By The Sea is a quarter-mile south of Mendocino Village. Its plush suites and guest rooms are elegantly decorated. It features an organic garden and farm. Kayaks, canoes and bikes are available to rent for the day.
Dogs are welcome here, too.
Just down the road, the Fools Rush Inn is a less expensive alternative. It has a wide variety of rooms and cabins. Some cabins offer dramatic views of the shore and the sea. South of Elk, about a half-hour, the Point Arena Lighthouse in Point Arena offer three spacious vacation homes tucked away beneath their historic and working lighthouse. Each house has three bedrooms, two baths, a living and dining room, and a big backyard on the rugged headlands.