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If you’re looking for something fun and unique to do in the Spring, Mendocino is the place to be! Check out these events in the upcoming months.

MENDOCINO’S ICONIC LITTLE RIVER INN OFFERS SPECIALS FOR FAMILY FUN AND TASTY TIPPLES THIS MARCH AND APRIL

Get up Close and Personal with Whales Thanks to Two Lodging Specials; Raise Your Glass to Mendocino’s Own American Craft Whiskey Distillery; Select the Best Bloody Mary with Bacon

LITTLE RIVER, CA – (February 26, 2019) – Whale lovers never miss March and April in Mendocino—known to be the best time of year to see the breathtaking migration, from one of the best spots on earth to do so. The quaint and quiet town of Little River, on the Mendocino Coast, is so serious about whale-watching they throw an annual LITTLE RIVER WHALE FESTIVAL, this year March 8 – 10. With ocean views from every room, the gracious historic Little River Inn (www.LittleRiverInn.com) is perfectly positioned at the center of it all. The bijoux resort, which has been owned and operated by five generations of the same family, have two specials for the season. The LITTLE RIVER INN WHALE OF A SALE coincides with the festival, while their STORM WATCHER RATE promotion can be enjoyed any Sunday-Thursday from March 1 through 18, with a two-night stay. On the last day of the LITTLE RIVER WHALE FESTIVAL, aficionados of Bloody Marys and Bacon can judge for themselves at the first ever BATTLE OF THE BLOODY MARYS, a competition to decide the best version of the classic drink and the most delicious preparation for the beloved breakfast food, as well as the best way to put them together, among other categories. April showers bring Little River Inn’s annual AMERICAN CRAFT WHISKEY CABARET and tasting dinner, featuring the local American Craft Whiskey Distillery and a menu prepared by Chef Marc Dym.

This year marks the thirteenth annual LITTLE RIVER WHALE FESTIVAL in Mendocino. The Little River Inn, among other properties, offers lodging specials during the festival. Below is just a sampling of events and experiences that inn guests and locals can partake of throughout the weekend:

· Mendocino Eco Arts “Spring Ranch Barns Benefit Exhibit:” Friday, Saturday & Sunday, March 8, 9 & 10 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Art Exhibit of the Springs Ranch Barnsa benefiting Mendocino Area Parks Association. At the Little River Inn. Free to the public.
· Kayak Mendocino Sea Cave Tour: Paddle through sea caves and meet the local harbor seals, sea stars, algae, and shorebirds. Tours offered Saturday & Sunday, March 9 & 10, ocean permitting, at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Cost is $60 per person. Please call for reservations: 707-813-7117.
· Erin Brazil and Friends Concert: Friday, March 8, 7:30 pm Abalone Room, Little River Inn, 7901 N Highway One. Of vintage swing Brazillionaires fame, check out Erin at this intimate acoustic gig. Tickets are $20 in advance at mendoparks.org/whale-festival, or $30 at the door
Whale Watch Walk: Saturday, March 9, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. A two-hour guided walk searching for pelagic cormorants, seaside daisies and of course, whales! Dogs allowed on leash. Suggested donation is $5 per person; open to the public. Park on the west side of Highway One, opposite Gordon Lane. Look for the blue flags, www.mendoparks.org. Heavy rain cancels this event.
· Adventure Passport: Guests have the opportunity to enter the LITTLE RIVER WHALE FESTIVAL PASSPORT CONTEST. People earn one sticker for each festival activity attended. Three or more stickers mean the chance to win lodging, food, and adventure prizes at participating businesses throughout Little River. Passports are available at each festival or event site.

Further information and details regarding the LITTLE RIVER WHALE FESTIVAL can be found by visiting http://mendowhale.com/page/littleriver.

On the weekend of the Little River Whale Festival, Little River Inn will be offering its LITTLE RIVER INN WHALE OF A SALE lodging special. Valid Thursday through Sunday nights from March 3 through March 17, guests who book a two-night stay during these dates will receive a third night free. LITTLE RIVER INN WHALE OF A SALE is offered on all room types based upon availability. Room rates start at $180 per night for a Traditional Ocean View Room.

Additionally, every Sunday-Thursday through the end of March, the LITTLE RIVER INN STORM WATCHER RATE offers Seaside Luxury Rooms for $250 ($50 savings), Ocean View Deluxe Rooms for $220 ($40 savings) and Ocean View Gas Fireplace Rooms for $170 ($30 savings). Guests can us promo code STORM when booking online or call 707-937-5942. Available Sun-Thurs through March 31, 2019, two-night minimum.

Sunday, March 10, at high noon, the Little River Inn will host the inaugural BATTLE OF THE BLOODY MARYS (AND BACON). Sponsored by Deep Eddy Vodka and MendoParks, attendees judge while locals and professional bartenders go head to head to claim the prize of Best Bloody Mary, Best Bacon and Bloody Mary pairing, Best Bacon, and more. Judging tickets for 5-6 Bloody Marys are $30, at mendoparks.org/whale-festival or at the door. Two judging tickets per person maximum (ID required).

Whiskey lovers won’t want to miss the 4th annual AMERICAN CRAFT WHISKEY CABARET and tasting. Held on Friday, April 5th at the Little River Inn, the event offers a five-course pairing menu with handcrafted whiskey distilled by the family-run American Craft Whiskey Distillery—a local artisan treasure. Chef Marc Dym’s dishes will emphasize locally-sourced ingredients and he and Master Distiller Crispin Cain will be on hand to answer questions. Entertainment will be provided by The Real Sarahs, Wendy Dewitt, Shuga and The Daring Jones Duo. The evening benefits the Flynn Creek Circus School for kids. The tasting will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2019. Tickets are $125 per person, excluding tax and gratuities. To reserve a seat, please call the Little River Inn at 707-937-5942.

About Little River Inn
Little River Inn is a family-owned and operated boutique resort on the Mendocino coast of California with a chef-driven restaurant, nine-hole Audubon-certified golf course, professional tennis courts and day spa. Ideal for the entire family and pet-friendly, the Inn has 66 guest rooms ranging from the economical to the luxurious. Several private meeting and special event spaces with stunning ocean and garden views make the Inn an excellent venue for small- to medium-sized weddings and corporate retreats. The restaurant, helmed by CIA-trained Executive Chef Marc Dym, is a destination unto itself and the delicious, often hearty California coastal cuisine has a following so dedicated that it is not uncommon for guests to fly in by private plane for Sunday Brunch. Ole’s Whale Watch Bar is a classic local hangout where guests gather for drinks and a casual bite. Little River Inn has a beautiful, nine-hole golf course that plays like 18 and is appropriate for many skill levels. The Inn also has a Day Spa with three treatment rooms and offers in-room services, and just recently launched a full-service salon offering pedicures, manicures, facials, and a hair studio. Overseen by fifth-generation Innkeeper Cally Dym, Little River Inn was proud to celebrate its 80th anniversary in May 2019.

Little River Inn is located two miles south of Mendocino overlooking the Pacific Ocean, at 7901 N. Highway One, Little River, CA 95456. For reservations and additional information, call 707-937-5942 or visit www.littleriverinn.com.