Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
quiet 488-acre Chinese-Buddhist community. Don't miss the temple hall, which really
does have 10,000 Buddhas. As this is a place of worship, please be respectful of those who
use the grounds for meditating. Stay for lunch in the vegetarian Chinese
restaurant
(4951
Bodhi Way; mains $8-12;
noon-3pm;
)
.
Willits
Twenty miles north of Ukiah, Willits mixes NorCal dropouts with loggers and ranchers
(the high school has a bull-riding team). Lamp posts of the main drag are decorated with
bucking broncos and cowboys, but the heart of the place is just as boho. Though ranching,
timber and manufacturing may be its mainstays, tie-dye is de rigueur. For visitors, Willits'
greatest claim to fame is the eastern terminus of the Skunk Train. Fort Bragg is 35 miles
away on the coast; allow an hour to navigate twisty Hwy 20.
Sights & Activities
Ten miles north of Willits, Hwy 162/Covelo Rd makes for a superb
drive
following the
route of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad along the Eel River and through the
Mendo-
cino National Forest
. The trip is only about 30 miles, but plan on taking at least an hour
on the winding road, passing exquisite river canyons and rolling hills. Eventually, you'll
reach
Covelo
, known for its unusual round valley.
Mendocino County Museum
MUSEUM
(
www.mendocinomuseum.org
; 400 E Commercial St; adult/child $4/1; 10am-4:30pm Wed-Sun)
Among the best community museums in this half of the state, this puts the lives of early
settlers in excellent historical context - much drawn from old letters - and there's an entire
1920s soda fountain and barber shop inside. You could spend an hour perusing Pomo and
Yuki basketry and artifacts, or reading about local scandals and countercultural move-
ments.
Outside, the Roots of Motive Power (
www.rootsofmotivepower.com
)
exhibit occasion-
ally demonstrates steam logging and machinery.
Ridgewood Ranch
HISTORIC SITE
(
reservations 707-459-7910;
www.seabiscuitheritage.com
; 16200 N Hwy 101; tours $20)
