Coastal Phenomenon
May 9, 2020
Bowling Ball Beach
The most unusual beach in Mendocino County is Bowling Ball Beach, just about three miles south of Point Arena on Highway One. Before you go, check for low tide because it’s only then that you’ll see the so-called bowling balls, lined up like rows of Terracotta Warriors. The “balls” are actually concretions, which are far more resilient than the mudstone that once surrounded them. Over millions of years, this has eroded away under the constant onslaught of the Pacific Ocean, forming the cliffs that line the shore behind the beach and leaving the tougher “bowling balls” behind. A small parking area with two trailheads is on the west side of the highway.
Call to book a room at the view to enjoy whale watching from your private balcony, We'll even through in a disposable camera.
Gualala - It's a name that's hard to pronounce and even harder to spell. Sometimes it's hard to remember. Some people call it gwa-LA-la, but the natives call it wa-LA-la. This comes from the Kashaya Pomo Indian phrase, "ah kha wa la lee" which means, "Where the water flows down", which makes sense--for the river goes out to the ocean right across from the center of town, right by that big sand bar where the whales stop for lunch every year.