Urchin Festival | Little River Inn + Van Damme State Beach

Jun 17

The Urchin Festival was an exciting opportunity to learn what’s happening under the waves. In recent years, the purple urchin have become dominant in the ocean and this Urchin Festival taught all in attendance the details of these spiny creatures. Tanger program presented by Esme Placencia; science speak and demo presented by Tristin McHugh of the Nature Conservancy.

Starting at 6 AM, we followed Kevin Smith, Ph.D., onto the rocks and into the shallows searching for urchins, turban snails, and other tide pool treats.

Later in the afternoon, we trekked back down to Van Damme State Beach to watch a Uni demo and educational talk. There was a fresh uni tasting, harvest/open/clean demonstrations, and interpretive talk on purple urchin impact/solutions on the ecosystem.

At sunset, we finally gather at the historic Little River Inn for Executive Chef Marc Dym and Master Sushi Chef Frank Takao for a prep-and-cook session. This was followed by a five-course repast focused on the purple sea urchin in all its glory; Sake expert and educator Kerry Tamura paired each course with sake and discussed the nuances of each. It was a night to remember!

Little River Inn

Welcome to your home away from home. The best things never change. Sweeping ocean views. Luxurious soaking tubs. Intimate gas and wood-burning fireplaces. Beds and linens are selected for comfort and restfulness. With more than sixty rooms to choose from, you’re sure to find your own ‘old favorite’ – a place to return to year after year.

For more than 80 years our family has been welcoming guests to experience the beauty of the Mendocino Coast. The original house was built in 1853 by Silas Coombs and has remained in our family ever since. Ole turned it into an inn in 1939, and we’re still happily on the job, doing what it takes to make you feel more than welcome.