Craigslist's responses - updated as they come...

"It’s not just for older folks but there are a lot of them/us there. It’s a kind of New England fishing village, picture Angela Landsbury in Murder She Wrote, with a lot of upscale boutiques, restaurants, shops &c. But you don’t have to stay in Mendocino. You can stay in Ft. Bragg, a REAL fishing/logging town nearby. The coast is beautiful, the drive is lovely, you should go."

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"I've been there twice in my 20 odd years of living in SF.

Personally I think it's definitely worth driving up for. If I recall correctly, it's about a 3-hour drive with different route options.

You don't need to necessarily stay in Mendocino as there are lots of small towns before you hit Mendocino.

It's just nice to get of the city period and see more of California. It's a nice adventure.
Yeah, it's a small town, with some nice nature spots ( a good thing).

I would definitely plan on spending at least 2 nights min. up there. It's a slower paced life, very mellow.

If this isn't what you're looking for, then maybe a trip to L.A. would be better.

I stayed at Breakers Inn for my honeymoon which was about a 1.5 hr. drive to Mendocino.

I think that there are all different types of price ranges for accommodations for your trip.
Just do lots of research.

Hope that you end up going. Just make sure that your car has been recently serviced as the last thing you want is car trouble/brake trouble. Lots of winding roads if I remember correctly."

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"Hi, I have been to Mendocino a number of times! It is like a small New England coastal village on the northern california coast. There are two ways to go---through Willets, or #101 to Cloverdale to Route 1. The Willets route is spectacular but quite difficult to drive, with long stretches of VERY winding small roads. Somewhat like going to Stinson Beach, though longer. The #101 route is also beautiful, especially when you go through the Alexander Valley (past Cloverdale) and on to Route 1 along the coast. This takes about 3 1/2 hours. Lots of B & Bs on this stretch of Route 1.
Mendocino is very quiet, not much to do, a little rocky beach to walk along, a small village with quaint hotels/inns, some shops, and good restaurants. Definitely a place to relax and escape anything resembling a city! North of Mendocino is Humboldt State Park where you can see giant redwoods, worth a trip if you have time. It is mixed in age, not only old people (I'm 62!).....and a place for smoking pot if you are into this (as i am not). a rustic, quiet, coastal village. I once stayed at the Hill House, which is where the Angela Lansbury TV series, Murder, She Wrote, was filmed on occasion.....I have also stayed at the Sea Gull Inn, and the Mendocino Hotel; the former is small, cheaper and very nice, like a fine B & B; the latter is larger, more expensive. Hill House is north of town, though you can walk into the village and is about the same price as the Mendocino Hotel.It is also definitely worth a stay as well....good luck! Bill"

"ps: by the way, i forgot to menion that i went to Mendocino once with a friend from Australia who rented a canoe and went out alone on one of the pretty little lakes nearby and had a wonderful afternoon excursion, with hawks flying overhead on the lake and little sea otters coming up to the edge of his canoe, playfully! i wish i had joined along but i didnt. i mention this as something else to consider, if it is a lovely day to do something like this---renting a canoe and perhaps meeting up with little sea otters on a lake near Mendocino!
Re restaurants---there is the Mendocino Hotel; Cafe Beaujolais; the Joshua Grimble House, which is also a great place to have a drink and look out at the Pacific."

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"Mendocino and the drive are pretty cool. We, my husband and I have driven up about four times and usually camped in the area. Once we stayed about thrity minutes away in Elk. Elk is super tiny, but adorable. We stayed at the Griffin Inn. It features awesome lil rooms right on the cliffside with decks and woodburning stoves and a delish breakfast on your doorstep in the morning. Mendocino is very sweet and quaint. A client recently visited and said it was not unlike Union St with its boutiques and prices. It's worth it to go up and take pics. The drive on the One is incredible and lengthy as well as twisty. I would say everyone goes to Mendo- young, old and familes, it can be pretty romantic. One store for all your supplies, The General Store, an organics place, good food...
Hope you have fun, nonetheless.
Feel free to ask any other questions and i will answer if i can.

Betsey"