I planned, I researched and I searched the net. Then I went and it was ten times better than I thought it would have. I spent two weeks moving up and down the coastal highway. The sights were to be loved and remembered, the videos to always look at, new details to find with each viewing. I met a man in Jenna who lived in Sacramento who hadn't been to the coast since he was a boy. We were about the same age and I thought of all the places I had been since I began to drive and I thought what could have anchored someone in one spot for so long must have been very absorbing and consuming. The first place on the schedule was St. Helena and that was a hard place to find from Sacramento without any local maps and ended up driving in the wrong direction the first two or three hours and then found the direction and still ended up driving over the mountains on 128 to 29 and that was an experience. The next day I drove over the mountains again, this time to Glen Ellen where Jack London State Park was. That was another headache finding even with detailed driving directions. On the way back I decided to stay on the main highway and found out I should have taken the mountain road back and cut my travel time to a third. After that my next destination was Clearlake. That was the most winding road of the whole trip from Calistoga to Clearlake and probably the biggest elevation change too. I looked at property in Clearlake and all around it. I blew into town late on the first day I was there most of the next and I toured a couple of houses and tracked down several that were in the MLS listings. I was definitely not impressed with the character of the old commence center except for one restaurant that looked like it had something happening.
Thinking about buying a second home in Willits, Mendacino, Ca.
Posted 06-26-2010 at 12:20 PM by Profiler
I would like to hear from anyone about this area. Is it a good place to live? From what I'm seeing on the MLS it is a buyers market right now for a future retiremet location and a place to get away from the S. Fla. heat now. The kids are grown and on their own for now and we're young at heart and like to get outdoors. So far my search has been based on yearly average temp. and home selling prices and this seems like a good place to live as I don't have to find employment there. I've looked at the statistics but that doesn't always tell the whole story
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Please post state questions on the main forums not the personal journaling.Posted 07-06-2010 at 05:55 PM by 2goldens
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Willits is a good place to escape the hurly-burly of city life without surrendering amenities that include a decent social life if you choose.
Bear in mind it's a town of 5,000 people -- which offers benefits and limitations. There are another 5,000 or so people in Brooktrails, a wooded subdivision accessed from the north end of Willits. Then, there's probably another 5,000 or so of us who live in outlying areas and come into Willits for mail, groceries, and entertainment. (Much of the rural area does not received mail delivery, and the post office is often a major social center.)
Since Main St. of Willits is also Highway 101 (with a bypass presumably beginning construction in a year or so), you have the usual chain restaurants and hotels at the south end of town. Farther norther there is the traditional downtown area which offers distinctive restaurants and shops -- with good quality and prices substantially lower than you might expect.
There are regular festivals and activities throughout the year. There's a Farmers Market every Thursday year-round. (At City Park in the summer; indoor at the Grange the rest of the year.) There is a state-of-the-art Skate Park for the kids.
The Willits Library is open TU-TH and SA, with computer access and free Wi-FI. The Willits Center for the Arts changes its exhibit of local artists and craftspeople every month. Blue Sky Gallery features the works of some 50 local artists. The Noyo Theater is a 3-screen multiplex. There are three venues for live theater.
Yes, this area has a high artist demographic. And, yes, there are "hippies" -- if you're using the term in a non-pejorative tone. Strolling down Main St. you're likely to see a few some guys with facial hair (as a previous commenter mentioned.) They probably own businesses and contribute significantly to the local welfare and ambiance.
Willits is an inclusive community, including (as another poster mentioned) a Mexican population. (Reported to be about 10%.) There are several Mexican restaurants and a number of hardworking representative of this and other ethnic groups. We also have several Chinese restaurants. Most of us feel ethnic diversity is a cause for celebration.
We have a Willits Kids Club facility with year-round activities for kids. There's the Willits Photography Club, where successful photographers mentor hopeful amateurs. There are yoga clubs, book clubs, a couple of belly dancing clubs. Well, you get the idea. If you're interested in something, there's somebody else to hang out with if that's what you're looking for.
There are a few bars downtown and Shanachie Pub, which offers wine and brews and live music many nights. It's a great gathering place for locals and visitors.
Contrary to what the tone of other comments may have implied, we actually all seem to get along pretty well. The cultural heritage of the area includes lumber and ranching. We have cowboys and bikers, office workers and shopkeepers. Wherever you choose to dine, you're likely to meet a lively blend of several social, economic, and political groups.
Former Mayor and City Council member Holly Madrigal sets up a table and chair at the Farmers Markets in case anyone wants to chat with a city official. County Sheriff Tom Allman is a popular resident of Willits, and you're likely to see him or county supervisor John Pinches at lunch as you are to see corporate retirees, soccer moms, ranchers, political and eco-activists, and Grammy and Oscar winners.
A number of best-selling authors and award winning musicians live in the area. This is a place where people who can live anywhere they want often choose to live. Downtown is friendly and accessible. The surrounding mountain areas offer affordable over-sized parcels with lots of privacy.
Many of us who began by building second homes here later chose to retire here because the social life is more interesting than the places we left. Certainly, the IQ level is considerably higher than the national average!
There are other important sources of information besides public blogs. The Willits Chamber of Commerce website is comprehensive. It's: Willits Chamber of Commerce - Willits Chamber of Commerce
You can learn about all of Mendocino County at Visit Mendocino County | Mendocino County Official Travel Site :: Guide to Lodging, Dining, Things to Do
I've written more than 100 articles about Mendocino County, many of them about Willits, at Mendocino Region Travel Examiner
Get a broad view of the area before making a decision. You can choose whether to be social or reclusive. All variations of the socializing theme are tolerated. In fact, "tolerant" is probably as important a description as "inclusive." It's reminiscent of an old quote, allegedly from a San Francisco madam years ago, along the lines of, "Anything's okay as long as you don't do it in the streets and frighten the horses."
Our horses don't scare easy. And, yes, we have several churches. Also, our Democrats and Republicans actually have civil discussions of important issues, a model our national representatives are encouraged to emulate.Posted 07-12-2010 at 11:34 AM by JayGordonWillits
