grey Whale is all about getting away from it all, the unit has WiFi, cable television, games and more.
GARBAGE There are garbage cans for Grey Whale on the east side side of the parking area of the driveway, Recycle, Standard and a green can as well.
VEHICLES There is only room for 4 vehicles at the Grey Whale and can park in the driveway right in front of this home.
WE ARE Located 34.5 miles from Willits Located 9.7 miles from Mendocino Village Located 111.0 miles from Sonoma County Airport (Santa Rosa, California) Located 117.0 miles from Santa Rosa Located 146.0 miles from Sonoma Located 134.0 miles from Petaluma Located 171.0 miles from San Francisco Located 184.0 Miles from San Francisco International Airport Located 184.0 miles from Oakland international Airport Located 189.0 miles from Sacramento Located 180.0 miles from Sacramento International airport
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
General
Unit size: 1,700 square feet
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25
Check-out
Check-out before 10:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets are welcome
Service animals are exempt from fees
Note from host: We do charge non-refundable pet fee of $75.00
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome.
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit in each accommodation.
Property is also known as
c25114df-576b-4e8c-86fc-42cffdba440e
Frequently asked questions
How close is Grey Whale so close to so many beaches, hikes and more!! to the airport?
This vacation home is 113.2 mi (139-min drive) away from the Santa Rosa, CA (STS-Sonoma County) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.
Does Grey Whale so close to so many beaches, hikes and more!! have an airport shuttle?
Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.
How close is Grey Whale so close to so many beaches, hikes and more!! to the beach?
This vacation home is 5.4 mi (14-min drive) from Glass Beach and 2.9 mi (5-min drive) from Caspar Headlands State Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!
Does Grey Whale so close to so many beaches, hikes and more!! offer free breakfast?
This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.
Is there a casino at Grey Whale so close to so many beaches, hikes and more!!?
No, there is no casino at this vacation home.
What time is check-in at Grey Whale so close to so many beaches, hikes and more!!?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
Is there free parking at Grey Whale so close to so many beaches, hikes and more!!?
Free parking is not available at this vacation home.
Does Grey Whale so close to so many beaches, hikes and more!! have a pool?
This vacation home does not have a pool.
Does Grey Whale so close to so many beaches, hikes and more!! have a spa?
There are no spa services available at this vacation home.
How close is Grey Whale so close to so many beaches, hikes and more!! to downtown Fort Bragg?
This vacation home is 4.1 mi away from Fort Bragg.
Grey Whale so close to so many beaches, hikes and more!! Reviews
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 16 out of 20 reviews
10 - Excellent
16
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 20 reviews
8 - Good
4
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 20 reviews
6 - Okay
0
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 20 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 20 reviews
2 - Terrible
0
9.6/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
Charlotte H.
Feb 3, 2026
Liked: Cleanliness
Charlotte H.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025
10/10 Excellent
Mary H.
Jan 5, 2026
Liked: Cleanliness
Great house in a great location. Will stay here again.
Mary H.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026
8/10 Good
Joan K.
Dec 28, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
The house was comfortable, but there were a few issues;It was advertised as sleeping 8, but only had beds for 7.We all like to cook, but the kitchen was small and the drawers and cupboards were full of too many duplicate and cheap tools and dishes. Everytning needs to be sorted and many items discarded to make it easier to find what you need. The hot tub area was not very inviting, and not all of the jets worked well.The lights over the ping pong table were not working.We did like the location, the gas fireplace, the upstairs family room, and the spacious yard.
Joan K.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025
8/10 Good
Conci M.
Sep 22, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
It was a lovely place, perfect for our getaway with friends, spacious enough for privacy and gatherings.
Conci M.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
10/10 Excellent
Gail R.
Sep 14, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
We appreciated the location to the activities we wanted to do up there and it being dog friendly. Kitchen was well-appointed and someone came to replace an easy appliance that wasn’t working so quickly! (We appreciated that!) There are a few cobwebs and it has that expected coastal smell. Beds and pillows weren’t the best, and one room didn’t have an accurate description of the bed size. (Fortunately, 3rd couple had a van with a bed they could use instead.) But, it didn’t take away from the overall use. It was nice not to feel like we were super close to nearby neighbors, and we had a great weekend away!
Gail R.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
10/10 Excellent
William M.
Sep 14, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
It was a warm, friendly and wonder time at the Grey Whale house. The rooms were great, kitchen had everything we needed to cook. Plenty of room for the kids and adults. Loved the decks and game room. The yard was amazing and the dog friendly blankets for the furniture was a great touch. We will rent this house again!
William M.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
10/10 Excellent
Robert E.
Aug 13, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Great place!!
Robert E.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
8/10 Good
robert a.
May 19, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Nice weekend with family at the coast
Great location between Fort Bragg and Mendocino near Jug Handle Beach.
robert a.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
10/10 Excellent
Heather P.
May 16, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Vacation
This property was amazing! Very comfortable and the best stocked place I've ever stayed at!
Heather P.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
10/10 Excellent
charlie m.
May 11, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Quick getaway
Did some fishing/beach combing and relaxing
charlie m.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
8/10 Good
Dallas T.
Apr 22, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Great Stay
A wonderful, peaceful home to stay in while in Fort Bragg. A very well stocked kitchen and space for everyone. An extremely reaponsive host!
Dallas T.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2025
10/10 Excellent
Sara N.
Apr 6, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Great Family Vacation Spot
Perfect house and location for our family of five plus the doggie. Kitchen fully stocked for people who love to cook. We would definitely stay again.
Sara N.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
10/10 Excellent
Emily S.
Mar 31, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Quiet neighborhood & comfy home
We had three nights at Grey Whale and it was lovely. The host left good instructions and recommendations. The house had comfortable beds, lots of kitchen equipment, newly renovated bathrooms, and many games. The kitchen had an amazing appliance pantry with anything a chef could want! The garage laundry & ping pong space would benefit from better lighting. We loved that we could bring our dog along on vacation. We all enjoyed the beautiful Mendocino area!
Emily S.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
10/10 Excellent
Schuyler I.
Mar 23, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Coastal gem
The Gray Whale was beautiful, peaceful, and perfect for a weekend getaway. We could hear the ocean waves from the house. Super comfortable and accommodating for my friends and I. I would definitely recommend staying here. Hot tub outback was a bonus.
Schuyler I.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
10/10 Excellent
Booner N.
Mar 15, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Nice
Very nice place. Thank you
Booner N.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
10/10 Excellent
Dawn S.
Feb 28, 2025
Dawn S.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025
10/10 Excellent
Julie N.
Dec 3, 2024
Great house in perfect neighborhood of Fort Bragg. Needs alittle TLC “
Carlon was exceptionally responsive and helpful with our problems. He brought 3 space heaters when I complained about temp in house. Problem ( common) with water ants! Mattresses need to be upgraded. stove us gard to figure out which burners work and which don’t.
Julie N.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024
10/10 Excellent
lisa k., Sacramento
Oct 15, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Family vacation
The property’s clean and well organized. The kitchen’s well stocked and lots of space around the house. My kids really enjoyed the table tennis in the garage.
lisa k.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
10/10 Excellent
Pam H.
Sep 14, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Gray Whale, Fort Bragg
Located in quiet neighborhood, near the town of Fort Bragg. Close to Mendocino, Botanical Garden, and Glass Beach.
Pam H.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
10/10 Excellent
Jennah T., Northern California
Aug 21, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Great house for family
The property is large and private at the end of a dead end street. The house is spacious enough for our family of 5 adults and 3 small kids. The kitchen was stocked and clean and had everything we needed. The kids loved the game room in the garage and the second living room upstairs. The balconies offer slight ocean views and were a perfect place to have coffee and get some fresh ocean air. We enjoyed the house during our stay and would come again.