Willits: Baechtel Creek Inn and Spa; hotel review

101 North

Baechtel Creek Inn and Spa  

101 Gregory Lane, (800) 459-9911, (707) 459-9063.  45 rooms.  Pool, hot tub.  Buffet breakfast.  Kids ok.  Pets ok. 

Situated back from the highway in a creek-side setting, this comfortable motel offers guest rooms with attractive tiled open showers with no curtains and beds topped with white cotton duvets.  The pleasant breakfast area at the Baechtel Creek Inn and Spa is in a nook at the back of the lobby with a view of the creek.  However, all guest rooms in the motel front on the parking lot, and none have windows with a creek view.  Access to a fitness center across the street is available for a small fee.

front exterior of Baechtel Creek Inn and Spa in Willits, California

guest room at Baechtel Creek Inn and Spa in Willits, California

breakfast buffet at Baechtel Creek Inn and Spa in Willits, California

view from breakfast room at Baechtel Creek Inn and Spa in Willits, California

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images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Willits: The Book Juggler + Willits Center for the Arts; things to do

101 North

The Book Juggler  

182 S Main St., (707) 459-4075.  Tu-Sat 10am-6pm. 

Watched over by Zeus, The Book Juggler store dog, this atmospheric used bookstore has narrow aisles line with books in a warren of tiny rooms.  It has an interesting collection and is a delight to browse.  Bring along some of books to trade in for credits toward purchase.  Also a music store, it claims to have “the best selection of strings, accessories for guitarists, ukuleles, harmonicas and sheet music on the North Coast.”

exterior of The Book Juggler in Willits, California

guard dog Zeus at The Book Juggler in Willits, California

atmospheric book stacks at The Book Juggler in Willits, California

cozy book nook at The Book Juggler in Willits, California

Willits Center for the Arts  

71 E. Commercial St., (707) 459-1726.  W-Sun 11am-5pm. 

Situated within a grand 1930s building, the Willits Center for the Arts produces gallery shows of local artists--including jewelry makers--that change regularly.  When I visited, a pop-up shop for Valentine’s Day was happening, and with the power of suggestion my husband bought me some gorgeous heart earrings by Teplow.

gift shop at Willits Center for the Arts in Willits, California

art display at Willits Center for the Arts in Willits, California

art display at Willits Center for the Arts in Willits, California

heart earrings for sale at Willits Center for the Arts in Willits, California

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images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Willits: Adam's Restaurant + Shanachie Pub; restaurant review

101 North

Adam’s Restaurant  

50 S. Main, (707) 456- 9226.  D Tu-Sun; $$$.  Reservations recommended. 

The most upscale dining spot in town, tiny Adam's Restaurant features an intimate dining room plus a few more private tables in an upstairs loft.  When the weather is nice, an outside patio under Japanese maples and plum trees--shared with the pub next door--is a good choice.  Because the space is small and the staff is small, so is the regularly changing menu small.   Choices might include a variety of raviolis, filled perhaps with Dungeness crab, or artichokes, or wild hand-picked local porcini and chanterelle mushrooms.  Steak and fresh fish are usually options as well.  Endings might include a milk chocolate mousse in a martini glass and perhaps several kinds of crème Brule.

dining loft at Adam's Restaurant in Willits, California

beet salad at Adam's Restaurant in Willits, California

artichoke ravioli at Adam's Restaurant in Willits, California

mushroom ravioli at Adam's Restaurant in Willits, California

milk chocolate mousse at Adam's Restaurant in Willits, California

Shanachie Pub  

50 S. Main St., (707) 459-9194.  No cards. 

Just next door, the popular Shanachie Pub serves no food available but welcomes you to bring in outside food or even have it delivered.  There is always a wonderful selection of Mendocino County beer, and local musicians often play here.  

entrance to Shanachie Pub in Willits, California

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images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Fort Bragg and Willits: Skunk Train; things to do

1 North and 101 North

Skunk Train   

Fort Bragg

Foot of Laurel St., (707) 964-6371.  Daily; schedule varies.  $25, 3-11 $15, infants and dogs $10/$10.  Reservations advised.  

The Skunk Train was founded in Fort Bragg in 1885 as a division of the Union Lumber Company.  The tracks are standard gauge, 4’ 8½”.  The line was extended east to harvest trees for milling and arrived in Willits in 1911.  The railroad took 26 years to build and was once used to deliver mail along the way.  The train gets its name from the fact that the original logging trains emitted unpleasant odors from their gasoline engines.  Loggers said they “could smell ‘em before they could see ‘em.”  It is an interesting factoid that the nickname and logo character was created in 1925, 3 years before Mickey Mouse arrived on the scene.  Today, a few vintage motorcars are still used in winter, but most trains are pulled by steam or diesel engines as they travel through dense redwood forest, through deep mountain tunnels, and over many bridges and trestles.  The Pudding Creek Express is a 1-hour, 7 mile round-trip excursion, turning at Glen Blair Junction. 
 

family gets ready to board Skunk Train in Fort Bragg, California

Willits

299 E. Commercial St., (707) 964-6371.  Year-round.  $84/$109, 2-12 $42/$67, infants & dogs $10/$10.  Reservations advised.  

The Northspur Flyer makes a 40-mile, 4-hour round-trip from Willits to Northspur.  The journey includes plenty of switchbacks, and you’ll go through a tunnel and see ancient groves of magnificent redwoods.  A BBQ Dinner Excursion chugs along the same route, and traveling to remote Camp Noyo to spend the night camping is also an option.  

Skunk Train depot in Willits, California

passenger boards Skunk Train in Willits, California

riding through the redwoods on Skunk Train in Willits, California

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images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Willits: Loose Caboose Cafe; restaurant review

101 North 

Loose Caboose Cafe  

10 Wood St./Hwy. 101, just west of Main St., (707) 459-1434.  M-Sat 10-4; $.  Reservations advised.  No cards. 

Folks sometimes get loose as a goose relaxing at this simple old-time cafe filled with locals.  A collection of train memorabilia is displayed throughout the Loose Caboose Cafe.  Seating is either indoors at tables and in tall-back wood booths or outside on a spacious entrance patio.  Table service is casual--in Styrofoam cups and on paper plates--and food is simple--hot New York- and Kansas City-style subs made to order on toasted rolls, dogs, salads, pizza, soup and chili, and creamy milkshakes served in Mason jars, but no burgers or fries.

patio of Loose Caboose Cafe in Willits, California

 

Extreme Veggie at Loose Caboose Cafe in Willits, California

split vanilla milkshake at Loose Caboose Cafe in Willits, California

 

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images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers