Mineral Hot Springs Resort & Country Inn

www.vichysprings.com

Famous

Champagne Baths, Overnight Accommodations and Day

Use

See why Jack London, Mark Twain, Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, Robert Louis Stevenson and many other distinguished guests fell in love with this resort.

Welcoming visitors and world-wide travelers since 1854

18 well-appointed rooms and 8 private cottages available for overnight stays

700 acre private reserve for walking, hiking and rejuvenation

California Historic Landmark No. 980

North America’s only warm, naturally carbonated “Vichy” baths, famous worldwide Mineral hot pool and 25-meter (80’) pool

Indulge in first class spa treatments

Massage, Facials, Hot Stone Massage and Reflexology Treatments

No reservation needed for day use

73

Grace Hudson Museum & Sun House

The Grace Hudson Museum features the best of the region’s art, history and anthropology. Exhibits in the museum range in subject matter from Native American culture and Northern California coast history to the works of contemporary artists. The primary focus of the museum is the work of Grace Carpenter Hudson, noted for her brilliant oil paintings of the Pomo Indians. The museum features over 30,000 related objects, including historical photographs and Pomo Indian artifacts. The building sits on a beautiful four-acre park with shaded picnic areas and a basket garden that grows all of the materials that the Pomo Indians used for their basket making. Also located on the grounds is Sun House, the former Hudson residence. It was originally designed by Grace Hudson and her husband, and is still furnished with their unique collection of furnishings and décor. Docent-led tours of the Sun House are held Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 3 pm , and depart from the museum. Admission fees are nominal, and entry is free on the first Friday of every month. There is also a delightful gift shop open during museum hours, Wednesday through Saturday 10a m to 4:30 pm and Sunday noon to 4:30 pm

Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and major holidays.

WHERE: 431 S. Main St., Ukiah

MORE INFO: 707-467-2836, GraceHudsonMuseum.org

74 Ukiah Speedway

Ukiah Speedway is a 1⁄4 -mile asphalt oval racetrack offering pulsepounding excitement and high-velocity family fun. Come out and see bombers, modifieds, extreme asphalt outlaws, jammers, mini-stocks and more in action.

Typically a night of racing begins with a Trophy Dash, with the four to six fastest qualifiers in each division racing four to 6 laps and the winner receiving a trophy. The second set of races are the Heat Races; the field is divided into 2 or 3 groups that race between six and ten laps depending on division, earning money and points and allowing drivers to feel out how their cars are handling prior to the Main Event. As in the other races, cars in the Main Event run an inverted start, with the fastest cars in the back. This is the feature race, and it begins with qualifying semi-main events. The top four from those go on to the Main Event, where most of the points are earned and the largest part of the night’s purse is won.

Come visit Ukiah Speedway on the 4th of July and enjoy a fireworks show, too!

WHERE: 1055 N. State St., Ukiah

MORE INFO: 707-279-9577, UkiahSpeedway.com and on Facebook

75 Lake Mendocino

Set amid the scenic rolling hills of Coyote Valley, Lake Mendocino was formed in 1958 by the construction of the Coyote Valley Dam on the Russian River. Groves of oak mixed with manzanita and pine trees forest the area, offering intermittent shade and premium bird and wildlife habitat. The 1,900+ acre lake and its environs offer a wide variety of recreational opportunities including boating, swimming, water-skiing, fishing, hiking, camping and horseback riding. Anglers will find sunfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, striped bass, crappie, white and channel catfish, bluegill, and perch.

Several miles of trails wind around Lake Mendocino. The Lake Mendocino Disc Golf Course offers 18 holes between its north and south courses. There are playgrounds for children at the Bushay and Chekaka campgrounds, and a horse staging area is located near the Kaweyo Trailhead.

WHERE: 8 miles northeast of Ukiah off Hwy 101 on Hwy 20 (Bushay) or 5 miles northeast of Ukiah off North State Street on Lake Mendocino Drive (Chekaka).

MORE INFO: 707-462-7581, 707-467-4200, Mendocino.com/?id=2431

76 Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve

Probably the most remote of California’s 31 redwood parks, this jewel of a natural reserve is a beautiful fern forest that is home to five separate redwood groves that have never been logged. You can access them by walking along a 2-mile loop trail that follows Montgomery Creek. The really dramatic old-growth scenery begins about one third of a mile into the park.

The tallest known tree in the world from 1996 to 2000 grew in Montgomery Woods. Called the Mendocino, it has since been edged out by more recently discovered trees in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, but remains in the top 10 of the world’s tallest known trees. Another redwood, the largest (by mass) known in Montgomery Woods, the Montgomery Giant, is one of the 20 tallest known trees in the world. Altogether there are 18 trees in Montgomery Woods that are more than 350 ft. in height.

One of the less well-known attractions of Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve is its fern forest, a large expanse of 4- to 5-foot-tall giant chain ferns that grow along the Montgomery Woods trail.

Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve is off the beaten track, but once you get there you will experience one of the world’s true natural wonders. Parts of the reserve are somewhat marshy, so it’s not a bad idea to bring along mosquito repellent if you’re visiting during the summer. The park is open for day use only, and there is no fee. WHERE: Located about 13 miles west of Ukiah on Orr Springs Road. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the drive along this picturesque but steep, winding road.

MORE INFO: 707-937-5804, parks.ca.gov/?page_id=434

77 Hunting in Mendocino County

Mendocino County has a diverse and abundant selection of game, with quail, wild turkey, elk, bear, pig and blacktail deer among other species. The County also offers sportsmen many different choices when it comes to where to hunt. There is public land available for hunting, and most of it holds trophy-class game. There are also opportunities to hunt on private land for a fee.

For local information and to pick up supplies, there are many outdoor stores and suppliers in the Ukiah area. Stock up on boots, bows, guns, tents and any other equipment you might need, and ask the employees to share their favorite local spots. Unless specifically prohibited, public lands managed by the BLM are open to hunting, fishing and recreational shooting, including target shooting for license-holders.

WHERE: In parts of the Black Butte River watershed near Covelo, Jackson State Forest, Cow Mountain Recreation Area, Mendocino National Forest, Red Mountain Recreational Area, other areas of public land and various private lands.

MORE INFO: Pacific Outfitters, 955 N. State St., Ukiah, 707-468-6474, PacificOutfitters.com, G I Joes Outdoor Store, 976 N. State Street, 707-468-8834, GIJoesweb.com. Tractor Supply Co., 1248 Airport Blvd., 707-462-3748, tractorsupply.com

Ukiah

78 Ukiah Observatory Park

The international latitude observatories were a system of six locations near the parallel of 39° north latitude. They were used to measure the variation in latitude that occurs as a result of the wobble of the earth and its polar axis before the use of satellite technology became a more effective tool for observation.

There are two international latitude observatories in the United States the one located in Ukiah and another in Gaithersburg Maryland. Although the system is not widely used anymore, it represents a distinctive point in scientific history and innovation.

The park features a planet walk, a scale model of the solar system that fits within the boundaries of the walking path inside the park. There is also a restored labyrinth, the original observatory structure, and a newly-relaunched Interpretive Center.

The city hosts several exciting and educational events at the park. The tours of earth and sky lecture series are held at the Ukiah Civic Center and feature guest speakers talking about astronomy and natural sciences. There are also docent tours of the observatory in Park they can be scheduled by appointment. The park also welcomes amateur astronomers to bring their telescopes for open skies nights when they can share knowledge and observations.

MORE INFO: www.facebook.com/UkiahLatitudeObservatory,

79 Low Gap Regional Park

Low Gap Regional Park is a multi-use public park covering more than 80 acres. It is situated along Orr Creek, an important tributary of the Russian River and one of three major streams that run through the city of Ukiah. Because access to all of these streams is extremely limited, access to Orr Creek is one of the most noteworthy features of this park, along with its extensive recreational development.

The upper reaches of Low Gap Regional Park serve as a woodland preserve. Here you will find nature trails that allow you to explore and enjoy the beauty of the area in its natural state. One of the trails will take you past a vernal pool (a small seasonal wetland). You may observe the pool from the trail, but please stay out of it; it is a very fragile and special environment.

The developed part of the park includes tennis courts, playgrounds, an archery range, horseshoe pits, a disc golf course, a covered picnic area, and an amphitheater for small concerts, plays and other performances. There is also a one-acre community dog park, a fenced area designated for off-leash use by residents and visitors and their dogs. It offers shade, benches, water and disposal facilities for dog waste, and allows well-mannered canine citizens to exercise and play in a clean and safe environment without endangering or annoying people, property or wildlife.

WHERE: In the hills west of Ukiah, just across Low Gap Road from Ukiah High School. MORE INFO: https://tinyurl.com/y9dy3q57

80 Ukiah Municipal Golf Course

Since 1931 the Ukiah Valley Golf Course has provided countless rounds of golf and numerous tournaments set amid the majestic hills and sloping terrain of Mendocino County. Ukiah is a regulation 18-hole municipal golf course with an “open to the public” policy. It also offers annual memberships, tournaments and instruction.

From the back tees it offers 5,850 yards of golf at a par 70. With many trees and criss-crossed by sparkling streams, this is a gem of a course. Its signature hole is the 192yard, par three, third hole. This challenging tee shot dares you to hit the green, despite the bunkers that provide heavy protection and a gully on the right side of the fairway.

This is a wonderful golf course that will not disappoint.

WHERE: 599 Park Blvd., Ukiah, (about a mile from the center of town).

MORE INFO: 707-467-2832, UkiahGolf.com

81 Cow Mountain Recreation Area

Comprised of 52,000-acres of rugged terrain with steep, chaparral-covered slopes and scattered stands of fir, pine and oak, Cow Mountain Recreation Area offers recreational opportunities as diverse as off-roading, hunting, camping and horseback riding. Elevations vary from 800 to 4,000 ft., affording spectacular views of Ukiah and Clear Lake. Cow Mountain, named for the wild longhorn cattle that once roamed there, is premium wildlife habitat, with over 30 miles of streams and 13 wildlife reservoirs. Upland species that inhabit the area include blacktail deer, black bear and wild turkey. Because Cow Mountain offers so many different types of recreational opportunities, it is divided into three management sections:

South Cow Mountain OHV Recreation Area emphasizes off-highway vehicle use. Over 90 miles of vehicle trails cross 23,000 acres, and offer challenges to motorcycle, ATV, and four-wheel drive enthusiasts. There are two developed campgrounds and two OHV staging areas. During the rainy season call ahead regarding closures. North Cow Mountain Recreation Area is managed primarily for such non-motorized activities as hunting, hiking, camping, horseback riding and mountain bicycling. There is one developed campground, a rifle range and a 17-mile network of hiking trails.

Sheldon Creek Recreation Site is a smaller, detached area offering primitive recreational opportunities. It has a small campground. As in other sections of Cow Mountain, campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no fees and no running water, but there are portable restrooms.

WHERE: Sheldon Creek is located near Hopland. North and South Cow Mountain are closer to Ukiah, and are accessed off Talmage Road from Hwy 101 South. There are several entrances. The access roads going into all of these areas are narrow and winding, and travel trailers and large RVs are not recommended. Check with the local BLM field office for conditions and road closings.

MORE INFO: BLM field office, 707-468-4000; BLM.gov/visit/cow-mountain

82Ukiah Valley Conference & Visitor Center

The Ukiah Valley Conference Center is a great place for planning and hosting an upcoming event. The Center is a state-of-the-art meeting facility, offering a variety of spaces able to accommodate groups as small as five or as large as 600 people. Located in beautiful downtown Ukiah, this modern center has every amenity to make your next social or professional gathering a success. There is an on-site kitchen. The Center is conveniently located within walking distance of restaurants and specialty shops for dining and shopping needs. There are also several shops located directly on the premises, including a specialty marketplace for local foods, gifts baskets, unique gifts, garden accessories and a coffee bar. Adjacent to the center is the Alex R. Thomas Jr. Plaza, great for hosting outdoor ceremonies and special events.

The Event Coordinator can arrange planning and set-up for events from small meetings to large banquets. The Conference Center staff is trained to assist event needs from start to finish, at any level. This Conference Center can provide audio visual equipment, pull-down and freestanding projection screens, video and slide projectors, as well as tabletop or freestanding 40-watt amplified podiums. This equipment can be provided free of charge — just notify the Center of your special needs in advance. The Ukiah Visitor Center is also located in the building and features Ukiah and surrounding area information, plus up-to-date event information.

WHERE: 200 S. School St., Ukiah.

MORE INFO: 707-463-6700, CityOfUkiah.com/uvcc; 707-467-5766, VisitUkiah.com

(click on Groups & Meetings)