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Willits, California: Where Fun Never Sleeps – Best Places to Visit and Things to Do!

Willits is the junction town rather than the destination in its own right. The redwoods sit to the north, the wineries south and the coast west. Stay here instead of out on the coast and the prices drop hard. The Skunk Train and Seabiscuit’s old ranch are what the town itself holds. Take Willits as the base and everything else out there becomes a drive.

Are you planning a trip to Willits, California and wondering what is worth the time? Look at what follows. Willits is a small town in Mendocino County, known for the country around it, the odder attractions in it and a history worth reading. Whether you live outdoors, read history or came to eat, Willits covers it.

The thing that makes Willits work is where it sits, in the middle of Mendocino County. North of you are the redwoods and the Eel River, south are award-winning wineries, and west is the Mendocino Coast. Willits is the central point you run the whole trip from.

There is plenty to do outdoors in Willits, from hiking and camping in the mountains to fishing and kayaking on the Eel River. If you want the stranger version, take the Skunk Train, Roots of Motive Power and Ridgewood Ranch. And take the history properly at the Mendocino County Museum. In this article we will work through what is actually worth doing in Willits, California.

Key Takeaways

• Willits is a small town located in Mendocino County, known for its natural beauty, quirky attractions, and historical significance.
• Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a history buff, or a foodie, Willits has something for everyone.
• From hiking and camping in the nearby mountains to exploring quirky attractions like the Skunk Train and Roots of Motive Power, Willits offers a unique and memorable experience for visitors.

The Magic of Willits

Willits. The way into the Redwoods, the middle of Mendocino County, and where you sleep for the next few nights. You have landed somewhere that does something to people, with something worth finding down most of these roads.

From the redwoods to the Mendocino coast, this area covers most kinds of visitor. Whether you want a quiet walk in the trees or a mountain bike run that hurts, Willits gets you to both.

But it is not only the country that makes Willits work. Something in the air here lifts the whole thing. Maybe it is the people, or the pace a small town keeps. Whatever it is, you will feel it inside a day.

So what are you waiting for? Time to work through Willits. Here are a few of the things waiting for you:

• Take a stroll through the majestic redwoods at the nearby Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a fairy tale.
• Visit the Mendocino County Museum in Willits for a glimpse into the area’s rich history and culture. You’ll learn about everything from the logging industry to the 1960s hippie culture.
• Explore the rugged Mendocino coast, where you’ll find stunning sea cliffs, hidden coves, and miles of pristine beaches. Keep an eye out for whales and other marine life!
• Take a ride on the famous Skunk Train, a historic steam locomotive that winds its way through the redwoods and along the Noyo River.
• Visit the Ridgewood Ranch, home of the legendary racehorse Seabiscuit. You’ll learn about the history of this amazing animal and see where he lived and trained.
• And of course, don’t forget to simply enjoy the magic of Willits itself. Take a walk through town, chat with the friendly locals, and soak up the small-town charm that makes this place so special.

So there it is, a start on what Willits runs. Get out there and see what else you turn up.

Outdoor Activities in Willits

Looking for something outdoors in Willits? Look at what follows. Willits carries a long list of ways to be outside. From hiking and biking trails to camping in the Redwoods, all of it is here. These are the outdoor options to take in Willits:

Hiking and Biking Trails

Willits is home to some amazing hiking and biking trails. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just starting out, you’ll find a trail that suits your skill level. The Skunk Train Trail is a popular trail that offers scenic views of the forest. Another great option is the Maacama Creek Trail, which is perfect for mountain biking.

Camping in the Redwoods

If you’re looking for a unique camping experience, then camping in the Redwoods is a must-do. Willits is surrounded by Redwood forests, and there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from. Ridgewood Ranch is a popular spot for camping, and it’s also home to Seabiscuit’s barn. You can also try Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area, which offers campsites along the Eel River.

Swimming and Golfing Spots

Willits has some great spots for swimming and golfing. If you’re looking to cool off on a hot day, then check out Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital Park, which has a swimming pool and a water slide. For golfing enthusiasts, there’s the Brooktrails Golf Course, which offers a challenging course with scenic views.

Photography Tours

If you’re a photography enthusiast, then you’ll love the photography tours in Willits. There are plenty of scenic spots to capture, from the Redwoods to the Eel River. Roots of Motive Power offers a photography tour that takes you through the historic railroad equipment and machinery. You can also try the Skunk Train Photography Tours, which takes you on a train ride through the Redwoods.

So what are you waiting for? Get out and use the country around Willits.

Exploring the Quirky Side of Willits

If you want something other than the obvious in Willits, you’re in luck. This town runs shops you will not find repeated anywhere else. Here are a few worth the stop:

The Book Juggler

The Book Juggler is where anybody who reads should start. This small store is packed with books of every kind, from the bestsellers to titles that turn up nowhere else. But what actually makes The Book Juggler is the owner, who will talk books with you and put the right one in your hand. So go in and say hello.

Goods Shoppe

Looking for something to carry home? Take Goods Shoppe. This store runs everything from toys and games to puzzles and beyond. And with fair prices and staff who help, you will find something.

Comic and Card Shop

If comics and collectible cards are your subject, do not miss the Comic and Card Shop. This store runs a serious selection of comics, rare and hard-to-find issues among them, along with board games and competitions. And the staff know the material, which is half of it.

Whether it is books, toys, games or collectibles, Willits has the shop for it. So take a break from the ordinary and work through the odder side of this town. You never know what you will find.

The Historical Significance of Willits

If you read history, Willits is the town for it. The place runs deep on its own past, and there are plenty of sites here that put you straight back into it.

Mendocino County Museum

The Mendocino County Museum is the one to take first if the history of this area is what brought you. It runs artifacts and exhibits covering everything from the Native American tribes who lived here to the pioneers who arrived in the 19th century. You get the logging and mining that built the economy, along with the farming and the wine that followed.

The exhibit people come in for is the one on Seabiscuit, the racehorse bred and trained at Ridgewood Ranch just outside Willits. You get the horse’s career and what it meant to this town.

Ridgewood Ranch

On Ridgewood Ranch, that is the other one for anybody who reads history. The ranch was Seabiscuit’s home, and you can tour the property and get his life and what came of it. The tour takes in the horse’s grave along with the ranch’s other animals, goats, chickens and llamas among them.

But Ridgewood Ranch is not only Seabiscuit. It is a serious property with a history of its own. The ranch was established in 1921 and has stayed with the Howard family ever since. It is still a working ranch today, producing organic beef and lamb along with honey and olive oil.

So if you want a day in Willits that leaves you knowing something, take the Mendocino County Museum and Ridgewood Ranch. You come away understanding this area, and the people and animals who shaped it.

What is actually in Willits itself, as opposed to somewhere near it? A museum, a train, a ranch and a handful of genuinely odd shops here. Is that enough on its own to hold you for more than a day? Probably not, and that is not what this town has ever been for. Sleep here, drive out each morning, and the whole arithmetic works out.

Events in Willits

You might expect a town the size of Willits to run a thin calendar. It does not. There is almost always something on in this California town.

The biggest date in Willits is the annual Willits Frontier Days, a long weekend given over to the town history and culture. There are parades, rodeos, carnival rides and live music. It is the shortest route into what this place is actually like.

If cars are your subject, do not miss the Car Show & Community Festival. This one runs classic cars, hot rods and custom builds. There are food vendors, live music and plenty for the family alongside it.

For the slower version, take the Willits Center for the Arts. They run events through the year, art exhibits, live music and theater among them. It is how you meet the local artists and put money into their work at the same time.

If you want something genuinely unusual, take one of the events run by Roots of Motive Power. This organization exists to keep historic machinery working and running, and they put on demonstrations and workshops. It is the kind of thing you will not find repeated elsewhere.

Don’t just take our word for it, check out the reviews of these events and see for yourself why Willits is such a great place to visit.

Hidden Gems of Willits

So you have worked through the obvious attractions in Willits and you want something else. Willits keeps a few things back for the people who look.

First, stones. Not the Rolling kind, but the kind at the Earth’s Treasures rock shop. This small shop is packed with rocks, gems and minerals. You can lose an hour in the collection learning what each one actually does. And you may well walk out with one that follows you home.

If you work with wood, take The Woodpecker’s Workshop. This small studio is run by a bearded man who takes the craft entirely seriously. You can watch him work on whatever is on the bench while he tells you how it is done. You can also buy his handmade pieces, cutting boards, bowls and spoons among them. And you may well go home wanting a workshop of your own.

Now, backroads. Not the ones you take to dodge traffic, but the ones you cover on a guided tour with the Willits-based Backroads Excursions. They run tours that take you off the main routes and into Mendocino County proper. You can take a wine tasting tour, a redwood forest hike or a cannabis farm tour. You get the country and the history behind it in the same day. It is the fastest way to understand Willits and everything around it.

Those are a few of the things Willits keeps back. So go and look. You never know what else turns up.

A Foodie’s Guide to Willits

You have made it to Willits, where the produce is fresh, the cheese is made properly and the meat comes from down the road. Here is how to eat your way through the town.

Cheese Please!

Start at the Willits Creamery, where you can taste and buy award-winning artisanal cheese. The creamery works only with fresh milk from local farms, which is why the cheese tastes the way it does. Take the creamy brie or the sharp cheddar, and take some home if you can get it that far.

Sweet Treats

Sweet tooth? Head to the Sweet Goods Shoppe for a counter of things that will end the argument. From fresh pastries to chocolate truffles, they run the range. And do not miss the homemade ice cream, which comes in flavors like lavender and honey.

Farm-to-Table

If you want farm-to-table, you’re in luck. Willits runs several restaurants working from local farms and ranches. Take the menu at the Brickhouse Coffee, built around organic produce and grass-fed beef. Or take the Loose Caboose Cafe, which does serious breakfasts and lunches from ingredients grown nearby.

Wine and Dine

Willits is also where you drink wine properly. Head out to the nearby wineries and vineyards and work through the region’s best. And take Seebass Vineyards, where the glass comes with the vines and the hills laid out in front of you.

Final Thoughts

Whether cheese, sweet things or wine is what you came for, Willits has it. So bring the appetite and work through the food in this town.

Why Willits is Your Next Destination

You may be wondering why Willits, California should be the next trip. There are plenty of reasons to pack the bags and get up to this adopted home of the Redwoods.

First, where Willits sits is the whole point for anybody wanting Mendocino County. North of you are the redwoods and the Eel River, south are award-winning wineries. And west is the Mendocino Coast. You will not run out of ground to cover.

But it is not only the location. Willits itself runs plenty. Start with the Mendocino County Museum, which locals take as seriously as visitors do. The museum carries the history of Mendocino County, and you will come out knowing more than you expected.

If you want something with more in it, take the Skunk Train Tours. This train runs you through the redwoods, which is a way of seeing them you will not get on foot. And it works for the whole family.

And if you shop, Willits will hold you. The town runs specialty and gift shops worth the walk, Earth’s Treasures, Mazahar, The Book Juggler and The GOODS Shoppe among them. You will find things here that do not turn up anywhere else.

In conclusion, Willits earns the trip on where it sits, on what it runs and on the shops. So what are you waiting for? Pack the bags and get up to Willits, California.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to get skunked in Willits, California?

If the Skunk Train is what you are asking about, you’re in luck. This historic train ride is the best way to take the country around Willits, and it stays with you afterwards. Book the tickets ahead and get ready for a run through the redwoods.

What’s the most delicious way to spend an afternoon in Willits?

If you want something to eat with it, head to the Roots of Motive Power Museum. You get the history of steam-powered machinery, and an ice cream cone from the parlor on site. It is how a sunny afternoon in Willits goes.

How can I avoid getting lost in the Willits Redwoods?

First, take a map and a compass. But if you would rather not test them, book a guided tour with a local. They will get you to the places worth reaching and back again.

What are the top-rated activities on Tripadvisor for Willits, CA?

According to Tripadvisor, the top-rated things to do in Willits are the Mendocino County Museum, the Skunk Train and Ridgewood Ranch. But do not take their word for it. Go and find out what the fuss is.

What’s the best way to experience the Skunk Train in Willits?

The Skunk Train runs several different experiences, from scenic runs through the redwoods to the Christmas Train. But if you want the version people remember, book a dinner train ride. You eat properly while the country goes past the window.

What are some unique things to do in Willits that even locals might not know about?

If you want something off the main list, take the Willits Community Theatre. This local theater runs work through the year, plays, musicals and comedy among it. It is how you support the arts here and get a good evening at the same time.

Frequently asked questions about Willits, California

Is the Skunk Train worth booking ahead of the trip?

Yes, book it early. It runs through the redwoods on a logging line, and the ride you choose matters more than the ticket, because the dinner run is a different evening altogether. The Christmas Train is the one that always sells out the fastest. The scenic run takes most of a morning to get through. Book it before you fix the dates, because it drives the whole trip.

Is Ridgewood Ranch worth a tour for non-racing fans?

Yes, still worth it. Seabiscuit was bred and trained there and his grave is on the tour, but it is also a working ranch producing beef, lamb, honey and olive oil. The Howard family has held the place since 1921 without any break. There are goats, chickens and llamas out there for the children too. Check the tour days before you drive out, because the gates are not always open.

Is the Mendocino County Museum worth an hour in Willits?

Yes, more than that. It covers the Native American tribes who were here first, the 19th-century settlers, and the logging and mining that paid for everything that came along here afterwards. The Seabiscuit display is the one that people actually come in for. It sits inside the town itself rather than out of it. Do it before the ranch, because the museum sets the whole story up first.

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